But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal Ber. What would you have? Hel. Something; and scarce so much :—nothing, indeed. I would not tell you what I would: my lord-'faith, yes; Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss. Ber. I pray you stay not, but in haste to horse. Ber. Go thou toward home; where I will never come Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum: Par. Bravely, coragio! [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. — Florence. A Room in the DUKE'S Palace. Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence and his Train, two French Lords, and Soldiers. DUKE. So to now have; O that, from point to point, now have you heard Whose great decision hath much blood let forth, 1 Lord. Holy seems the quarrel Upon your Grace's part; black and fearful On the opposer's. Duke. Therefore we marvel much our cousin France Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom Against our borrowing prayers. 1 Lord. Good my lord, The reasons of our state I cannot yield Duke. Be it his pleasure. 2 Lord. But I am sure the younger of our nature, That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day, Come here for physic. Duke. Welcome shall they be; And all the honours that can fly from us Shall on them settle. You know your places well; When better fall, for your avails they fell: To-morrow to the field. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE II. Rousillon. A Room in the COUNTESS's Palace. Enter COUNTESS and Clown. Count. It hath happen'd all as I would have had it, save that he comes not along with her. Clo. By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man. Count. By what observance, I pray you? Clo. Why, he will look upon his boot, and sing; mend the ruff, and sing; ask questions, and sing; pick his teeth, and sing: I knew a man that had this trick of melancholy hold a goodly manor for a song. Count. [Opening a letter.] Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come. Clo. I have no mind to Isbel since I was at Court; our old ling and our Isbels o' th' country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o' th' Court: the brains of my Cupid's knock'd out; and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach. Count. What have we here? Clo. E'en that you have there. [Exit. 1 Count. [Reads.] “I have sent you a daughter-inlaw; she hath recovered the King, and undone me. have wedded her, not bedded her; and have sworn to make the not eternal. You shall hear I am run away: know it before the report come. If there be breadth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you. Your unfortunate son, BERTRAM," This is not well, rash and unbridled boy, Enter Clown. Clo. O Madam, yonder is heavy news within, beween two soldiers and my young lady. Count. What is the matter? Clo. Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some comfort; your son will not be kill'd so soon as I thought he would. Count. Why should he be kill'd? Clo. So say I, Madam, if he run away, as I hear he does; the danger is in standing to 't: that's the loss of men, though it be the getting of children. Here they come will tell you more: for my part, I only hear your son was run away. 1 Gent. Enter HELENA and two Gentlemen. Save you, good Madam. [Exit. Hel. Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone. 2 Gent. Do not say so. Count. Think upon patience. — Pray you, gentle men, I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief, Can woman me unto 't. - Where is my son, you? 2 Gent. Madam, he's gone to serve the Duke of Florence: We met him thitherward; for thence we came, Thither we bend again. Hel. Look on his letter, Madam; here's my pass port. [Reads. “When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never shall come off, and shew me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then call me husband; but in such a'then' I write a never.”” This is a dreadful sentence. Count. Brought you this letter, gentlemen? 1 Gent. Ay, Madam; And, for the contents' sake, are sorry for our pains. Count. I pr'ythee, lady, have a better cheer; If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine, And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he? 2 Gent. Ay, Madam. Count. And to be a soldier? 2 Gent. Such is his noble purpose: and, believe 't, The Duke will lay upon him all the honour That good convenience claims. Count. Return thou thither? 1 Gent. Ay, Madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. Hel. [Reads.] “Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France." Ay, Madam. 1 Gent. 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his heart was not consenting to. Count. Nothing in France, until he have no wife! There's nothing here that is too good for him, But only she and she deserves a lord That twenty such rude boys might tend upon, And call her hourly, mistress. Who was with him? 1 Gent. A servant only, and a gentleman Which I have some time known. Count. Parolles, was't not? 1 Gent. Ay, my good lady, he. Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wick edness: My son corrupts a well-derived nature With his inducement. 1 Gent. Indeed, good lady, The fellow has a deal of that, too much, Which holds him much to have. |