Be bold you do so grow in my requital,

As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;

Enter a Gentle Astringer.

This man may help me to his Majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power.
God save you, sir.

Astringer. And you.

Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the Court of France. Ast. I have been sometimes there.

Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen From the report that goes upon your goodness; And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, Which lay nice manners by, I put you to The use of your own virtues, for the which I shall continue thankful.

Ast.

What's your will?

Hel. That it will please you

To give this poor petition to the King;

And aid me with that store of power you have

To come into his presence.

Ast. The King's not here.

Hel.

Ast.

Not here, sir?

Not, indeed:

He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste

Than is his use.

Wid.

Lord, how we lose our pains!

Hel. All's well that ends well, yet;

Though time seem so adverse, and means unfit.

I do beseech you, whither is he gone?

Ast. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; Whither I am going.

I do beseech you, sir,

Hel.
Since you are like to see the King before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand;
Which, I presume, shall render you no blame,

But rather make you thank your pains for it:
I will come after you, with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Ast.

This I'll do for you.

Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well

thank'd,

Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again;

Go, go, provide.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Rousillon. The inner Court of the COUNTESS's Palace.

Enter Clown and PAROLLES.

Par. Good Monsieur Lavatch, give my Lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in Fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

Clo. Truly, Fortune's displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speak'st of: I will henceforth eat no fish of Fortune's butt'ring. Pr'ythee allow the wind.

Par. Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor.

Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Pr'ythee get thee farther.

Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

Clo. Foh, pr'ythee stand away: A paper from Fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.

Enter LAFEu.

Here is a pur of Fortune's, sir, or of Fortune's cat, (but not a musk-cat,) that has fall'n into the unclean fish-pond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit. My lord, I am a man whom Fortune hath cruelly scratch'd.

Par.

Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with Fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under [her]? There's a quart d'ecu for you. Let the justices make you and Fortune friends; I am for other business.

Par. I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.

Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't save your word.

Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

Cox'

Laf. You beg more than a word, then. my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum?

Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me.

Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that

lost thee.

Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.

Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the Devil? one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee

out. [Trumpets sound.] The King's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire farther after me;

I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat: go to; follow. Par. I praise God for you.

[Exeunt

SCENE III.

The Same. A Room in the COUNTESS's Palace.

Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, &c.

King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son,

As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know

Her estimation home.

Count.

'Tis past, my liege:

And I beseech your Majesty to make it

Natural rebellion, done i' th' blade of youth,

When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it, and burns on.

King.

My honour'd lady,

I have forgiven and forgotten all;

Though my revenges were high bent upon him,
And watch'd the time to shoot.

This I must say,

Laf.
But first I beg my pardon, The young lord
Did to his Majesty, his mother, and his lady,
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife
Whose beauty did astonish the survey

Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive;
Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve
Humbly call'd mistress.

King.

Praising what is lost

Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither;
We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill
All repetition: - Let him not ask our pardon:
The nature of his great offence is dead;
And deeper than oblivion we do bury
Th' incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him
So 'tis our will he should.

Gentleman.

I shall, my liege. [Exit. King. What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?

Laf. All that he is hath reference to your High

ness.

King. Then shall we have a match. I have let

ters sent me

That set him high in fame.

Enter BERTRAM.

Laf. He looks well on 't.

King. I am not a day of season,

For thou may'st see a sunshine and a hail
In me at once. But to the brightest beams
Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;
The time is fair again.

Ber.

My high-repented blames,

Dear sovereign, pardon to me.
King.

All is whole;

Not one word more of the consumed time.
Let's take the instant by the forward top;
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
Th' inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals, ere we can effect them. You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Ber. Admiringly, my liege. At first