dieted to his hour. 2 Lord. Not till after midnight; for he is Ber. I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter; But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier ?--Come, bring forth this counterfeit module; he has deceiv'd me, like a doublemeaning prophesier. 1 Lord. That approaches apace: I would gladly have him see his company anatomised; that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit. 2 Lord. We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other. 1 Lord. In the mean time, what hear you of these wars? 2 Lord. I hear, there is an overture of peace. 1 Lord. Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded. 2 Lord. What will count Rousillon do then? will be travel higher, or return again into France ? 1 Lord. I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his council. 2 Lord. Let it be forbid, Sir! so should I be a great deal of his act. 2 Lord. Bring him forth: [Exeunt SOLDIERS.) he has sat in the stocks all night, poor gallant knave. Ber. No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping his spurs † so long. How does be carry himself? 1 Lord. I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But, to answer you as you would be understood; he weeps, like a wench that had shed her milk: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar from the time of bis remembrance, to this very instant disaster of his setting i'the stocks: And what think you he hath confessed ? Ber. Nothing of me, has he? 2 Lord, His confession is taken, and it shall I Lord. Sir, bis wife, some two months since, be read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as, fled from his house; her pretence is a pilgrim-I believe you are, you must have the patience age to Saint Jaques le grand; which holy to hear it. undertaking, with most austere sanctimony, she accomplished: and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief: in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven. 2 Lord. How is this justified? 1 Lord. The stronger part of it by her own letters; which makes her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say, is come, was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place. 2 Lord. Hath the count all this intelligence? 1 Lord. Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity. 2 Lord. I am heartily sorry, that he'll be glad of this. 1 Lord. How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses ! 2 Lord. And how mightily, some other times, we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity, that his valour hath here acquired for him, shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample. 1 Lord. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues. Enter a SERVANT. Re-enter SOLDIERS, with PAROLLES. Ber. A plague upon him! muffled ! he can say nothing of me; hush! hush ! 1 Lord. Hoodınan comes !-Porto tartaressa, 1 Sold. He calls for the toitures: What will you say without 'em? Par. I will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more. 1 Sold. Boscro chimurcha. 2 Lord. Boblinbindo chicurmurco. 1 Sold. You are a merciful general;-Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note. Par. And truly, as I hope to live. 1 Sold. First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong. What say you to that? Par. Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live. 1 Sold. Shall I set down your answer so? Par. Do: I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will. What a past-saving Ber. All's one to him. slave is this! 1 Lord. You are deceived, my lord; this is monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase,) that had the whole theoServ. He met the duke in the street, Sir, of ric of war in the knot of his scarf, and the whom he hath taken a solemn leave; his lord-practice in the chape of his dagger. How now? Where's your master? ship will next morning for France. The duke 2 Lord. I will never trust a man again, for hath offered him letters of commendations to keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can the king. have every thing in him, by wearing his ap 2 Lord. They shall be no more than needfulparel neatly. there, if they were more than they can commend. Enter BERTRAM. 1 Lord. They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now. How now, my lord, is't not after midnight? Ber. I have to-night despatched sixteen businesses, a mouth's length a-piece, by an abstract of success: I have conge'd with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my lady mother, I am returning; entertained my convoy; and, between these main parcels of despatch, effected many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but that I bave not ended yet. 2 Lord. If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship. • For companion. 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. Five or six thousand horse, I said,— I will say true, or thereabouts, set down,for I'll speak truth. 1 Lord. He's very near the truth in this. Ber. But I con him no thanks for't, in the nature he delivers it. Par. Poor rogues, I pray you, say. 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. I humbly thank you, Str: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor. 1 Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are a-foot. What say you to that? Par. By my troth, Sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see : Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corambus so many, Jaques so many; Guiltiau, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred | fifty each mine own company, Chitopher, Vau moud, Bentii, two hundred and fifty each so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces. Ber. What shall be done to him? 1 Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my conditions, † and what credit I have with the duke. Ber. He shall be whipped through the army. with this rhyme in his forehead. 2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, Sir, the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier. Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me. I sold. I perceive, Sir, by the general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you. Par. My life, Sir, in any case; not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: let me live, Sir, in a dungeon, i'the stocks, or any where, so I may live. 1 Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore once more to this captain Dumain: You have answered to his repu 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. You shall demand of him, whether one captain Dumain be i'the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the duke, what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks, it were not possible, with well-tation with the duke, and to his valour: What weighing sums of gold, to corrupt him to a is his honesty? revolt? What say you to this? what do you know of it? Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the intergatories: Demand them singly. Par. He will steal, Sir, an egg out of a cloister; for rapes and ravishments be parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking them, he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, Sir, with such volubility, that you 1 Sold. Do you know this captain Dumain? would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is Par. I know him: he was a botcher's pren-his best virtue; for he will be swine-drunk ; and tice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the sheriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, that could not say him, nay. DUMAIN lifts up his hand in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands: though I know, his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls. 1 Sold. Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp? Par. Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. 1 Lord. Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon. 1 Sold. What is his reputation with the duke? Par. The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o'the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket. 1 Sold. Marry, we'll search. Par. In good sadness, I do not know; it is there, or is upon a file, with the other letters, in my tent. either duke's 1 Sold. Here 'tis; here's a paper? Shall I read it to you? Par. I do not know, if it be it, or no. Ber. Our interpreter does it well. 1 Lord. Excellently. 1 Sold. Dian. The count's a fool, and full of gold, Par. That is not the duke's letter, Sir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that very ruttish: I pray you, Sir, put it up again. 1 Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour. Par. My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid: for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy; who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds. Ber. Damnable, both sides rogues! 1 Sold. When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it; After he scores, he never pays the score: Half won, is match well made; match, and well make it; ¶ He ne'er pays after debts, take it before; And say, a soldier, Dian, told thee this, Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss: For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it, Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, PAROLLES. Cassock then signified a horseman's loose coat + Disposition and character. For interrogatories. An idiot under the care of the sheriff. IA natural fool. 1. e. A match well made is half won; make your match, therefore, but make it well. in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, Sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have, what an honest man should have he has nothing. 1 Lord. I begin to love him for this. Ber. For this description of thine honesty ? A pox upon him for me, he is more and more a 1 Sold. What say you to his expertness in war? cat, Par. Faith, Sir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians,-to belie him, I will not, and more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that country, he had the honour to be the officer at a place there call'd Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain. 1 Lord. He hath out-villained villany so far, that the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox on him! he's a cat still. 1 Sold. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Par. Sir, for a quart d'ecut he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually. 1 Sold. What's his brother, the other captain Dumain? 2 Lord. Why does he ask him of me? 1 Sold. What's he? Par. E'en a crow of the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: In a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. 1 Sold. If your life be saved, will you under. take to betray the Florentine ? Par. Ay, and the captain of his horse, count Rousillon. 1 Sold. I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure. Par. I'll no more drumming: a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition § of that lascivious young boy the count, have i run into this danger. Yet, who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken ? [Aside. 1 Sold. There is no remedy, Sir, but you must die: the general says, you, that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, I. e. He will steal any thing however trifling, from any place however holy. The Centaur killed by Hercules. and made such pestiferous reports of men very | With what it loaths, for that which is away; nobly held, can serve the world for no honest But more of this hereafter :-You, Diana, use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, Under my poor instructions yet must suffer off with his head. Something in my behalf. + Par. O Lord, Sir; let me live, or let me see my death! 1 Sold. That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [Unmuffling him. So look about you; Know you any here? Ber. Good inorrow, noble captain. 2 Lord. God bless you, captain Parolles. 1 Lord. God save you, noble captain. 2 Lord. Captain, what greeting will you to my lord Lafeu? I am for France. 1 Lord. Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you; but fare you well. [Exeunt BERTRAM, LORDS, &c. 1 Sold. You are undone, captain: all but your scarf, that has a knot on't yet. Par. Who cannot be crush'd with a plot? 1 Sold. If you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you well, Sir; I am for France too; we shall speak of you there. Exit. Par. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, 'Twould burst at this: Captain, I'll be no more; [Exit. SCENE IV.-Florence.-A Room in the Dia. Let death and honesty ⚫ Go with your impositions, † I am your's, Hel. Yet, I pray you, But with the word, the time will bring on sum- When briars shall have leaves as well as thorns, crown; Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. SCENE V.-Rousillon.-A Room in the Enter COUNTESS, LA FEU, and CLOWN. Laf. No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffata fellow there; whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour; and your son here at home, more advanced by the king, than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of. Count. I would I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous gentle-woman, a that ever nature had praise for creating : if she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love. And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd, aiding, Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads, ere we light on such another herb. Clo. Indeed, Sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad, or, rather the herb of grace. I Laf. They are not salad-herbs, you knave, they are nose-herbs. Člo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, Sir, I have not much skill in grass. Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave, or a fool? Clo. A fool, Sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's. Laf. Your distinction? Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service. Laf. So you were a knave at his service, indeed. Clo. And I would give his wife my bauble, Sir, to do her service. Laf. I will subscribe for thee; thou art both knave and fool. Clo. At your service. Laf. No, no, no. Clo. Why, Sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman ? Clo. Faith, Sir, he has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there. Laf. What prince is there? Clo. The black prince, Sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give la-thou talkest of; serve him still. thee not this to suggest thee from thy master but Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower, As it hath fated her to be my motive And helper to a husband. But O strange men! When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts Clo. I am a woodland fellow, Sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in his court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp but the many will be too chill and tender; to enter; some, that humble themselves, may; • L. e. An honest death. + Commands. ↑ End. There was a fashion of using yellow starch for bands and ruffles, to which Lafta 1. e. Rue. ¶ beauce. Gent. And you. and they'll be for the flowery way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire. Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, Sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature. [Exit. Laf. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy. Count. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himself much sport out of him by this authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will. Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss: and I was about to tell you, Since I heard of the good lady's death, and that iny lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my master, to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his bighness hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it? Count. With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected. Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed. Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see bim ere I die. I have letters, that my sou will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain with me till they meet together. Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privilege. Latf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of Gent. I have been sometimes there. Hel. I do presume, Sir, that you are not From the reports that goes upon your goodness; Hel. That it will please you Gent. The king's not here. He hence remov'd last night, and with more Wid. Lord, how we lose our pains! I do beseech you, whither is he gone? Hel. I do beseech you, Sir, Since you are like to sec the king before me, Gent. This I'll do for you. Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well Whate'er falls more.-We must to horse again ;- SCENE II.-Rousillon.-The inner Court of the Countess' 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 moat, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure. Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Pr'ythee, allow the wind. Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, Sir; I spake 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 further. 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 fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a as he says, is muddied withal: Pray you, Sir, poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit CLOWN. Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune bath cruelly scratched. 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Laf. And what would you have me to do? Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have kuaves thrive loug 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. Laf. You beg more than one word then. Cox' 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 further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a kuave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in the COUNTESS' 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, Count. 'Tis past, my liege: And I beseech your majesty to make it 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. Laf. This I must say, But first I beg my pardon,-The young lord 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 Gent. I shall, my liege. [Exit GENTLEMAN. King. What says he to your daughter? have you spoke? Laf. All that he is hath reference to your highness. King. Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me, That set him high in fame. Enter BERTRAM. Laf. He looks well on't. King. I am not a day of season, ¶ • You need not ask ;---here it is. Completely, in its full extent. So in As you like it to have seen much and to nave nothing, is to bave rich eyes and poor hands." 11. e. The first interview shall put an end to all recollection of the past. 1.e. Of uninterrupted rain. For thou may'st see a sun-shine and a bail Ber. My high-repented blames,⚫ Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart Since I have lost, have lov'd, was in mine eye King. Well excus'd: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away From the great compt: But love, that comes too late, Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, Make trivial price of serious things we have, Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin : Count. Which better than the first, O dear beaven, bless! Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! eye, While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.- I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most? Ber. My gracious sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it Laf. I am sure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never saw it : In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and |