Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES. Enter LAFEU. Laf. Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll see thee to stand up. [Kneeling. Laf. Then here' a man stands, that has brought his pardon. [Rising.2 I would, you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy, And that, at my bidding, you could so stand up. King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for 't. Laf. Goodfaith, across. But, my good lord, 't is thus: Will you be cur'd of your infirmity? King, No. Laf, O! will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? My royal fox could reach them. I have seen To give great Charlemaine a pen in 's hand, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she. My lord, there's one arriv'd, In this my light deliverance, I have spoke Than I dare blame my weakness. Will you see her, (For that is her demand) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me. King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration, that we with thee May spend our wonder too, or take off thine Laf. And not be all day neither. Nay, I'll fit you, [Exit LAFEU. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA. Laf. Nay, come your ways. 1 here's in f. e. 2 Not in f. e. 3 araise in fe. King. This haste hath wings, indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways. This is his majesty, say your mind to him: A traitor you do look like; but such traitors His majesty seldom fears. I am Cressid's uncle, In what he did profess well found. King. I knew him. Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him; Knowing him, is enough. On 's bed of death Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one Safer than mine own two, more dear. I have so; King. We thank you, maiden: But may not be so credulous of cure: To empirics; or to dissever so Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. A modest one, to bear me back again. King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful. Thou thought'st to help me, and such thanks I give As one near death to those that wish him live; But what at full I know thou know'st no part, I knowing all my peril, thou no art. Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy. So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown, When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown King. I must not hear thee: fare thee well, kind maid. The help of heaven we count the act of men. But know I think, and think I know most sure, King. Art thou so confident? Within what space Hop'st thou my cure? Hel. Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp; Hel. Tax of impudence, Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name [speak, King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth 1 Pope reads: sits. VOL. III.-16 His powerful sound within an organ weak; Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die; And well deserv'd. Not helping, death's my fee; King. Make thy demand. Hel. But will you make it even? King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven. Hel. Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand What husband in thy power I will command: Exempted be from me the arrogance To choose from forth the royal blood of France, King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd, [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE II.-Rousillon. A Room in the COUNTESS'S Palace. Enter COUNTESS and Clown. Count. Come on, sir: I shall now put you to the height of your breeding. 1 Not in f. e. 2 and in f. e. Clo. I will show myself highly fed, and lowly taught. I know my business is but to the court. Count. To the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt ? But to the court ! Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the court. But, for me, I have an answer will serve all men. Count. Marry, that's a bountiful answer, that fits all questions. Clo. It is like a barber's chair, that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock. Count. Will your answer serve fit to all questions? Clo. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffata punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth; nay, as the pudding to his skin. Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions? Clo. From below your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit any question. Count. It must be an answer of most monstrous size, that must fit all demands. Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth of it. Here it is, and all that belongs to 't ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn. Count. To be young again, if we could. I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier ? Clo. O Lord, sir!—there's a simple putting off.— More, more, a hundred of them. Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you. 1 Rush rings are often spoken of as interchanged between rustic lovers. |