Thither we bend again. Hel. Look on this letter, madam; here's my Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark 1 Gent. Ay, my good lady, he. My son corrupts a well-derived nature 1 Gent. Indeed, good lady, The fellow has a deal of that, too much, Which holds him much to have. Count. You are welcome, gentlemen. I will entreat you, when you see my son, 2 Gent. [Exeunt Countess and Gentlemen. Hel. Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France. Nothing in France, until he has no wife! (1) i. e. When you can get the ring, which is on my finger, into your possession. (2) If thou keepest all thy sorrows to thyself. (3) In reply to the gentlemen's declaration, that they are her servants, the countess answers-no That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou [Exit. Sir, it is Ber. This very day, Might you not know, she would do as she has done, That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon, His name with zealouse, whilst I from far, Count. Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much, otherwise than as she returns the same offices of civility. (4) Ravenous. (5) Alluding to the story of Hercules. As letting her pass so; had I spoke with her, Stew. Pardon me, madam: She might have been o'ertaken; and yet she writes, zens. But till the troops come by, I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd; Hel. Is it yourself? Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. Hel. Dia. Whatsoe'er he is, Dia. There is a gentleman that serves the count, Hel. Dia. Monsieur Parolles. What's his name? Wid. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight. Dia. They say, the French count has done most of the great count himself, she is too mean honourable service. To have her name repeated; all her deserving Wid. It is reported, that he has taken their Is a reserved honesty, and that greatest commander; and that with his own hand I have not heard examin'd. he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our la O, I believe with him, In argument of praise, or to the worth Dia. Alas, poor lady! bour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you of a detesting lord. Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice our- Wid. A right good creature: wheresoe'er she is, selves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been solicited by a gentleman, his companion. her A shrewd turn, if she pleas'd. Hel. Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Pa- In the unlawful purpose. rolles: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions? He does, indeed; for the young earl.-Beware of them, Diana; their And brokes" with all that can in such a suit promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these Corrupt the tender honour of a maid: engines of lust, are not the things they go under: But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard many a maid hath been seduced by them; and In honestest defence. rentine army, Bertram, and Parolles. the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in Enter with drum and colours, a party of the Flothe wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but I hope your own grace Wid. will keep you where you are, though there were That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son; no further danger known, but the modesty which That, Escalus. is so lost. Dia. You shall not need to fear me. Enter Helena, in the dress of a pilgrim. Wid. I hope so.--Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at my house: thither they send one another: I'll question her.God save you, pilgrim! Whither are you bound? Hel. To Saint Jaques le grand. Where do the palmers1 lodge, I do beseech you? (1) Weigh, here means to value or esteem. (2) Temptations. (3) They are not the things for which their names would make them pass. I Mar. The gods forbid else! So, now they come : Which is the Frenchman? That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow; would, he lov'd his wife: if he were honester, He were much goodlier:-Is't not a handsome gentleman? Hel. I like him well. Dia. 'Tis pity he is not honest: Yond's that same knave, That leads him to these places; were I his lady, (4) Pilgrims; so called from a staff or bough of palm they were wont to carry. (5) Because. (6) The exact, the entire truth. (7) Deals with panders. the humour of his design; let him fetch off his drum in any hand. Ber. How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition. 2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so Mar. He's shrewdly vex'd at something: Look, lost?-There was an excellent command! to he has spied us. Wid. Marry, hang you! Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier ! Wid. The troop is past: Come, pilgrim, I will Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents Hel. Both. We'll take your offer kindly. charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers. 2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the service; it was a disaster of war that Cæsar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command. Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered. Par. It might have been recovered. Par. It is to be recovered: but that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the truc and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet. Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't, monsieur [Exe. if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native Enter quarter, be inagnanimous in the enterprize, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness. 1 Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him have his way. ? Lord. If your lordship find him not a hilding,' hold me no more in your respect. 1 Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. Par. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it. Ber. Do you think I am so far deceived in him? Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. 1 Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will pre knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him sently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an in- in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparafinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, tion, and, by midnight, look to hear further from me. the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordBer. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you ship's entertainment. are gone about it? 2 Lord. It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, at some great and trusty business, in a main danger, fail you. Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him. Par. I know not what the success will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow. Ber. I know thou art valiant; and, to the possi bility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell. Par. I love not many words. [Exit. 2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his 1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water.-Is not drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake this a strange fellow, my lord? that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows to do. 1 Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will sud-is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares denly surprise him; such I will have, whom, I am better be damned than to do't. sure, he knows not from the enemy: we will bind 2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a other but that he is carried into the leaguer2 of the man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal adversaries, when we bring him to our tents: Be of discoveries; but when you find him out, you but your lordship present at his examination; if he have him ever after. do not, for the promise of his life, and in the high- Ber. Why, do you think he will make no deed est compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, at all of this, that so seriously he does address himand deliver all the intelligence in his power against self unto? you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul oath, never trust my judgment in any thing. upon 1 Lord. None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three proba 2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch ble lics. but we have almost embossed him, you his drum; he says he has a stratagem for't: when shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, your lordship's respect. and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will 2 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, be melted, if you give him not John Drum's enter-ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old tainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night. be comes. Enter Parolles. 1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not 1 Lord. I must go look my twigs; he shall be caught. (4) I will pen down my plans, and the probable (5) Hunted him down. (1) A paltry fellow, a coward. (2) The camp. (3) I would recover the lost drum or another, or obstructions. die in the attempt. (6) Strip him naked Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed, 1 Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you. Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed, [Exit. And lawful meaning in a lawful act; Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and show Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact: you The lass I spoke of. 2 Lord. Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but But, you say, she's honest. Nor would I wish you. First, give me trust, the count he is my husband; Wid. Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, Wid. Now I see The bottom of your purpose. Hel.. You see it lawful then: It is no more, But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter; In fine, delivers me to fill the time, Herself most chastely absent: after this, To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns To what is past already. Wid. I have yielded : Instruct my daughter how she shall perséver, That time and place, with this deceit so lawful, May prove coherent. Every night he comes With musics of all sorts, and songs compos'd To her unworthiness: It nothing steads us, To chide him from our eaves;4 for he persists, As if his life lay on't. Hel. Why then, to-night i. e. By discovering herself to the count. Importunate. (3) i. e. Count. From under our windows. But let's about it. ACT IV. SCENE I.-Without the Florentine camp. Enter first Lord, with five or six Soldiers in ambush. 1 Lord. He can come no other way but by this hedge's corner: When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you underseem to understand him; unless some one among stand it not yourselves, no matter: for we must not us, whom we must produce for an interpreter. 1 Sold. Good captain, let me be the interpreter. 1 Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows le not thy voice? 1 Sold. No, sir, I warrant you. 1 Lord. But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to speak to us again? 1 Sold. Even such as you speak to me. 1 Lord. He must think us some band of stran gers i' the adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so wc seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges. Enter Parolles. Par. Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say! have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it: They begin to smoke me; and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door. I find my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue. I Lord. This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of. [Aside. Par. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit: Yet slight ones will not carry it: They will say, Came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not give. Wherefore? what's the instance?" Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils. 1 Lord. Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is? [Aside Par. I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword. (Aside. 1 Lord. We cannot afford you so. Par. Or the baring of my beard; and to say, it was in stratagem. [Aside. 1 Lord. 'Twould not do. Par. Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped. 1 Lord. Hardly serve. [Aside. [Aside. I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows: ' [Alarum within. 1 Lord. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo. All. Cargo, cargo, villianda par carbo, cargo. Par. O! ransome, ransome:-Do not hide mine eyes. [They seize him and blindfold him. 1 Sold. Boskos thromuldo boskos. Par. I know you are the Muskos' regiment, I will discover that which shall undo But the plain single vow, that is vow'd true. But take the Highest to witness:2 Then, pray you tell me, If I should swear by Jove's great attributes, Ber. Dia. I see that men make hopes in such affairs, That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring. Ber. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power To give it from me. Dia. Dia. Will you not, my lord? Ber. It is an honour 'longing to our house, Bequeathed down from many ancestors; Acordo linta.-Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world In me to lose. Mine honour's such a ring: My chastity's the jewel of our house, Bequeathed down from many ancestors; Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world In me to lose: Thus your own proper wisdom Brings in the champion honour on my part, Against your vain assault. [Exit, with Parolles guarded. 1 Lord. Go, tell the count Rousillon, and my brother, We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him muffled, Till we do hear from them. 2 Sold. Captain, I will. 1 Lord. He will betray us all unto ourselves;Inform 'em that. 1 Lord. Till then, I'll keep him dark, and safely lock'd. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Florence. A room in the Widow's house. Enter Bertram and Diana. Ber. They told me, that your name was Fontibell. Dia. No, my good lord, Diana. Titled goddess; Dia. She then was honest. (1) i. e. Against his determined resolution never to cohabit with Helena. Ber. Here, take my ring: My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine, And I'll be bid by thee. Dia. When midnight comes, knock at my chamber window; Now will I charge you in the band of truth, When back again this ring shall be deliver'd: (2) The sense is-we never swear by what is not Tholy, but take to witness the Highest, the Divinity. |