The fundamental reasons of this war; now sing; pick his teeth, and sing: I know a man that means to come. Clo. I have no mind to Isbel, since I was at court: our old ling and our Isbel's o'the country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o'the court: the brain of my Cupid's knock'd out; Whose great decision hath much blood let forth, 25 and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, And more thirsts after. Duke. Therefore we marvel much, our cousin 30" 2 Lord. Good my lord, The reasons of our state I cannot yield', Duke. Be it his pleasure. [nature 3, 2 Lord. But I am sure the younger of our That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day, Come here for physick. Duke. Welcome shall they be; And all the honours, that can fly from us, Shall on them settle: You know your places well; SCENE II. Enter Countess and Clown. [Exeunt. with no stomach. [Exit. Count. What have we here? Clo. E'en that you have there. Count. [reads a letter.] "I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath recover'd the king, and undone me. I have wedded her, not bed"ded her; and sworn to make the not eternal. You shall hear, I am run away; know it, before the report come. If there be breadth 35" enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you. 166 "Your unfortunate son, "BERTRAM." This is not well, rash and unbridled boy, 40 To fly the favours of so good a king; To pluck his indignation on thy head, By the nisprising of a maid too virtuous For the contempt of empire. 45 50 Count. It hath happened all as I would have had 55 it, save that he comes not along with her. Clo. By my troth, I take my young lord to be very melancholy man. Count. By what observance, I pray you? Clo. Why, he will look upon his boot, and 60 sing; mend the ruff, and sing; ask questions, and 1i. e. I cannot inform you of fellows. Re-enter Clown. Clo. O, madam, yonder is heavy news within, between 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 killed so soon as I thought he would. Count. Why should he be killed? Clo. So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does: the danger is in standing to't; that's the Here they come, will tell you more: for my part, loss of men, though it be the getting of children. I only hear, your son was run away. Enter Helena and two Gentlemen. 1 Gen. Save you, good madam. i. e. one not in the secret of affairs. * Meaning, our young Count. Count. Think upon patience:-'Pray you, gen- I have felt so many quirks of joy, and grief, We met him thitherward; for thence we came, [passport. 10 This is a dreadful sentence. Count. Brought you this letter, gentlemen? And, for the contents' sake, are sorry for our pains. Count. And to be a soldier? 2 Gen. Such is his noble purpose: and, believe't, The duke will lay upon him all the honour That good convenience claims. Count. Return you thither? [speed. 1 Gen. Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of Hel. "Till I have no wife, I have nothing in "France." "Tis bitter. Count. Find you that there? Hel. Ay, madam. Count. Not so, but as we change our courtesies. [Exeunt Countess and Gentlemen. lord! My being here it is, that holds thee hence; [Reading. 35 1 Gen. Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, His heart was not consenting to. Count. Nothing in France, until he have no wife! 40 Count. Parolies, was't not? 1 Gen. Ay, my good lady, he. Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wickMy son corrupts a well-derived nature [edness: With his inducement. 1 Gen. Indeed, good lady, The fellow has a deal of that, too much, Count. You are welcome, gentlemen. I will entreat you, when you see my son, 2 Gen. We serve you, madam, In that and all your worthiest affairs. 45 A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake, To the extreme edge of hazard. Duke. Then go forth; And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm, 50,As thy auspicious mistress! 155 Ber. This very day, Great Mars, I put myself into thy file: Make me but like my thoughts; and I shall prove A lover of thy drum, hater of love. SCENE IV. Rosillon, in France. Enter Countess and Steward. [Exeunt Count. Alas! and would you take the letterofher? 60 Might younot know, she would do as she has done, By sending me a letter? Read it again. 1 That is, when thou canst get the ring, which is on my finger, into thy possession, vices stand him in stead. e. the air that closes immediately. U 2 2 i. e. his Stenv. 5 Stow. "I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, hither gone; Ambitious love hath so in me offended, "That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon, "With sainted vow my faults to have amended. "Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war, My dearest master, your dear son may hye; "Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far, "His name with zealous fervour sanctify: "His taken labours bid him me forgive; "I, his despightful Juno, sent him forth From courtly friends, with camping foes to live, "Where death and danger dog the heels ofworth: "He is too good and fair for death and me; "Whom I myself embrace, to set him free." Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!-15 Rinaldo, you did never lack advice' so much, As letting her pass so; had I spoke with her, I could have well diverted her intents, Which thus she hath prevented. Stew. Pardon me, inadam; If I had given you this at over-night, She might have beeno'er-ta'en; and yet she writes, Count. What angel shall Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, 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. Mar. I know the knave; hang him! one Parolies: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.-Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they g0 under2: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the 10misery is, example, that so terrible shews in the 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 will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modesty which is so lost. 20 25 30 40 Dia. You shall not need to fear me. Enter Helena, disguis'd like a Pilgrim. God save you, pilgram! Whither are you bound? Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd; Het. Is it yourself? Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrimn. [sure. Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your lei Wid. Here you may see a countryman of yours, That Bas done worthy service. Hel. His name, I pray you? [one! Dia. The count Rousillon: Know you such a Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of 45 His face I know not. [him; 56 Wid. It is reported that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our labour; 55 they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know their trumpets. Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is 6 3 That is, discretion or thought. pearance they sezm to be." palm that they were wont to carry. 2 Dia. Whatsoe'er he is, Hel. What's his name? In argument of praise, or to the worth I have not heard examined *. Meaning, "they are not really so true and sincere as in apPilgrims that visited holy places; so called from a staff or bough of ~i. e. doubled. Dia. Act 3. Scene 6.] Dia. Alas, poor lady! ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. SCENE 'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife Of a detesting lord. Wid. Aright good creature: wheresoe'er she is, Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might 5 A shrewd turn, if she pleas'd. Hl. How do you mean? May be, the amorous count solicits her In the unlawful purpose. Wid. He does, indeed; [do her And brokes with all that can in such a suit But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard, Enter with Drum and Colours, Bertram, Pa- Mar. The gods forbid else! That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son; Het. Which is the Frenchman? That with the plume; 'tis a most gallant fellow ; [gentleman? Dia. 'Tis pity, he's not honest: Yond's that That leads him to these places; were I his lady, Hel. Which is he? Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: Why is he melancholy? Hel. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle. Mar. He's shrewdly vex'd at something: Look, Wid. Marry, hang you! [Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, &c. Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier! Wid. The troop is past: Come, pilgrim, I will bring you Where you shall host; of enjoin'd penitents Hel. I humbly thank you : Both. We'll take your offer kindly. 10 VI. Enter Bertram, and the two French Lords. 1 Lord. Nay, good my lord; put him to't; let him have his way. 2 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. Ber. Do you think I am so far deceiv'd in him? I Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise15 breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment. 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 20main danger fail you. Ber. would, I knew in what particular action to try him. 2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently un25 dertake to do. 30 1 Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him; such I will have, whom, I am sure, he knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our own tents: Be but your lordship present at his examination; if he do not, for the promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to 35 betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in any thing. 2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him 40 fetch his drum; he says, he has a stratagem for't: when your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's entertainment, your inclining cannot be 45 removed. Here he comes. Enter Parolles. 1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the humour of his design; let him fetch off his 50 drum in any hand. Ber. How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition. 2 Lord. Apox on't, let it go ; 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so [Exeunt. 55 lost! There was an excellent command! to charge 1 Deals as a broker. Theobald explains this passage thus: "My lord, as you have taken this fellow (Parolles) into so near a confidence, if, upon his being found a counterfeit, you don't cashier him from your favour, then your attachment is not to be remov'd;" and then adds the following history of John Drum's Entertainment, from Hollingshed's Chronicle: "This chronologer, in his description of Ireland, speaking of Patrick Scarsefield, (mayor of Dublin in the year 1551) and of his extravagant hospitality, subjoins, that no guest had ever a cold or forbidding look from any part of his family: so that his porter or any other officer durst not, for both his ears, give the simplest man, that resorted to his house, Tom Drum's entertainment, which is, to hale a man in by the head, and thrust him out by both the shoulders," in in with our horse upon our own wings, and top 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 5 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 recover'd. Ber. It might; but it is not now. Par. It is to be recover'd: but that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet. Iparted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night. 2 Lord. I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught. you. Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. 2 Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave [Exit. Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and shew you 10 The lass I spoke of. 1 Lord. Put, you say, she's honest: [once, Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her, By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind, 13Tokens and letters, which she did re-send ; Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again in'o its native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on ;! I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if 20 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. Par. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it. 25 Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will presen ly pen down my dilemmas', encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation, and, by midnight, look to hear fur-30 ther from me. Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it? 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 possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewel. Pur. I love not many words [Exit. And this is all I have done: She's a fair creature; 1 Lord. With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt. Florence. The Widow's House. Enter Helena and Widow. Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not she, Hel. Nor would I wish you. First, give me trust, the count he is my husband; 1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water.-Is 40 not this a strange fellow, my lord? that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done: damns himself to do, and dares better be damn'd than do't? 2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we 45 do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after. Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed 50 at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto? 2 Lord. None in the world: but return with an! invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost imboss'd him2, you 55 shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship's respect. 1 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, ere we case him. He was first smok'd by the old lord Lafeu; when his disguise and he is 60 Wid. I should believe you; For you have shew'd me that, which well approves You are great in fortune. Hel. Take this purse of gold, And let me buy your friendly help thus far, The bottom of your purpose. HA. 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, 1A dilemma is an argument that concludes both ways. 2 To imboss a deer is to inclose him in a wood, The word, applied in this sense, being derived from emboscare, Ital. ought properly to be spelled imbasi`d. Meaning, before we strip him naked. 1. e. by discovering herself to the count. Important here means importunute. 3 Το |