They say, our French lack language to deny, Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. [The King retires to a couch. 1 Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark 2 Lord. O, 'tis brave wars ! Par. Most admirable; I have seen those wars! Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with; Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, steal away bravely. Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry, Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn, But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away. 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body. Lord. Farewell, captain. 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles ! Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals ;-You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me. Before you serve.] The word serve is equivocal; the sense is, Be not captives before you serve in the war. But one to dance with!] It should be remembered that, in Shakspeare's time, it was usual for gentlemen to dance with swords Our author gave to all countries the manners of his own. on. 2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? Ber. Stay the king [Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there, do muster true gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell. Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows; and, like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES. Enter LAFEU. Laf. Pardon, my lord, [kneeling.] for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up. Then here's a man Laf. That, at my bidding, you could so stand up. 2 they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there, do muster true gait, &c.] The obscurity of the passage arises from the fantastical language of a character like Parolles, whose affectation of wit urges his imagination from one allusion to another, without allowing time for his judgment to determine their congruity. The cap of time being the first image that occurs, true gait, manner of eating, speaking, &c. are the several ornaments which they muster, place, or arrange in time's cap. This is done under the influence of the most received star; that is, the person in the highest repute for setting the fashions:-and though the devil were to lead the measure, or dance of fashion, such is their implicit submission, that even he must be followed. HENLEY. 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, 'tis thus; Will you be cured My noble grapes, an if my royal fox Could reach them: I have seen a medicine, Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary", To give great Charlemain a pen in his hand, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she; My lord, there's one arrived, In this my light deliverance, I have spoke across :] This word is used when any pass of wit miscarries. While chivalry was in vogue, breaking spears against a quintain was a favourite exercise. He who shivered the greatest number was esteemed the most adroit; but then it was to be performed exactly with the point, for if achieved by a side stroke, or across, it showed unskilfulness, and disgraced the practiser. 5 6 7 medicine,] Is here put for a she-physician. dance canary,] A kind of dance. her years, profession,] By profession is meant her declaration of the end and purpose of her coming. 8 Than I dare blame my weakness:] Lafeu's meaning appears to me to be this :-" That the amazement she excited in him was so great, that he could not impute it merely to his own weakness, but to the wonderful qualities of the object that occasioned it." M. MASON. (For that is her demand) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me. King. 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. King. This haste hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways; [Exit. This is his majesty, say your mind to him : Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him ; Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death Many receipts he gave me ; chiefly one, Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so : Cressida. Cressid's uncle,] I am like Pandarus. See Troilus and well found.] i. e. of known, acknowledged, excellence. I come to tender it, and my appliance, With all bound humbleness. King. We thank you, maiden ; not be so credulous of cure, But may To émpiricks; or to dissever so Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. King. I cannot give thee less to be call'd grateful : Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, From simple sources; and great seas have dried, Oft expectation fails, and most oft there Where most it promises; and oft it hits, Where hope is coldest, and despair most sits. 2 When miracles have by the greatest been denied.] i. e. disbelieved, or contemned. |