Enter a Page.

Page. Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. [Exit Page.

Par. Little Helen, farewell: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court.

Hel. Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.

Par. Under Mars, I.

Hel. I especially think, under Mars.

Par. Why under Mars?

Hel. The wars have so kept you under, that you must needs be born under Mars.

Par. When he was predominant.

Hel. When he was retrograde, I think, rather. Par. Why think

you so?

Hel. You go so much backward, when you fight. Par. That's for advantage.

Hel. So is running away, when fear proposes the safety; But the composition, that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.

Par. I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee, so thou wilt be capable 28 of a courtier's counsel, and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When thou

27 This is a metaphor from Shakspeare's favorite source; Falconry. A bird of good wing was a bird of swift and strong flight. If your valour will suffer you to go backward for advantage, and your fear, for the same reason, will make you run away, the composition is a virtue that will fly far and swiftly.' Mason thinks we should read-is like to wear well.'

28 Capable and susceptible were synonymous in Shakspeare's time, as appears by the dictionaries. Helen says before:

'heart too capable

Of every line and trick of his sweet favour.'

hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast none,
remember thy friends: get thee a good husband,
and use him as he uses thee: so farewell. [Exit.
Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,
Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky
Gives us free scope; only, doth backward pull
Our slow designs, when we ourselves are dull.
What power is it which mounts my love so high;
That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye 29?
The mightiest space in fortune nature brings
To join like likes, and kiss like native things 30.
Impossible be strange attempts, to those

That weigh their pains in sense; and do suppose,
What hath been cannot be: Who ever strove
To show her merit, that did miss her love?
The king's disease-my project may deceive me,
But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me.

[Exit.

SCENE II. Paris.

A Room in the King's Palace.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the King of France, with Letters; Lords and others attending.

King. The Florentines and Senoys1are by the ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue A braving war.

29 She means,' why am I made to discern excellence, and left to long after it without the food of hope.'

30 The mightiest space in fortune is a licentious expression for persons the most widely separated by fortune; whom nature (i. e. natural affection) brings to join like likes (i. e. equals), and kiss like native things (i. e. and unite like things formed by nature for each other). Or in other words, Nature often unites those whom fortune or inequality of rank has separated.'

1 The citizens of the small republic of which Sienna is the capital. The Sanesi, as Boccaccio calls them, which Painter translates Senois, after the French method.

1 Lord.

So 'tis reported, sir.

King. Nay, 'tis most credible; we here receive it A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, With caution, that the Florentine will move us For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the business, and would seem To have us make denial.

1 Lord. Approv❜d so to your majesty, may plead For amplest credence.

His love and wisdom,

King.

He hath arm'd our answer,
And Florence is denied before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen, that mean to see
The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
To stand on either part.

2 Lord.
It may well serve
A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
For breathing and exploit.

King.

What's he comes here?

Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES.

1 Lord. It is the count Rousillon, my good lord, Young Bertram.

King.

Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May'st thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

Ber. My thanks and duty are your majesty's. King. I would I had that corporal soundness

now,

As when thy father, and myself, in friendship
First tried our soldiership! He did look far
Into the service of the time, and was
Discipled of the bravest : he lasted long;
But on us both did haggish age steal on,

And wore us out of act. It much repairs2 me
To talk of your good father: In his youth
He had the wit, which I can well observe
To-day in our young lords; but they may jest,
Till their own scorn return to them unnoted,
Ere they can hide their levity in honour3.
So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Were in his pride or sharpness: if they were,
His equal had awak'd them*; and his honour,
Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exception bid him speak, and, at this time,
His tongue obey'd his 5 hand: who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place;
And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
Making them proud of his humility,

In their poor praise he humbled: Such a man
Might be a copy to these

younger times;

Which, follow'd well, would démonstrate them now But goers backward.

Ber.

His good remembrance, sir,

Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb;

2 To repair in these plays generally signifies to renovate. Thus, in Cymbeline :

'O disloyal thing

That should'st repair my youth.'

3 That is, 'cover petty faults with great merit:' honour does not stand for dignity of rank or birth, but acquired reputation. This is an excellent observation (says Johnson), jocose follies, and slight offences, are only allowed by mankind in him that overpowers them by great qualities.'

He was

4 Nor was sometimes used without reduplication. so like a courtier, that there was in his dignity of manner nothing contemptuous, and in his keenness of wit nothing bitter. If bitterness or contemptuousness ever appeared, they had been awakened by some injury, not of a man below him, but of his equal.

5 His for its.

So in approof lives not his epitaph,

As in your royal speech.

King. 'Would, I were with him! He would al-
ways say,

(Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words
He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
To grow there, and to bear)—Let me not live,—
Thus his good melancholy oft began,

On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
When it was out,-let me not live, quoth he,
After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff

Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions:This he wish'd:
I, after him, do after him wish too,

Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home,
I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
To give some labourers room.

2 Lord.

They, that least lend it

You are lov'd, sir;

you, shall lack you first. King. I fill a place, I know't.-How long is't,count, Since the physician at your father's died?

He was much fam'd.

Ber.

Some six months since, my lord. King. If he were living, I would try him yet;— Lend me an arm;--the rest have worn me out

With several applications :-nature and sickness
Debate it at their leisure.

My son's no dearer.

Ber.

Welcome, count;

[Exeunt. Flourish.

6 The approbation of his worth lives not so much in his epitaph

as in your royal speech.

7 Who have no other use of their faculties than to invent new

modes of dress.

So in Macbeth:

'Death and nature do contend about them.'

VOL. III.

Y