misdoubt: Pray you leave me: stall this in | That truth should be suspected: Speak, is't so? your bosom, and I thank you for your honest Enter HELENA. Count. Even so it was with me, when I was young: thorn If we are nature's, these are ours; this Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong; Our blood to us, this to our blood is born; It is the show and seal of nature's truth, Hel. Good madam, pardon me! Hel. Do not you love him, madam? Where love's strong passion is impress'd in Whereof the world takes note: come, come, youth: By our remembrances of days foregone, them none. Her eye is sick on't; I observe her now. I am a mother to you. Hel. Mine honourable mistress. Why not a mother? When I said a mother, Methought you saw a serpent: What's in mother, That you start at it? I say, I am your mother; breeds A native slip to us from foreign seeds : Count. I say, I am your mother. The count Rousillon cannot be my brother: Count. Nor I your mother? Hel. You are my mother, madam; 'Would you were (So that my lord, your son, were not my brother,) [mothers, Indeed, my mother!-or were you both our I care no more for, than I do for heaven, So I were not his sister: Can't no other, But I your daughter, he must be my brother? Count. Yes, Helen, you might be my daugh[mother, God shield, you mean it not! daughter, and So strivet upon your pulse: What pale again? My fear hath catch'd your fondness: Now I The mystery of your loneliness, and find [see Your salt tears' head. Now to all sense 'tis ter-in-law; The state of your affection; for your passions Have to the full appeach'd. Hel. Then, I confess, Here on my knee, before high heaven and you, My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love, The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, dam, Let not your hate encounter with my love, Hel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear. You know, my father left me some prescriptions. Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading, Count. This was your motive Hel. My lord your son made me to think of this; Else Paris, and the medicine, and the king, Had from the conversation of my thoughts, Haply, been absent then. Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your supposed aid, He would receive it? He and his physicians Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him, They, that they cannot help: How shall they credit A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools, * I. c. Whose respectable conduct in age proves that you were no less virtuous when young. 1. c. Venus. #Receipts in which greater virtues were enclosed that appared Embowell'd of their doctrine,* have left off Hel. There's something hints, [greatest By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour But give me leave to try success, I'd venture The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure, By such a day, and hour. Count. Dost thou believe't? Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave, and love, [ings Means, and attendants, and my loving greetTo those of mine own court; I'll stay at home, And pray God's blessing into thy attempt: Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this, What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE I-Paris.-A Room in the King's Palace. Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry, 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body. 1 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. 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 withFlourish. Enter KING, with young LORDS in the list of too cold an adieu: be more extaking leave for the Florentine war; BER-pressive to them; for they wear themselves in TRAM, PAROLLES, and attendants. King. Farewell, young lord, these warlike principles Do not throw from you:-And you, my lord, farewell: Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all, The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd, And is enough for both. 1 Lord. It is our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd soldiers, to return And find your grace in health. King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confess he owes the malady That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young Whether I live or die, be you the sons [lords; Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy (Those 'bated, that inherit but the fall Of the last monarchy,†) see, that you come Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when The bravest questant‡ shrinks, find what you seek, That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell. 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty ! King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; They say, our French lack language to deny, Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. Par. 'Tis not his fault: the spark- Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars. 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, 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. Laf. O, will you eat No grapes, my royal fox? yes, but you will, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she: My lord, there's one arriv'd, [honour, If you will see her, now by my faith and If seriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that, in her sex, her years, profession,tt Wisdom, and constancy, hath amazed me more *In Shakspeare's time it was usual for gentlemen to dance with swords on. †They are the foremost in the fashion. Have the true military step. The dance. Unskilfully; a phrase taken from the exercise at a quaintaine. A female physician. ** A kind of dance. tt By profession is meant her declaration of the object of her coming. see her Than I dare blamé my weakness: Will you [ness? (For that is her demand,) and know her busiThat 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, By wond'ring how thou took'st it. Laf. Nay, I'll fit you, And not be all day neither. [Exit LAFEU. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA. Laf. Nay, come your ways. 'This is his majesty, say your mind to him: follow us? Hel. Ay, my good lord. Gerard de Narbon wards him; Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death I come to tender it, and my appliance, King. We thank you, maiden; King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful: [give, Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I As one near death to those tirat 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: He that of greatest works is finisher, Oft does them by the weakest minister: So holy writ in babes bath judgement shown, When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown [dried, From simple sources; and great seas have When miracles have by the greatest been denied.T Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid: Proffers, not took, reap thanks for their reward. Hel. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd: It is not so with him that all things knows, As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows: But most it is presumption in us, when The help of heaven we count the act of men. Dear Sir, to my endeavours give consent; Of heaven, not me, make an experiment, I am not an impostor, that proclaim Myself against the level of mine aim;* But know I think, and think I know most sure, My art is not past power, nor you past cure. King. Art thou so confident? Within what Hop'st thou my cure? [space Hel. The greatest grace lending grace, Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring; Ere twice in murk and occidental damp Moist Hesperust hath quench'd his sleepy lamp; Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass; What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly, Health shall live free, and sickness freely die. King. Upon thy certainty and confidence, What dar'st thou venture? Hel. Tax of impudence, A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,— Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name With vilest torture let my life be ended. Sear'd otherwise; no worse of worst extended, King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth speak; His powerful sound, within an organ weak: In common sense, sense saves another way. Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die; [fee: And well deserv'd: Not helping, death's my But, If I help, what do you promise me? 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: King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd, I. e. Pretend to greater things than befits the med;ocrity of my condition. The evening star. gifts enjoyed by thee 1. e. May be counted among the 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 question. 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 Mayday, 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. I play the noble housewife with the time, to entertain it so merrily with a fool. Clo. O Lord, Sir,-Why, there't serves well again. Count. An end, Sir, to your business: Give And arge her to a present answer back: Clo. Not much commendation to them. Count. Not much employment for you: Yon understand me? Clo. Most fruitfully; I am there before my legs. Count. Haste you again. [Exeunt severally. SCENE III.-Paris.-A Room in the King's Palace. Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern* and familiar things, supernatural and causeless. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrors; ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.t Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times, Ber. And so 'tis. Laf. To be relinquished of the artists,----Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus.. Laf. Of all the learned and authentic fellows, Par. Right, so I say. Laf. That gave him out incurable,- Par. Right: as 'twere a man assured of an--- Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in,-What do you Count. It must be an answer of most mon-call there?strous 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. Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor. Par. That's it I would have said; same. the very Laf. Why, your dolphint is not lustier; 'fore Count. To be young again, if we could: Ime I speak in respect will be a fool in question, hoping to be the Par. Nay 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that wiser by your answer. I pray you, Sir, are is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of you a courtier? a most facinorius) spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the 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. Clo. O Lord, Sir,-Thick, thick, spare not me. Count. I think, Sir, you can eat none of this homely meat. Clo. O Lord, Sir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. You were lately whipped, Sir, as I think. Cie. O Lord, Sir,-Spare not me. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, Sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your O Lord, Sir, is very sequent* to your whipping: you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't. Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-O Lord, Sir: I see, things may serve long, but not serve ever. Properly follows', Laf. Very hand of heaven. Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to beLaf. Generally thankful. Enter KING, HELENA, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. wan Laf. Lustic, as the Dutchman says: I'll lik a maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in head: Why, he's able to lead her a corant Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Laf. 'Fore God, I think so. King. Go, call before me all seen, court. [Ex * Ordinary † Fear means here. t The dauphin. ere at home: her arms, 1 and high Lustig is the Dutch word for luant term Laf. I'd give bay Curtal, and his furniture, My mouth no morewere broken than these boys', And writ as little beard. King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. Heaven hath, through me, restor'd the king to health. All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. Hel. I am a simple maid; and therein wealthThat, I protest, I simply am a maid ::- -[iest, Please it your majesty, I have done already. The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me, We blush, that thou should'st choose; but, be refus'd, Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever: King. Make choice; and see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; And to imperial Love, that god most high, Do my sighs stream.-Sir, will you hear my 1 Lord. And grant it. [suit? Hel. Thanks, Sir; all the rest is mute.{ Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life. Hel. The honour, Sir, that flames in your fair Before I speak, too threateningly replies: Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine, I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of. Hel. Be not afraid [To a LORD] that I your I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her: sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them. Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, o make yourself a son out of my blood. Lord. Fair one, I think not so. There's one grape yet,-I am sure, thy *Tam wine.-But if thou be'st not an ass, † Of acknow An allusionards as well as subjects. I. e. When aning Bertram. This must reore to say to you. Red Sen when m A docked horse. { The lowest I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. Hel. I dare not say, I take you; [To BER- Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your In such a business give me leave to use King. Know'st thou not, Bertram, Ber. Yes, my good lord; [her. But never hope to know why I should marry King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly bed. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down Must answer for your raising? I know her well; She had her breeding at my father's charge: A poor physician's daughter my wife!--Disdain Rather corrupt me ever! King. 'Tis only title* thou disdain'st in her, the which I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off In differences so mighty: If she be All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st, A poor physician's daughter,) thou dislik'st Of virtue for the name: but do not so: [ceed, From lowest place when virtuous things proThe place is dignified by the doer's deed: Where great additionst swell, and virtue none, It is a dropsied honour: good alone Is good, without a name: vileness is so ;‡ The property by what it is should go, Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair; In these to nature she's immediate heir; And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn, Which challenges itself as honour's born, And is not like the sire: Honours best thrive, When rather from our acts we them derive Than our fore-goers; the mere word's a slave, Debauch'd on every tomb; on every grave, A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb, Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said? [me. If thou canst like this creature as a maid, Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I Let the rest go. I [defeat, I. c. The want of title. |