Ber. Yes, I do know him well; and common

Hel.

And ever shall speech

With true observance seck to eke out that,
Gives him a worthy pass.
Here comes my clog. Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd

To equal my great fortune.
Enter HELENA.

I Ber.

Let that go :
Hel. I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, My haste is very great: Farewell; hie home.
Spoke with the king, and have procur'd his leave Hel. Pray, sir, your pardon.
For present parting; only, he desires,

Ber.

Well, what would you say? Some private speech with you.

Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe; Ber.

I shall obey his will. Nor dare I say, 'tis mine; and yet it is; You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal Which holds not colour with the time, nor does What law does vouch mine own. The ministration and required office

Ber.

What would you have? On my particular : prepar'd I was not

Hel. Something; and scarce so much: -nothing, For such a business; therefore am I found

indeed. So much unsettled : This drives me to entreat you, I would not tell you what I would: my lordThat presently you take your way for Irome ;

'faith, yes ; And rather muse, than ask, why I entreat you : Strangers, and foes, do sunder, and not kiss. For my respects are better than they seem;

Ber. I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse. And my appointments have in them a need,

Hel. I shall not brenk your bidding, good my Greater than shows itself, at the first view,

lord. To you that know them not. This to my mother : Ber. Where are my other men, monsieur?

[Giving a letter.

Farewell.

(Exit Helexa. 'Twill be two days ere I shall see you ; so

Go thou toward home; where I will never come, I leave you to your wisdom.

Whilst I can shake my sword, or hear the drum :Hel.

Sir, I can nothing say, Away, and for our flight. But that I am your most obedient servant.

Par.

Bravely, coragio! Ber. Come, come, no more of that.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

means to come.

SCENE I. - Florence. A Room in the Duke's SCENE II. – Rousillon. A Room in the CounPalace.

tess's Palace.

Enter COUXTESS and Clown. Flourish. Enter the DUKE OF FLORENCE, attended ; two French Lords, and others.

Count. It hath bappened all as I would have had

it, save, that he comes not along with her. Duke. So that, from point to point, now have you Clo. By my troth, I take my young lord to be a heard

very melancholy man. The fundamental reasons of this war;

Count. By what observance, I pray you ? Whose great decision hath much blood let forth, Clo. Wly, he will look upon his boot, and sing; And more thirsts after.

mend the ruff, and sing; ask questions, and sing; 1 Lord.

Holy seems the quarrel pick his teeth, and sing : I know a man that had this Upon your grace's part ; black and fearful trick of melancholy, sold a goodly manor for a songOn the opposer.

Count. Let me see what he writes, and when he Duke. Therefore we marvel much, our cousin

[Opening a letter. France

Clo. I have no mind to Isbel, since I was at Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom court; our old ling and our Isbels o' the country Against our borrowing prayers.

are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o' the 2 Lord.

Good my lord, court : the brains of my Cupid's knocked out ; and The reasons of our state I cannot yield,

I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no But like a common and an outward man,

stomach. That the great figure of a council frames

Count. What have we here? By self-unable motion : therefore dare not

Clo. E'en that you have there.

(Exit. Say what I think of it; since I have found Myself in my uncertain grounds to fail

Count. [Reads.] I have sent you a daughter-inAs often as I guess'd.

law : she hath recovered the king, and undone me. I Duke. Be it his pleasure.

have wedded her, not bedded her; and sworn to make 2 Lord. But I am sure,

the not eternal. You shall hear, I am run awayı the younger of our na

know it, before the report come. If there be breadlá ture, That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day,

enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. Come here for physick.

My duty to you.
Duke.
Welcome shall they be;

Your unfortunate son,

BERTRAM And all the honours, that can fly from us, Shall on them settle. You know your places well ; This is not well, rash and unbridled boy, When better fall, for your avails they fell :

To fly the favours of so good a king; To-morrow to the field. (Flourish. Exeunt. To pluck his indignation on thy head,

ness.

By the misprizing of a maid too virtuous

Count.

Parolles, was't not? For the contempt of empire.

1 Gen. Ay, my good lady, he. Re-enter Clown.

Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedCl. O madam, yonder is heavy news within, be- My son corrupts a well-derived nature tween two soldiers and my young lady.

With his inducement. Count. What is the matter?

1 Gen.

Indeed, good lady, Cie. Nay, there is some comfort in the news, The fellow has a deal of that, too much, some comfort; your son will not be killed so soon

Which holds him much to have. * I thought he would.

Count. You are welcome, gentlemen, Count. Why should he be kill'd ?'

I will entreat you, when you see my son, Cla. So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear To tell him that his sword can never win be does: the danger is in standing to't; that's the The honour that he loses : more I'll entreat you Les of men, though it be the getting of children.

Written to bear along. Here they come, will tell you more : for my part, I

2 Gen.

We serve you, madan., caly hear, your son was run away. [Exit Clown. In that and all your worthiest affairs. Erter HELENA and two Gentlemen.

Count. Not so, but as we change our courtesies.

Will you draw near ?
I Ger. Sare you, good madam.
Hd. Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.

[Exeunt Countess and Gentlemen.

Hel. Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France. 9 Gen. Do not say so. Count. Think upon patience.

Nothing in France, until he has no wife !

- 'Pray you, gen- Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France, tlernen,

Then hast thou all again. Poor lord ! is't I I have felt so many quirks of joy, and grief, That chase thee from thy country, and expose Tbat the first face of neither, on the start,

Those tender limbs of thine to the event Can woman me unto't:- Where is my son, I pray of the none-sparing war ? and is it I you?

That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou 2 Gent. Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark Florence :

Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers, We met him thitherward; from thence we came,

That ride upon the violent speed of fire, And, after some despatch in hand at court,

Fly with false aim ; move the still-piercing air, Thither we bend again. d. Look on his letter, madam ; here's my pass- Whoever shoots at him, I set him there ;

That sings with piercing, do not touch my lord ! port.

Whoever charges on his forward breast, (Reads.) When thou canst get the ring upon my fin- I am the caitiff, that do hold him to it; ET, kich never shall come off, and show me a child And, though I kill him not, I am the cause beestten of thy body, that I am father to, then call His death was so effected : better 'twere,

wa kustand: but in such a then I write a never. I met the ravin lion when he roar'd This is a dreadful sentence.

With sharp constraint of hunger ; better 'twere Caat. Brought you this letter, gentlemen ?

That all the miseries, which nature owes, 1 Gen.

Ay, madam;

Were mine at once: No, come thou home, RouAnd, for the contents' sake, are sorry for our pains.

sillon, Cant. I pr'ythee, lady, have a better cheer;

Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,

As oft it loses all; I will be gone :
Thou robb'st me of a moiety : He was my son ; My being here it is, that holds thee hence :
But I do wash his name out of my blood,

Shall I stay here to do't ? no, no, although
And thou art all my child.—Towards Florence is he? The air of paradise did fan the house,
2 Gen. Ay, madam.

And angels offic'd all: I will be gone; Ceant.

And to be a soldier ? That pitiful rumour may report my flight, 2 Gen. Such is his noble purpose : and, believe't, To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day! The duke will lay upon him all the honour For, with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away. That good convenience claims.

(Exit. Count.

Return you thither? SCENE III. – Florence. Before the Duke's 1 Gen. Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of

Palace. speed.

Flourish. Enter the Duke of FLORENCE, BERHe (Reads.] Till I have no wife, I have nothing

TRAM, Lords, Officers, Soldiers, and others. in France. *Tis bitter.

Duke. The general of our horse thou art; and Count. Find you that there?

we, Hd.

Ay, madam. Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence, 1 Gen. 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, baply, Upon thy promising fortune. which

Ber.

Sir, it is
His beart was not consenting to.

A charge too heavy for my strength: but yet
Cazal. Nothing in France, until he have no wife! We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake,
There's nothing here, that is too good for him, To the extreme edge of hazard.
Bat anly she; and she deserves a lord,

Duke.

Then go thou forth; Tluat twenty such rude boys might tend upon, And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm, And call her hourly, mistress. Who was with him? As thy auspicious mistress ! 1 Gen. A servant only, and a gentleman

Ber.

This very day, Which I have some time known.

Great Mars, I put myself into thy file :

:

Make me but like my thoughts; and I shall prove Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice A lover of thy drum, hater of love. (Exeunt. ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana,

take heed of this French earl : the honour of a SCENE IV. - Rousillon. A Room in the maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as Countess's Palace.

honesty.

Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have Enter COUNTESS and Steward.

been solicited by a gentleman his companion. Count. Alas! and would you take the letter of Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Paher?

rolles : a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for Might you not know, she would do ás she has the young earl. - Beware of them, Diana ; their done,

promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these By sending me a letter ? Read it again.

engines of lust, are not the things they go under : Stew. I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone :

many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the Ambitious love hath so in me offended,

misery is, example that so terrible shows in the That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,

wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade With sainted vow my faults to have amended.

succession, but that they áre limed with the twigs Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war,

that threaten them. I hope I need not to advise My dearest master, your dear son may hie ;

you further ; but, I hope, your own grace will keep Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far,

you where you are, though there were no further His name with zealous fervour sanctify:

danger known, but the modesty which is so lost. His taken labours bid him me forgive ;

Dia. You shall not need to fear me. 1, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth

Enter Helena, in the dress of a pilgrim. From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,

Wid. I hope so. — Look, here comes à pilWhere death and danger dog the heels of worth : He is too good and fair for death and me;

grim : I know she will lie at my house : thither Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.

they send one another ; I'll question her.

God save you, pilgrim! Whither are you bound? Count. Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest Hel. To Saint Jaques le grand. words !

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you ? Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,

Wid. At the Saint Francis here, beside the port. As letting her pass so ; had I spoke with her, Hel. Is this the way? I could have well diverted her intents,

Wid.

Ay, marry, is it. — Hark you! Which thus she hath prevented.

[A march afar off Stew.

Pardon me, madam: They come this way : - If you will tarry, holy If I had given you this at over-night,

pilgrim, She might have been o'er-ta'en ; and yet she writes, But till the troops come by, Pursuit would be but vain.

I will conduct you where you shall be lodgid; Count.

What angel shall The rather, for, I think, I know your hostess
Bless this unworthy husband ? he cannot thrive, As ample as myself.
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear, Hel.

Is it yourself?
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrim.
Of greatest justice. - Write, write, Rinaldo, Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your
To this unworthy husband of his wife :

leisure. Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,

Wid. You came, I think, from France? That he does weigh too light : my greatest grief, Hel.

I did so Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.

Wid. Here you shall see a countryman of yours, Despatch the most convenient messenger :

That has done worthy service. When, haply, he shall hear that she is gone,

Hel.

His name, I pray you. He will return; and hope I may, that she,

Dia. The count Rousillon ; Know you such a Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,

one ? Led hither by pure love: which of them both Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly al Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense To make distinction:- Provide this messenger :

His face I know not. My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;

Dia.

Whatsoe'er he is, Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak. He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,

[Ereunt. As 'tis reported, for the king had married him SCENE V. - Without the Walls of Florence. Against his liking : Think you it is so ?

Hel. Ay, surely, mere the truth; I know his A tucket afar off Enter an old Widow of Flo

lady. rence, Diana, VIOLENTA, MARIANA, and other

Dia. There is a gentleman, that serves the count Citizens.

Reports but coarsely of her. Wid. Nay, come ; for if they do approach the

Hel.

What's his name? city, we shall lose all the sight.

Dia. Monsieur Parolles. Dia. They say, the French count has done most Hel.

0, I believe with him honourable service.

In argument of praise, or to the worth Wid. It is reported that he has taken their of the great count himself, she is too mean greatest commander ; and that with his own hand to have her name repeated; all her deserving he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our la- Is a reserved honesty, and that bour : they are gone a contrary way: hark ! you I have not heard examin'd. may know by their trumpets.

Dia.

Alas, poor lady!

him :

fail you.

Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife

the owner of no one good quality trorthy your lordOs detesting lord.

ship's entertainment. Ft. A right good creature: wheresoe'er she is, 2 Lord. It were fit you knew him ; lest, reposing He heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, her

at some great and trusty business, in a main danger, A shrewd turn, if she pleas'd. | Hd.

How do you mean? Ber. I would, I knew in what particular action ay be, the amorous count solicits her

to try him. a the unlawful purpose.

2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his Fu.

He does, indeed ; drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake And brokes with all that can in such a suit

to do. Carrupt the tender honour of a maid :

1 Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will sudBut she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard denly surprize him; such I will have, whom I am La banestest defenee.

sure, he knows not from the enemy: we rill bind

and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no Exter, with drum and colours, a party of the Flo other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the tentine army, BERTRAM, and PAROLLES.

adversaries, when we bring him to our tents : Be War. The gods forbid else!

but your lordship present at his examination : if he Wid.

So, now they come :- do not, for the promise of his life, and in the That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son ;

highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, That, Escalus.

and deliver all the intelligence in his power against Which is the Frenchman ? you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon

He;

oath, never trust my judgment in any thing. That with the plume : 'tis a most gallant fellow; 2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch

I would, he lord his wife: if he were honester, his drum; he says, he has a stratagem for’t: when i He were much goodlier :- Is't not a handsome your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, gentleman ?

and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will He. I like him well.

be melted, if you give him not John Drum's enterDer. 'Tis pity he is not honest: Yond's that tainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here same knave,

he comes.
That leads him to these places; were I his lady,
I'd poison that vile rascal.

Enter ParoLLES.
Hd.
Which is he?

1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not Diz. That jack-an-apes with scarfs : Why is he the humour of his design : let him fetch off his melsacholy?

drum in any hand. Hd. Perchance he's hurt i'the battle.

Ber. How now, monsieur ? this drum sticks sorely Par. Lose our drum! well.

in your disposition. Ma. He's shrewdly vered at something : Look, 2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a

drum. 1. Marry, hang you !

Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so Ma. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier ! lost ! - There was an excellent command ! to charge

(Eseunt BertraM, PAROLLES, Officers, in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend and Soldiers.

our own soldiers. Fil. The troop is past: Come pilgrim, I will 2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the com

mand of the service; it was a disaster of war that Where you shall host : of enjoin'd penitents

Cæsar himself could not have prevented, if he had There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,

been there to command. Already at my house.

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our sucHd I humbly thank you :

some dishonour we had in the loss of that Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,

drum ; but it is not to be recovered.
To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking, Par. It might have been recovered.
Sall be for the ; and, to requite you further, Ber. It might, but it is not now.
I will bestow some precepts on this virgin,

Par. It is to be recovered : but that the merit of Wathy the note.

service is seldom attributed to the true and exact We'll take your offer kindly. performer, I would have that drum or another, or

[Ereunt. hic jacet.

Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't, monSCENE VI. Camp before Florence. sieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can

bring this instrument of honour again into his naEnter BERTEAM, and the two French Lords.

tive quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprize, and I Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't ; let go on ; I will grace the attempt for a worthy ex

ploit : if you speed well in it, the duke shall both Inde If your lordship find him not a hilding, speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes bodd mae no more in your respect.

his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your I Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. worthiness. Be. Do you think, I ain so far deceived in him? Par. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him Par. I'll about it this evening : and I will preom kineman, he's a most notable coward, an in- sently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself trite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, in my certainty, put myself into my mortal prepar

be bas spied us.

a

bring you

cess :

han bare his way.

me.

ation, and, by midnight, look to hear further from I know not how I shall assure you further,

But I shall lose the grounds I work upon, Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you Wid. Though my estate be fallen, I was we are gone about it?

born, Par. I know not what the success will be, my Nothing acquainted with these businesses ; lord; but the attempt I vow.

And would not put my reputation now Ber. I know, thou art valiant ; and to the possi- In any staining act. bility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Hel.

Nor would I wish you. Farewell.

First, give me trust, the count he is my husband ; Par. I love not many words.

(Exit. And, what to your sworn counsel I have spoken, 1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water. - - Is Is so, from word to word ; and then you cannot, not this a strange fellow, my lord ? that so confi- By the good aid that I of you shall borrow, dently seems to undertake this business, which he Err in testowing it. knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and Wid.

I should believe you ; dares better be damned than to do't.

For you have show'd me that, which well approve 2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we You are great in fortune. do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a Hel.

Take this purse of gold man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of And let me buy your friendly help thus far, discoveries ; but when you find him out, you have which I will over-pay, and pay again, him ever after.

When I have found it. The count he wooes you Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed

daughter, at all of this, that so seriously be does address him- Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, self unto?

Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent, 1 Lord. None in the world; but return with an As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it, invention, and clap upon you two or three probable Now his important blood will nought deny lies : but we have almost embossed him, you shall That she'll demand : A ring the county wears, see his fall to-night: for, indeed, he is not for your That downward hath succeeded in his house, lordship’s respect.

From son to son, some four or five descents 2 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds fox, ere we case him. He was first smoked by the In most rich choice ; yet, in his idle fire, old lord Lafeu : when his disguise and he is parted, To buy his will, it would not seem too dear, tell me what a sprat you shall find him ; which you Howe'er repented after.

1 shall see this very night.

Wid.

Now I see 1 Lord. I must go look my twigs; he shall be The bottom of your purpose. caught.

Hel. You see it lawful then : It is no more, Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, 1 Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you. Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;

[Erit. In fine, delivers me to fill the time, Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and show Herself most chastely absent; after this, you

To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns The lass I spoke of.

To what is past already. 2 Lord. But, you say, she's honest. Wid.

I have yielded : Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once, Instruct my daughter how she shall perséver, And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her, That time and place, with this deceit so lawful, By this same coxcomb that we have i'tlre wind, May prove coherent. Every night he comes Tokens and letters which she did re-send ;

With musicks of all sorts, and songs compos'd And this is all I have done : She's a fair creature ; To her unworthiness: It nothing steads us, Will you go see her?

To chide him from our eaves ; for he persists, 2 Lord.

With all my heart, my lord. As if his life lay on't.
(Ereunt. Hel.

Why then, to-night

Let us assay our plot ; which, if it speed,
SCENE VII. – Florence.' A Roon in the Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
Widow's House.

And lawful meaning in a lawful act;
Where both not sin,

and yet a sinful fact :
Enter HELENA and Widow.
But let's about it.

(Eseunt Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not she,

ACT IV.

SCENE I. - Without the Florentine Camp. seem to understand him ; unless some one amar

us, whom we must produce for an interpreter. Enter first Lord, with five or sir Soldiers in

· 1 Sold. Good captain, let me be the interpreter, ambush.

1 Lord. Art not acquainted with himn? knows 1 Lord. He can come no other way but by this not thy voice ? hedge' corner : When you sally upon him, speak I Sold. No, sir, I warrant you. what terrible language you will; though you under- 1 Lord. But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to spea stand it not yourselves, no matter ; for we must not to us again?