blowers up! Is there no military policy how virgins might blow up men? Par. Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up; marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lofe your city, It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preferve virginity. Lofs of virginity is rational increase: and there was never virgin got, till virginity was first loft. That you were made of, is metal to make virgins. Virginity, by being once loft, may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is ever loft; 'tis too cold a companion away with't. : Hel. I will ftand for't a little, though therefore I die a virgin. 1 Par. There's little can be faid in't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity, is to accufe your mother; which is most infallible difobedience. As he that hangs himself, fo is a virgin : Virginity murthers itself, and fhould be buried in highways out of all fanctified limit, as a defperate offendrefs against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheefe; confumes itfelf to the very paring, and fo dies with feeding its own ftomach. Befides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of felf-love; which is the most prohibited fin in the canon. Keep it not, you cannot chufe but lofe by't. Out with't: within ten years it will make itself two, which is a goodly increase, and the principal itself 'not much the worfe. Away with't. . 6 Hel. How might one do, Sir, to lose it to her own liking? Par. Let me fee. Marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes. 'Tis a commodity will lofe the glofs with lying. The longer kept, the less worth; off with't while 'tis vendible. Anfwer the time of requeft. Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fathion richly futed, but unfutable : just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which we wear not now. Your date is better in your pye and your porridge, than in your cheek; and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French wither'd pears; it looks ill, it eats drily; marry, 'tis a wither'd pear: it was formerly bet ter; ter; marry, yet 'tis a wither'd pear. Will you any thing with it? Hel. Not my virginity yet. There fhall your master have a thousand loves, A mother, and a mistress, and a friend *; I know not what he fhall-God fend him well!- Hel. That I wifh well-tis pity Par. What's pity? Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't Enter Page. Page. Monfieur Parolles, My Lord calls for you. [Exit Page. Par. Little Helen, farewel; if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court. Hel. Monfieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable ftar. Par. Under Mars, I. Hel. I especially think under Mars. Par. Why under Mars? Hel. The wars have kept you fo under, that you muft needs be born under Mars. Par. When he was predominant. Hel. When he was retrograde, I think rather. Par. Why think you fo? Hel. You go fo much backward, when you fight. Par. That's for advantage. Hel. So is running away, when fear propofes fafety: but the compofition, that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good ming; and I like the wear well. Par. I am fo full of busineffes, as I cannot anfwer thee acutely I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my inftruction fhall ferve to naturalize thee, fo thou wilt be capable of courtier's counfel, and underftand what advice fhall thruft upon thee; elfe thou dieft in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewel. When thou haft leifure, fay thy prayers; when thou haft none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband, and use him as he ufes thee fo farewel. [Exit. S CE NE IV. "Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we afcribe to Heav'n. The fated sky Gives us free fcope; only doth backward pull Our flow defigns, when we ourselves are dull. What power is it which mounts my love fo high, That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye? The mightieft fpace in fortune nature brings To join like likes, and kifs like native things. Impoffible be strange attempts to those That weigh their pain in fenfe, and do fuppofe, What hath been, cannot be. Whoever ftrove To fhew 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. Changes to the court of France. Flourish cornets. Enter the king of France with letters, and divers attendants. King. The Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue A braving war. 1 Lord. So 'tis reported, Sir. King King. Nay, 'tis moft credible; we here receive it, A certainty vouch'd from our coufin Auftria ; With caution, that the Florentine will move us For fpeedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the bufinefs, and would feem To have us make denial. I Lord. His love and wisdom, Approv'd fo to your Majefty, may plead For ample credence. King. He hath arm'd our anfwer; And Florence is deny'd, before he comes: 2 Lord. It may well ferve A nursery to our gentry, who are fick King. What's he comes here? Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. 1 Lord. It is the Count Roufillon, my good Lord, Young Bertram. King. Youth, thou bear'ft thy father's face. Frank nature, rather curious than in hafte, Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May't thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris. Ber. My thanks and duty are your Majefty's. King. I would I had that corporal foundness now, As when thy father and myself in friendship First try'd our foldierfhip: he did look far Into the fervice of the time, and was Difcipled of the brav'ft. He lafted long; But on us both did haggish age steal on, And wore us out of act. It much repairs me To talk of your good father; in his youth He had the wit which I can well obferve To-day in our young lords; but they may jeft, Till their own fcorn return to them unnoted, Ere they can hide their levity in honour:" So like a courtier, no contempt or bitterness Were in him; pride or fharpnefs, if there were, His equal had awak'd them; and his honour, Clock Clock to itself, knew the true minute when Exceptions bid him fpeak; and at that time His tongue obey'd his 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; and his humility, In their poor praise, he humbled. Such a man Which, follow'd well, would now demonstrate them But goers backward. Ber. His good remembrance, Sir, Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb; As in your royal speech. King. Would I were with him! he would always fay, (Methinks I hear him now; his plaufive words He fcatter'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 fnuff Of younger fpirits, whofe apprehensive fenfes All but new things difdain; whofe judgments are Mere fathers of their garments; whofe conftancies Expire before their falhions :- this he wifh'd. I, after him, do after him wish too (Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home) I quickly were diffolved from my hive, To give fome labourer room. 2 Lord. You're loved, Sir; They that leaft lend it you, fhall lack you firft. King. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, Count, Since the phyfician at your father's died? He was much fam'd. Ber. Some fix months fince, my Lord. King. If he were living, I would try him yet; Lend me an arm; the reft have worn me out With feveral applications; nature and fickness My fon's no dearer. Ber. Thank your Majefty. B 2 [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE |