you call

Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too.
Laf. Not to be helped,
Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an-
Laf. Uncertain life, and sure death.
Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said.
Laf. I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.

Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in, What do there?

Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.

Par. That's it I would have said; the very same.

Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier:8 'fore me I speak in respect

Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous spirit,” that will not acknowledge it to be the

Laf. Very hand of heaven.
Par. Ay, so I say.
Laf. In a most weak--

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.

Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a

• Why, your dolphin is not lustier:] By dolphin is meant the dauphin, the heir apparent, and the hope of the crown of France. His title is so translated in all the old books.

facinorous spirit,] Facinorous is wicked.

Lustick:] Lustigh is the Dutch word for lusty, chearful, pleasant.

7

8

maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a coranto.

Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Helen?
Laf. 'Fore God, I think so.
King. Go, call before me all the lords in court.-

Exit an Attendant.
Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;
And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense
Thou hast repeal’d, a second time receive
The confirmation of my promis'd gift,
Which but attends thy naming.

Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing, O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice I have to use: thy frank election make; Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.

Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress Fall, when love please !-marry, to each, but one!"

Laf. I'd give bay Curtal,” and his furniture, My mouth no more were broken than these boys', And writ as little beard. King.

Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father.

Hel. Gentlemen, 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 wealthiest, That, I protest, I simply am a maid: Please it your majesty, I have done already:

1

9 O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice-] They were his wards as well as his subjects. HENLEY.

marry, to each, but one!) i. e. except one.

bay Curtal,] i. e. a bay, docked horse. 3 My mouth no more were broken--] A broken mouth is a mouth which has lost part of its teeth. Johnson. VOL. III.

X

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;
We'll ne'er come there again.
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 suit? i Lord. And grant it. 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 eyes, Before I speak, too threateningly replies: Love make your fortunes twenty times above Her that so wishes, and her humble love!

2 Lord. No better, if you please. Hel.

My wish receive, Which great love grant! and so I take

my

leave. 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 hand

should take; I'll never do you wrong

for Blessing upon your vows! and in

your

bed Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

4 Let the white death, &c.] The white death is the chlorosis. The pestilence that ravaged England in the reign of Edward III. was called “ the black death."

the rest is mute.] i. e. I have no more to say to you.

ames-ace-] i. e. the lowest chance of the dice. 7 Laf. Do all they deny her?) None of them have yet denied her, or deny her afterwards, but Bertram. The scene must be so regulated that Lafeu and Parolles talk at a distance, where they may see what passes between Helena and the lords, but not hear it, so that they know not by whom the refusal is made.

Jounsox.

your own sake:

5

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, To make yourself a son out of my

blood. 4 Lord. Fair one, I think not so.

Laf. There's one grape yet,- I am sure, thy father drank wine. But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already Hel. I dare not say, I take you; [To Bertram]

but I give Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Into your guiding power. This is the man. King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's

thy wife. Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your

highness,
In such a business give me leave to use
The help of mine own eyes.
King.

Know'st thou not, Bertram,
What she has done for me?
Ber.

Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry

her. 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:
From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed:
Where great additions 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 ?
If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
I can create the rest: virtue, and she,
Is her own dower; honour, and wealth, from me.

Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't. King. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou should'st

strive to choose. Hel. That you are well restor’d, my lord, I am glad; Let the rest go.