Par. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them ftill. O, my knave, how does my old Lady

Clo. So that you had her wrinkles and I her mony, I would, fhe did, as you fay.

Par. Why, I say nothing.

Clo. Marry, you are the wifer man; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing: to fay nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.

Par. Away, thou'rt a knave.

Clo. You should have faid, Sir, before a knave, th’art a knave; that's, before me th'art a knave: this had been truth, Sir.

Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee.

Clo. Did you find me in your felf, Sir? or were you taught to find me? the fearch, Sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the encrease of laughter.

Par. A good knave, ï'faith, and well fed.
Madam, my Lord will go away to night,
A very serious bufinefs calls on him.

The great prerogative and rite of love,

A

Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;

But puts it off by a compell'd restraint :

Whose want, and whofe delay, is ftrew'd with sweets Which they diftil now in the curbed time,

To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,

And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel. What's his will elfe?

Par. That you will take your inftant leave o'th' King, And make this hafte as your own good proceeding; Strengthen'd with what apology, you think, May make it probable need.

Hel. What more commands he?

Par. That having this obtain'd, you presently Attend his further pleasure.

Hel.

Hel. (24) In every thing I wait upon his will.
Par. I fhall report it so.

Hel. I pray you. Come, Sirrah.

Enter Lafeu and Bertram.

[Exit Par. [To Clown. [Exeunt.

Laf. But, I hope, your Lordship thinks not him a foldier.

Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
Laf. You have it from his own deliverance.
Ber. And by other warranted teftimony.

Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.

Ber. I do affure you, my Lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant.

Laf. I have then finned against his experience, and tranfgrefs'd against his valour; and my ftate that way is dangerous, fince I cannot yet find in my heart to repent: here he comes; I pray you, make us friends, I will purfue the amity.

Enter Parolles.

Par. These things fhall be done, Sir.
Laf. I pray you, Sir, who's his taylor?

Par. Sir?

Laf. O, I know him well; I, Sir, he, Sir's, a good workman, a very good taylor.

Ber. Is the gone to the King?
Par. She is.

Ber. Will the away to night?
Par. As you'll have her.

[Afide to Parolles.

Ber. I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, given order for our horfes; and to night, when I

(24) Hel. In every Thing I wait upon his Will.

Par. I ball report it fo.

Hel. I pray you come, Sirrah.] The Pointing of Helen's laft fhort Speech ftands thus abfurdly, through all the Editions. My Regulation reftores the true Meaning. Upon Parolles faying, He shall report it fo; Helena is intended to reply, I pray you, do fo; and then, turning to the Clown, She more familiarly addreffes him, and bids him come along with her.

fhould

fhould take poffeffion of the Bride

begin

and ere I do

Laf. A good Traveller is Something at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lyes three thirds, and ufes a known truth to pafs a thoufand nothings with, fhould be once heard and thrice beaten-God fave you, Captain.

Ber. Is there any unkindness between my Lord and you, Monfieur?

Par. I know not, how I have deserved to run into my Lord's difpleasure.

Laf. (25) You have made fhift to run into't, boots and fpurs and all, like him that leapt into the custard; and out of it you'll run again, rather than fuffer queftion for your refidence.

ers.

Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my Lord. Laf. And fhall do fo ever, tho' I took him at's prayFare you well, my Lord, and believe this of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut: the foul of this man is his clothes. Truft him not in matter of heavy confequence: I have kept of them tame, and know their natures. Farewel, Monfieur, I have spoken better of you, than you have or will deserve at my hand, but we must do good against evil. [Exit. Par. An idle Lord, I fwear.

Ber. I think fo.

Par. Why, do you not know him?

(25) You have made fpift to run into't, boots and fpurs and all, like him that leapt into the Custard.] This odd Allufion is not introduc'd, without à View to Satire. It was a Foolery practis'd at City-Entertainments, whilft the Jefter or Zany was in Vogue, for him to jump into a large deep Cuftard; fet for the Purpose, to fet on a Quantity of barren Spectators to laugh; as our Poet fays in his Hamlet. I do not advance this without fome Authority: and a Quotation from Ben Jonson will very well explain it.

He ne'er will be admitted there, where Vennor comes.
He may, perchance, in Tail of a Sherriff's Dinner,
Skip with a Rhyme o'th' Table, from New-Nothing;
And take his Almaine Leap into a Custard,
Shall make my Lady Mayorefs and her Sifters
Laugh all their Hoods over their Shoulders..

VOL. II.

Devil's an Afs, A&t I. Sc. I. D d

Ber:

Ber. Yes, I do know him well, and common Specch Gives him a worthy Pafs. Here comes my Clog.

Enter Helena.

Hel. I have, Sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the King, and have procur'd his Leave For prefent parting; only, he defires

Some private fpeech with you.

Ber. I fhall obey his will.

You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time; nor does
The miniftration and required office

On my particular. Prepar'd I was not
For fuch a bufinefs; therefore am I found
So much unfettled: this drives me to intreat you,
That prefently you take your way for home,
And father mufe, than ask, why I intreat you;
For my refpects are better than they feem,
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than fhews it felf at the firft view,
Το you that know them not. This to my Mother.

[Giving a letter. "Twill be two days ere I fhall fee you, fo

I leave you to your wisdom.

Hel. Sir, I can nothing fay,

But that I am your most obedient servant.
Ber. Come, come, no more of that.
Hel. And ever shall

With true obfervance feek to eke out That,
Wherein tow'rd me my homely stars have fail'd
To equal my great fortune.

Ber. Let That go:

My hafte is very great. Farewel; hie home.
Hel. Pray, Sir, your pardon.

Ber. Well, what would you fay?

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

Nor dare I fay, 'tis mine, and yet it is;

But, like a tim'rous thief, moft fain would fteal
What law does vouch mine own.

Ber. What would you have?

Hel.

Hel. Something, and fcarce fo much

indeed

I would not tell you what I would, my Lord

yes;

Strangers and foes do funder, and not kifs.

nothing,

'faith,

Ber. I pray you, ftay not; but in hafte to horfe.
Hel. (26) I fhall not break your bidding, good my
Lord:

Where are my other men? Monfieur, farewel. [Exit.
Ber. Go thou tow'rd home, where I will never come,
Whilst I can shake my fword, or hear the drum:
Away, and for our flight.
Par. Bravely, Couragio!

(26) Hel. I shall not break your Bidding, good my Lord:
Where are my other Men? Monfieur, farewell.

[Exeunt.

Ber. Go thou toward home, where I will never come,] What other Men is Helen here enquiring after? Or who is She fuppos'd to ask for them? The old Counters, 'tis certain, did not fend her to the Court without fome Attendants: but neither the Clown, nor any of her Retinue, are now upon the Stage: I have pot difturb'd the Text, tho, I fufpect, the Lines fhould be thus plac'd, and pointed. Ber. Where are my other Men, Monfieur? [To Par] Farewell: [To Hel. who goes out.

where I &c.

Go Thou towards home, Bertram, obferving Helen to linger fondly, and wanting to fhift her off puts on a Shew of Hane, asks Parelles for his Servants, and then gives his Wife an abrupt Difmiffion.

ACT