King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; 2 Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majefty! Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants. [Exit. 1 Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will stay behind us! Of the laft Monarchy ;) fee, &c.] This is obfcure. Italy, at the time of this fcene, was under three very different tenures. The emperor, as fucceffor of the Roman emperors, had one part; the pope, by a pretended donation from Conflantine, another; and the third was compos'd of free ftates. Now by the last monarchy is meant the Roman, the last of the four general monarchies. Upon the fall of this monarchy, in the fcramble, feveral cities fet up for themselves, and became free ftates: now these might be faid properly to inherit the fall of the monarchy. This being premifed, let us now confider fenfe. The King fays, higher Italy; giving it the rank of preference to France; but he corrects himself and fays, I except thofe from that precedency, who only inherit the fall of the last monarchy; as all the little petty ftates; for inftance, Florence to whom thefe voluntiers were going. As if he had faid, I give the place of honour to the emperor and the pope, but not to the free ftates. Par. Par. Moft admirable; I have feen thofe wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. Par. An thy mind ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely. Ber. Shall I ftay here the forehorse to a fmock, Creeking my fhoes on the plain masonry, 'Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? by heav'n I'll fteal away. I Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, Count. 2 Lord. I am your acceffary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body. Lord. Farewel, Captain. 2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles! Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good fparks and luftrous. A word, good metals. You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very fword entrench'd it; fay to him, I live, and obferve his reports of me. 2 Lord. We fhall, noble captain. Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what will ye do? Ber. Stay; the King [Exeunt Lords. Par. Ufe a more fpacious ceremony to the noble Lords, you have reftrain'd yourself within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themfelves in the cap of the time, there, to mufter true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence 2 2 they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there, DO mufter true gate, &c.] The main obfcurity of this paffage arifes from the mistake of a single letter. We fhould read, inftead of, do mußter, TO muster. To wear themselves in the cap of the time, fignifies to be the foremost in the fashion: the figurative allufion is to the galantry influence of the most receiv'd ftar; and tho' the devil lead the measure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel. Ber. And I will do fo. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy fword-men. SCENE II. Enter the King, and Lafeu. [Exeunt. Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up. Laf. Then here's a man ftands, that hath bought his pardon. I would, you had kneel'd, my Lord, to ask me mercy; And that at my bidding you could fo ftand up. King. I would, I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for❜t. Laf. Goodfaith, across: but, my good Lord, 'tis thus ; Will you be cur'd of your infirmity? King. No. Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, an if My royal fox could reach them: I have feen a medicine, That's able to breathe life into a stone; Quicken a rock, and make you dance Canary With sprightly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand, King. What her is this? galantry then in vogue, of wearing jewels, flowers, and their miftrefs's favours in their caps. there to mufter true gate, fig nifies to affemble tegether in the high road of the fashion. All the rest is intelligible and easy. Laf. Laf. Why, doctor-fhe: my Lord, there's one arriv'd, If you will fee her. Now, by my faith and honour, If feriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that in her fex, 3 her years, profeffion, Wisdom and conftancy, hath amaz'd me more Than I dare blame my weakness: will you fee her, For that is her Demand, and know her bufinefs? That done, laugh well at me. King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration, that we with thee Laf. Nay, I'll fit you, And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafeu. King. Thus he his fpecial nothing ever prologues. Laf. [Returns.] Nay, come your ways. [Bringing in Helena. King. This hafte hath wings, indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways, This is his Majefty, fay your mind to him; King. Now, fair One, do's your business follow us? Gerard de Narbon was my father, In what he did profefs, well found. King. I knew him. Hel. The rather will I spare my praise toward him; Knowing him, is enough: on's bed of death 3 - her years, profeffion,] By profeffion is meant her declaration of the end and purpofe of her coming. Many Many receipts he gave me, chiefly one, Safer than mine own two: more dear I have fo; King. We thank you, maiden; When our most learned doctors leave us; and Our great felf and our credit, to esteem King. I cannot give thee lefs, to be call'd grateful; Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, When judges have been babes; great floods have flown From |