2 Gent. Madam, he's gone to ferve the Duke of Florence. བག ། དར We met him thitherward, for thence we came; Hel. Look on this letter, Madam; here's my pafsport. 3 When thou canst get the ring, upon my finger, which never shall come off; and fhew me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then call me buf band: but in fuch a Then I write a Never. This is a dreadful fentence. Count. Brought you this letter, gentlemen? 1 Gent. Ay, Madam, and, for the contents' fake, are forry for our pains. Count. I pr'ythee, lady, have a better cheer. If thou engroffeft all the griefs as thine, Thou robb'ft me of a moiety: he was my fon, But I do wash his name out of my blood, And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he? 2 Gent. Ay, Madam. Count. And to be a foldier? 2 Gent. Such is his noble purpose; and, believe't, The Duke will lay upon him all the honour That good convenience claims. Count. Return you thither? 1 Gent. Ay, Madam, with the swifteft wing of speed. Hel. 'Till I bave no wife, I have nothing in France. 'Tis bitter. [Reading. Count. Find you that there? Hel. Yes, Madam. 3 When thou can't get the ring, upon my finger,] i. e. When thou can't get the ring, which is on my finger, into thy poffeffion. The Oxford Editor, who took it the other way, to fignify, when thou can't get it on upon my finger, very fagaciously alters it to, When tbou can get the ring from my finger. 1 Gent. 1 Gent. 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, happ'ly, which his heart was not confenting to. Count. Nothing in France, until he have no wife? That twenty fuch rude boys might tend upon, Count. Parolles, was't not? 1 Gent. Ay, my good lady, he. Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness: My fon corrupts a well-derived nature With his inducement. 4 1 Gent. Indeed, good lady, the fellow has a deal of that too much, which holds him much to have. Count. Y'are welcome, gentlemen; I will intreat you, when you see my fon, to tell him, that his fword can never win the honour that he lofes: more I'll intreat you written to bear along. 1 Gent. We serve you, Madam, in that and all your worthieft affairs. Count. Not fo, but as we change our courtefies. Will you draw near? [Exeunt Countess and Gent. Hel. 'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France. Nothing in France, until he has no wife! 4 a deal of that too much, which holds him much to have.] That is, his vices ftand him in ftead. Helen had before deliver'd this thought in all the beauty of expreffion. -- I know him a notorious lyar; Think him a great way fool, folely a coward; That they take place, while virtue's fleely bones But the Oxford Editor reads, Which boves him not much to have. Thou Thou shalt have none, Roufillon, none in France; That drive thee from the fportive court, where thou Fly with false aim; pierce the ftill-moving air, 5 move the ftill-piercing air, That fings with piercing] The words are here odly shuffled into nonsense. We should read, pierce the ftill moving air, That fings with piercing, i.. pierce the air, which is in perpetual motion, and fuffers no injury by piercing. SCENE SCENE V. Changes to the Duke's Court in Florence. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, Drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, Parolles. Duke.' TH HE General of our Horfe thou art, and we, credence Upon thy promifing fortune. Ber. Sir, it is A charge too heavy for my ftrength; but yet Duke. Then go forth, And fortune play upon thy profp'rous helm, Ber. This very day, Great Mars, I put myself into thy file; Make me but like my thoughts, and I fhall prove A lover of thy drum; hater of love. SCENE VI. Changes to Roufillon in France. "Enter Countefs and Steward. [Exeunt, Count. A Las! and would you take the letter of her? Might you not know, fhe would do, as fhe has done, By fending me a letter? Read it again.. LETTER. LETTER. I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone; Ah, what fharp ftings are in her mildeft words? Stew. Pardon, Madam, If I had given you this at over-night She might have been o'er-ta'en; and yet the writes, Purfuit would be but vain. Count. What angel fhall Blefs this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, When |