When, haply, he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return, and hope I may, that he,
Hearing fo much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love. Which of them both
Is dearest to me, I've no skill in fenfe

To make diftinction; provide this meffenger;
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and forrow bids me fpeak.
[Exeunt.

SCENE

VII.

Changes to a publick Place in Florence.

A Tucket afar off.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and Mariana, with other Citizens.

Wid. N city, we fhall lofe all the fight.

AY, come. For if they do approach the

Dia. They fay, the French Count has done most honourable fervice.

Wid. It is reported, that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he flew the Duke's brother. We have loft our labour, they are gone a contrary way: hark, you may know by their trumpets.

Mar. Come, let's return again, and fuffice ourfelves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French Earl; the honour of a maid is her name, and no legacy is fo rich as honesty.

Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been follicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know that knave, (hang him!) one Parolles; a filthy officer he is in thofe fuggeftions for the young Earl; beware of them, Diana; their promifes, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all thefe engines of

luft,

luft, are the things they go under; many a maid hath been feduced by them; and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible fhews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceffion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, tho' there were no further danger found, but the modesty which is fo loft.

Dia. You fhall not need to fear me.

Enter Helena, difguis'd like a Pilgrim.

Wid. I hope foLook, here comes a pilgrim; I know, fhe will lye at my houfe; thither they fend one another; I'll queftion her: God fave you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?

6 are not the things they go under:] Mr.Theobald explains these words by, They are not really fo true and fince reas in appearance they feem 10 be. He found fomething like this fenfe would fit the paffage, but whether the words would fit the fenfe he seems not to have confidered. The truth is, the negative particle fhould be ftruck out, and the words read thus, are the things they go under; i. e. they make use of oaths, promises, &c. to facilitate their defign upon us. The allufion is to the military ufe of cover'd-ways, to facilitate an approach or attack; and the Scene, which is a befieged city, and the perfons fpoken of who are foldiers, make the phrafe very proper and natural. The Oxford Editor has adopted this correction, tho' in his ufual way, with a bur; and reads, art but the things they go under.

7 no further KNOWN, but the modefty which is fo loft.] Mariana advifes Diana not to believe young foldiers' oaths and promises; fhews her the mifchiefs attendant on the lofs of honour; and concludes, that the ought to be careful to preferve that, tho' the were fure the should feel no other ill confequence than only the lofs of her modesty. From hence it appears we fhould read, no further danger FOUND, but the modefty which is fo loft. Not only on account of the antithefis restored by the word found, which refers to left, a thing which in Shakespear's writing is not to be overlooked, but principally because the queftion here is not concerning the bare knowledge of the confequences of a woman's lofing her honour, but concerning Diana's experience of this matter in her own cafe; with which the reading here propofed can only agree.

Hel.

Hel. To St. Jaques le Grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?

Wid. At the St. Francis, befide the port.

Hel. Is this the way?

[A march afar off.

Wid. Ay, marry, is't. Hark you, they come this

way.

If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, but 'till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you fhall be lodg'd;
The rather, for, I think, I know your hoftefs
As ample as myself.

Hel. Is it yourfelf?

: Wid. If you fhall please fo, pilgrim.

Hel. I thank you, and will ftay upon your leisure.
Wid. You came, I think, from France.
Hel. I did fo.

Wid. Here you fhall fee a countryman
That has done worthy fervice.

Hel. His name, I pray you?

4

of

yours,

Dia. The Count Roufillon: know you fuch a one? Hel. But by the ear, that hears moft nobly of him;. His face I know not

Dia. Whatfoe'er he is,

He's bravely taken here. He ftole from France,
As 'tis reported; for the King had married him
Againft his liking. Think you, it is fo?

Hel. Ay, furely, meerlye truth; I know his lady. Dia. There is a gentleman that ferves the Count, Reports but courfely of her.

.

Hel. What's his name?

Dia. Monfieur Parolles.

Hel. Oh, I believe with him,

In argument of praife, or to the worth

Of the great Count himself, the is too mean

8

MEER THE truth] We should read, MEEKLY truth,

i. e. certainly. So Sir Thomas Moore,

that we may merelye meet in heaven.

Το

To have her name repeated; all her deferving
Is a referved honesty, and That

I have not heard examin'd.

Dia.

Alas, poor lady!

'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife Of a detefting lord.

Wid. Ah! right; good creature! wherefoe'er the is Her heart weighs fadly; this young maid might do her A fhrewd turn, if the pleas'd.

Hel. How do you mean?

May be, the am'rous Count follicits her

In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And brokes with all, that can in such a fuit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:

But fhe is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honefteft defence.

Drum and Colours. Enter Bertram, Parolles, Officers and Soldiers attending.

Mar. The Gods forbid elfe!

Wid. So now they come :

That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest fon;

Dia. He;

That with the plume; 'tis a moft gallant fellow;
I would, he lov'd his wife! if he were honefter,
He were much goodlier. Is't not a handfome gentleman?
Hel. I like him well.

Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honeft; yond's that fame knave,

That leads him to thefe places; were I his lady,
I'd poifon that vile rascal.

VOL. III.

F

Hel

Hel. Which is he?

Dia. That jack-an-apes with fcarfs. Why is he melancholy?

Hel. Perchance, he's hurt i'th' battel..

Par. Lofe our drum! well:

Mar. He's fhrewdly vex'd at fomething. Look,

he has fpied us.

Wid. Marry, hang you!

[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, &c. Mar. And your courtefie, for a ring-carrier! Wid. The troop is paft: come, pilgrim, I will bring you,

Where you fhall hoft: Of injoyn'd penitents
There's four or five, to great St. Jaques bound,
Already at my houfe...

Hel. I humbly thank you:

Please it this matron, and this gentle maid
To eat with us to night, the charge and thanking
Shall be for.me: and to requite you further,

I will beftow fome precepts on this virgin

Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

IX.

Enter Bertram, and the two French Lords.

1. Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't: let him have his way.

2 Lord. If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your refpect.

1 Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble.

Ber, Do you think, I am fo far deceiv'd in him? 1. Lord Believe it, my lord, in mine own direc knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinfman; he's a moft notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promife-breaker; the

Owner

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