Hel. Then, I confess, Here on my knee, before high heav'ns and you, My friends were poor, but honeft; fo's my love; That he is lov'd of me; I follow him not Nor would I have him, 'till I do deserve him; The fun that looks upon his worshipper, But knows of him no more. My dearest Madam, Hel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by Grace it felf, I swear. For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me, More than they were in note: amongst the rest, Το To cure the defperate languifhings, whereof Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, fpeak? Hel. My lord your fon made me to think of this; Elfe Paris, and the medicine, and the King, Had from the converfation of my thoughts, Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your fuppofed aid, Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him: Hel. There's fomething in't More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st Shall for my legacy be fanctified By th' luckiest stars in heav'n; and, would your honour But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's Cure, By fuch a day and hour. Count. Doft thou believ't? Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt have my leave and love; Means and attendants; and my loving greetings [Exeunt ACT SCENE, the Court of France. Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. F KING. Arewel, young Lords: thefe warlike principles wel; Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain, 1 Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; Of worthy French men; (6) let higher Italy (Thofe Of the last Monarchy;) see, &c.] This feems to me One of the very obfcure Paffages of Shakespeare, and which therefore may very well demand Explanation. Italy, at the time of this Scene, was under three very different Tenures. The Emperor, as Succeffor of the Roman Emperors, had one Part; the Pope, by a pretended Donation from Constantine, another; and the Third was compos'd of free States. Now by the last Monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, feveral Cities set up for Themselves, and became free States : Now these might be faid properly to inherit the Fall of the Monarchy. This being premifed, now to the Sense, The King says, (Thofe 'bated, that inherit but the Fall Of the laft Monarchy ;) fee, that you come 2 Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majesty ! King. Thofe girls of Italy,take heed of them; They fay, our French lack language to deny, If they demand: beware of being captives, Too Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants. [Exit. 1 Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will ftay behind us! Par. "Tis not his fault; the spark 2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars. Par. Moft admirable; I have feen thofe wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, 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 mafonry, 'Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? by heav'n, I'll steal away. I Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, Count. 2 Lord. I am your acceflary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body. Higher Italy; giving it the Rank of Preference to France; but he corrects himfelf and fays, I except Thofe from that Precedency, who only inherit the Fall of the last Monarchy; as all the little petty States; for inftance, Florence to whom thefe Voluntiers were going. As if he had said, I give the Place of Honour to the Emperor and the Pope, but not to the free States. All here is clear; and 'tis exa&ly Shakespeare's Manner, who lov'd to fhew his Reading on fuch Occafions. Mr. Warburton. 1 Lord. 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. 7) 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. 1 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 restrain'd your self within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time; there, do muster true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the moft receiv'd star; and tho' the devil lead the meafure, 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 moft finewy fword-men. Enter the King, and Lafeu. . [Exeunt. Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. Laf. Then here's a man stands, that hath bought his I would, you had kneel'd, my Lord, to ask me mercy; (7) You shall find in the Regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio, his Cicatrice, with an Emblem of War here on his finister Cheek;] It is furprizing, none of the Editors could fee that a flight Tranfpofition was abfolutely neceffary here, when there is not common Sense in the Paffage, as it ftands without fuch Tranfpofition. Parolles only means, "You fhall find one Captain "Spurio in the Camp with a Scar on his left Cheek, a Mark of War that my Sword gave him." VOL. III. B King. |