Clo. I will show myself highly fed, and lowly Count. Haste you again. [Exeunt severally. taught: I know my business is but to the court. Count. To the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt ? But to the court! SCENE III.-Paris. A room in the King's Pelace. Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any our philosophical persons, to make modern and manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that familiar things, supernatural and causeless. Hence cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and is it, that we make trifles of terrors; ensconcing say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were submit ourselves to an unknown fear. not for the court; but, for me, I have an answer will serve all men. Count. Marry, that's a bountiful answer, that fits all questions. Clo. It is like a barber's chair, that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock. Count. Will your answer serve to fit all questions? Clo. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffata punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's fore-finger, as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth; nay, as the pudding to his skin. Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions? Clo. From below your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit any question. Count. It must be an answer of most monstrous size, that must fit all demands. Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis. Laf. To be relinquished of the artists, Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus. Luf. That gave him out incurable,- Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an- Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said. Laf. I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world. Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in,—What do you call there? Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor. I Par. That's it I would have said: the very same. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me speak in respect Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all facinorous' spirit, that will not acknowledge it to that belongs to't: Ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn. be the Laf. Very hand of heaven. Laf. In a most weak Par. And debile minister, great power, great Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier? Clo. O Lord, sir,-There's a simple putting off;-transcendence: which should, indeed, give us 3 more, more, a hundred of them. further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to be Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Thick, thick, spare not me. Count. I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your Ő Lord, sir, is very sequent' to your whipping; you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't. Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, Helena, and attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here comes the king. Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a coranto. Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Helen? Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side; serve ever. And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel Fall, when love please!-marry, to each, but one !s (6) Lustigh is the Dutch word for lusty, cheerful Laf. I'd give bay Curtal,' and his furniture, My mouth no more were broken than these boys', And writ as little beard. King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor'd the king to All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever; King. Hel. A poor physician's daughter my wife-Disdain King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, be Where great additions swell, and virtue none, Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life. Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes, Before I speak, too threateningly replies: Love make your fortunes twenty times above Her that so wishes, and her humble love! 2 Lord. No better, if you please. Hel. My wish receive,| Which great love grant! and so I take my leave. Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine, I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of. Hel. Be not afraid [To a Lord.] that I your hand I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them. Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, To make yourself a son out of my blood. 4 Lord. Fair one, I think not so. Laf. There's one grape yet,-I am sure, thy father drank wine.-But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. Hel. I dare not say I take you; [To Bertram.] Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your In such a business give me leave to use King Yes, my good lord; Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down, Must answer for your raising? I knew her well; She had her breeding at my father's charge: (1) A docked horse. (2) i. e. I have no more to say to you. (3) The lowest chance of the dice. I can create the rest: virtue and she, Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I am King. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat, Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit Ber. (4) i. e. The want of title. (5) Titles. (6) Good is good independent of any worldly Idistinction, and so is vileness vile. Par. Recantation ?-My lord ? my master? Laf. The devil it is, that's thy master. Why dost thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of thy sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'd beat thee: methinks, thou art a geneoffence, and every man should beat thee. I think, thou wast created for men to breath3 them Par. A most harsh one; and not to be under-ral stood without bloody succeeding. My master? Laf. Are you companion to the count Rousillon? selves upon thee. Par. To any count; to all counts; to what is Par. This is hard and undeserved measure, my man. lord. Laf. To what is count's man; count's master is.Laf. Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for of another style. Par. You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old. Laf. I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring thee. Par. What I dare too well do, I dare not do. Laf. I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might pass yet the scarfs, and the bannerets, about thee, did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and that thou art scarce worth. Par. Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,- Laf. Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou hasten thy trial; which if-Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee well; thy casement I need not open, for I look through thee. Give me thy hand. Par. My lord, you give me most egregious indignity. Laf. Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it. Par. I have not, my lord, deserved it. picking a kernel out of a pomegrante; you are a know not yet. Par. Ay, that would be known: To the wars, my boy, to the wars! He wears his honour in a box unseen, Luf. Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I That hugs his kicksy-wicksy here at home; will not bate thee a scruple. Par. Well, I shall be wiser. Laf. E'en as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf, and beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge; that I may say, in the default, he is man I know. a Par. My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation. Laf. I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor doing eternal: for doing I am past; as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me leave. [Exit. Spending his manly marrow in her arms, Ber. It shall be so; I'll send her to my house, To the dark house, and the detested wife. Par. Will this capricio hold in thee, art sure? Ber. Go with me to my chamber, and advise me. I'll send her straight away: To-morrow Par. Well, thou hast a son shall take this dis- I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow. grace off me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord!Par. Why, these balls bound: there's noise in it. Tis hard; Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet A young man, married, is a man that's marr'd: him with any convenience, an he were double and Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go: double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his age, The king has done you wrong; but, hush! 'tis so. than I would have of-I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again. Re-enter Lafeu. Laf. Sirrah, your lord and master's married, [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. Another room in the same. Enter Helena and Clown. Hel. My mother greets me kindly: Is she well? Clo. She is not well; but yet she has her health; (3) Exercise. (4) A cant term for a wife. (5) The house made gloomy by discontent. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. she's very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be given, she's very well, and wants nothing i' the world; but yet she is not well. Hel. If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's not very well? Clo. Truly, she's very well, indeed, but for two things. Hel. What two things? Clo. One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other, that she's in earth, from whence God send her quickly! Enter Parolles. Par. Bless you, my fortunate lady! Hel. I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes. Par. You had my prayers to lead them on: and to keep them on, have them still.-O, my knave! How does my old lady? Clo. So that you had her wrinkles, and I her money, I would she did as you say. Par. Why, I say nothing. Clo. Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing: To say 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. Pur. Away, thou art a knave. Clo. You should have said, sir, before a knave thou art a knave; that is, before me thou art a knave: this had been truth, sir. Par. Goto, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee. Clo. Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter. Par. A good knave, i'faith, and well fed.Madam, my lord will go away to-night; A very serious business calls on him. The great prerogative and rite of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off by a compell'd restraint; 237 Ber. I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant. and transgressed against his valour; and my Laf. I have then sinned against his experience. my heart to repent. Here he comes; I pray. that way is dangerous, since I cannot yet fin make us friends. I will pursue the amity. Enter Parolles. Par. These things shall be done, sir. [To Bertra Laf. Pray you, sir, who's his tailor? Ber. Is she gone to the king? [Aside to Parolles. Ber. Will she away to-night? Par. As you'll have her. Ber. I have writ my letters, casketted my trea- When I should take possession of the bride,- ter end of a dinner; but one that lies three thirds, Ber. Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur? into my lord's displeasure. and spurs, and all, like him that leap'd into the Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my lord. this of me, There can be no kernel in this light Laf. And shall do so ever, though I took him at his prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe nut; the soul of this man is his clothes: trust him not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept Whose want, and whose delay, is strewed with of them tame, and know their natures.-Farewell, sweets, Which they distil now in the curbed time, To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy, And pleasure drown the brim. What's his will else? Hel. the king, And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will. I pray you.-Come, sirrah. SCENE V. Another room in the same. [Exeunt. Enter Laf. But, I hope, your lordship thinks not him a soldier. Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. Laf. You have it from his own deliverance. Ber. And by other warranted testimony. Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.2 (1) A specious appearance of necessity. 2) The bunting nearly resembles the sky-lark; monsieur: I have spoken better of you, than you have or will deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil. Par. An idle lord, I swear. Ber. I think so. Par. Why, do you not know him? [Exit. Ber. Yes, I do know him well; and common speech Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog. Ber. Enter Helena. Hel. I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, but has little or no song, which gives estimation to Greater than shows itself, at the first view, Let that go: My haste is very great: Farewell; hie home. Ber. Well, what would you say? I would not tell you what I would: my lord-'faith, yes; And all the honours, that can fly from us, Clo. By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man. Count. By what observance, I pray you? 5 Clo. Why, he will look upon his boot, and sing; mend the ruff, and sing; ask questions, and sing pick his teeth, and sing: I know a man that had this trick of melancholy, sold a goodly manor for a song. Count. Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come. [Opening a letter. Clo. I have no mind to Isbel, since I was at court: our old ling, and our Isbels o' the country, are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels a the court: the brains of my cupid's knocked out; and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach. [Exit. Strangers, and foes, do sunder, and not kiss. Bravely, coragio! [Exe. ACT III. SCENE 1.-Florence. A room in the Duke's Palace. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, attended; two French Lords, and others. Duke. So that, from point to point, now have The fundamental reasons of this war; 1 Lord. Holy seems the quarrel Duke. Therefore we marvel much, our cousin Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom Duke. Be it his pleasure. 2 Lord. But I am sure, the younger of our That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day, Duke. (1) Possess. Re-enter Clown. Clo. O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between two soldiers and my young lady. Count. What is the matter? Clo. Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I thought he would. Count. Why should he be kill'd? Clo. So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does: the danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of men, though it be the getting of children. Here they come, will tell you more: for my part, I only hear, your son was run away. [Exit Clown. Enter Helena and two Gentlemen. 1 Gent. Save you, good madam. Hel. Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone. 2 Gent. Do not say so. Count. Think upon patience.-'Pray you, gen- I have felt so many quirks of joy, and grief, na-Can woman me unto't :-Where is my son, I pray Welcome shall they be; (2) i. e. I cannot inform you of the reasons. 73) One not in the secret of affairs. (4) As we say at present, our young fellows. 2 Gent. Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of We met him thitherward; from thence we came, (5) The folding at the top of the boot. (6) i. e. Affect me suddenly and deeply, as our Isex are usually affected. |