Par. So I say; both of Galen and Paracelsus.
Laf. Of all the learned and authentic fellows,--
Pär. Right; so I say.
Laf. That gave him out incurable, —
Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too.
Laf. Not to be helped,
Par. Right: as 'twere, a man assured of an-
Laf. Uncertain life, and sure death.
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.

Par. That's it I would have said; the very same.

Laf. Why, your dolphin? is not lustier : "?fore me, I speak in respect

Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange; that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the

Laf. Very hand of Heaven.
Par. Ay, so I say.
Laf. In a most weak-

Pår. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence; which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to

be 2

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?
Laf. Fore God, I think so.
King. Go, call before me all the lords in court.-

[Exit an Attendant.
Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;
And with this healthful hand, whose banished sense
Thou hast repealed, a second time receive
The confirmation of my promised gift,
Which but attends thy naming.

Enter several Lords.

2

Fair maid, send forth thine eye. This youthful parcel
Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,
O’er whom both sovereign power and father's voice
I have to use. Thy frank election make;
Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.

Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress Fall, when love please !-Marry, to each, but one ! 3

Laf. I'd give bay Curtal, 4 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, restored the king to health.

All. We understand it, and thank Heaven for you.

Hel. I am a simple maid; and therein wealthiest, That, I protest, I simply am a maid. Please it your majesty, I have done already. The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me, We blush, that thou shouldst choose ; but, be refused,

1

my suit ?

Let the white death sit on thy cheek forever ;
We'll ne'er come there again.
King.

Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me.

Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; And to imperial Love, that god most high, Do my sighs stream.-Sir, will

you

hear
1 Lord. And grant it.
Hel.

Thanks, sir ; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for

my

life.
Hel. The honor, 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 ? 3 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

should take; I'll never do you wrong

for Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

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.

your own sake.

.

Hel. I dare not say, I take you; [To BERTRAM.]

but I give

Me, and my service, ever whilst I live,
Into

your guiding power.—This is the man.
King. Why then, young Bertram, take her; she's

thy wife.

King.

Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your

highness, In such a business give me leave to use The help of mine own eyes.

Know'st thou not, Bertram, What she has done for me? Ber.

Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry her. King. Thou know'st she has raised me from my

sickly bed.
Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down
Must answer for your rising? I know her well;
She had her breeding at my father's charge.
A poor physician's daughter my wife !— Disdain
Rather corrupt me ever!
King. 'Tis only title? thou disdain'st in her, the

which
I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,
Of color, weight, and heat, poured all together,
Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off
In differences so mighty. If she be
All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st,
A poor physician's daughter,) thou dislik’st
Of virtue for the name. But do not so.
From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed;
Where great additions ? swell, and virtue none,
It is a dropsied honor. Good alone
Is good ;-without a name, vileness is so :3

The property by what it is should

go,
Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair ;
In these to nature she's immediate heir ;
And these breed honor; that is honor's scorn,
Which challenges itself as honor's born,
And is not like the sire. Honors best thrive, 2
When rather from our acts we them derive
Than our fore-goers. The mere word's a slave,
Debauched on every tomb; on every grave,
A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb,
Where dust and damned oblivion is the tomb
Of honored bones indeed. What should be said?
If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
I can create the rest. Virtue, and she,
Is her own dower; honor and wealth from me.

Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do’t.
King. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive

to choose. Hel. That you are well restored, my lord, I am glad ; Let the rest go.

King. My honor's at the stake; which to defeat,3 I must produce my power: Here, take her hand, Proud, scornful boy, unworthy this good gift; That dost in vile misprision shackle up My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, We, poising us in her defective scale, Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know, It is in us to plant thine honor, where We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt: Obey our will, which travails in thy good : Believe not thy disdain, but presently Do thine own fortunes that obedient right, Which both thy duty owes, and our power claims; Or I will throw thee from my care forever, Into the staggers 4 and the careless lapse