Laf. Not to be helped, Par. Right; as 'twere, a man assured of an- 137 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 Par. 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 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? VOL. XII. 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 banish'd sense The confirmation of my promis'd gift, Which but attends thy naming. Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake. King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor❜d the king to health. Please it your majesty, I have done already : King. Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute. suit? Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw amesace 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 Hel. My wish receive, Which great love grant! and so I take my leave. Laf. Do they all 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 should take; 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] 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. Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your high ness, In such a business give me leave to use The help of mine own eyes. King. 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. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st, It is a dropsied honour: good alone Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair; Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb I can create the rest: virtue, and she, Is her own dower: honour, and wealth, from me. Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I am glad; Let the rest go. King. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat, My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, Shall weigh thee to the beam: that wilt not know We please to have it grow: Check thy contempt: |