Hel.

Your pardon, noble mistress!

Count. Love you my son?

Hel.

Do not you love him, madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The state of your affection; for your passions Have to the full appeach'd.

Hel.

Then, I confess,
Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son : —

My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:
Be not offended; for it hurts not him,

That he is loy'd of me: I follow him not

By any token of presumptuous suit;

Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him ;
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible sieve,
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore

The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do: but, if yourself,
Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever, in so true a flame of liking,

Wish chastely, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love; O then, give pity
To her, whose state is such, that cannot choose
But lend and give, where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.
Count. Had you not lately an intent, speak truly,
To go to Paris?

Hel.
Count.

Madam, I had.

1

Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear. You know, my father left me some prescriptions Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading, And manifest experience, had collected

For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me
In heedfullest reservation to bestow them,

As notes, whose faculties inclusive were

More than they were in note: amongst the rest, There is a remedy, approv'd,, set down,

To cure the desperate languishes, whereof

The king is render'd lost.

Count.

For Paris, was it? speak.

This was your motive

Hel. My lord your son made me to think of

this;

Else Paris, and the medicine, and the king,
Had, from the conversation of my thoughts, .
Haply, been absent then.

Count.

But think you, Helen, If you should tender your supposed aid,

He would receive it? He and his physicians
Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,
They, that they cannot help: How shall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,

Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

Hel.

There's something hints, More than my father's skill, which was the greatest Of his profession, that his good receipt Shall, for my legacy, be sanctified

By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would

honour

But give me leave to try success, I'd venture
The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure,
By such a day, and hour.

Count.

Dost thou believe't?

Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly.

your

Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave,

and love,

s Appearance.

6 Exhausted of their skill.

Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings
To those of mine in court; I'll stay at home,
And pray God's blessing into thy attempt:
Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

Paris. A Room in the King's Palace.

Flourish. Enter King, with young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and Attendants.

King. Farewell, young lord, these warlike principles

Do not throw from you: -and you, my lord, fare

well:

Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all,
The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,

And is enough for both.

1 Lord.

After well-enter'd soldiers, to return

It is our hope, sir,

heart

And find your grace in health.

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my

Will not confess he owes the malady

1

That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the sons
Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy
(Those 'bated, that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy ',) see, that you come

7 i. e. The Roman empire.

Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when

8

The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek, That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty !

King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; They say, our French lack language to deny, If they demand: beware of being captives, Before you serve. Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewell. - Come hither to me.

9

[The King retires to a couch.

1 Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay be

hind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark.

2 Lord.
O, 'tis brave wars !
Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars.
Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil'

with

Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, steal away bravely.

Ber. I shall stay here

Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,
Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn,
But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.
1 Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par.

Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.

1 Lord. Farewell, captain.

2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles !

Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals:

8 Seeker, enquirer.

9 Be not captives before you are soldiers.

VOL. III.

1 In a bustle.

S

You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword entrenched it say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me.

2 Lord. We shall noble captain.

Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? Ber. Stay: the king

[Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu; be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time2, there, do muster true gait3, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure 4, such are to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.

Ber. And I will do so.

Par. Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.

[Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROlles.

Enter LAFEU.

Laf. Pardon, my lord, [Kneeling.] for me and for my tidings.

King. I'll fee thee to stand up.

Laf

Then here's a man

Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you
Had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy; and
That, at my bidding, you could so stand up.
King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,
And ask'd thee mercy for't.

Laf.

Goodfaith, across ':

But, my good lord, 'tis thus; Will you be cur'd
Of your infirmity?

2 They are the foremost in the fashion.
3 Have the true military step.

4 The dance.

5 Unskilfully; a phrase taken from the exercise at a quintaine.