Hel. But will you make it even? What husband in thy power I will command: [serv'd, King. Here is my hand; the premises ob- rest Unquestion'd welcome, and undoubted biest.-- SCENE II. Enter Countess and Clown. [Exeunt. Count. It must be an answer of most monstrous size, that must fit all demands. Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all 5 that belongs to 't: Ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn. 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 10 courtier? 15 20 Clo. O Lord, sir,- -There's a simple put- -Thick,thick, spare not me. Clo. O Lord, sir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. You were lately whipp'd, sir, as I think. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your O Lord, sir, is very sequent to your whipping; you 25 would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't. Count. Come on, sir; I shall now put you to 336 the height of your breeding. Clo. I will shew myself highly fed, and lowly taught: I know my business is but to the court. Count. But to the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court! 35 Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man he may easily put it off at court: he any manners, that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, bands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, such a fellow, to say 49 precisely, were 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 but-45| tocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock. Count. Will your answer serve fit to all questions? Clo. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffaty punk, 50 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. 55 Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions? Cio. From be ow your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit any question. Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in myO Lord, sir: I see, things may serve long, but not serve ever. again. Count. I play the noble housewife with the Clo. Not much commendation to them. Count. Not much employment for you: You understand me? Clo. Most fruitfully; I am there before my legs. [Excunt. Count. Haste you again. SCENE III. The Court of France. Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Purolles. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrors; ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear 3. Laf. To be relinquish'd of the artists,- This alludes to an ancient custom of marrying with a rush ring, as well in other countries as in England; but was scarce ever practised except by designing men, for the purpose of corrupting 2 A ridicule on that foolish expletive of those young women to whom they pretended love 'Fear here means the object of fear. Par. speech, then in vogue at court. Par. Right, so I say. Laf. That gave him out incurable,— Par. Right; as 'twere, a man assur'd of an- Par. Just, you say well: so would I have said. Laf. Imay truly say, it is a novelty to the world. Pur. It is indeed: if you will have it in shewing, you shall read it in,-What do you call there?Laf. A shewing 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 Luf. Very hand of heaven. Laf. In a most weak 20 Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendance: which should, indeed, give us a farther use to be made, than alone the recovery 25 of the king; as to be Laf. Generally thankful. Enter King, Helena, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well: Here! comes the king. Luf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better, while I have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a corranto. Par. Mort du Viruigre! Is not this Helen? King.Go,call before me all the lords in court.- Enter several Lords. 30 Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute 7. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life. [eyes, Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair Before I speak, too threatningly 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 whipt; or I would send them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of. Hel. Be not afraid that I your hand should take; I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: 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 of her: sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them. [good, Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too 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 drunk wine.But if thou be'st not an 35 ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. 40 Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel King. Peruse them well: 50 [health. 55 Not one of those but had a noble father. Hel. I dare not say, I take you; but I give Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Into your guiding power. This is the man. [To Bertram. King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's thy wife. [highness, Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your In such a business give me leave to use The help of mine own eyes. King. Know'st thou not, Bertram, What she hath done for me? Ber. Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry her. King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly bed. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down Must answer for your raising? 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! [which King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, 60 Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off In differences so mighty: If she be Meaning, had lost no more of his teeth. e. silence. All ¡A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. [king, King. Good fortune, and the favour of the [10] All that is virtuous (save what thou dislik'st, 15 Is her own dower: honour and wealth, from me. strive to chuse. Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I'm Let the rest go. King. My honour's at the stake; which to de- I must produce my power: Here, take her hand, Lof. Your lord and master did well to make his recantation. Par. Recantation?My lord? my master? Pur. A most harsh one; and not to be under- man. Lef. To what is count's man; count's master is of another style. Par. You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old. Lof. 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 30 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 35 thee again, I care not; yet art thou good for nothing but taking up'; and that thou art scarce worth. 1401 Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know, Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise 50 Par. Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity Jupon thee, Laf. Do not plunge thyselftoo 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, deserv'd it. Laf. Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not bate thee a scruple. Pur. 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 55bound in thy scarf, and beaten, thous a't find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to Thold my acqa tance with thee, or rather my 'The French verb defaire (from whence our defeat) signifies to free, to d sembarrass, as well as to destroy; and in this sense, we apprehend, defeat is here used. 2 Alloding to that species of the staggers, or the horses' apoplexy, which makes the animal dash himself with destructive violence against posts or walls. The brief is the contract of espousal, or the licence of the church, in which the especial cause shall be assigned. * Ordinary here means dinner. To take up means to contradict, to call to account, as well as to pick of the ground. knowledge; knowledge; that I may say in the default', he is a man I know. 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. Par. Well, thou hast a son shall take this dis 5 Which should sustain the bound and high curvet Ber. It shall be so; I'll send her to my house, grace off me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord!-10Where noble fellows strike War is no strife Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with any convenience, an he were double and double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his To the dark house, and the detested wife. age, than I would have of-I'll beat him, an if I[15]I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow. Re-enter Lafeu. Laf. Sirrah, your lord and master's marry'd, there's news for you; you have a new mistress. Par. I most unfeignedly beseech your lord-20 ship to make some reservation of your wrongs: He is my good lord: whom I serve above, is iny master. Laf. Who? God? 25 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 30 hours younger, I'd beat thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and every man should beat thee. I think, thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee. Par. This is hard and undeserved measure, 35 my lord. Laf. Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a pomegranate ; you are a vagabond, and no true traveller: you are more saucy with lords, and honourable personages, 40 than the heraldry of your birth and virtue gives you commission. You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you. [Ex. Enter Bertram. Par. Good, very good; it is so then.-Good, 45 very good; let it be conceal'd a while. Ber. Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever! [sworn, 50 Pur. What? what, sweet-heart? Pur. Ay, that would be known: To the wars, He wears his honour in a box unseen, Par. Why, these balls bound; there's noise A young man married, is a man that's marr'd: So. SCENE IV. Enter Helena and Clown. Hel. My mother greets me kindly; Is she well? Clo. She is not well; but yet she has her health: she's very merry; but yet she's not well: but, thanks be given, she's very well, and wants nothing i' the world; but 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 on 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 have 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. Par. Away, thou'rt a knave. Clo. You should have said, sir, before a knave, thou art a knave; that is, before me, thou art a 55 knave; this had been truth, sir. Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee. Clo. Did you find me yourself, sir? or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was 60 profitable; and much fool may you find is you, even to the world's pleasure, and the increase of laughter. 1i. e. at a need. Doing is here used obscenely. is a made word in ridicule and disdain of a wife. 4 3 Sir T. Hanmer observes, that kicksy-wicksy Probably meaning a smoky house. Act 2. Scene 5.] Par. A good knave, i'faith, and well fed.- Hel. What's his will else? [king, Par. That you will take your instant leave o' the Hel. What more commands he? Pur. That, having this obtain'd, you presently Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will. 10 and you, monsieur? Par. I know not how I have descrv'd to runs into my lord's displeasure. Laf. You have made shift to run into't, boot and spurs and all, like him that leap'd into the cus➡ tard; and out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer question for your residence. Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my lord. Laf. And shall do so ever, though I took him at's prayers. Fare you well, my lord: and believe this of me, There can be no kernel in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes: trust hum not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them tame, and know their natures.15 Farewell, monsieur: 1 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. Hel. I pray you.-Come, sirrah. [To the Clown. 20 SCENE V. Enter Lafeu and Bertram. [Exeunt. Laf. But, I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier. 25 Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. Ber. I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant. Ber. I think so. Par. Why, do you not know him? [Exit. Ber. Yes, I know him well; and common speech Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog. Enter Helena. Hel. I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the king, and have procur'd his leave For present parting; only, he desires Some private speech with you. Ber. I shall obey his will. You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, Luf. I have then sinned against his experience, Par. These things shall be done, sir. Lauf. O, I know him well: Ay, sir; he, sir, is a very good workman, a very good taylor. Ber. I have writ my letters, casketed my trea-50Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd Given order for our horses; and to-night, [sure, Laf. A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three thirds, and 55 uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten.God save you, captain. Ber. Is there any unkindness between my lord! That is, a specious appearance of necessity. duced without a view to satire. To equal my great fortune. Ber. Let that go : My haste is very great: Farewel; hie home. Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe1; Theobald says, that this odd allusion is not intro It was a foolery practised at city entertainments, whilst the jester or 3 i. e. wonder. zany was in vogue, for him to jump into a large deep custard, set for the purpose, to set on a quantity of burren spectators to laugh, as our poet says in his Hamlet. |