LETTER.

gone;

I am* St. Jaques' pilgrim, thither
Ambitious love bath fo in me offended,
That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,
With fainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that from the bloody curse of war
My dearest mafter, your dear fon, may bie
Blefs him at home in peace, whilst I from far
His name with zealous fervour fanctify.
His taken labours bid him me forgive;

I, his defpightful + Juno, fent him forth
From courtly friends, with camping foes to live;
Where death and danger dog the heels of worth.
He is too good and fair for death and me,
Whom I myself embrace, to fet him free.

3

Ah, what sharp ftings are in her mildeft words?
Rynaldo, you did never lack advice fo much,
As letting her pafs fo; had I fpoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus fhe hath prevented.

Stew. Pardon, Madam,

If I had given you this at over-night

She might have been o'er ta'en; and yet fhe writes, Purfuit would be but vain.

Count. What angel fhall

Blefs this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear,
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greateft juftice. Write, write, Rynaldo,
To this unworthy hufband of his wife;

St. Jaques' pilgrim,-] I do not remember any place famous for pilgrimages confecrated in Italy to St. James, but it is common to vifit St. James of Compoftella, in Spain. Another Saint might easily have been

found, Florence being fomewhat out of the road from Roufillon to Campoftella.

Juno,] Alluding to the ftory of Hercules."

3

Advice, is difcretion or

thought.

Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Tho' little he do feel it, fet down fharply.
Dispatch the moft convenient meffenger;
When, haply, he fhall hear that she is gone,
He will return, and hope I may, that she,
Hearing fo much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love. Which of them both
Is dearest to me, I've no fkill in fenfe

To make diftinction; provide this meffenger;
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and forrow bids me speak.

SCENE VII.

[Exeunt.

Changes to a publick Place in Florence.
A Tucket afar off.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and
Mariana, with other Citizens.

Wid.

N

AY, come. For if they do approach the city, we fhall lofe all the fight.

Dia. They fay, the French Count has done most honourable fervice.

Wid. It is reported, that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he flew the Duke's brother. We have loft our labour, they are gone a contrary way: hark, you may know by their trumpets.

Mar. Come, let's return again, and fuffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French Earl; the honour of a maid is her name, and no legacy is fo rich as honefty.

Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been folicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know that knave, (hang him!) one Parolles; a filthy officer he is in thofe fuggeftions for the young Earl; beware of them, Diana; their promifes,

entice

enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of luft, are not the things they go under; many a maid hath been feduced by them; and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible fhews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceffion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modesty which is fo loft.

Dia. You fhall not need to fear me.

Enter Helena, difguifed like a Pilgrim.

Wid. I hope fo.Look, here comes a pilgrim; I know, fhe will lie at my houfe; thither they fend one another; I'll queftion her; God fave you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?

Hel. To St. Jaques le Grand.

mers lodge, I do beseech you?

Where do the pal

Wid. At the St. Francis, befide the port.

Hel. Is this the way?
Wid. Ay, marry, is't.

way.

4 are not the things they go undir;] Mr. Theobald explains thefe words by, They are not really fo true and fincere as in appearance thy feem to be. He found fomething like this fenfe would fit the paffage, but whether the words would fit the fenfe he feems not to have confidered. The truth is, the negative particle fhould be ftruck out, and the words read thus, are the things they go under; i. e. they make use of oaths, promifes, &to facilitate their defign upon us. The allufion is to the military ufe of cover'd ways, to fa

[A march afar off. Hark you, they come this

cilitate an approach or attack; and the Scene, which is a befieged city, and the perfons spoken of, who are foldiers, make the phrafe very proper and natural. The Oxford Editor has adopted this correction, tho' in his ufual way, with a but; and reads, are but the things they go under. WARBURTON.

I think Theobald's interpreta. tion right; to go under the name of any thing is a known expreffion. The meaning is, they are not the things for which their names would make them pafs.

If

If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, but 'till the troops

come by,

I will conduct you where you fhall be lodg'd;
The rather, for, I think, I know your hoftess
As ample as myself.

Hel. Is it yourself?

Wid If you fhall please fo, pilgrim.

Hel. I thank you, and will ftay upon your lei fure. Wid You came, I think, from France.

Eel. I did fo.

Wid Here you fhall fee a countryman of yours, That has done worthy fervice.

Hel. His name, I pray you?

Dia. The Count Roufllen: know you fuch a one? Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him; His face I know not.

Dia. Whatfoe'er he is.

He's bravely taken here. He ftole from France,
As 'tis reported; for the King had married him
Against his liking. Think you, it is fo?

Hel, Ay, furely, meer the truth; I know his lady. Dia. There is a gentleman, that serves the Count, Reports but coarfely of her.

Hel. What's his name?

Dia. Monfieur Parolles.

Hel. Oh, I believe with him,

In argument of praife, or to the worth

Of the great Count himfelf, fhe is too mean
To have her name repeated; all her deferving
Is a referved honefty, and that

I have not heard examin'd 5.

Dia. Alas, poor lady!

'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife

Of a detefting lord.

Wid. Ah! right; good creature! wherefoe'er she is,

5-examined] That is, queftion'd, doubted.

Her

Her heart weighs fadly; this young maid might do her

A fhrewd turn, if she pleas'd.

Hel. How do you mean?

May be, the am'rous Count folicits her

In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And brokes with all, that can in fuch a fuit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid;

But fhe is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honefteft defence.

Drum and Colours. Enter Bertram, Parolles, Officers and Soldiers attending.

Mar. The Gods forbid elfe!

Wid. So, now they come :

That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest fon;

That, Efcalus.

Hel. Which is the Frenchman?

Dia. He;

That with the plume; 'tis a moft gallant fellow;
I would, he lov'd his wife! if he were honester,
He were much goodlier. Is't not a handsome gentle-
man?

Hel. I like him well.

Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honeft; yond's that fame

knave',

That leads him to thefe places; were I his lady,
I'd poifon that vile rafcal.