.

To cure the desperate languishings, whereof
The King is render'd lost.

Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak?
Hel. My lord your fon 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,
Embowelld of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to it self?

Hel. There's something in't
More than my father's skill, (which was the great't
Of his Profession,) that his good receipt
Shall for my legacy be fanctified
By th' luckiest stars in heav'n; and, would your

honour But give me leave to try success, I'd venture

The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's Cure,
By such a day and hour.
Count. Doft thou believ't?
Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly.
Count. Why, Helen, thou Thalt have my leave and

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

[Exeunt.

ACT

Als

an

A CT II. SCENE, the Court of France. Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles.

Flourish Cornets.

KING.

F

Arewel, young Lords: these warlike principles
Do not throw from you: you, my Lords, fare-

wel;
Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain,
The gift doth stretch it self as ’tis receiv'd,
And is enough for both.

i Lord. "Tis our hope, Sir,
After well-enter'd soldiers, to return
And find your Grace in health.

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart
Will not confess, it owns the malady
That doth my life besiege; farewel, young Lords ;
Whether I live or die, be you the sons
Of worthy French men ; (6) let higher Italy

(Those
let higher Italy
(Those bated, that inherit but the Fall

of the last Monarchy:) see, &c.] This seems to me One of the very obscure Passages of Shakespeare, and which therefore may very well demand Explanation. Italy, at the time of this Scene, was under three very different Tenures. The Emperor, as Successor of the Roman Emperors, had one Part; the Pope, by a pretended Donation from Conftantine, another; and the Third was compos'd of free States. Now by the last Monarchy is meant the Roman, the last of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, several Cities set up for themselves, and became free.States: Now these might be said properly to inberit the Fall of the MoDarchy. This being premised, now to the Sense. The King lays,

(Those 'bated, that inherit but the Fall
Of the last Monarchy ;) see, that you come
Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when
The brave Queftant Arinks, find what you seek,
That Fame may cry you loud : I say, farewel.

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. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants.

[Exit. i Lord. Oh, my sweet Lord, that you will fay be

hind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark 2 Lord. Oh, '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, fteal away bravely.

Ber. Shall I stay here the forehorse to a smock,
Creeking my shoes on the plain masonry,
'Till Honour be bought up, and no sword worn
But one to dance with? by heav'n, I'll steal away.

i Lord. There's honour in the theft.
Par. Commit it, Count.
2 Lord. I am your accessary, and so farewel.

Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body.

Higher Italy; giving it the Rank of Preference to France; but he corrects himself and says, I except Those from that Precedency, who only inherit the Fall of the last Monarchy; as all the little petty States; for instance, Florence to whom these Voluntiers were going As if he had said, I give the place of Honour to the Emperor and the Pope, but not to the free States. All here is clear; and 'ris exa&ly Shakespeare's Maoner, who lov'd to new his Reading on such Occasions. Ms. Warburton.

i Lord,

1 Lord. Farewel, Captain. 2 Lord. Sweet Monsieur Parolles!Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin ; good sparks and lustrous. A word, good metals. 1) You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very sword entrench'd it ; say to him, I live, and observe his reports

of me.

1 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars doat on you for his novices ! what will

ye do?

fword-men.

Ber. Stay; the King

[Exeunt Lords. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble Lords, you have restrain’d your self within the list of too cold an adieu ; be more expressive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time ; there, do muster true gate, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd star; and tho' the devil lead the mea. sure, such are to be follow'd : after them, and take a more dilated farewel. "Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove moft finewy

[Exeunt. Enter the King, and Lafeu. Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings.

. . King. I'll fee thee to stand up. Laf. Then here's a man stands, that hath bought his

pardon. I would, you had kneeld, my Lord, to ask me mercy ; And that at my bidding you could fo stand up.

(1) Tou shall find in the Regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio, bis Cicatrice, with an Emblem of War here on his sinister Cheek ;] It is surprizing, none of the Editors could see that a fight Transposition was absolutely necessary here, when there is not common Sense in the Passage, as it stands without such Transposition. Parolles only means," You shall find one Captain

Spurio in the Camp with a Scar on his left Cheek, a Mark of War that my Sword gave him.". VOL. III

B

King

King. I would, I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee

mercy

for't. Laf. Goodfaith, across : but, my good Lord, 'tis Will you be cur'd of your infirmity ?

thus ;

King. No.

Laf. 0, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, my noble

grapes ; an if My royal fox could reach them : (8) I have seen a

Medcin,
That's able to breathe life into a stone;
Quicken a rock, and make you dance Canary
With sprightly fire and motion; whose fimple touch
Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,
To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,
And write to her a love-line.

King. What her is this?
Laf. Why, doctor-lhe: my Lord, there's one ar-

riv'd,
If you will see her. Now, by my faith and honour,
If seriously I may convey my thoughts
In this my light deliverance, I have spoke
With one, that in her sex, her years, profession,
Wisdom and constancy, hath amaz’d me more
Than I dare blame my weakness : will you see her,
For that is her Demand, and know her business?
That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,
Bring in the admiration, that we with thee
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,
By wond'ring how thou took'it it.

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,
And not be all day neither.

[Exit Lafeu. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

(8) i have seen a Medecine,] Lafen does not mean that he has feen a Remedy, but a Person bringing such Remedy. I there. fore imagine, our Author used the French Word, Medecin, i. e a Physician ; this agrees with what he subjoins immediately in Reply to the King, Why, Doctor-She; -and write to her a Love-line.

Laf.