To cure the defperate languishings, whereof Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak ? Had from the converfation of my thoughts, Count. But think you, Helen, If you fhould tender your fuppofed aid, Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him: Hel. There's fomething in't More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st Shall for my legacy be fanctified By th' luckieft ftars in heav'n; and, would your honour But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's Cure, By fuch a day and hour. Count. Doft thou believ't? Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt have my leave and love; Means and attendants; and my loving greetings [Exeunt. ACT ACT II. SCENE, the Court of France. Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. F KING. Arewel, young Lords: these warlike principles wel; Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain, 1 Lord. "Tis our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; Of worthy French men; (6) let higher Italy (Thofe Of the last Monarchy;) see, &c.] This feems to me One of the very obfcure Paffages 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 Succeffor 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 laft of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, feveral Cities fet up for Themselves, and became free States: Now thefe might be faid properly to inherit the Fall of the Monarchy. This being premised, now to the Sense. The King says, (Thofe 'bated, that inherit but the Fall Of the laft Monarchy ;) fee, that you come 2 Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majefty! King. Thofe girls of Italy,take heed of them; They fay, our French lack language to deny, If they demand: beware of being captives, Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants. [Exit. Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will ftay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the fpark 2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars. Par. Moft admirable; I have seen thofe 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 ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely. Ber. Shall I ftay here the forehorse to a smock, Creeking my fhoes on the plain masonry, 'Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? by heav'n, I'll fteal away. I Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, Count. 2 Lord. I am your acceffary, and fo 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 fays, I except Those from that Precedency, who only inherit the Fall of the laft Monarchy; as all the little petty States; for inftance, Florence to whom these Voluntiers were going. As if he had faid, I give the Place of Honour to the Emperor and the Pope, but not to the free States. All here is clear; and 'tis exactly Shakespeare's Manner, who lov'd to new his Reading on fuch Occafions. Mr. Warburton. 1 Lord. ་ 1 Lord. Farewel, Captain. 2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles!Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good fparks and luftrous. A word, good metals. 7) You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finister cheek; it was this very fword entrench'd it; fay to him, I live, and observe his reports of me. 1 Lord. We fhall, noble captain. Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what will ye do? Ber. Stay; the King [Exeunt Lords. Par. Ufe a more fpacious ceremony to the noble Lords, you have reftrain'd your self within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time; there, do muster true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd star; and tho' the devil lead the meafure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel. Ber. And I will do fo. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy fword-men. [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 kneel'd, my Lord, to ask me mercy; And that at my bidding you could fo ftand up. (7) Tou shall find in the Regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio, bis Cicatrice, with an Emblem of War here on his finifter Cheek ;] It is furprizing, none of the Editors could see that a flight Tranfpofition was abfolutely neceffary here, when there is not common Sense in the Passage, as it stands without such Tranfpofition. 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.". VO L. III. B King King. I would, I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for't. Laf. Goodfaith, across: thus; but, my good Lord, 'tis Will you be cur'd of your infirmity ? King. No. Laf. O, 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 Med'cin, That's able to breathe life into a stone; Quicken a rock, and make you dance Canary With fprightly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand, If King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor-she: my Lord, there's one arriv'd, you will fee her. Now, by my faith and honour, If feriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration, that we with thee fee her, May spend our wonder too, or take off thine, By wond'ring how thou took'ft 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 Perfon bringing fuch Remedy. I therefore imagine, our Author used the French Word, Medecin,i. e a Phyfician; this agrees with what he subjoins immediately in Reply to the King, Why, Do&or-She; and write to her a Love-line. Laf. |