home, more advantaged by the King, than by that red-tail'd humble-bee I speak of. Count. I would, I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous Gentlewoman that ever Nature had Praise for creating; if he had partaken of my flesh, and coft me the deareft groans of a Mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love. Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady. We may pick a thoufand fallets ere we light on fuch another herb. Cla. Indeed, Sir, fhe was the sweet marjoram of the fallet, or rather the herb of grace. Laf. They are not fallet-herbs, you knave, they are nofe-herbs. Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, Sir, I have not much skill in grafs. Laf. Whether doft thou profefs thy felf, a knave or a fool? Clo. A fool, Sir, at a woman's fervice; and a knave, at a man's. Laf. Your diftinction ? Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his fervice. Laf. So you were a knave at his fervice, indeed. Clo. And I would give his wife my folly, Sir, to do her fervice. Laf. I will fubfcribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool. Clo. At your fervice. I more ADVANCED by the King,] A notable obfervation this; that the young Lord had been higher advanced by the King had he flaid at court, than he was by his beggerly follower Parolles. We should read, more ADVANTAGED, ie. the King would have been a better tutor to the raw young man than Parolles, whofe profellion it was. Clo. Clo. Why, Sir, if I cannot ferve you, I can ferve as great a Prince as you are. Laf. Who's that, a Frenchman? Clo. Faith, Sir, he has an English name; but his phifnomy is more honour'd in France than there. Laf. What Prince is that? Clo. The black. Prince, Sir, alias the Prince of Darkness, alias the Devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purfe; I give thee not this to feduce thee from thy Mafter thou talk'ft of, serve him ftill. Clo. I'm a woodland fellow, Sir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the Mafter I fpeak of ever keeps a good fire; but, fure, he is the Prince of the world, let his Nobility remain in's Court. I am for the House with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for Pomp to enter: fome, that humble themselves, may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for the flow'ry way that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire. Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a weary of thee, and I tell thee, fo before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways, let my horfes be well look'd to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, they fhall be jades tricks, which are their own right by the law of Na[Exit. ture. 2 his phis'nomy is more HOTTER in France than there.] This is intolerable nonfenfe. The ftupid Editors, becaufe the Devil was talked of, thought no quality would fuit him but hotter. We fhould read,- more HONOUR'D. A joke upon the French people, as if they held a dark complexion, which is natural to them, in more eftimation than the English do, who are generally white and fair, 3 I'm a woodland fellow, Sir, &c.] Shakespear is but rarely guilty of fuch impious trafh. And it is obfervable, that then he always puts that into the mouth of his fools, which is now grown the characteristic of the fine-gentleman. Laf. Eaft A fhrewd knave, and an unhappy. Count. So he is. My Lord, that's gone, made him felf much sport out of him; by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his faw.cinefs; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will. Laf I like him well, 'tis not amifs; and I was about to tell you, fince I heard of the good Lady's death, and that my Lord your Son was upon his return home, I'mov'd the King, my Mafter, to fpeak: in the behalf of my Daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his Majefty, out of a felf-gracious remembrance,, did firft propofe; his Highnefs hath promis'd me to do it and to ftop up the difpleasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How do's your Ladyship like it? Count. With very much content, my Lord, and I wish it happily effected! Laf. His Highness comes poft from Marseilles, of as able a body as when he number'd thirty; he will be here to morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him that in fuch intelligence hath feldom fail'd. Count: It rejoices me, that hope, that I fhall fee him ere I die. I have letters, that my fon will be here to night: Ifhall befeech your Lordship to remain with me 'till they meet together. Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might fafely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privilege. Laf Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. 4. It rejoices me, that I hope I fall fee him ere I die.] It is not bapa that rejoices any one; but, that that hope is well grounded, We fhould read, therefore, It rejoices me, that hope, that. I shall See him ere I die. Enter T vg Enter Clown Clo. O Madam, yonder's my Lord, your fon, with a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a fcar under't, or no, the velvet knows, but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet; his left cheek is a cheek of two pile, and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare. Count. A fear nobly got, or a noble fcar, is a good: livery of honour. So, belike, is that. Clo. But it is your carbinado'd face. Laf. Let us go fee your fon, I pray you: I'long to talk with the young noble foldier. Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em with delicate fine hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man. [Exeunt A CT V. SCENE I The Court of France, at Marseilles. & Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants, HELENA. UT this exceeding posting day and night Muft wear your fpirits low; we cannot help it. But fince you've made the days and nights as one,, To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs;, Be bold, you do fo grow in my requital, As nothing can uproot you. In happy time, Enter a Gentlemanı This man may help me to his Majefty's car, 5 But it is your carbonado'd face.] Mr. Pepereads it carbinadod, which is right. The joke, fuch as it is, confifts in the allusion to a wound made with a carabine; arms, which Henry IV. had made, famous, by bringing into use amongst his horse. If he would spend his power. God fave you, Sir. 1 Hel. Sir, I have feen you in the court of France. Hel. I do prefume, Sir, that you are not fallen Gent. What's your will? Hel. That it will please you To give this poor petition to the King; To come into his prefence. Gent. The King's not here. Hel. Not here, Sir? Gent. Not, indeed. He hence remov'd laft night, and with more hafte Wid. Lord, how we lofe our pains! Hel. All's well, that ends well yet, Tho' time seem so adverfe, and means unfit: Hel. I befeech you, Sir, Since you are like to fee the King before me, Gent. This I'll do for you. Hel. And you fhall find yourself to be well thank'd, What e'er falls more. We must to horfe again.. Go, go, provide.. [Exeunt SCENE |
