Plays and Poems

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'st it.
Laf.

And not be all day neither.

Nay, I'll fit you, Exit. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA.

Laf. Nay, come your ways.
King.

| When judges have been babes; great floods have
flown

From simple sources; and great seas have dried
When miracles have by the greatest been denied.
Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits
Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.

King. I must not hear thee: fare thee well,
kind maid.

Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid:
Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.
Hel. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd. 150
It is not so with him that all things knows,
As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;
But most it is presumption in us when
The help of heaven we count the act of men.

This haste hath wings indeed. Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;

Laf. Nay, come your ways.
This is his majesty, say your mind to him:
A traitor you do look like; but such traitors
His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,
That dare leave two together. Fare you well. 100
Exit.

King. Now, fair one, does your business
follow us?

Hel. Ay, my good lord.
Gerard de Narbon was my father;
In what he did profess well found.
King.

I knew him.

120

King
We thank you, maiden;
But may not be so credulous of cure,
When our most learned doctors leave us, and
The congregated college have concluded
That labouring art can never ransom nature
From her inaidable estate; I say we must not
So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,
To prostitute our past-cure malady
To empirics, or to dissever so
Our great self and our credit, to esteem

A senseless help when help past sense we deem.
Hel. My duty then shall pay me for my
pains:

I will no more enforce mine office on you;
Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts
A modest one, to bear me back again.

130

King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful.

Thou thought'st to help me, and such thanks I
give

As one near death to those that wish him live;
But what at full I know, thou know'st no part,
I knowing all my peril, thon no art.

Hel. What I can do can do no hurt to try,
Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.
He that of greatest works is finisher
Oft does them by the weakest minister:

Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.
I am not an impostor that proclaim
Myself against the level of mine aim;
But know I think, and think I know most sure,
My art is not past power nor you past cure.
King. Art thou so confident? Within what

space
Hop'st thou my cure?

160

Hel.
The great'st grace lending grace,
Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring
Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,
Ere twice in murk and occidental damp
Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,
Or four-and-twenty times the pilot's glass
Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,
What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly.
Health shall live free, and sickness freely die. 170
King. Upon thy certainty and confidence
What dar'st thou venture?
Hel.

Tax of impudence,

A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,
Traduc'd by odious ballads: my maiden's name
Sear'd otherwise; nay worse, if worse, extended
With vilest torture let my life be ended.

King, Methinks in thee some blessed spirit
doth speak

His powerful sound within an organ weak;
And what impossibility would slay

In common sense, sense saves another way.
Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate
Worth name of life in thee hath estimate;
Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all
That happiness and prime can happy call:
Thou this to hazard needs must intimate
Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.
Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,
That ministers thine own death if I die.

180

190

Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property
Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,
And well deserv'd. Not helping, death's my
fee;

But, if I help, what do you promise me?
King. Make thy demand.

Hel.
But will you make it even?
King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of
heaven.

Hel. Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly
hand

What husband in thy power I will command:
Exempted be from me the arrogance

To choose from forth the royal blood of France,
My low and humble name to propagate

So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown, 140 With any branch or image of thy state;

200

But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know
Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd,
Thy will by my performance shall be serv'd:
So make the choice of thy own time, for I,
Thy resolv'd patient, on thee still rely.
More should I question thee, and more I must,
Though more to know could not be more to trust,
From whence thou cam'st, how tended on; but

rest

Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest. 210 Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed. Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Rousillon. A Room in the
COUNTESS's Palace.

Enter COUNTESS and Clown.

Count. Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding.

Clo. I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught. I know my business is but to the court. Count. To the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court!'

Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make a leg. put off's cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and indeed such a fellow, to say 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 buttocks; 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 taffeta punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday, a morris for Mayday, 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.

Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions?

Clo. From below your duke to beneath your constable, it will fit any question.

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 that belongs to 't ask me if I am a courtier ; it shall do you no harm to learn.

Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES.

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.

Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis.

Laf. To be relinquished of the artists,-
Par. So I say.

Laf. Both of Galen and Paracelsus.
Par. So I say.

Laf. Of all the learned and authentic fellows,

Par. Right; so I say.

Laf. That gave him out incurable,Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too. Laf. Not to be helped,

Par. Right; as 'twere a man assured of aLaf. Uncertain life, and sure death. Par. Just, you say well: so would I have said. Laf. I may truly say it is a novelty to the world. Par. It is, indeed if you will have it in show39ing, you shall read it in-what do you call there! Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.

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

courtier ?

Par. That's it I would have said; the very

Par. Ay, so I say.

Laf. In a most weak and debile minister, great power, great transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made than alone the recovery of the king, as to be generally thankful. 43

Par. I would have said it: you say well. Here comes the king.

Enter KING, HELENA, and Attendants. Laf. Lustig, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head. Why, he's able to lead her a coranto. Par. Mort du vinaigre! Is not this Helen ? Laf. 'Fore God, I think so.

King. Go, call before me all the lords in court. Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side: And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd

King. Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly, And to imperial Love, that god most high, Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit? First Lord. And grant it. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace for my life.

Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,

Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine I'd have them whipped, 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 have her: sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got 'em.

100

Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good,

To make yourself a son out of my blood.
Fourth Lord. Fair one, I think not so.

Laf. There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drank wine. But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen: I have known thee already.

Hel. To BERTRAM. 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. 110
King. Why, then, young Bertram, take her;
she's thy wife.

Ber. My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your highness,

In such a business give me leave to use
The help of mine own eyes.
King.

Know'st thou not, Bertram,

What she has 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. 120 A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain Rather corrupt me ever!

King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which

I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods, Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off In differences so mighty. If she be

130

All that is virtuous, save what thou dislik'st,
A poor physician's daughter, thou dislik'st
Of virtue for the name; but do not so:
From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed:
Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,
It is a dropsied honour. Good alone
Is good without a name: vileness is so :
The property by what it is should go,
Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;
In these to nature she's immediate heir,
And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn
Which challenges itself as honour's born,
And is not like the sire: honours thrive
When rather from our acts we them derive
Than our foregoers. The mere word's a slave,
Debosh'd on every tomb, on every grave
A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb
Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb
Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?
If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
I can create the rest: virtue and she

140

Before I speak, too threateningly replies:
Love make your fortunes twenty times above
Her that so wishes, and her humble love!
Second Lord. No better, if you please.
Hel.
My wish receive, 89 Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.
Which great Love grant! and so I take my leave.. Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do 't.

152

Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I'm glad:

King. Thou wrong'st thyself if thou should'st | able vent of thy travel; it might pass yet the strive to choose. 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 thee again, I care not; yet art thou good for nothing but taking up, and that thou 'rt scarce worth.

Let the rest go.

King. My honour's at the stake, which to defeat

I must produce my power. Here, take her hand, Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift, That dost in vile misprision shackle up

My love and her desert; that canst not dream, We, poising us in her defective scale,

160

Loosing upon thee, in the name of justice,
Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.
Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit
My fancy to your eyes. When I consider
What great creation and what dole of honour
Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which
late

Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now
The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,
Is, as 'twere, born so.
King.
And tell her she is thine
A counterpoise, if not to thy estate
A balance more replete.

Ber.

Take her by the hand, to whom I promise

I take her hand.

181

King. Good fortune and the favour of the king Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief, And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast Shall more attend upon the coming space, Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her, Thy love 's to me religious; else, does err. Exeunt KING, BERTRAM, HELENA, Lords, and Attendants. Laf. Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you. Par. Your pleasure, sir? Laf. Your lord and master did well to make his recantation.

191

Par. Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,

219

Laf. Do not plunge thyself too 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, deserved it. Laf. Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not bate thee a scruple.

Par. 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 bound in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I may say in the default, he is a man I know.

240

Laf Who? God?

Par. Ay, sir.

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 hours younger, I'd beat thee: methinks 't 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, 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 than the commission of your birth and virtue gives

you heraldry. You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you. Exit. Par. Good, very good; it is so then: good, very good. Let it be concealed awhile.

Re-enter BERTRAM.

282

Ber. Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!
Par. What's the matter, sweet heart?

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,

Ber. Although before the solemn priest I have and to have nothing, is to be a great part of

Ber. It shall be so: I'll send her to my house,
Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
And wherefore I am fled; write to the king
That which I durst not speak his present gift
Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,
Where noble fellows strike. War is no strife
To the dark house and the detested wife.

Par. Will this capriccio hold in thee? art sure?
Ber. Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.
I'll send her straight away: to-morrow
I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.

311

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 is not well: but thanks be given, she 's very well, and wants nothing i' the world; but yet 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 two things.

Hel. What two things?

for

Clo. One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other, that she's in 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 had my prayers to lead them on;

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'rt a knave; that is. before me thou'rt a knave: this had been truth, sir.

Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.

Clo. Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.

Par. A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.
Madam, my lord will go away to-night;
A very serious business calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,
Which, as your due, time claims, he does ac-
knowledge,

But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;
Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with
sweets,

Which they distil now in the curbed time,
To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,
And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel.

What's his will else? 50 Par. That you will take your instant leave o' the king,

And make this haste as your own good pro-
ceeding,

Strengthen'd with what apology you think
May make it probable need.

Hel.
What more commands he?
Par. That, having this obtain'd, you presently
Attend his further pleasure.

Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will.
Par. I shall report it so.

Hel.

I pray you. Come, sirrah.
Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Another Room in the Same.

Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM.

Laf. But I hope your lordship thinks not him
soldier.

Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
Laf. You have it from his own deliverance.
Ber. And by other warranted testimony.
Laf. Then my dial goes not true :
lark for a bunting.

took this

Ber. I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge and accordingly valiant.

Laf. I have then sinned against his experience and transgressed against his valour; and my state that way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes; I pray you, make us friends; I will pursue the amity.

Enter PAROLLES.

Par. To BERTRAM. These things shall be done, sir.

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