:

;

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And be as sweet as sharp. We must away ; not fall out with thee. Go thy ways : let my Our waggon is prepard, and time revives us : horses be well looked to, without any tricks. 61 All's well that ends well: still the fine's the Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall crown:

be jades' tricks, which are their own right by the Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. law of nature.

Exit. Exeunt. Laf. A shrewd knave and an unhappy.

Count. So he is. My lord that's gone made SCENE V.- Rousillon. Room in the COUNTESS's himself much sport out of him : by his authority Palace.

he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for

his sauciness ; and, indeed, he has no pace, but Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown.

runs where he will. Laf. No, no, no ; your son was misled with a Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron was about to tell you, since I heard of the good would have made all the unbaked and doughy lady's death, and that my lord your son was upon youth of a nation in his colour : your daughter- his return home, I moved the king my master in-law had been alive at this hour, and your son to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, here at home, more advanced by the king than in the minority of them both, his majesty, out by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of. of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose.

Count. I would I had not known him ; it was His highness hath promised me to do it; and to the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against that ever nature had praise for creating. If she your son, there is no fitter matter. How does had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest your ladyship like it? groans of a mother, I could not have owed her Count. With very much content, my lord; and a more rooted love.

13 I wish it happily effected. Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on of as able body as when he numbered thirty: he such another herb.

will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him Clo. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram that in such intelligence hath seldom failed. of the salad, or rather the herb of grace.

Count. It rejoices me that I hope I shall see Laf. They are not salad-herbs, you knave; him ere I die. I have letters that my son will they are nose-herbs.

be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir ; I to remain with me till they meet together. have not much skill in grass.

Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself, a I might safely be admitted. knave or a fool ?

Count. You need but plead your honourable Clo. A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a privilege. knave at a man's.

Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; Laf. Your distinction ?

but I thank my God it holds yet. Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service.

Re-enter Clown, Laf. So you were a knave at his service, indeed. Clo. O madam! yonder 's my lord your son with

Clo. And I would give his wife my bauble, a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a sir, to do her service.

scar under it or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a Laf. I will subscribe for thee, thou art both goodly patch of velvet. His left cheek is a cheek knave and fool,

of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is Clo. At your service.

worn bare. Laf. No, no, no.

Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can good livery of honour; so belike is that. serve as great a prince as you are.

Clo. But it is your carbonadoed face. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman?

Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you : I long Clo. Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but to talk with the young noble soldier. his phisnomy is more hotter in France than there. Clo. Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate Laf. What prince is that?

42 fine hats and most courteous feathers, which bow Clo. The black prince, sir ; alias, the prince the head and nod at every man. Exeunt. u of darkness ; alias, the devil.

Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master

ACT V. thou talkest of: serve him still. Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always

SCENE I.- Marseilles. À Street. loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince

Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two

Attendants. of the world ; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which Hel. But this exceeding posting, day and I take to be too little for pomp to enter : some night, that humble themselves may; but the many Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it : will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for But since you have made the days and nights the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.

To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of Be bold you do so grow in my requital thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;

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as one,

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51

ܪ

Enter a Gentleman.

carp as you may, for he looks like a poor, decayed, This man may help me to his majesty's ear, ingenious, foolish, rascally kuave. I do pity his If he would spend his power. God save you, sir. distress in my similes of comfort, and leave him Gent. And you.

to your lordship.

fait. Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.

Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath Gent. I have been sometimes there. 11 cruelly scratched. Hd. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen

Laf. And what would you have me to do? From the report that goes upon your goodness ; Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, have you played the knave with fortune that Which lay nice manners by, I put you to

she should scratch you, who of herself is a good The use of your own virtues, for the which lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under I shall continue thankful.

her? There's a quart d'écu for you.

Let the Gent.

What's your will ?

justices make you and fortune friends ; I am for He. That it will please you

other business. To give this poor petition to the king,

Par. I beseech your honour to hear me one And aid me with that store of power you have

single word. To come into his presence.

Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you Gent. The king's not here.

shall ha 't; save your word. Hel.

Not here, sir !

Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Gent.

Not, indeed : Laf. You beg more than one word then. Cox He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste my passion! give me your hand. How does Than is his use.

your drum ? id. Lord, how we lose our pains !

Par. O my good lord ! you were the first that He. All's well that ends well yet,

found me. Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.

Laf. Was I, in sooth ? and I was the first that I do beseech you, whither is he gone ?

lost thee. Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon ;

Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in Whither I am going.

some grace, for you did bring me out. Ald. I do beseech you, sir,

Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put Since you are like to see the king before me,

upon me at once both the office of God and the Commend the paper to his gracious hand ;

devil ? One brings thee in grace and the other Which I presume shall render you no blame

brings thee out.

Trumpets sound. But rather make you thank your pains for it.

The king's coming ; I know by his trumpets. I will come after you with what good speed

Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of Our means will make us means.

you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, Gent.

This I'll do for you. you shall eat: go to, follow, He. And you shall find yourself to be well

Par. I praise God for you.

E.ceunt. 60 thank'd, Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again : SCENE III.-The Same. A Room in the Go, go, provide

Eceunt.

COUNTESS's Palace.

Plourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, SCESE II.-Rousillon, The inner Court of the

Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, etc.
COUNTESS's Palace.

King. We lost a jewel of her, and our esteem
Enter Cloun and PAROLLES.

Was made much poorer by it: but your son, Par. Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know Lafeu this letter. I have ere now, sir, been better Her estimation home.

Count. known to you, when I have held familiarity with

'Tis past, my liege ; fresher clothes ; but I am now, sir, muddied in And I beseech your majesty to make it fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth ; her strong displeasure.

When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish O'erbears it and burns on. if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will

King.

My honour'd lady, henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. I have forgiven and forgotten all Prithee, allow the wind.

Though my revenges were high bent upon him, Par. Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir : And watch'd the time to shoot. I spake but by a metaphor.

Laf.

This I must say, Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will But first I beg my pardon,—the young lord stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady, Prithee, get thee further.

Offence of mighty note, but to himself Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife Clo. Foh! prithee, stand away : a paper from Whose beanty did astonish the survey fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, Look, here he comes himself.

Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve

Humbly call'd mistress.
Enter LAFEU.

King.

Praising what is lost Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him but not à musk.cat, that has fallen into the hither ; unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the All repetition. Let him not ask our pardon:

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20

Ber.

He looks well on 't. Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never hers.

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190

me,

150

to you,

Here's a petition from a Florentine,

Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your Who hath for four or five removes come short

honour To tender it herself. I undertook it,

Than in my thought it lies. Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Dia.

Good my lord, Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know Ask him upon his oath, if he does think Is here attending : her business looks in her He had not my virginity. With an importing visage, and she told me, King. What say'st thou to her! In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern

Ber.

She's impudent, my lord ; Your highness with herself.

And was a common gamester to the camp.

Dia. He does me wrong, my lord ; if I were so, King. Upon his many protestations to marry me

He might have bought me at a common price : when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won

Do not believe him. O! behold this ring, me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows

Whose high respect and rich validity are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. Did lack a parallel ; yet for all that He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, him to his country for justice. Grant it 0

If I be one. king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flour.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it : ishes, and a poor maid is undone.

Of six preceding ancestors, that gem
DIANA CAPILET.

Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and Hath it been owd and worn. This is his wife : toll for this : I'll none of him.

That ring 's a thousand proofs. King. The heavens have thought well on thee,

King.

Methought you said Lafeu,

You saw one here in court could witness it. To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors : Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce Go speedily and bring again the count.

So bad an instrument : his name's Parolles. 200 Ercunt Gentleman and some Attendants. Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be. I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,

King. Find him, and bring him hither. Was foully snatch'd.

Exit an Attendant. Count. Now, justice on the doers ! Ber.

What of him?

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded.

With all the spots o' the world tax'd and deKing. I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters

bosh'd ;

Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth. And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, Am I or that or this for what he 'll utter, Yet you desire to marry.

That will speak any thing?
King.

She hath that ring of yours. Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow and DIANA.

Ber. I think she has : certain it is I lik'd What woman 's that? her, Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth. Derived from the ancient Capilet:

She knew her distance and did angle for me, 210 My suit, as I do understand, you know,

Madding my eagerness with her restraint, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. As all impediments in fancy's course

Hid. Iam her mother,sir, whose age and honour Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, Both suffer under this complaint we bring, 161 Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace, And both shall cease, without your remedy. Subdued me to her rate : she got the ring, King. Come bither, count; do you know these and I had that which any inferior might women

At market-price have bought.
Ber. lord, I neither

will deny
Dia.

I must be patient ; But that know them: do they charge me You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife, further?

May justly diet me. I pray you yet, Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your Since you lack virtue I will lose a husband, 220 wife?

Send for your ring ; I will return it home, Ber. She's none of mine, my lord.

And give me mine again.
Dia.

If
you
Ber.

I have it not. You give away this hand, and that is mine ; King. What ring was yours, I pray you? You giveaway heaven's vows, and those are mine; Dia.

Sir, much like You give away myself, which is known mine ; 170 The same upon your finger. For I by vow am so embodied yours

King. Know you this ring? this ring was his That she which marries you must marry me;

of late. Either both or none.

Dia. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. Laf. Your reputation comes too short for my King. The story then goes false you threw it daughter: you are no husband for her.

him Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate Out of a casement. creature,

Dia,

I have spoke the truth. Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your

Re-enter Attendant with PAROLLES. highness Las a more noble thought upon mine honour Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. Than for to think that I would sink it here. l’ing. You boggle shrewdly, every feather King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill

starts you. to friend

Is this the man you speak of?

in n

shall marry,

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250

Dia.

Ay, my lord. | I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not. King. Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; charge you,

I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. Not fearing the displeasure of your master,

Pointing to LAFEU. Which, on your just proceeding I'll keep off, King. She does abuse our ears: to prison By him and by this woman here what know you? with her!

Par. So please your majesty, my master hath Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. been an honourable gentleman : tricks he hath

Erit Widoro. had in him, which gentlemen have.

Stay, royal sir : King. Come, come, to the purpose : did he The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, love this woman?

And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Par. Faith, sir, he did love her ; but how? Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, King. How, I pray you ?

Though yet he never harm’d me, here I quit him : Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman He knows himself my bed he hath defild, loves a woman.

And at that time he got his wife with child: King. How is that?

Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick: Par. He loved her, sir, and loved her not. So there's my riddle : one that's dead is quick ;

King. As thou art a knave, and no knave. And now behold the meaning. What an equivocal companion is this !

Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.

King.

Is there no exorcist Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes ? naughty orator.

Is 't real that I see? Dia. Do you know he promised me marriage ? Hel.

No, my good lord ; Par. Faith, I know more than I'll speak. 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see ;

King. But wilt thou not speak all thou The name and not the thing. knowest?

Ber.

Both, both. 0! pardon. Par. Yes, so please your majesty. I did go Hel. O my good lord! when I was like this between them, as I said; but more than that, maid, he loved her, for indeed he was mad for her, I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring; and talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of And, look you, here's your letter ; this it says: Furies, and I know not what : yet I was in that when from my finger you can get this ring, credit with them at that time, that I knew of And are by me with child, etc. their going to bed, and of other motions, as

This is done : promising her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of: therefore I will / Will you be mine, now you are doubly won! not speak what I know.

Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless

clearly, thou canst say they are married : but thou art

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. too fine in thy evidence ; therefore, stand aside. Hd. If it appear not plain and prove untrue, This ring, you say, was yours?

Deadly divorce step between me and you ! Dia.

Ay, my good lord. 270 0! my dear mother ; do I see you living ? King. Where did you buy it ? or who gave it

Laf. Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weepanon.

To PAROLLES. Good Tom Drum, lend me a Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. handkercher : so, I thank thee. Wait on me King. Who lent it you?

home, I'll make sport with thee: let thy Dia.

It was not lent me neither. courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones. King. Where did you find it then?

King. Let us from point to point this story Dia.

I found it not.

know, King. If it were yours by none of all these ways, To make the even truth in pleasure flow. How could you give it him?

To DIANA. If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped Dia.

I never gave it him. flower, Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord: Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; she goes off and on at pleasure.

For I can guess that by thy honest aid king. This ring was mine : I gave it his first Thou kept’st a wife herself, thyself a maid. wife.

Of that and all the progress, more and less, Dia. It might be yours or hers, for aught I know. Resolvedly more leisure shall express : King. Take her away ; I do not like her now.

All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, To prison with her; and away with him. The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. Unless thou tell’st me where thou hadst this ring

Flourish. Exeunt.
Thou diest within this hour.
Dia.
I'll never tell you.

EPILOGUE
King. Take her away.
Dia,

I'll put in bail, my liege.
K'ing. I think thee now somecommon customer. The king's a beggar now the play is done :
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. Al is well ended if this suit be won
King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all That you express content; which we will pay,
this while ?

With strife to please you, day exceeding day: Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty. Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts ; He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't: Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. 349

you ?

279

SPOKEN BY THE KING.