self to do, and dares better be damn'd than to do't?

2. Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we do certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does addrefs himself unto?

1. Lord. None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost embofs'd him, you shall see his fall to-night; for indeed, he is not for your lordship's respect.

2. Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which shall see this very night. go look my twigs; he shall

1.

you

Lord. I must

be caught.

a

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with

me.

you.

1. Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave [Exit.] Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and show you The lass I spoke of.

2. Lord. But, you say, she's honest.

Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her

but once,

And found her wond'rous cold; but I sent to

her,

By this same coxcomb that we have 'the wind, Tokens and letters, which she did re-send; And this is all I have done:

ture;

She's a fair crea

Will you go see her?

2. Lord. With all my heart, my lord.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VII.

Florence. A room in the Widow's House.

Enter HELENA and Widow.

Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not she, I know not how I shall assure you further, But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.

Wid. Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,

Nothing acquainted with these businesses;
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.

Hel. Nor would I wish you.

First, give me trust, the count he is my husband; And, what to your sworn counsel I have spoken, Is so, from word to word; and then you cannot, By the good aid that I of you shall borrow, Err in bestowing it.

Wid. I should believe you;

For you have shew'd me that, which well ap

proves

You are great in fortune.

Hel. Take this purse of gold,

And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will over-pay, and pay again,

When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent, As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it, Now his important blood will nought deny That she'll demand: A ring the county wears, ..

That downward hath succeeded in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

Wid. Now I see

The bottom of your purpose.

Hel. You see it lawful then: It is no more, But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter; 'In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chastly absent: after this,

To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns To what is past already.

Wid. I have yielded:

Instruct my daughter how she shall perséver,
That time, and place, with this deceit so lawful,
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musicks of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us,
To chide him from our eaves; for he persists,
As if his life lay on't.

Hel. Why then, to-night

Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
And lawful meaning in a lawful act;

Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
But let's about it.

[Exeunt.]

Without the Florentine Camp.

Enter first Lord, with five or six Soldiers in ambush. 1. Lord. He can come no other way but by this hedge' corner: When you sally upon him,

speak

speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no matter: for we must not seem to understand him; unlefs some one among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

1. Sold. Good captain, let me be the inter preter.

1. Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

1. Sold. No, sir, I warrant you. 1. Lord.

But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to speak to us again?

1. Sold. Even such as you speak to me.

1. Lord. He nust think us soine band of strangers i'the adversary's entertainment. Now, he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Enter PAROLLES.

Par. Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plau sive invention that carries it: They begin to smoke me; and disgraces have of late knock'd too often at my door. I find, my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

1. Lord. This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

Vol. III.

E

[aside.]

Par. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit: Yet slight ones will not carry it; they will say, Came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not

give Wherefore? what's the instance? Tongue,

I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy myself another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils..

1. Lord. Is it possible, he should know what he is, and be that he is? [aside.] Par. I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

1. Lord. We cannot afford you so.

Par. Or the baring of my beard;

say, it was in stratagem.
1. Lord. 'Twould not do.

[aside.]

and to

[aside.]

Par. Or to drown my clothes, and say, I

was stript:

1. Lord. Hardly serve.

[aside.]

Par. Though I swore I leap'd from the window of the citadel

1. Lord. How deep?

Par. Thirty fathom

[aside.]

1. Lord. Three great oaths would scarce

make that be believed.

[aside.] Par. I would, I had any drum of the enemy's; I would swear, I recover'd it.

1. Lord. You shall hear one anon.
Par. A drum now of the enemy's!

[aside.]

[Alarum within.] 1. Lord. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

All. Cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo.