:

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 ad. dress 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 emboss’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 you shall see this very night.

1. Lord. I must go look my twigs; he shall be caught.

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with

1. Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you.

[Exit.] Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and

me.

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 wondrous cold; but I sent to

Will you go see her?
2. Lord. With all my heart, my lord.

[Exeunt.]

S CE N E 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,
IIerself 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 persever,
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.)

+

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Without the Florentine Camp.
Enter first Lord, with fise or six. Soliliers in ambush,

1. Lord. He can come no other way but by
this hedge' corner: When you sally upon bim,

speak

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

1. Sold. Good captain, let me be the interpreter.

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.

He nust think us soine band of strangers i'the adversary's entertainment. Now, he bath 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 seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, inter. preter, you must seem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes ; to begiile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies

1. Lord.

we

Le 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 plausive invention that carries it: They begin to smoke me; and disgraces have of late knock'a 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.

[aside.) Vol. III.

E

Par. What the devil should move me to un. dertake 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 gives 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. [aside.)

Par. Or the baring of my beard; and to say, it was iu stratagem. 1. Lord. 'Twould not do.

[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 citadel1. Lord. How deep ?

[aside.] Par. Thirty fathom 1. Lord. Three

great

oaths would make that be believed.

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

You shall hear one anon. [aside.] Par. A drum now of the enemy's !

[Alarum within.] 1. Lord.

Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

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

scarce

1. Lord.