And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel. What's his will elfe?

Par. That you will take your inftant leave o'th' King, And make this hafte as your own good proceeding; Strengthen'd with what apology, you think, May make it probable need 2.

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 fhall report it fo.

Hel. I pray you-Come, Sirrah.

SCENE X.

Enter Lafeu and Bertram.

[Exit Parolles,

To Clown,

[Exeunt.

Laf. But, I hope, your Lordship thinks not him a foldier.

Ber. Yes, my Lord, and of very valiant approof.
Laf. You have it from his own deliverance.
Ber. And by other warranted teftimony.

Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.

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

Laf. I have then finned against his experience, and tranfgrefs'd against his valour; and my ftate that way is dangerous, fince 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. These things fhall be done, Sir.
Laf. I pray you, Sir, who's his taylor?

-

* — probable need.] A fpecious appearance of neceflity.

Par.

Par. Sir?

Laf, O, I know him well; I, Sir, he, Sir's, a good workman, a very good taylor.

Ber. Is the gone to the King? Afide to Parolles. Par. She is.

Ber. Will fhe away to-night?

Par. As you'll have her.

Ber. I have writ my letters, cafketed my treasure, given order for our horfes; and to-night, when I should take poffeffion of the bride and ere I do

begin

Laf. A good traveller is fomething at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three thirds, and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard, and thrice beaten-God fave you, captain.

Ber. Is there any unkindness between my Lord and you, Monfieur?

Par. I know not, how I have deserved to run into my Lord's difpleasure.

3

Laf. You have made shift to run into't, boots and fpurs and all, like him that leapt into the cuftard; and out of it you'll run again, rather than fuffer queftion for your refidence.

Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my Lord. Laf. And fhall do fo ever, tho' I took him at's prayers. Fare you well, my Lord, and believe this of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut: the foul of this man is his clothes. Truft him not in matter of heavy confequence: I have kept of them tame, and know their natures. Farewel, Monfieur, I have

3 You have made shift to run into't, Boots and Spurs and all, like him that leapt into the Cuftard?] This odd Allufion is not introduc'd without a View to Satire. It was a Foolery practis'd at City Entertainments, whilft the

Jefter or Żany was in Vogue, for him to jump into a large deep Custard: fet for the Purpose, to fet on a Qaanti'y of barren Spectators to laugh; as our Poet fays in his Hamlet.

THEOBALD. spoken

spoken better of you, than you have or will deferve at my hand, but we must do good against evil. [Exit. Par. An idle lord, I fwear.

Ber. I think fo.

Par. Why, do you not know him?

Ber. Yes, I know him well, and common fpeech Gives him a worthy pafs. Here comes my clog.

SCENE XI.

Enter Helena.

Hel. I have, Sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the King, and have procur'd his leave For prefent parting; only, he defires

Some private fpeech with you.

Ber. I fhall obey his will.

You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time; nor does
The miniftration and required office

On my particular. Prépar'd I was not
For fuch a bufinefs; therefore am I found
So much unfettled: this drives me to intreat you,
That presently you take your way for home,
And rather mufe, than afk, why I intreat you,
For my respects are better than they feem,
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than fhews itfelf at the first view,
To you that know them not. This to my mother.
[Giving a letter.
'Twill be two days ere I fhall fee you, fo

I leave you to your wifdom.

Hel. Sir, I can nothing fay,

But that I am your moft obedient fervant.
Ber. Come, come, no more of that.

Hel. And ever shall

With true obfervance feek to eke out That,

Wherein tow'rd me my homely ftars have fail'd

To

To equal my great fortune.
Ber. Let that go:

My hafte is very great. Farewel; hie home.
Hel. Pray, Sir, your pardon.

Ber. Well, what would you fay?

Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe;
Nor dare I say, 'tis mine, and yet it is;

But, like a tim❜rous thief, moft fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.

Ber. What would you have?

Hel. Something, and scarce fo much

indeed

nothing,

I would not tell you what I would, my Lord-'faith,

yes;

Strangers and foes do funder and not kiss.

4

Ber. I pray you, ftay not: but in hafte to horse.
Hel. I fhall not break your bidding, good my
[Exit Helena.
Ber. Where are my other men, Monfieur? - fare-

Lord.

wel.

Go thou tow'rd home, where I will never come,
Whilft I can shake my fword, or hear the drum:
Away, and for our flight.
Par. Bravely, Couragio!

In former copies:
Hel. I shall not break your
Bidding, good my Lord:
Where are my other men? Mon-
fieur, farewel.

Ber. Go thou toward home,

where I will never come.] What other Men is Helen here enquiring after? Or who is the fuppos'd to ask for them? The old Countefs, 'tis certain, did

[Exeunt.

not fend her to the Court without fome Attendants: but neither the Clown, nor any of her Retinue, are now upon the Stage: Bertram, obferving Helen to linger fondly, and wanting to shift her off, puts on a Shew of Hafte, asks Parolles for his Servants, and then gives his Wife an abrupt Difmiflion. THEOBALD.

ACT

АСТ III.

SCENE I.

The Duke's Court in Florence.

Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, two French Lords, with Soldiers.

DUKE.

O that, from point to point, now have you heard
The fundamental reasons of this war,

Whofe great decision hath much blood let forth,
And more thirfts after.

I Lord. Holy feems the quarrel

Upon your Grace's part; but black and fearful
On the oppofer.

Duke. Therefore we marvel much, our cousin France
Would, in fo juft a bufinefs, fhut his bofom
Againft our borrowing prayers.

2 Lord. Good my Lord,

The reafons of our ftate I cannot yield",
But like a common and an outward man
That the great figure of a council frames
By felf unable motion '; therefore dare not
Say what I think of it, fince I have found
Myfelf in my incertain grounds to fail
As often as I gueft.

Duke. Be it his pleasure.

2 Lord. But I am fure, the younger of our nation, That furfeit on their eafe, will day by day