Hathwell compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts In their poor praise he humbled': Such a man Since the physician at your father's died? Ber. Some six months since, my lord. 10 15 Ber. Thank your majesty. [Flourish.Exeunt. A Room in the Count's Palace. Stew. Madam, the care I have had to even your content', I wish might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours; for then we wound our 20 modesty, and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them. Count. What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: The complaints, I have heard of you, I do not all believe; 'tis my slowness, that 25 I do not: for, I know, you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours". Ber. His good remembrance, sir, King. Would, I were with him! He would al ways say, (Methinks, I hear him now; his plausive words 35 Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home, 2 Lord. You are lov'd, sir; They, that least lend it you, shall lack you first. King. I fill a place, I know 't-How long is't, count, Clo. "Tis not unknown to you, madam, that I Jam a poor fellow. Count. Well, sir. Clo. No, madam, 'tis not so well, that I am poor, though many of the rich are damn'd: But, if I may have your Ladyship's good-will to go to the world', Isbel the woman and I will do as we may. Čount. Wilt thou needs be a beggar? Clo. In Isbel's case, and mine own. Service 40 is no heritage: and, I think, I shall never have the blessing of God, till I have issue of my body; for, they say, bearns are blessings. 50 [ry. Count. Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marClo. My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go, that the devil drives. Count. Is this all your worship's reason? Clo. Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are. Count. May the world know them? Clo. I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry, that I may repent. 3 That is, cover petty faults with great merit. i. e. he made allowances for their conduct, and bore from them what he would not from one of his own rank. i. e. by condescending to stoop to his inferiors, he exalted them and made them proud; and, in the gracious receiving their poor praise, he humbled even his humility. Approof is approbation. Mr. Tollet explains this passage thus: His epitaph or inscription on his tomb is not so much in approbation or commendation of him, as is your royal speech." A Clown in Shakspeare is commonly taken for a licensed jester, or domestick fool. We are not to wonder that we find this character often in his plays, since fools were, at that time, maintained in all great families, to keep up merriment in the house. i. e. to equal your desires. i. e. You are fool enough to commit those irregularities you are charged with, and yet not so much fool neither, as to discredit the accusation by any defect in your ability. i. e. to be married. See note', p. 128. Count. Count.Thymarriage, sooner thanthywickedness. Clo. I am out of friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake. Count. Well, now. Stew. I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman intirely. Count. Such friends are thine enemies, knave.] Clo. You are shallow, madam, in great friends; 5 for the knaves come to do that for me, which I} am aweary of. He that ears' my land, spares my team, and gives me leave to inn the crop: If 1 be his cukold, he's my drudge: He, that comforts my wife, is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh and blood, loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my flesh and blood, is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wifel is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage15dess, that had put such difference betwixt their for young Charbon the puritan, and old Poysam the papist, howsoe'er their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one, they may joul horns together, like any deer i' the herd. Count. Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds: there is more owing her, than is paid; and more shall be paid her, than she'll demand. Stew. Madam, I was very late more near her 10than, I think, she wish'd me: alone she was, and did communicate to herself, her own words to her own ears; she thought, I dare vow for her, they touch'd not any stranger sense. Her matter was, she lov'd your son: Fortune, she said, was no god Count. Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and 20 calumnious knave? Clo. A prophet', I, madam: and I speak the truth the next' way. For I the ballad will repeat, Which men full true shall find; more anon. 25 Stew. May it please you, madam, that he bid 30 Was this king Priam's joy. two estates: Love, no god, that would not extend his might, only where qualities were level; Diana, no queen of virgins, that would suffer her poor knight to be surprised without rescue in the first assault, or ransom afterward: This she deliver❜d in the most bitter touch of sorrow, that e'er I heard a virgin exclaim in: which I held my duty speedi ly to acquaint you withal; sithence, in the loss that mayhappen,it concerns you something to know it. Count. You have discharg'd this honestly; keep it to yourself: many likelihoods inform'd me of this before, which hung so tottering in the balance, that I could neither believe, nor misdoubt: Pray you, leave me: stall this in your bosom, and I thank you for your honest care: I will speak with you further anon. [Exit Steward. Enter Helena. 35 If we are nature's, these are ours: this thorn 45I am a mother to you. Clo. One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying o' the song: 'Would God would serve the world so all the year! we'd find no fault with the tythe-woman, if I were the parson: One in ten, quoth a'! an we might have a good wo-50 man born but every blazing star, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery well; a man may draw his heart out, ere he pluck one. Count. You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you? Hel. Mine honourable mistress. Count. Nay, a mother; Why not a mother? When I said, a mother, 55 You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan, Clo. That man should be at a woman's command, and yet no hurt done!-Though honesty be no puritan, yet it will do no hurt; it wi wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart.-I am going, forsooth: the bu-60 siness is for Helen to come hither. [Exit. 2 To ear is to plough. It is a superstition, which hath run through all ages and people, that natural fools have something in them of divinity; on which account they were esteemed sacred. i. e. the nearest way. Fond here means foolishly done. i. e. according to our recollection. Hel. Hel. That I am not. Count. I say, I am your mother. The count Rousillon cannot be my brother: ter-in-law; Religious in mine error, I adore Dian The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, [were 10 Count. Nor I your mother? Hel. Good madam, pardon me! He. Do not you love him, madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disThe state of your affection; for your passions[close Have to the full appeach'd. Hel, Then I confess, Here on my knee, before high heav'n and you, I love your son : Myfriends were poor, but honest; so's my love: Hel. Madamı, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear. 25 Count. This was your motive 30 For Paris, was it? speak. 35 [this; Hel. My lord your son made me to think of Else Paris, and the medicine, and the king, Had, from the conversation of my thoughts, Haply, been absent then. Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your supposed aid, 45 By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your [and love, Count. Dost thou believe't? I care no more for, is, I care as much for-I wish it equally. i. e. the source of your grief. 'Dr. Johnson suspects we should read curious, i. e. rotten. greater virtues were inclosed than appeared to observation. Meaning, prescriptions in which i. e. exhausted of their skill. ACT SCENE I. The Court of France. ACT II. Enter the King, with young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. King. FAREWEL, young lords, these warlike principles Do not throw from you:-and you, my lords, Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all, 2 Lord. 'Tis our hope, sir, King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confess, he owes the malady 20 That does my life besiege. Farewel, young lords; 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. Luf. Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. Luf. Then here's a man Stands, that has bought his pardon. I would, you King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, 30 And ask'd thee mercy for't. [The King retires to a couch. 35 1 Lord. Oh my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Pur. 'Tis not his fault! the spark▬▬▬▬▬ 2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars! Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars. 40 Ber. Iam commanded here, and kept a coil with Too young, and the next year, and'tis too early. Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, steal away bravely. Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, 45 Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry, "Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn, But one to dance with! By heaven, Pil steal away. 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft. Pur. Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body. 1 Lord. Farewel, captain. 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles! 3 Lef. Goodfaith, across:-but my good lord, Will you be cur'd of your infirmity? ['tis thus; King, No. Laf. O, will you eat No grapes, my royal fox? yes, but you will, Could reach them: I have seen a medicine Laf. Why, doctor she: my lord, there's one If you will see her-now, by my faith and honour, 50 With one, that in her sex, her years, profession, King. Now, good Lafeu, [ness? Bring in the admiration; that we with thee The epithet higher is here to be understood as referring to situation rather than to dignity. This word, as has been before observed, is used when any pass of wit miscarries. Laf Laf. Nay, I'll fit you, And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafen King. Thus he his special nothing ever proLaf. [returns.] Nay, come your ways. [logues. [Bringing in Helenu King. This haste hath wings indeed. 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. [Ex. 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. 5 10 [him; 15 Hel. The rather will I spare my praises toward Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one, Which, as the dearest issue of his practice, And of his old experience the only darling, He bade me store up, as a triple eye, Safer than mine own two, more dear! I have so: And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd With that malignant cause wherein the honour Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power, I come to tender it, and my appliance, With all bound humbleness. King. We thank you, maiden; A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. [ful: King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateThou thought'st to help me: andsuchthanks 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, thou 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: So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown, When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown 20 [From simple sources; and great seas have dry'd But know I think, and think I know most sure, Hel. The greatest grace lending grace, Hel. Tax of impudence, A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame, 35 Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name Sear'd otherwise: no worse of worst extended, With vilest torture let my life be ended 2. 40 King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth His powerful sound, within an organ weak 3: In common sense, sense saves another way. Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property 1 That is, "I am not an impostor that proclaim one thing and design another." 2 Mr. Steevens thus happily explains this obscure passage: "I would bear (says she) the tax of impudence, which is the denotement of a strumpet; would endure a shame resulting from my failure in what I have undertaken, and thence become the subject of odious ballads; let my maiden reputation be otherwise branded; and, no worse of worst extended, i. e. provided nothing worse is offered to me, (meaning violation) let my life be ended with the worst of tortures. The poet for the sake of rhime has obscured the sense of the passage. The worst that can befal a woman being extended to me, seems to be the meaning of the last line." The author of the Revisal of Shakspeare's Text explains this line thus: "The verb doth speak, in the first line, should be understood to be repeated in the construction of the second, thus; His powerful sound speaks within a weak organ.” 4 i, e. youth. King. |