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SCENE v.

Without the Walls of Florence.

A tucket afar off. Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, MARIANA, and other Citizens.

Wid. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.

Dia! They say, the French Count has done most honourable service,

Wid. It is reported that he has taken their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he slew the Duke's brother. We have lost our labour; they have gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

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Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice our selves with the report of it. Well, Dima, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been solicited by a gentleman his compa nion.

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Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles : a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths. tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid hath been seduced by them: and the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not

to advise you further but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modesty which is so lost.

Dia. You shall not need to fear me.

Enter HELENA, in the dress of a Pilgrim.

Wid I hope so. Look, here comes a pilgrim : I know she will lie at my house: thither they send one another: I'll question her.

God save you pilgrim! Whither are you bound? Hel. To Saint Jaques le grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? Wid. At the Saint Francis here, beside the port. Hel. Is this the way?

Wid. Ay, marry, is it.

They come this way:

Hark you!

[Amarch afar off. If you will tarry holy pilgrim,

But till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd; The rather, for, I think, I know your hostess As ample as myself."

Hel. Is it yourself?

Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrim.

Hel. I thank you,

and will stay upon your

leisure.

Wid. You came, I think, from France?

Hel. I did so.

Wid. Here you shall see a countryman of

yours,

That has done worthy service.

Hel. His name, I pray you.

Dia. The Count Rousillon: Know you such a

one?

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Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of

His face I know not.

Dia. Whatsoe'er he is,

He's bravely taken here.

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He stole from France,

As 'tis reported, for the King had married him Against his liking; Think you it is so?

Hel. Ay, surely, mere the truth; I know his

lady.

Dia. There is a gentleman that

Count,

Reports but coarsely of her,

Hel. What's his name?
Dia. Monsieur Parolles.
Hel. O, I believe with him,

serves the

In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great Count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated; all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that

I have not heard examin'd.

Dia. Alas, poor lady!

'Tis a hard bondage, a become the wife

Of a detesting lord,

Wid. A right good creature wheresoe'er she is, Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might

do her

A shrewd turn if she pleas'd.

Hel. How do you mean?

May be, the amorous Count solicits her
In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And Crokes with all that can in such a suit

Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:

But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard

in honestest defence.

Enter

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Hel. Which is the Frenchman ?
Dia. He;

That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow;
I would, he lov'd his wife; if he were honester,
He were much goodlier: Ist not a handsome
gentleman?

Hel. I like him well.

Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honest: Yond's that same knave,

That leads him to these places; were I his lady, I'd poison that vile rascal,

Hel. Which is he?

Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: Why is he melancholy?

Hel. Perchance he's hurt i'the battle.

Par. Lose our drum! well,

Mar. He's shrewdly vex'd at something: Look, he has spied us.

Wid. Marry, hang you!

Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
[Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Officers and

Soldiers.

Wid. The troop is past: Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents

There's four or five, to great Saint Jaqués bound, Already at my house.

Hel. A humbly thank you:

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Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,
To eat with us to-night, the charge, and thanking,
Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts on this virgin,
Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly.

SCENE VI.

Camp before Florence,

[Exeunt.

Enter BERTRAM, and the two French Lords.

Lord. Nay, good my Lord, put him to't; let him have his way.

2 Lord. If your Lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

Lord. On my life, my Lord, a bubble,

Ber. Do you think, I am so far deceived in him?

1 Lord. Believe it, my Lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quas lity worthy your Lordship's entertainment.

2 Lord. It were fit you knew him; lest, repos ing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, at some great and trusty business, in a main danger, fail you.

Ber. I would, I knew in what particular action to try him.

2 Lord, None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

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