I am a mother to you. Hel. Mine honourable mistress. Count. Nay, a mother; Why not a mother? When I said, a mother, Count. I say, I am your mother. The count Rousillon cannot be my brother: Count. Nor I your mother? Hel. You are my mother, madam; 'would you were That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so? Ifit be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee, Hel. Good madam, pardon me! Hel. Your pardon, noble mistress! Count. Love you my son? Hel. Do not you love him, madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The state of your affection; for your passions Hel. Then, I confess, Here on my knee, before high heaven and you, My friends were poor, but honest; so's mylove. Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him; I still pour in the waters of my love, And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like, The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, Wish chastely, and love dearly, that your Dian Hel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear. You know, my father left me some prescriptions Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading, And manifest experience, had collected For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me In heedfullest reservation to bestow them, As notes, whose faculties inclusive were, More than they were in note: amongst the rest, There is a remedy, approv'd, set down, To cure the desperate languishes, whereof The king is render'd lost. Count. This was your motive For Paris, was it? speak! Hel. My lord your son made me to think of this; 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, Hel. There's something hints, More than my father's skill, which was the greatest Of his profession, that his good receipt Shall, for my legacy, be sanctified By the luckiest stars in heaven:and,would your honour By such a day and hour. Count. Dost thou believe't? Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave, and love, Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings To those of mine in court. I'll stay at home, And pray God's blessing into thy attempt: Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this, eftesp There Where King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my Will not confess, he owes the malady heart That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords! The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek, 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty! Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. [The King retires to a couch. 1 Lord.O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark-2 Lord. O, 'tis brave wars! Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars. With sprightly fire and motion; whose simple touch To give great Charlemain a pen in his hand, 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she. My lord, there's one arriv'd, If you will see her, -now, by my faith and honour, If seriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that, in her sex, her years, profession, Wisdom, and constancy, hath amaz'd me more, Than I dare blame my weakness. Will you see her (For that is her demand,) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me! 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles! King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration; that we with thee Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafeu. Eret King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Laf. Nay, come your ways! This is his majesty, say your mind to him: [Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu:be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time,there,do muster true gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell! Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exeunt Bertram and Parolles. Enter LAFEU. I Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him; 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, come to tender it and my appliance, With all bound humbleness. King. We thank you, maiden; But may not be so credulous of cure,When our most learned doctors leave us, and The congregated college have concluded, That labouring art can never ransom nature From her unaidable estate, I say, we must not So stain our judgement, or corrupt our hope, To prostitute our past-cure malady To empirics; or to dissever so Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. Hel. My duty then shall pay me for my pains: I will no more enforce mine office on you; Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts A modest one, to bear me back again. Laf. Pardon, my lord, [Kneeling.]for me and for my Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, Laf. Good faith, across: But, my good lord, 'tis thus: will you be cur'd So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown, The help of heaven we count the act af men. 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, - King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth His powerful sound, within an organ weak: In common sense, sense saves another way. Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die, Hel. But will you make it even? King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven. To choose from forth the royal blood of France, King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd, SCENE II. Rousillon. A room in the Countess's palace. Enter Countess and Clown. Count. Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding. Clo. I will show myself highly fed, and lowly tanght: I know my business is but to the court. Count. To the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court! Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may easily put it off at court: he, that cannot make a leg, put ofl's cap,kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the court: but, for me, I have an answer will serve all men. Count. Marry, that's a bountiful answer, that fits all questions. Clo. It is like a barber's chair, that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock. Count. Will your answer serve fit to all questions? Clo. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffata punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's fore-finger, as as pan-cake for ShroveTuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth; nay, as the pudding to his skin. Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions? Clo. From below your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit any question. Count. It must be an answer of most monstrous size, that must fit all demands. Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that belongs to't. Ask me, if I am a courtier; it shall do you no harm to learn. Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question,hoping to be the wiser by your answer. pray you, sir, are you a courtier? Clo. O Lord, sir,- -There's a simple putting off:more, more, a hundred of them. Count. Sir,I am a poor friend of yours,that loves you. meat. Clo. O Lord, sir,-nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. Do you cry, O Lord, sir, at your whipping, and spare not me? Indeed, your O Lord, sir, is very sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't. Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my-O Lord. sir: Isee, things may serve long, but not serve ever. Count. I play the noble housewife with the time, to entertain it so merrily with a fool. Clo. O Lord, sir, why, there't serves well again. This is not much. Clo. Not much commendation to them. Count. Not much employment for you: Yon understaud me? Clo. Most fruitfully; I am there before my legs. SCENE III. — Paris. A room in the King's palace. Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES. Laf. They say, miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrors; ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear. Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that hath shot out in our latter times. Ber. And so 'tis. -- Laf. To be relinquished of the artists, Laf. That gave him out incurable, - Par. Right: as 'twere a man assured of an- The pr Not by t All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said. actor. Par. That's it I would have said; the very same. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier; 'fore me, speak in respect I Hel. Thanks, sir: all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames- Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes, Love make your fortunes twenty times above Which great love grant! and so I take my leave. Hel. Be not afraid [To a Lord.] that I your hand should take; I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facino-her: rous spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the -— Laf. Very hand of heaven. Par. Ay, so I say. Laf. In a most weak Par.And debile minister,great power, great transcendence: which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king, as to beLaf. Generally thankful. Enter King, HELENA, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it; you say well. Here comes theking. Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman I'll like the better, whilst I have a tooth in my head. he's able to lead her a coranto. says: Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Helen? a maid Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, Hel.I dare not say I take you ;[To Bertram.]but I give Why, In such a business give me leave to use King. Go, call before me all the lords in court!- Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side; And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense Enter several Lords. Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake. King. Peruse them well! Not one of those, but had a noble father. Hel. Gentlemen, The help of mine own eyes. King. Know'st thou not, Bertram, Ber. Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry her. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down I King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik❜st, From lowest place when virtuous things proceed, Heaven hath, through me, restor'd the king to health. Is good, without a name; vileness is so : The property by what it is should go, And these breed honour; that is honour's scorn, Is her own dower; honour, and wealth, from me. Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I'm glad; King. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat, My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, Shall weigh thee to the beam: that wilt not know, We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt, Of youth and ignorance, both my revenge and hate, King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king, [Exeunt King, Bertram, Helena, Lords, and Laf. Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you! Laf. Your lord and master did well to make his re cantation. Par. Recantation? My lord? my master? Laf. Ay; is it not a language, I speak? Par. A most harsh one; and not to be understood without bloody succeeding. My master? Luf. Are you companion to the count Rousillon? Par. To any count, to all counts; to what is man. Laf. To what is count's man; count's master is of another style. Par. You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old. Laf. I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring thee. Par. What I dare too well do, I dare not do. Laf. I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs, and the bannerets, about thee, did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and that thou art scarce worth. Par. Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee, Laf. Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou hasten thy trial; which if- Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee well; thy casement I need not open, for I look through thee. Give me thy hand. Par. My lord, you give me most egregious indignity. Laf. Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it. Par. I have not, my lord, deserved it. Laf. Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not bate thee a scruple. Par. Well, I shall be wiser. Laf. E'en as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at a smack o' the contrary. If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf, and beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge; that I may say, in the default, he is a man I know. Par.My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation. Laf. I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor doing eternal: for doing I am past; as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me leave. [Exit. Par. Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off me; scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, 1 must be patient; there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with any convenience, an he were double, and double a lord. I'll have no more pity of his age, than I would have of I'll beat him, an if I could but meet him again. Re-enter LAFEU. Laf. Sirrah, your lord and master's married, there's news for you; you have a new mistress. Par. I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make some reservation of your wrongs. He is my good lord: whom I serve above, is my master. Laf. Who? God? Par. Ay, sir. Laf. The devil it is, that's thy master. Why dost thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion? dost make hose of thy sleeves? do other servants so? Thou wert best set thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'd beat thee: methinks, thou art a general offence, and every man should beat thee. I think, thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee. lord. Par. This is hard and undeserved measure, my Laf. Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond, and honourable personages, than the heraldry of your and no true traveller: you are more saucy with lords, birth and virtues gives you commission. You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you. [Exit. Enter BERTRAM. Par. Good, very good; it is so then. - Good, very good; let it be concealed a while. Par. What is the matter, sweet heart? I will not bed her. Par. What? what, sweet heart? |