The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

I am a mother to you.

Hel. Mine honourable mistress.

Count. Nay, a mother;

Why not a mother? When I said, a mother,
Methought you saw a serpent: what's in mother,
That you start at it? I say, I am your mother;
And put you in the catalogue of those,
That were enwombed mine. "Tis often seen,
Adoption strives with nature; and choice breeds
A native slip to us from foreign seeds;
You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan,
Yet I express to you a mother's care:-
God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood,
To say, I am thy mother? What's the matter,
That this distemper'd messenger of wet,
The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?
Why? that you are my daughter?
Hel. That I am not.

Count. I say, I am your mother.
Hel. Pardon, madam;

The count Rousillon cannot be my brother:
I am from humble, he from honour'd name:
No note upon my parents, his all noble:
My master, my dear lord he is; and I
His servant live, and will his vassal die :
He must not be my brother.

Count. Nor I your mother?

Hel. You are my mother, madam; 'would you were
(So that my lord, your son, were not my brother,)
Indeed my mother!-or, were you both our mothers,
I care no more for, than I do for heaven,
So I were not his sister. Can't no other,
But, I your daughter, he must be my brother?
Count. Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law;
God shield, you mean it not! daughter, and mother,
So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again?
My fear hath catch'd your fondness. Now I see
The mystery of your loneliness, and find
Your salt tears' head. Now to all sense 'tis gross,
You love my son; invention is asham'd,
Against the proclamation of thy passion,
To say, thou dost not: therefore tell me true;
But tell me then, 'tis so:-for, look, thy cheeks
Confess it, one to the other; and thine eyes
See it so grossly shown in thy behaviours,
That in their kind they speak it: only sin
And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,

That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?
If it be so, you have wound a goodly clue;

Ifit be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,
As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,
To tell me truly.

Hel. Good madam, pardon me!
Count. Do you love my son?

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
Have to the full appeach'd.

Hel. Then, I confess,

Here on my knee, before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son :-

My friends were poor, but honest; so's mylove.
Be not offended! for it hurts not him,
That he is lov'd of me: I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit;

Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him;
Yet never know, how that desert should be.
I know, I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible sieve

I still pour in the waters of my love,

And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore

The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do: but, if yourself,
Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever, in so true a flame of liking,

Wish chastely, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love: O then give pity
To her, whose state is such, that caunot choose
But lend and give, where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly, where she dies.
Count. Had you not lately an intent, speak truly,
To go to Paris?

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,
He would receive it? He and his physicians
Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,
They, that they cannot help. How shall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

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
But give me leave to try success, I'd venture
The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure,

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,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss. [Exeunt.

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!
Whether I live or die, be you the sons
Of worthy Frenchmen! let higher Italy,
(Those 'bated, that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy,)see, that you come
Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when

The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,
That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell!

2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!
King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them!
They say, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you serve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.
King. Farewell!- Come hither to me!

[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.
Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with:
Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early.
Pur. Anthy mind stand to it,boy, steal away bravely.
Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,
Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry.
Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn,
But one to dance with! By heaven I'll steal away.
1 Lord. There's honour in the theft.
Par. Commit it, count!

With sprightly fire and motion; whose simple touch
Is powerful to araise king Pepin, nay,

To give great Charlemain a pen in his hand,
And write to her a love-line.

2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell,
Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.
1 Lord. Farewell, captain!

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!
Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin.
Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals. -You
shall find in the regiment of the Spinii one captain
Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on
his sinister cheek;it was this very sword entrenched it:
say to him, I, live; and observe his reports for me!
2 Lord. We shall, noble captain.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration; that we with thee
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,
By wondering how thou took'st it.
Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt
Lords.]-What will you do?
Ber. Stay; the king-

And not be all day neither.

[Exit Lafeu.

Eret

King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.
Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA.

Laf. Nay, come your ways!
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! [Exit.
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.

[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.

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
King. I'll fee thee to stand up.
tidings!
Laf. Then here's a man

Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you
Had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy; and
That, at my bidding, you could so stand up.

King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,
And ask'd thee mercy for't.

Laf. Good faith, across:

But, my good lord, 'tis thus: will you be cur'd
Of your infirmity?

So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown,
When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown
From simple sources; and great seas have dried,
When miracles have by the greatest been denied.
Oft expectation fails, and most of there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits,
Where hope is coldest, and despair most sits.
King.I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid!
Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid:
Proffers, not took, reap thanks for their reward.
Hel. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:
It is not so with him, that all things knows,
As 'tis with us, that square our guess by shows;
But most it is presumption in us, when

The help of heaven we count the act af men.
Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent!
Of heaven, not me, make an experiment!
I am not an impostor, that proclaim
Myself against the level of mine aim;

But know I think, and think I know most sure,
My art is not past power, nor you past cure.
King. Art thou so confident? Within what space
Hop'st thou my cure?

Hel. The greatest grace lending grace,
Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring
Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;
Ere twice in murk and occidental damp,
Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp;
Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass
Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass;
What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,
Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.
King. Upon thy certainty and confidence,
What dar'st thou venture?

Hel. Tax of impudence,

A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame, -
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.

King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth
speak:

His powerful sound, within an organ weak:
And what impossibility would slay

In common sense, sense saves another way.
Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate
Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate;
Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, virtue, all
That happiness and prime can happy call:
Thou this to hazard, needs must intimate
Skill infinite, or monstrous desperate.
Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try;
That ministers thine own death, if I die.

Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property

Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,
And well deserv'd! Not helping, death's my fee;
But, ifI help, what do you promise me?
King. Make thy demand!

Hel. But will

you make it even?

King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven.
Hel. Then thou shalt give me, with thy kingly hand,
What husband in thy power I will command.
Exempted be from me the arrogance,

To choose from forth the royal blood of France,
My low and humble name to propagate
With any branch or image of thy state:
But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know
Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

King. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd,
Thy will by my performance shall be serv'd.
So make the choice of thy own time! for I,
Thy resolv'd patient, on thee still rely.
More should I question thee, and more I must;
Though, more to know, could not be more to trust ;

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.
Clo. O Lord, sir,-thick, thick, spare not me.
Count. I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely

meat.

Clo. O Lord, sir,-nay, put me to't, I warrant you.
Count. You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.
Clo. O Lord, sir,- spare not me!

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.
Count. An end, sir, to your business: give Helen this,
And urge her to a present answer back:
Commend me to my kinsmen, and my son;

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.
Count. Haste you again! [Exeunt severally.

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,
Par. Solsay; both of Galen and Paracelsus.
Laf. Of all the learned and authentic fellows,-
Par. Right, so I say.

Laf. That gave him out incurable, -
Par. Why, there 'tis; so say I too.
Laf. Not to be helped,

Par. Right: as 'twere a man assured of an-
Laf. Uncertain life, and sure death.

The pr

Not by t

All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you.
Hel. I am a simple maid; and therein wealthiest,
That, I protest, I simply am a maid: ~
Please it your majesty, I have done already:
The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,
We blush, that thou should'st choose: but, berefus'd,
Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever;
We'll ne'er come there again.
King. Make choice, and, see,
Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me.
Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly;
And to imperial Love, that god most high,
Do my sighs stream. - Sir, will you hear my suit?
1 Lord. And grant it.

Par. Just, you say well; so would I have said.
Laf. I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.
Par. It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you
shall read it in--What do you call there?
Laf. A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly

actor.

Par. That's it I would have said; the very same. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier; 'fore me, speak in respect

Hel. Thanks, sir: all the rest is mute.

Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-
ace for my life.

Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,
Before I speak, too threateningly replies:

Love make your fortunes twenty times above
Her that so wishes, and her humble love!
2 Lord. No better, if you please.
Hel. My wish receive,

Which great love grant! and so I take my leave.
Laf. Do they all deny her? An they were sons of
mine, I'd have them whipped; or I would send them
to the Turk, to make eunuchs of.

Hel. Be not afraid [To a Lord.] that I your hand

should take;

I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:
Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed
Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have
sure, they are bastards to the English; the French
ne'er got them.

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?
Laf. 'Fore God, I think so.

a maid

Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good,
To make yourself a son out of my blood.
4 Lord. Fair one, I think not so.
Laf. There's one grape yet,
I am sure, thy father
drank wine.-But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth
of fourteen; I have known thee already.

Hel.I dare not say I take you ;[To Bertram.]but I give
Me, and my service, ever whilst I live,
Into your guiding power. This is the man.
King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's
thy wife.

Why, In such a business give me leave to use
Ber. My wife, my liege?I shall beseech your highness,

King. Go, call before me all the lords in court!-
[Exit an Attendant.

Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;

And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense
Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive
The confirmation of my promis'd gift,
Which but attends thy naming.

Enter several Lords.

Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel
Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,
O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice
I have to use: thy frank election make;

Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.
Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress
Fall, when love please!-marry, to each, but one!
Laf. I'd give bay Curtal, and his furniture,
My mouth no more were broken than these boys,
And writ as litte beard.

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,
What she has done for me?

Ber. Yes, my good lord;

But never hope to know why I should marry her.
King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly
bed.

Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down
Must answer for your rising? I know her well;
She had her breeding at my father's charge:
A poor physician's daughter my wife! — Disdain
Rather corrupt me ever!

King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which
can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods,
Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,
Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off
In differences so mighty. If she be

All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik❜st,
A poor physician's daughter,) thou dislik'st
Of virtue for the name: but do not so:

From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed:
Where great additions swell, and virtue none,
It is a dropsied honour: good alone

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,
Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;
In these to nature she's immediate heir;

And these breed honour; that is honour's scorn,
Which challenges itself as honour's born,
And is not like the sire. Honours best thrive,
When rather from our acts we them derive,
Than our fore-goers: the mere word's a slave,
Debauch'd on every tomb; on every grave
A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb,
Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb
Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?
If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
I can create the rest: virtue, and she,

Is her own dower; honour, and wealth, from me.
Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.
King. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou should'st strive
to choose.

Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I'm glad;
Let the rest go.

King. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,
I must produce my power. Here take her hand,
Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;
That dost in vile misprision shackle up

My love, and her desert; that canst not dream,
We, poizing us in her defective scale,

Shall weigh thee to the beam: that wilt not know,
It is in us to plant thine honour, where

We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt,
Obey our will, which travails in thy good!
Believe not thy disdain, but presently
Do thine own fortunes that obedient right,
Which both thy duty owes, and our power claims;
Or I will throw thee from my care for ever
Into the staggers, and the careless lapse

Of youth and ignorance, both my revenge and hate,
Loosing upon thee in the name of justice,
Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer!
Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit
My fancy to your eyes. When I consider,
What great creation, and what dole of honour,
Flies where you bid it, I find, that she, which late
Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now
The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,
Is, as 'twere, born so.

King. Take her by the hand,

And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise
A counterpoise; if not to thy estate,

A balance more replete.

Ber. I take her hand.

King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king,
Smile upon this contráct; whose ceremony
Shall seem expedient on the new-born brief,
And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast
Shall more attend upon the coming space,
Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her,
Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.

[Exeunt King, Bertram, Helena, Lords, and
Attendants.

Laf. Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you!
Par. Your pleasure, sir?

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?
Ber. Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!

I will not bed her.
Ber. Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,

Par. What? what, sweet heart?

« 上一頁繼續 »

圖書