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Hel. You are my mother, madam; 'Would you
(So that my lord, your fon, were not my brother)
Indeed, my mother!—or were you both our mothers,
I care no more for 1, than I do for heaven,
So I were not his fifter: Can't no other,
But, I your daughter, he must be my brother?
Count. Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-
in-law;
[mother,
God fhield, you mean it not! daughter, and
So ftrive upon your pulfe: What, pale again?
My fear hath catch'd your fondnefs: Now I fee
The mystery of your loneliness, and find

Religious in mine error, I adore

The fun, that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more. My dearest madamı,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do: but, if yourfelf,
Whole aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever, in fo true a flame of liking,
With chaftely, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love; Other, give pity
To her, whose state is fuch, that cannot chufc
But lend and give, where she is fure to lofe;
That feeks not to find that, her fearch implies,
But, riddle-like, lives fweetly where the dies.
Count. Had you not lately an intent, fpeak truly,
To go to Paris?

Hel. Madam, I had.

Count. Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itfelf, I fwear.
You know, my father left me fome prescriptions
Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading,
And manifeft experience, had collected
For general fovereignty; and that he will'd me

Your falt tears' head 2. Now to all fenfe 'tis grofs, In hoedfulleft refervation to bestow them,
You love my fon; invention is afham'd,
Against the proclamation of thy passion,

To fay, thou doft not: therefore tell me true;
But tell me then, 'tis fo:--for, look, thy cheeks
Confefs it one to the other; and thine eyes
See it fo grofly fhewn in thy behaviours,
That in their kind they fpeak it; only fin
And hellish obftinacy tie thy tongue,
That truth fhould be fufpected: Speak, is't fo?
If it be fo, you have wound a goodly clue;
If it be not, forfwear't: howe'er, I charge
As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,
To tell me truly.

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

Hel. Your pardon, noble mistress!
Count. Love you my fon?

As notes, whofe faculties inclufive were
More than they were in note 4: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approv'd, fet down,
To cure the defperate languifhings, whereof
The king is render'd loft.

Count. This was your motive
For Paris, was it? fpeak.

Hel. My lord your fon made me to think of this;
Elfe Paris, and the medicine, and the king,
Had, from the converfation of my thoughts,
thee,Haply, been absent then.

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, difclofe
The state of your affection; for your paffions
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 fon :

Count. But think you, Helen,

If you should tender your fuppofed 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 fhall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine 4; have left off
The danger to itself?

Hel. There's fomething hints,

More than my father's fkill, which was the greatest
Of his profeffion, that his good receipt
Shall, for my legacy, be fanctified

[honour

By the luckieft ftars in heaven: and, would your
But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture
The well-loft life of mine on his grace's cure,

My friends were poor, but honeft; fo's my love: By fuch a day, and hour.

Be not offended; for it hurts not him,
That he is lov'd of me: I follow him not
By any token of prefumptuous fuit;

Nor would I have him, 'till I do deserve him;
Yet never know how that defert should be.
I know I love in vain, ftrive against hope;
Yet, in this captious 3 and intenible fieve,
I fill pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lofe ftill: thus, Indian-like,

[and love,

Count. Doft thou believe 't?
Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly.
Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt have my leave,
Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings
To thofe of mine in court; I'll stay at home,
And pray God's bleffing into thy attempt:
Be gone to-morrow; and be fure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not mifs.

1 I care no more for, is, I care as much for-I wish it equally.

[Exeunt.

2 i. e, the fource of your grief.

3 Dr. Johnfon fufpects we fhould read carious, i. e. rotten. 4 Meaning, preferiptions in which greater vintues were incafed than appeared to obfervation, 5 i. e, exhaufted of their skill.

ACT

ACT

SCENE I.

The Court of France.

IL

captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very fword entrench'd it: fay to him, I live; and ob

Enter the King, with young Lords taking leave for the ferve his reports for me.

Florentine War. Bertram and Parolles.

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2 Lord. We fhall, noble captain.

Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what

AREWEL, young lords, these warlike will you do?
principles

Do not throw from you:-and you, my lords,

farewel:

Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all,
The gift doth ftretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,
And is enough for both.

2 Lord. 'Tis our hope, fir,

After well-enter'd foldiers, to return
And find your grace in health.

I

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confefs, he owes the malady That does my life befiege. Farewel, young lords; Whether I live or die, be you the fons Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy (Thofe 'bated, that inherit but the fall Of the last monarchy) fee, that you come Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when The bravest questant fhrinks, find what you feek, That fame may cry you loud: I fay, farewel. 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, ferve your majefty!

King. Thofe girls of Italy, take heed of them;
They fay, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you ferve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.
King. Farewel. Come hither to me.
[The King retires to a couch.
1 Lord. Oh my sweet lord, that you will ftay
behind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault; the fpark—
2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars!

Par. Most admirable: I have feen those wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. [with; Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, fteal away bravely.

Ber. I fhall ftay here the forehorse to a smock, Creaking my fhoes on the plain masonry, 'Till honour be bought up, and no fword worn, But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll fteal away. I Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par. Commit it, count.

2 Lord. I am your acceffary; and so farewel.

Ber. Stay; the king--

Par. Ufe a more fpacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrain'd yourself within the lift of too cold an adieu: be more expreffive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there do mufter true gait, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd star; and though the devil lead the measure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel.

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Laf. Why, doctor the: My lord, there's one arriv'd,

If you will fee her-now, by my faith and honour,
If feriously I may convey my thoughts

In this my light deliverance, I have spoke
With one, that in her fex, her years, profession,
Wisdom, and conftancy, hath amaz'd me more

Ber. 1 grow to you, and our parting is a tor-Than I dare blame my weaknefs: Will you fee her, tur'd body.

1 Lord. Farewel, captain.

2 Lord. Sweet monfieur Parolles !

Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin. Good fparks and lustrous, a word, good metals :You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one

(For that is her demand) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration; that we with thee May spend our wonder too, or take off thine, By wond'ring how thou took'it it.

I The epithet higher is here to be understood as referring to fituation rather than to dignity. 2 This word, as has been before obferved, is ufed when any pafs of wit mifcarries.

Laf.

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Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

. And not be all day neither.

[Exit Lafeu. King. Thus he his fpecial nothing ever prologues. Laf. [returns.] Nay, come your ways. [Bringing in Helena. King. This hafte hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways; This is his majesty, fay your mind to him: A traitor you do look like; but fuch traitors His majefty feldom fears: I am Creflid'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 profefs, well found. King. I knew him.

[him;

Hel. The rather will I fpare my praifes toward
Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death
Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one,
Which, as the deareft iffue of his practice,
And of his old experience the only darling,
He bad me ftore up, as a triple eye,

Safer than mine own two, more dear! I have fo :
And, hearing your high majefty is touch'd
With that malignant caufe wherein the honour
Of my dear father's gift ftands chief in power,
I come to tender it, and my appliance,
With all bound humblenefs.

King. We thank you, maiden;
But may not be fo credulous of cure,—
When our most learned doctors leave us; and
The congregated college have concluded,
That labouring art can never anfwer nature
From her inaidable eftate,-I fay we must not
So ftain our judgement, or corrupt our hope,
To proftitute our paft-cure malady
To empiricks; or to diffever fo

Our great felf and our credit, to esteem

A fenfelefs help, when help paft sense we deem.
Hel. My duty then fhall pay me for my pains:
I will no more enforce mine office on you;
Humbly intreating from your royal thoughts
A modeft one, to bear me back again.

King. I cannot give thee lefs, to be call'd grateful: Thou thought it to help me: and fuch thanks I give, As one near death to thofe that with him live: But, what at full I know, thou know'ft no part; I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, Since you fet up your reft 'gainst remedy : He that of greatest works is finisher, Oft does them by the weakest minifter: So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown, When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown

From fimple fources; and great feas have dry'd,
When miracles have by the greatest been deny'd.
Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where moft it promifes; and oft it hits,
Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits. [maid;

King. I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid : Proffers, not took, reap thanks for their reward.

Hel. Infpired merit fo by breath is barr'd: It is not fo with Him that all things knows, As 'tis with us that square our guefs by shows: But most it is prefumption in us, when The help of heaven we count the act of men. Dear fir, to my endeavours give confent; Of heaven, not me, make an experiment. I am not an impoftor, that proclaim Myfelf against the level of mine aim 1; But know I think, and think I know most fure, My art is not past power, nor you past cure.

King. Art thou fo confident? Within what space Hop'st thou my cure?

Hel. The greatest grace lending grace,
Ere twice the horses of the fun fhall bring
Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;
Ere twice in murk and occidental damp
Moift Hefperus hath quench'd his fleepy lamp;
Or four and twenty times the pilot's glafs
Hath told the thievifh minutes how they pafs;
What is infirm from your found parts fhall fly,
Health fhall live free, and fickness freely die.

King. Upon thy certainty and confidence,
What dar'it thou venture?

Hel. Tax of impudence,

A ftrumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,
Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name
Sear'd otherwife; no worfe of worst extended,
With vileft torture let my life be ended 2.

King. Methinks, in thee fome bleffed fpirit
doth speak;

His powerful found, within an organ weak 3:
And what impoffibility would flay

In common fenfe, fenfe faves another way.
Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate
Worth name of life, in thee hath eftimare;
Youth, beauty, wifdom, courage, virtue, all
That happiness and prime 4, can happy call:
Thou this to hazard, needs must intimate
Skill infinite, or monftrous defperate.
Sweet practifer, thy phyfick I will try;
That minifters thine own death, if I die.

Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property
Of what I fpoke, unpitied let me die;
And well deferv'd: Not helping, death's my fee;
But, if I help, what do you promise me?

That is, "I am not an impoftor that proclaim one thing and defign another." 2 Mr. Steevens thus happily explains this obfcure paffage: "I would bear (fays fhe) the tax of impudence, which is the denotement of a ftrumpet; would endure a fhame refulting from my failure in what I have undertaken, and thence become the fubject of odious ballads; let my maiden reputation be otherwife branded; and, no worle of wort extended, i. e. provided nothing worfe is offered to me, (meaning violation) let my life be ended with the worlt of tortures. The poet for the lake of rhime has obfcured the fente of the paffage. The worst that can befal a woman being extended to me, feems to be the meaning of the last line." 3 The author of the Revifal of Shakspeare's Text explains The verb doth Speak, in the first line, fhould be underflood to be repeated in the conftruction of the fecond, thus; His powerful found (peaks within a weak organ." • i. e. youth.

this line thus:

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King. Make thy demand.

Hel. But will you make it even ?

Count. It must be an answer of moft monftrous [ven! fize, that muft fit all demands.

King. Ay, by my fceptre, and my hopes of hea-
Hel. Then fhalt thou give me, with thy kingly
hand,

What hufband in thy power I will command:
Exempted be from me the arrogance

To chufe from forth the royal blood of France;
My low and humble name to propagate
With any branch or image of thy ftate:
But fuch a one, thy vaffal, whom I know
Is free for me to afk, thee to beltow.

King. Here is my hand; the premises obferv'd,
Thy will by my performance fhall be ferv'd:
So make the choice of thine own time; for I,
Thy refolv'd patient, on thee still rely.
More fhould I queftion thee, and more I muft;
Though, more to know, could not be more to truft;
From whence thou cam'ft, how tended on,-But
reft

Caqueftion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.-
Give me fome help here, ho!-If thou proceed
As high as word, my deed fhall match thy deed.
[Exeunt.

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Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned fhould fpeak truth of it: here it is, and all that belongs to 't: Afk me, if I am a courtier; it fhall 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 wifer by your anfwer. I pray you, fir, are you a courtier ?

Clo. 2 O Lord, fir,- -There's a fimple putting off-more, more, a hundred of them.

Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.

Clo. O Lord, fir,- -Thick, thick, fpare not me. Count. think, fir, you can eat none of this homely meat.

Clo. O Lord, fir,-Nay, put me to't, I warrant

you.

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Clo. I ne'er had worfe luck in my life, in my
Lord, fir: fee, things may ferve long, but not

Count. Come on, fir; I fhall now put you to the ferve ever. height of your breeding.

Ch. I will thew myfelf highly fed, and lowly taught: I know my business is but to the court. Grant. But to the court why, what place make again. 1 you fpecial, when you put off that with fuch contempt? But to the court!

Clo. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may eafily put it off at court: he that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kits his hand, and fay nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, fuch a fellow, to fay precifely, were not for the court: but, for me, I have an anfwer will ferve all men.

Count. Marry, that's a bountiful anfwer, 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 anfwer ferve fit to all queftions? Cle. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffaty punk, as Tib's rufh for Tom's fore-finger 1, as a pancake for Shrove-tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as fcolding 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 fuch fitnefs for all questions ?

Clo. From below your duke, to beneath your conftable, it will fit any question.

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Count. I play the noble houfewife with the
time, to entertain it fo merrily with a fool.
Clo. O Lord fir,--Why, there't ferves well
[this,
Count. An end, fir, to your bufinefs: Give Helen
And urge her to a prefent anfwer back :
Commend me to my kinfmen, and my fon;
This is not much.

Clo. Not much commendation to them.
Count. Not much employment for you: You
understand me?

Clo. Moft fruitfully; I am there before my legs.
Count. Hafte you again.

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[Exeunt.

Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles. Laf. They fay, miracles are paft; and we have our philofophical perfons, to make modern and familiar, things fupernatural and caufelefs. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrors; enfconcing ourselves into feeming knowledge, when we should fubmit ourfelves to an unknown fear 3.

Par. Why, 'tis the rareft arguiment of wonder, that hath thot out in our later times.

Ber. And fo 'tis.

Laf. To be relinquifh'd of the artists,-
Par. So I fay; both of Galen and Paracelfus,
Laf. Of all the learned and authentic fellows,

This alludes to an ancient cuftom of marrying with a rush ring, as well in other countries as in England; but was fcarce ever practifed except by defigning men, for the purpofe of corrupting thofe young women to whom they pretended love. 2 A ridicule on that foolish expletive of fpeech, then in vogue at court.

3 Fear here means the object of fear.

Par.

Par. Right, fo I fay.

Laf. That gave him out incurable,

Par. Why, there 'tis ; fo fay I too. Laf. Not to be help'd,————

We blush, that theu fhould' ft chufe, but be refus'd; Let the white death fit on thy cheek for over, We'll ne'er come there again.

King. Make choice; and, fee,

Par. Right; as 'twere, a man affur'd of an-Who fhuns thy love, fhuns all his love in me.

Laf. Uncertain life, and fure death.

Par. Juft, you fay well: fo would I have faid. Laf. I may truly fay, it is a novelty to the world. Par. It is indeed: if you will have it in thewing, you shall read it in,-What do you call there?— Laf. A fhewing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.

Par. That's it I would have faid; the very fame. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not luftier: 'fore me I fpeak in respect

Par. Nay, 'tis ftrange, 'tis very ftrange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he is of a most facinorous fpirit, that will not acknowledge be the

2

Laf. Very hand of heaven. Par. Ay, fo I fay.

Laf. In a moft weak

to

Par. And debile minister, great power, great tranfcendence: which fhould, indeed, give us a farther use to be made, than alone the recovery of the king; as to be

Luf. Generally thankful.

Enter King, Helena, and Attendants. Par. I would have faid it; you fay well: Here comes the king.

Laf. Luftick 3, as the Dutchman fays: I'll like a maid the better, while 1 have a tooth in my head: Why, he's able to lead her a corranto.

Par. Mort du Vinaigre! Is not this Helen?
Laf. 'Fore God, I think fo.

King. Go, call before me all the lords in court.-Sit, my preferver, by thy patient's fide;

Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; And to imperial Love, that god most high, Do my fighs ftream.-Sir, will you hear my fait ? I Lord. And grant it.

Hel. Thanks, fir; all the rest is mute 7. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life.

Hel. The honour, fir, that flames in your fair eyes, Before I speak, too threatningly replies; Love make your fortunes twenty times above Her that fo wifhes, and her humble love! 2 Lord. No better, if you please. Hel. My with receive,

Which great Love grant! and fo I take my leave. Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were fons of mine, I'd have them whipt; or I would fend them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of.

Hel. Be not afraid that I your hand fhould take ; I'll never do you wrong for your own fake: Bleifing upon your vows! and in your bed Find fairer fortune, if you ever tved!

Laf. Thefe boys are boys of ice, they'll none of her: fure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them.

Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, To make yourself a fon out of my blood. 4 Lord. Fair one, 1 think not fo.

Laf. There's one grape yet,-I am fure, thy father drunk wine.But if thou be'ft not an afs, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already.

Hel. I dare not fay, 1 take you; but I give

And with this healthful hand, whofe banish'd fenfe Me, and my fervice, ever whilft I live,

Thou haft repeald, a fecond time receive

The confirmation of my promis'd gift,

Which but attends thy naming.

Enter feveral Lords.

Fair maid, fend forth thine eye: this youthful parcel
Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,
O'er whom both fovereign power and father's voice
I have to ufe: thy frank election make;
Thou haft power to chufe, and they none to forfake.
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 4, and his furniture,
My mouth no more were broken 5 than these boys',
And writ as little beard.

King. Perufe them well:

Not one of thofe but had a noble father.

Hel. Gentlemen,

Heaven hath, through me, reftor'd the king to health.
All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you.
Hel. I am a fimple maid; and therein wealthieft,
That, I proteft, I fimply am a maid :-
Please it your majesty, I have done already;
The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,

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1 By dolphin is meant the dauphin. 2 i. c. wicked.

3 i. e. lufty, chearful, pleasant. 4. A bay Meaning, perhaps, the chlorofis.

dock'd horfe. 5 Meaning, had loft no more of its teeth. 7 i.e. filence. 8 i. e. the lowest chance of the dice.

All

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