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Stew. "I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, hither gone; "Ambitious love hath so in me offended, "That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon, "With fainted vow my faults to have amended. Write, write, that, from the bloody courfe of war, "My dearest mafter, your dear fon may hye; "Blefs him at home in peace, whilft I from far, "His name with zealous fervour fančtify : "His taken labours bid him me forgive;

I, his defpightful Juno, fent him forth "From courtly friends,with camping foes to live, "Where death and danger dog the heels of worth: "He is too good and fair for death and me;

Whom I myself embrace, to fet him free."

her name; and no legacy is fo rich as honefty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been folicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know the knave; hang him! one Parolles a filthy officer he is in thofe fuggeftions for the young earl.--Beware of them, Diana; their promifes, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all thefe engines of luft, are not the things they go under 2: many a maid hath been feduced by them; and the mifery is, example, that so terrible fhews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceflion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advife you further; but, I hope, your own grace will

Ah, what sharp ftings are in her mildest words!--keep you where you are, though there were no Rinaldo, you did never lack advice fo much,

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As letting her pass fo; had I spoke with her,

I could have well diverted her intents,

Which thus the hath prevented.

Stew. Pardon me, madam :

If I had given you this at over-night,

further danger known, but the modesty which is fo loft.

Dia. You fhall not need to fear me.

Enter Helena, disguis'd like a Pilgrim.
Wid. I hope fo.-Look, here comes a pilgrim:

She might have been o'er-ta'en; and yet fhe writes, I know the will lye at my houfe: thither they fend Purfuit would be but vain.

Count. What angel shall

Biefs this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear,
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest juftice.-Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, fet down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient meffenger :-
When, haply, he shall hear that the is
gone,
He will return; and hope I may, that the,
Hearing fo much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in fenfe

To make diftinction :-Provide this meffenger :-|
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak ;
Grief would have tears, and forrow bids me fpeak.

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Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta,
and Mariana, with other Citizens.
Wid. Nay, come; for if they do approach the
city, we shall lofe all the fight.

Dia. They fay, the French count has done most honourable fervice.

one another: I'll queftion her.➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

God fave you, pilgrim! Whither are you bound?
H.. To St. Jaques le grand.

Where do the palmers 3 lodge, I do beseech you?
Wid. At the St. Francis here, befide the port.
Hel. Is this the way? [4 march afar of
Wid. Ay, marry, is it. Hark you!
They come this way:-If you will tarry, holy
But 'till the troops come by,

[pilgrim,

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

Hel. Is it yourfelf?

Wid. If you fhall please fo, pilgrim.

Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leifure.
Wid. You came, I think, from France?
Hel. I did fo.

Wid. Here you fhall fee a countryman of yours,
That has done worthy fervice..

Hel. His name, I pray you?

[one ?

Dia. The count Roufillon: Know you fuch a
Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of
His face I know not.
[him;

Dia. Whatfoe'er he is,

He's bravely taken here. He ftole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
Against his liking: Think you it is fo? [lady.
Hel. Ay, furely, meer the truth; I know his
Dia. There is a gentleman, that ferves the count,
Reports but coarsely of her.

Hel. What's his name?
Dia. Monfieur Parolles.
Hel. Oh, I believe with him,

Wid. It is reported that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he flew the duke's brother. We have loft our labour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may In argument of praife, or to the worth know by their trumpets.

Of the great count himself, the is too mean Mar. Come, let's return again, and fuffice our-To have her name repeated; all her deferving felves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take Is a referved honefty, and that

heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is I have not heard examined 4.

That is, difcretion or thought. 2 Meaning, they are not really fo true and fincere as in appearance they seem to be." 3 Pilgrims that vifited holy places; fo called from a staff or bough of palm they were wont to carry. 4. e. doubted.

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Wid. A right good creature: where foe'er the is, Her heart weighs fadly: this young maid might do A fhrewd turn, if the pleas'd.

Hel How do you mean?

May be, the amorous count folicits her

In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And brokes with all that can in fuch a fuit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid :

But fhe is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honefteft defence.

[her

Enter with Drum and Colours, Bertram, Parolles,
Officers and Soldiers attending.

Mar. The gods forbid elfe!
Wid. So, now they come :-
That is Antonio, the duke's eldest fon;
That, Efcalus.

Hel. Which is the Frenchman?
Dia. He;

Hel. I like him well.

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

I Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble.
Ber. Do you think, I am so far deceiv'd in him

1 Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinfman, he's a moft notable coward, an infinite and endlefs liar, an hourly promifebreaker, the owner of no one good quality wor thy your lordship's entertainment.

2 Lord. It were fit you knew him; left, repofing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, at fome great and trufty business, in a main danger fail you.

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

2 Lord. None hetter than to let him fetch off ;dertake to do. his drum, which you hear him fo confidently un-

That with the plume; 'tis a most gallant fellow I would, he lov'd his wife; if he were honester, I Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will He were much goodlier :-Is't not a handfome fuddenly furprife him; fuch I will have, whom, [gentleman? I am fure, he knows not from the enemy: we Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honeft: Yond's that will bind and hood-wink him fo, that he shall fupfame knave, of the adverfaries, when we bring him to our own pofe no other but that he is carried into the leaguer tents: Be but your lordship present at his examination; if he do not, for the promise of his life,

That leads him to thefe places; were I his lady,
I'd poifon that vile rafcal.

Hel. Which is he?

Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: Why is he and in the higheft compulfion of base fear, offer to melancholy?

Hel. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.
Par. Lofe our drum! well.

Mar. He's fhrewdly vex'd at fomething: Look, he has fpied us.

Wid. Marry, hang you!

[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, &c. Mar. And your courtefy, for a ring-carrier ! Wid. The troop is paft: Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents
There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.

Hel. I humbly thank you :
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 beftow fome precepts on this virgin,
Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly.

betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his foul upon oath, never truft my judgment in any thing.

2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says, he has a stratagem for't: when your lordship fees the bottom of his fuccefs in't, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed 2. Here he comes.

Enter Parolles.

I Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the humour of his defign; let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

Ber. How now, monfieur? this drum fticks forely in your difpofition.

2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. Par. But adrum! Is't but a drum? A drum fo [Exeunt. loft! There was an excellent command! to charg●

1 Deals as a broker. 2 Theobald explains this paffage thus: "My lord, as you have taken this fellow (Parolles) into fo near a confidence, if, upon his being found a counterfeit, you don't cashier him from your favour, then your attachment is not to be removed;" and then adds the following history of John Drum's Entertainment from Holingfhed's Chronicle: "This chronologer, in his defcription of Ireland, speaking of Patrick Scarfefield, (mayor of Dublin in the year 1551) and of his extravagant hofpitality, fubjoins, that no guest had ever a cold or forbidding look from any part of his family fo that his porter or any other officer durft not, for both his ears, give the fimpleft man, hat reforted to his houfe, Tom Drum's entertainment, which is, to hale a man in by the head, and hruft him out by both the shoulders."

in with our horfe upon our own wings, and to parted, tell me what a fprat you fhall find him ; rend our own foldiers. which you fhall fee this very night.

2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the fervice; it was a difafter of war that Cæfar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our fuc-. cefs: fome dishonour we had in the lofs of that drum;, but it is not to be recovered.

Par. It might have been recover'd.
Ber. It might; but it is not now.

Par. It is to be recover'd: but that the merit of fervice is feldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or bic jacet.

Ber. Why, if you have a ftomach to 't, monfieur, if you think your mystery in ftratagem can bring this inftrument of honour again into its native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprize, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke fhall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatneis, even to the utmoit fyllable of your worthiness.

2 Lord. I must go look my twigs; he fhall be caught.

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me.
2 Lord. As't pleafe your lordfhip: I'll leave you.
[Exit.
Ber. Now will I lead you to the houfe, and thew
you

The lafs I spoke of.

1 Lord. But, you fay, fhe's honest. [once,
Ber. That's all the fault: Ifpoke with her but
And found her wondrous cold; but I fent to her,
By this fame coxcomb that we have i' the wind,
Tokens and letters, which fhe did re-fend;
And this is all I have done : She's a fair creature;
Will you go fee her?

1 Lord. With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt.
SCENE VII.

Florence. The Widow's Houfe.

Enter Helena and Widow.

Hel. If you mifdoubt me that I am not fhe,
I know not how I fhall affure you further,
But I fhall lofe the grounds I work upon 4. [born,
Wid. Though my eftate be fallen, I was well

Par. By the hand of a foldier, I will undertake it.
Ber. But you must not now flumber in it.
Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will pre-Nothing acquainted with these bufineffes;
fently pen down my dilemmas, encourage my-And would not put my reputation now
felf in my certainty, put my felf into my mortal In any staining act.
preparation, and, by midnight, look to hear fur-
ther from me.

Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it ?,

Par. I know not what the fuccefs will be, lord; but the attempt I vow.

my

Ber. I know, thou art valiant; and, to the poffibility of thy foldiership, will fubfcribe for thee. Farewel.

Par. I love not many words.

[Exit.

1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water.-Is not this a ftrange fellow, my lord that fo confidently feems to undertake this bufinefs, which he knows is not to be done; damins himfelf to do, and dares better be damn'd than do't?

2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it is, that he will teal himfelf into a nran's favour, and, for a week, efcape a great deal of difcoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed at all of this, that fo feriously he does addrefs himfelf unto ?

2 Lord. None in the world; but return with an nvention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almoft imbofs'd him 2, you fhall fee his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordihip's refpect.

1 Lord. We'll make you fome fport with the fox, ere we cafe 3 him. He was firft fmok'd by the old lord Lafeu. when his difguife and he is

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Hel. Nor would I wish you.

First, give me truft, the count he is my husband;
And, what to your fworn counfel 1 have fpoken,
Is fo, from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you fhall borrow,
Err in beftowing it.

Wid. I fhould believe you;

For you have thew'd me that, which well approves
You are great in fortune.

Hel. Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will over-pay, and pay again, [daughter,
When I have found it. The count he wones your
Lays down his wanton fiege before her beauty,
Refolves to carry her; let her, in fine, confent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
Now his important 5 blood will nought deny
That fhe'll demand: A ring the county wears,
That downward hath fucceeded in his house,
From fon to fon, fome four or five defcents
Since the firft father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would ne: seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

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Wid. Now I fee
The bottom of your purpose.

Hel. You fee it lawful then: It is no more,
But that your daughter, ere the feems as won,
Defires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
Herfelf most chaftly abfent: after this,

A dilemma is an argument that concludes both ways. To imbofs a deer is to inclose him in a The word, applied in this fenfe, being derived from emboscare, Ital. ought properly to be fpelled imboft'd. 3 Meaning, before we firip him naked. 4. e. by difcovering herfelf to the count. 5 Important here means importunate.

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SCENE

I.

Part of the French Camp in Florence.

Enter one of the French Lords, with five or fix

diers in Ambush.

fay, I got them in exploit: Yet flight ones will not carry it. They will fay, Came you off with fo little and great ones I dare not give; WhereSol-fore? what's the inftance 2? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth, and buy another

Lord. this hedge' corner: When you fally perils.

E can come no other way but by of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these

[Afide.

upon him, fpeak what terrible language you will; Lod. Is it poffible, he fhould know what he is, though you understand it not yourfelves, no mat-and be that he is? ter for we must not feem to understand him; Par. I would, the cutting of my garments would unless some one amongst us, whom we must pro- ferve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish duce for an interpreter. fword.

Sol. Good captain, let me be the interpreter. Lord. Art not acquainted with him knows he not thy voice?

Sol. No, fir, I warrant you. Lord. But what linfy-woolfy haft thou to speak to us again?

Sal. Even fuch as you speak to me.

Lord. He mult think us fome band of ftrangersi' the adverfaries entertainment. Now he hath a fmack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we muit every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; fo we feem to know, is to know ftraight our purpose: Chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must feem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in a fleep, and then to return and fwear the lies he forges.

Enter Parolles.

Par. Ten o'clock: within thefe three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I fay I have done? It must be a very plaufive invention that carries it: They begin to fmoke me: and difgraces have of late knock'd too often at my door. I find, my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

Lord. This is the firit truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

[Jide.

Lord. We cannot afford you fo.

[Afide

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Par. What the devil fhould move me to under-I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue :-take the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant| Kerelybonto:

-Sir,

of the impoffibility, and knowing I had no fuch Betake thee to thy faith, for feventeen poniards purpofe? I muft give myfelf fome hurts, and Are at thy befoni.

1 Bertram's meaning is wicked in a lawful deed, and Helen's meaning is lawful in a lawful a&t; and neither of thein fin: yet on his part it was a finful fact, for his meaning was to commit adultery, of which he was innocent, as the lady was his wife. 2 i. c. proof. U 4

Par.

Par. Oh!

Inter. Oh, pray, pray, pray.Manka revania dulche.

Lord. Ofcorbi dulchos volivorco.

Inter. The general is content to spare thee yet; And, hood-winkt as thou art, will lead thee on To gather from thee: haply, thou may'st inform Something to fave thy life.

Par. Oh, let me live,

And all the fecrets of our camp I'll shew,
Their force, their purposes: nay, I'll speak that
Which you will wonder at.

Inter. But wilt thou faithfully?
Par. If I do not, damn me.
Inter. Acorda linta.-
Come on, thou art granted space. [Exit with Parolles.
[A fhort alarum within.
Lord. Go, tell the count Roufillon, and my brother,
We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him
'Till we do hear from them.

Sol. Captain, I will.

But take the Highest to witnefs : Then, pray you,
tell me,

If I fhould fwear by Jove's great attributes,
I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill? this has no holding,
To fwear by him whom I proteft to love,
That I will work against him : Therefore, your oaths
Are words, and poor conditions; but unfeal'd;
At least, in my opinion.

Ber. Change it, change it ;

Be not fo holy-cruel: love is holy;
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts,

That you do charge men with: Stand no more off,
But give thyfelf unto my fick defire,
Who then recovers: fay, thou art mine, and ever
My love, as it begins, shall so perfever.

Dia. I fee, that men make hopes in fuch affairs,
That we'll forfake ourselves. Give me that ring.
Ber. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power

[muffled To give it from me.

Lord. He will betray us all unto ourselves :Inform 'em that.

Sol. So I will, fir.

Lord. 'Till then I'll keep him dark, and fafely lock'd.

SCENE II.

The Widow's House.

Enter Bertram and Diana.

[Exeunt.

Ber. They told me, that your name was Fontibell.
Dia. No, my good lord, Diana.

Ber. Titled goddess ;

And worth it, with addition! But, fair foul,
In your fine frame hath love no quality?
If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,
You are no maiden, but a monument :
When you are dead, you should be fuch a one
As you are now, for you are cold and stern;
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your fweet felf was got.

Dia. She then was honeft.

Ber. So fhould you be.
Dia. No:

My mother did but duty; fuch, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.

Ber. No more of that!

I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows:
I was compell'd to her; but I love thee
By love's own fweet conftraint, and will for ever
Do thee all rights of fervice.

Dia. Ay, fo you ferve us,

Till we ferve you: but when you have our rofes,
You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves,
And mock us with our bareness.

Ber. How have I fworn?

T

Dia. "Tis not the many oaths, that make the truth;
But the plain fingle vow, that is vow'd true.
What is not holy, that we fwear not by,

Dia. Will you not, my lord?

Ber. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose.

Dia. Mine honour's fuch a ring:
My chastity's the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;

Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lofe: Thus your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion honour on my part,
Against your vain affault.

Ber. Here, take my ring :

My houfe, mine honour, yea, my life be thine,
And I'll be bid by thee.

Dia. When midnight comes, knock at my
chamber window;

I'll order take, my mother fhall not hear.
Now will I charge you in the band of truth,
When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,
Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me :
My reafons are moft ftrong; and you shall know
them,

When back again this ring fhall be deliver'd :
And on your finger, in the night, I'll put
Another ring; that, what in time proceeds,
May token to the future our paft deeds.
Adieu, 'till then; then, fail not: You have won
A wife of me, though there my hope be done.
Ber. A heaven on earth I have won, by woo-
ing thee.
[Exit.

Dia. For which live long to thank both heaven
You may fo in the end.---
[and me!

My mother told me juft how he would woo,
As if the fat in his heart; fhe fays, all men
Have the like oaths: he had fworn to marry me,
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him,
When I am bury'd. Since Frenchmen are fo braid 2,
Marry that will, I live and die a maid:
Only, in this difguife, I think't no fin

To cozen him, that would unjustly win. [Exit.

The fenfe is, we never fwear by what is not holy, but fwear by, or take to witnefs, the Highest, die Divinity. 2 i. e. crafty or deceitful.,

SCENE

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