rupt him to a revolt." What say you to this? What do you know of it? Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the intergatories: Demand them singly. 1 Sold. Do you know this captain Dumain? Par. I know him he was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipp'd for getting the sheriff's fool1⁄4 with child; a dumb innocent, that could not say him, nay. : [DUMAIN lifts up his hand in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.15 1 Sold. Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp? Par. Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. Gent. Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon. 1 Sold. What is his reputation with the duke? Par. The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine, and writ to me this other day to turn him out o'the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket. 1 Sold. Marry, we'll search. Par. In good sadness, I do not know: either it is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent. 1 Sold. Here 'tis; here's a paper: Shall I read it to you? 14 Not an "allowed fool," or a fool by art and profession, but a natural fool; probably assigned to the sheriff's care and 'eeping. H. 15 In Whitney's Emblems there is a story of three women who threw dice to ascertain which of them should die first. She who lost affected to laugh at the decrees of fate, when a tile suddenly falling put an end to her existence Par. I do not know if it be it, or no. 1 Sold. "Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold," Par. That is not the duke's letter, sir: that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttish I pray you, sir, put it up again. 1 Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour. Par. My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a 16 whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds. Ber. Damnable, both-sides rogue! 1 Sold. [Reads.] When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it; After he scores, he never pays the score: Half won is match well made; match, and well make it: " He ne'er pays after debts, take it before; And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this. Men are to mell is with, boys are not to kiss: For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it, 16 There is probably an allusion here to the Story of Andromeda in old prints, where the monster is frequently represented as a uhale. 17 That is, a match well made is half won; make your match therefore, but make it well. 18 The meaning of the word mell, says Ruddiman, is "to fight, contend, meddle, or have to do with." So in The Corpus Christi Play, acted at Coventry : "And fayre young qwene herby doth dwelle Both fresh and gay upon to loke, And a tall man with her doth melle, The way into her chawmer ryght evyn he toke" Ber. He shall be whipp'd through the army with this rhyme in's forehead. Env. This is your devoted friend, sir; the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier. Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.19 1 Sold. I perceive, sir, by our general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you. Par. My life, sir, in any case! not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: Let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i'the stocks, or any where, I may live. so 1 Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely therefore, once more to this captain Dumain. You have answer'd to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour: What is his honesty? Par. He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister :1o for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus." He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking them he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue; for he will be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing. Gent. I begin to love him for this. Ber. For this description of thine honesty? A 19 For some account of such as "are mad if they behold a cat,' see The Merchant of Venice, Act iv. sc. 1. H. 20 That is, he will steal any thing, however trifling, from any place, however ho y. The Centaur killed by Hercules. pox upon him! for me he is more and more a cat. 1 Sold. What say you to his expertness in war? Par. Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians," to belie him, I will not, and more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that country, he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile End,23 to instruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain. Gent. He hath out-villain'd villainy so far, that the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox on him! he's a cat still. 1 Sold. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Par. Sir, for a quart d'ecu" he will sell the feesimple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually. 1 Sold. What's his brother, the other captain Dumain? Env. Why does he ask him of me? 1 Sold. What's he? Par. E'en a crow o'the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: In a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. 22 In Shakespeare's time the players usually went about the country preceded by a drum, to give notice of their arrival in any town where they wished to perform. H. 23 Mile End was the place for public sports and musters. 24 The fourth part of the smaller French crown, about eightpence. For this use of law terms, see The Merry Wives of Wind. sor, Act iv. sc. 2, note 16. 1 Sold. If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine? Par. Ay, and the captain of his horse, coun Rousillon. 1 Sold. I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure. Par. [Aside.] I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition 25 of that lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger: Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken ? 1 Sold. There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: The general says, you, that have so traitorously discover'd the secrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head. Par. O Lord, sir! let me live, or let me see my death! [Unmuffling him. 1 Sold. That shall you; and take your leave of all your friends. So, look about you: Know you any here? Ber. Good morrow, noble captain. Env. Captain, what greeting will you to my lord Lafeu ? I am for France. Gent. Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'd com pel it of you; but fare you well. [Exeunt all but PAROLLES and 1 Soldier 25 To deceive the opinion. |
