Chapter XII: Act I: SCENE I. Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff

Enter.... ] Enter yong Bertram, Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and
Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke. Ff.

[1] Count.] Mother. Ff, and afterwards Mo.

_delivering_] _delivering up_ Hanmer. _dissevering_ Warburton.

_son from me,_] _son, for me_ or _son, 'fore me_, Becket conj.

[3] _And I in going, madam_] F1. _And in going Madam_ F2 F3 F4. _And
in going, madam, I_ Rowe.

[9] _lack_] _slack_ Theobald (Warburton).

[13] _persecuted_] _prosecuted_ Hanmer.

[17] _passage_] _preface_ Hanmer. _presage_ Warburton. _pesage_ Becket
conj.

_was_] om. Collier (Collier MS.).

[18] _would_] _it would_ Rowe, _'t would_ Singer.

[19] _have_] _have had_ Hanmer.

_play_] _play'd_ Warburton.

[29, 31, 52] Ber.] Ros. Ff.

[35] _hopes of her good that her_] _good hopes of her that her_ or
_hopes of her that her good_ Anon. conj.

[36] _promises; her_] Rowe. _promises her_ Ff. _promises her;_ Pope.

_her dispositions_] _the honesty of her dispositions_ Staunton conj.

_dispositions_] _disposition_ Rowe.

[39] _their_] _her_ Hammer (Warburton).

[41] _from her tears_] _tears from her_ Pope.

[46] _it be rather thought you_] _you be rather thought to_ Hanmer.

_to have--_] Ff. _to have it._ Warburton. _have it._ Capell. _to
have._ Steevens.

[48] _lamentation_] F1. _lamentations_ F2 F3 F4.

[50] Count.] Hel. Tieck.

_be_] _be not_ Theobald (Warburton).

[52, 53] Ber. _Madam, ..._ Laf. _How_ ... ] Laf. _How ..._ Ber.
_Madam_, ... Theobald conj.

[63] _head_] F1. _hand_ F2 F3 F4.

_Farewell, my lord:_] _Farewell my Lord,_ Ff. _Farewel.--My lord
Lafeu,_ Capell. FAREWELL. MY LORD, Steevens.

[63-67] Hanmer ends the lines _'tis an ... advise him ... attend ...
Bertram._ S. Walker would end them _My lord Lafeu, ... my lord ...
that shall ... Bertram,_ reading _can't_ for _cannot_ in line 65.

[64] _Advise him._] _Advise him you._ Capell.

[65-87] Laf. _He cannot ... draw_] Omitted in F4.

[67] _Heaven_] _May heaven_ Hanmer.

[68] [To Helena] Rowe.

[71] _must hold_] _uphold_ Rann (Mason conj.).

[72] [Exeunt...] Rowe. om. Ff.

[73] SCENE II. Pope.

[75] _those I_] _they are_ Hanmer.

[77] _in't but Bertram's_] _in it but my Bertram's_ Pope. _in it, but
of Bertram_ Capell. _in 't but only Bertram's_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[79] _'Twere_] F1 F2 F3. _It were_ Pope.

[80] _particular_] F1 F2 F3. _partic'lar_ Pope.

[81] _me:_] Rowe. _me_ F1 F2 F3.

[84] _The_] _Th'_ F1 F2 F3.

[88] _brows_] _browes_ F1 F2. _arrows_ F3 F4.

[89] _our_] _my_ Collier MS.

[90] _trick_] _trait_ Becket conj.

[92] _reliques_] F1 F2. _relick_ F3 F4.

Enter Parolles.] Ff. Dyce transfers to line 99.

[93] [Aside] Edd.]

[95] _solely_] F3 F4. _solie_ F1 F2. _wholly_ Hanmer.

[97] _steely_] _seely_ Williams conj.

[98] _Look_] Rowe. _Lookes_ F1 F2. _Looks_ F3 F4.

_i'the_] _in the_ Pope.

_withal_] om. Pope.

[99] _Cold_] S. Walker conjectures that this is corrupt.

_folly_] F3 F4. _follie_ F1 F2.

[100] SCENE III. Pope.

_Save_] _'Save_ Hanmer.

[105] _stain_] _strain_ Halliwell conj.

[107] _barricado_] Rowe. _barracedo_ F1. _barrocado_ F2 F3 F4.

[107-109] _him?_ Par. _Keep him out._ Hel. _But_] _him to keep him
out? for_ Hanmer.

[109] _assails_] _assails us_ S. Walker conj.

[109, 110] _valiant, in the defence yet_] Ff. _valiant in the defence,
yet_ Steevens.

[110] _to us_] F1. _us_ F2 F3 F4.

[112] _sitting_] Johnson. _setting_ Ff.

[114] _Bless_] _'Bless_ Capell conj. MS.

[121] _rational_] _national_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.). _natural_ Anon.
ap. Halliwell conj.

[122] _got_] F2 F3 F4. _goe_ F1.

[130] _mothers_] _mother_ Rowe.

[130, 131] _He ... is_] _He ... is like_ Hanmer. _As he ... so is_
Warburton.

[135] _his_] _its_ Rowe. _on its_ Hanmer.

[137] _inhibited_] F1. _inhabited_ F2 F3 F4. _prohibited_ Pope.

[138, 139] _ten year ... ten,_] _ten years ... ten_ Hanmer. _ten yeare
... two_ F1. _ten yeares ... two_ F2 F3. _ten years ... two_ F4. _two
years ... two_ Collier, ed. 2 (Steevens conj.). _ten years ... twelve_
Tollet conj. _ten months ... two_ Singer (Malone conj.). _one year ...
two_ Grant White. _the year ... two_ Anon. conj.

[142, 143] _it likes_] _likes it_ S. Walker conj.

[143] _'Tis_] _And 'tis_ Hanmer.

[147] _wear_] Capell. _were_ Ff. _we wear_ Rowe.

[152] _yet_] _yes,_ Hanmer.

_will you_] _will you do_ Collier MS.

_with it?_] _with me?_ Johnson conj. _with us?_ Tyrwhitt conj. _with
it? I am now bound for the court._ Malone conj. _with it? We are for
the Court._ Staunton conj.

[153] _Not_] _Not with_ Collier MS.

_yet._] _yet. You're for the Court:_ Hanmer. See note (II).

[153, 154] _Not ... your_] _No!--my virginity! yet There shall its_
Jackson conj.

[154] _shall_] _should_ Steevens conj.

[155] _A mother_] _Another_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[156-163] _A phoenix ... shall he_] Put in brackets as spurious by
Warburton.

[156] _captain_] _captor_ Anon. conj.

[159] _humble_] F1. _humblest_ F2 F3 F4.

[162] _pretty_] _petty_ Harness.

_fond, adoptious_] _fond-adoptious_ S. Walker conj.

[163] _he--_] Rowe. _he:_ Ff.

[165] _learning place_] _learning-place_ Steevens.

_one--_] Rowe. _one._ Ff.

[167] _pity--_] Rowe. _pitty._ F1 F2 F3. _pity._ F4.

[168] Par. _What's pity?_] Omitted in Pope (ed. 2).

[170] _the_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[176] Exit.] Theobald.

[183] _wars have_] Pope. _warres hath_ F1 F2. _waters hath_ F3 F4.
_waters have_ Rowe.

[190] _So ... safety_] Printed as two lines in Ff, the first ending
_away_.

_the safety_] _safety_ F3 F4.

[191] _makes_] _make_ Hanmer.

[192] _wing_] _ming_ Warburton.

_I like the wear_] _is like to wear_ Mason conj.

[193] _businesses_] F1 F2 F3. _business_ F4. _businesses, as_
Theobald.

[195] _instruction_] _instrument_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[196] _of a_] F1. _of the_ F2 F3 F4. _of_ Pope.

[202] SCENE IV. Pope.

[207] _That_] _Which_ Capell.

[208] _The mightiest space_] _The mighty and base_ Mason conj. _The
wid'st apart_ Staunton conj.

_fortune nature_] _nature fortune_ Malone conj. (withdrawn).

_brings_] _springs_ Anon. (Fras. Mag.) conj.

[208, 209] _The ... To join like likes_] _Through ... Likes to join
likes_ Johnson conj. _The ... Like to join like Long_ MS.

[212] _hath been cannot be_] _hath not been ca'nt be_ Hanmer. _ha'nt
been cannot be_ Mason conj. _n'ath been cannot be_ Staunton conj.

[214] _The king's disease_--] Rowe. (_The Kings disease_) Ff.

SCENE II. _Paris._ _The_ KING'S _palace._

_Flourish of cornets._ _Enter the_ KING OF FRANCE _with letters, and divers Attendants._

_King._ The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;
Have fought with equal fortune, and continue
A braving war.

_First Lord._ So 'tis reported, sir.

_King._ Nay, 'tis most credible; we here receive it
A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, 5
With caution, that the Florentine will move us
For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend
Prejudicates the business, and would seem
To have us make denial.

_First Lord._ His love and wisdom,
Approved so to your majesty, may plead 10
For amplest credence.

_King._ He hath arm'd our answer,
And Florence is denied before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see
The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
To stand on either part.

_Sec. Lord._ It well may serve 15
A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
For breathing and exploit.

_King._ What's he comes here?

_Enter_ BERTRAM, LAFEU, _and_ PAROLLES.

_First Lord._ It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,
Young Bertram.

_King._ Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;
Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, 20
Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts
Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

_Ber._ My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

_King._ I would I had that corporal soundness now,
As when thy father and myself in friendship 25
First tried our soldiership! He did look far
Into the service of the time, and was
Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
But on us both did haggish age steal on,
And wore us out of act. It much repairs me 30
To talk of your good father. In his youth
He had the wit, which I can well observe
To-day in our young lords; but they may jest
Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
Ere they can hide their levity in honour: 35
So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
His equal had awaked them; and his honour,
Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exception bid him speak, and at this time 40
His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him
He used as creatures of another place;
And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
Making them proud of his humility,
In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man 45
Might be a copy to these younger times;
Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
But goers backward.

_Ber._ His good remembrance, sir,
Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;
So in approof lives not his epitaph 50
As in your royal speech.

_King._ Would I were with him! He would always say--
Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words
He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'-- 55
This his good melancholy oft began,
On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he,
'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses 60
All but new things disdain; whose judgements are
Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions. This he wish'd:
I after him do after him wish too,
Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, 65
I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
To give some labourers room.

_Sec. Lord._ You are loved, sir;
They that least lend it you shall lack you first.

_King._ I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,
Since the physician at your father's died? 70
He was much famed.

_Ber._ Some six months since, my lord.

_King._ If he were living, I would try him yet.
Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out
With several applications: nature and sickness
Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count; 75
My son's no dearer.

_Ber._ Thank your majesty. [_Exeunt. Flourish._

LINENOTES:

SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope.

Flourish of cornets.] Flourish cornets. Ff.

[1] _Senoys_] _Siennois_ or _Siennese_ Lloyd conj.

_the ears_] Capell. _th' eares_ Ff.

[3, 9, 18] First Lord.] 1. Lord. Rowe. 1. Lo. G. Ff.

[15, 67] Sec. Lord.] 2. Lord. Rowe. 2. Lo. E. Ff.

[15] _well may_] _may well_ F3 F4.

[18] _It is_] F1 F4. _It 'tis_ F2 F3.

_Rousillon_] Pope. _Rosignoll_ F1. _Rosillion_ F2. _Rossillion_ F3
F4.

[21] _Hath well composed thee_] _Compos'd thee well_ Pope.

[28] _bravest_] _brav'st_ Pope.

[32] _well_] _ill_ Long MS.

[35] _hide their levity in honour_] _vye their levity with his honour_
Hanmer. _hide their levity in humour_ Long MS.

[35, 36] _honour: So like a courtier,_] Ff. _honour, So like a
courtier:_ Capell (Blackstone conj.). _honour: No courtier-like_ Lloyd
conj.

[36] _contempt nor_] _no contempt nor_ Rowe (ed. 1). _no contempt or_
Rowe (ed. 2).

[37] _in his pride or sharpness;_] _in him; pride or sharpness_,
Theobald (Warburton). _in him, pride or sharpness;_ Capell.

_if they were_] _if there were_ Theobald (Warburton).

[39] _Clock_] _Block_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[40] _Exception_] _Exceptions_ Theobald.

_this_] _that_ Rowe.

[41] _his hand_] _the hand_ Johnson conj. _it's hand_ Capell. _his
head_ Long MS.

[42] _another place_] _a brother-race_ Hanmer.

[44] _proud of_] _proud; and_ Warburton.

[44, 45] _humility, In ... praise he humbled_] _humility: He in ...
praise, humbled_ Becket conj.

[45] _he humbled_] _be-humbled_ Staunton conj.

[47] _demonstrate them now_] _now demonstrate them_ Pope.

[50] _So in approof lives not his_] _Approof so lives not in his_
Johnson conj. _So his approof lives not in_ Capell.

[56] _This_] Ff. _Thus_ Pope.

[58] _it_] _wit_ Staunton conj.

[62] _fathers_] _feathers_ Tyrwhitt conj. _parcels_ Williams conj.

[67] _labourers_] _labourer_ Warburton.

_You are_] Capell. _You'r_ F1 F2. _You're_ F3 F4.

[76] _Thank_] _Thanks to_ Rowe.

[Exeunt.] Exit. Ff.

SCENE III. _Rousillon._ _The_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Enter_ COUNTESS, Steward, _and_ Clown.

_Count._ I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman?

_Stew._ Madam, the care I have had to even your content,
I wish might be found in the calendar of my past
endeavours; for then we wound our modesty and make 5
foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we
publish them.

_Count._ What does this knave here? Get you gone,
sirrah: the complaints I have heard of you I do not all
believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for I know you 10
lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to
make such knaveries yours.

_Clo._ 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor
fellow.

_Count._ Well, sir. 15

_Clo._ No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor,
though many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have
your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel the
woman and I will do as we may.

_Count._ Wilt thou needs be a beggar? 20

_Clo._ I do beg your good will in this case.

_Count._ In what case?

_Clo._ In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no
heritage: and I think I shall never have the blessing of
God till I have issue o' my body; for they say barnes are 25
blessings.

_Count._ Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.

_Clo._ My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on
by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.

_Count._ Is this all your worship's reason? 30

_Clo._ Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as
they are.

_Count._ May the world know them?

_Clo._ I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you
and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry that 35
I may repent.

_Count._ Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.

_Clo._ I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have
friends for my wife's sake.

_Count._ Such friends are thine enemies, knave. 40

_Clo._ You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the
knaves come to do that for me, which I am aweary of. He
that ears my land spares my team, and gives me leave to in
the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: he that comforts
my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he 45
that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood;
he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that
kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to
be what they are, there were no fear in marriage; for young
Charbon the puritan and old Poysam the papist, howsome'er 50
their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one;
they may joul horns together, like any deer i' the herd.

_Count._ Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious
knave?

_Clo._ A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the 55
next way:

For I the ballad will repeat,
Which men full true shall find;
Your marriage comes by destiny,
Your cuckoo sings by kind. 60

_Count._ Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.

_Stew._ May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen
come to you: of her I am to speak.

_Count._ Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with
her; Helen I mean. 65

_Clo._

Was this fair face the cause, quoth she,
Why the Grecians sacked Troy?
Fond done, done fond,
Was this King Priam's joy?
With that she sighed as she stood, 70
With that she sighed as she stood,
And gave this sentence then;
Among nine bad if one be good,
Among nine bad if one be good,
There's yet one good in ten. 75

_Count._ What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song,
sirrah.

_Clo._ One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying
o' the song: would God would serve the world so all
the year! we'd find no fault with the tithe-woman, if I were 80
the parson: one in ten, quoth a'! an we might have a good
woman born but one every blazing star, or at an earth-quake,
'twould mend the lottery well: a man may draw his
heart out, ere a' pluck one.

_Count._ You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command 85
you.

_Clo._ That man should be at woman's command, and
yet no hurt done! Though honesty be no puritan, yet it
will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of humility over
the black gown of a big heart. I am going, forsooth: the 90
business is for Helen to come hither. [_Exit._

_Count._ Well, now.

_Stew._ I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman
entirely.

_Count._ Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; 95
and she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully make
title to as much love as she finds: there is more owing her
than is paid; and more shall be paid her than she'll demand.

_Stew._ Madam, I was very late more near her than I
think she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate 100
to herself her own words to her own ears; she thought, I
dare vow for her, they touched not any stranger sense. Her
matter was, she loved your son: Fortune, she said, was no
goddess, that had put such difference betwixt their two
estates; Love no god, that would not extend his might, 105
only where qualities were level; ... queen of virgins, that
would suffer her poor knight surprised, without rescue in
the first assault, or ransom afterward. This she delivered
in the most bitter touch of sorrow that e'er I heard virgin
exclaim in: which I held my duty speedily to acquaint you 110
withal; sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns
you something to know it.

_Count._ You have discharged this honestly; keep it to
yourself: many likelihoods informed me of this before,
which hung so tottering in the balance, that I could neither 115
believe nor misdoubt. Pray you, leave me: stall this in
your bosom; and I thank you for your honest care: I will
speak with you further anon. [_Exit Steward._

_Enter_ HELENA.

Even so it was with me when I was young:
If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn 120
Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong;
Our blood to us, this to our blood is born;
It is the show and seal of nature's truth,
Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth:
By our remembrances of days foregone, 125
Such were our faults, or then we thought them none.
Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now.

_Hel._ What is your pleasure, madam?

_Count._ You know, Helen,
I am a mother to you.

_Hel._ Mine honourable mistress.

_Count._ Nay, a mother: 130
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 135
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 140
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; 145
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: 150
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, 155
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? 160
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 ashamed,
Against the proclamation of thy passion, 165
To say thou dost not: therefore tell me true;
But tell me then, 'tis so; for, look, thy cheeks
Confess it, th' one to th' other; and thine eyes
See it so grossly shown in thy behaviours,
That in their kind they speak it: only sin 170
And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue,
That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so?
If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew;
If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee,
As heaven shall work in me for thine avail, 175
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 180
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. 185
My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love:
Be not offended; for it hurts not him
That he is loved of me: I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit;
Nor would I have him till I do deserve him; 190
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, 195
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, 200
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 cannot choose 205
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. 210

_Hel._ I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear.
You know my father left me some prescriptions
Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading
And manifest experience had collected
For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me 215
In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,
As notes, whose faculties inclusive were,
More than they were in note: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approved, set down,
To cure the desperate languishings whereof 220
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 225
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 230
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

_Hel._ There's something in't,
More than my father's skill, which was the greatest
Of his profession, that his good receipt 235
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 them believe't? 240

_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: 245
Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.

[1] _hear; what say you_] Theobald. _heare, what say you_ Ff. _hear
what you say_ Capell.

_gentlewoman?_] F4. _gentlewoman._ F1 F2 F3.

[3] _even_] _win_ Collier conj.

[6] _foul_] _out_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[10] _'tis_] _it is_ S. Walker conj., reading lines 9-12 as verse,
ending _complaints ... believe ... them ... make ... yours._

[12] _yours_] _yare_ Warburton conj.

[13] _I am_] _that I am_ Capell.

[17] _may have_] F1. _have_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _to go to_] _to go into_ Long MS.

[18, 19] _the woman_] _your woman_ Grant White.

[19] _and I will_] F2 F3 F4. _and w will_ F1. _and we will_ Collier.

[25] _o'_] Rowe (ed. 2). _a_ Ff. _of_ Rann.

_barnes_] F1. _bearns_ F2. _barns_ F3 F4.

[38] _out o'_] Capell. _out a_ F1 F2 F3. _out of_ F4.

[41] _You're_] Capell. _Y'are_ Ff. _You are_ Steevens.

_madam, in_] _madam; e'en_ Hanmer. _madam, my_ Tyrwhitt conj.

[42] _aweary_] _weary_ Rowe.

[43] _to in_] F4. _to Inne_ F1 F2 F3.

[46] _cherishes_] F1. _cherisheth_ F2 F3 F4.

[50] _Charbon ... Poysam_] See note (III).

_howsome'er_] _how somere_ F1 F2. _howsomeere_ F3. _howsomere_ F4.
_howsoe'er_ Pope.

[57-60] _For I ... kind_] Printed as verse first in Rowe (ed. 2).

[66] _the cause, quoth she_] _quoth she, the cause_ Collier (Collier
MS.).

[68] _Fond done, done fond_] omitted by Pope.

[68, 69] _done find ... joy?_] _done, fond ... joy,_ F1 F2. _fond
done;--for Paris he ... joy._ Theobald (Warburton). _fond done! but
Paris he ... joy,_ Capell conj. _done fond, good sooth, it was: ...
joy?_ Collier (Collier MS.). _For it undone, undone, quoth he, ...
joy._ Rann (Heath conj.).

[70, 71] _With ... stood_] _With ... stood,_ bis. Ff (bis in
italics).

[71] Omitted by Pope.

[72-75] _And gave ... ten_] Printed first as verse in Rowe (ed. 2).

[73, 74] _one_] _none_ Capell conj.

[74] Omitted by Pope.

[78] _a_] F1 F2. _the_ F3 F4.

[79] _o' the_] Capell. _o' th'_ Rowe (ed. 2). _ath'_ F1 F2. _a'th_ F3
F4.

_song_] _song and mending of the sex_ Collier (Collier MS. _o' the_).

[82] _one_] Collier (Collier MS.). _ore_ F1 F2. _o're_ F3 F4. _o'er_
Rowe. om. Pope. _or_ Capell. _on_ Rann. _ere_ Collier (ed. 1). _for_
Harness. _'fore_ Staunton. _at_ Halliwell conj.

[83] _well_] _wheel_ Malone conj.

_draw_] _pray_ Rowe.

[84] _a'_] _he_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[86] _you._] Pope, _you?_ Ff.

[87] _woman's_] F1. _a woman's_ F2 F3 F4.

[87, 88] _and yet_] F1 F2. _and get_ F3 F4.

[88] _no puritan_] _a puritan_ Rann. (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[89] _do no hurt_] _do what is enjoined_ Malone conj.

[96] _advantage_] _advantages_ Rowe.

[105] _would_] _should_ Capell.

_not_] om. Long MS.

_might, only_] F4. _might onelie,_ F1 F2. _might onely_ F3.

[106] _level; ... queen_] _levell, Queene_ F1 F2. _levell: Queen_
F3F4. _level: Complain'd against the Queen_ Rowe. _level; Diana no
queen_ Theobald. See note (IV).

[107] _knight_] _spright_ Warburton conj.

_surprised_] _to be surpris'd_ Rowe.

[107, 108] _without rescue in the first assault,_] _in the first
assault, without rescue_ Capell.

[109] _virgin_] _a virgin_ Pope.

[110] _held_] _held it_ Rowe.

[113] _honestly_] _honesty_ F3 F4.

[115] _neither_] F1. _never_ F2 F3 F4.

[118] Enter H.] Enter Hellen. Ff. Enter H. Singer (after line 126).
See note (V).

[119] SCENE VII. Pope.

_Even_] Old Cou. _Even_ Ff.

[120] _ever_] om. Pope. _e'er_ Edd. conj.

[126] _Such were our faults, or_] Ff. _Such-were our faults, tho'_
Hanmer. _Such were our faults,--O!_ Johnson (Warburton conj.). _Search
we out faults, for_ Collier MS.

_then ... them_] _them ... then_ Staunton.

[128] _You know, Helen_] _Helen, you know_ Pope.

[130, 131] _Nay ... said 'a mother'_] As one line in Ff.

[131] _said 'a mother'_] _said mother_ F3 F4.

[133] _I am_] Ff. _I'm_ Pope.

[137] _seeds_] _soil_ Anon. conj.

[143] _The_] _This_ S. Walker conj.

_eye_] _eyes_ Pope.

[144] _Why?_] --_Why_, Ff. _Why_,-- Rowe.

_are_] _art_ F2.

[151] _mother?_] Rowe (ed. 2). _mother._ Ff.

[155] _I care ... heaven_] _I cannot ask for more than that of heav'n_
Hanmer. _I can no more fear, than I do fear heav'n_ Warburton. _I
cannot more fear than I do fear heav'n_ Heath conj. _I'd care no more
for't than I do for heaven_ Capell. _I care would ... heaven or I
crave would ... heaven_ Mason conj. _I care no more for than you do,
'fore heaven_ Becker conj. [Aside] _I care no more for than I do for
heaven_ Staunton conj.

[156, 157] _Can't no other, But I ... he ... brother?_] Theobald.
_Cant no other, But I ... he ... brother._ Ff. _Can't no other? But I
... he ... brother._ Pope. _Can't be no other Way I ... but he ...
brother?_ Hanmer.

[162] _loneliness_] Theobald. _loveliness_ Ff. _lowliness_ Hall conj.
_liveliness_ Becket conj.]

[168] _th' one to th'_] Knight. _'ton tooth to th'_ F1. _'ton to th'_
F2. _'tone to th'_ F3 F4. _one to th'_ Rowe.

[169] _it_] _it is_ F2.

_behaviours_] _behaviour_ F3 F4.

[173] _you have_] _you've_ Pope.

[175] _thine_] F1. _mine_ F2 F3 F4.

[176] _truly_] _true_ Hanmer.

[180] _disclose_] F3 F4. _disclose:_ F1 F2.

[184] _heaven_] F1. _heavens_ F2 F3 F4.

[184, 185] _That ... son_] As in Pope. Printed as one line in Ff.

[193] _captious_] _carious_ Johnson conj. _cap'cious_ Farmer conj.
_copious_ Jackson conj.

_intenible_] _intemible_ F1. _inteemible_ Nicholson conj.

[194] _waters_] _water_ Rowe.

[195] _lose_] F4. _loose_ F1 F2 F3. _love_ Tyrwhitt conj.

[202] _liking_] F1. _living_ F2. _loving_ F3 F4.

[203] _Wish ... dearly_] _Love dearly and wish chastely_ Malone conj.

[205] _that_] _she_ Hanmer.

[207] _her_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. _which_ Rowe.

[210] _tell true_] om. Steevens conj.

[211] _tell truth_] F1. _tell true_ F2 F3 F4. _tell you true_ Capell
(corrected in note).

[214] _manifest_] _manifold_ Collier (Long MS.).

[220] _languishings_ Ff. _languishes_ Reed (1803).

[226] _Haply_] Pope. _Happily_ Ff.

[229] _that they cannot help him_] _that he can't be help'd_ Hanmer.
_that they cannot help_ Capell conj. _that they cannot heal him_ S.
Walker conj.

[230] _cannot help_] _can't help him_ Capell conj. _cannot cure_
Bailey conj.

[233] _in't_] _hints_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[237] _By the_] _Byth'_ F1 F2 F3. _By th'_ F4.

[238] _to try_] F1. _to_ F2 F3 F4. _for the_ Rowe.

[239] _The_] _This_ Hanmer.

_on his_] _on's_ S. Walker conj.

[240] _and_] _an_ F1.

[243] _attendants_] _attendance_ S. Walker conj.

[245] _into_] F1 F2. _unto_ F3 F4. _upon_ Hanmer.

[246] _Be gone_] F3 F4. _Begon_ F1 F2.