Chapter XV: Act III: SCENE I. Florence. The DUKE'S palace

_Flourish. Enter the_ DUKE _of Florence, attended; the two Frenchmen with a troop of soldiers._

_Duke._ So that from point to point now have you heard
The fundamental reasons of this war.
Whose great decision hath much blood lot forth
And more thirsts after.

_First Lord._ Holy seems the quarrel
Upon your Grace's part; black and fearful 5
On the opposer.

_Duke._ Therefore we marvel much our cousin France
Would in so just a business shut his bosom
Against our borrowing prayers.

_Sec. Lord._ Good my lord,
The reasons of our state I cannot yield, 10
But like a common and an outward man,
That the great figure of a council frames
By self-unable motion: therefore dare not
Say what I think of it, since I have found
Myself in my incertain grounds to fail 15
As often as I guess'd.

_Duke._ Be it his pleasure.

_First Lord._ But I am sure the younger of our nature,
That surfeit on their ease, will day by day
Come here for physic.

_Duke._ Welcome shall they be;
And all the honours that can fly from us 20
Shall on them settle. You know your places well;
When better fall, for your avails they fell:
To-morrow to the field. [_Flourish. Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

[5] _part_] _party_ S. Walker conj.

[_black_] _but black_ Pope.

[6] _opposer_] _opposer's_ Hanmer.

[9] Sec. Lord] 2 Lord. Rowe. French E. Ff.

[13] _By_] _From_ Theobald conj.

_motion_] _notion_ Warburton (Theobald conj.).

[17] First Lord] Fren. G. F1. Fre. G. F2 F3 F4. 2 Lord. Rowe.

_nature_] _nation_ Rowe.

[22] _fell_] _fall_ Hanmer (Thirlby conj.)

[23] _to_] _to 'th_ F1.

[Exeunt.] om. Ff.

SCENE II. _Rousillon. The_ COUNT'S _Palace._

_Enter_ COUNTESS _and_ CLOWN.

_Count._ It hath happened all as I would have had it,
save that he comes not along with her.

_Clo._ By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very
melancholy man.

_Count._ By what observance, I pray you? 5

_Clo._ Why, he will look upon his boot and sing; mend
the ruff and sing; ask questions and sing; pick his teeth
and sing. I know a man that had this trick of melancholy
sold a goodly manor for a song.

_Count._ Let me see what he writes, and when he means 10
to come. [_Opening a letter._

_Clo._ I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court: our
old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing like
your old ling and your Isbels o' the court: the brains of
my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to love, as an old 15
man loves money, with no stomach.

_Count._ What have we here?

_Clo._ E'en that you have there. [_Exit._

_Count._ [_reads_] have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath
recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded her, not bedded 20
her; and sworn to make the 'not' eternal. You shall hear I am
run away: know it before the report come. If there be breadth
enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you.

Your unfortunate son,
BERTRAM. 25
This is not well, rash and unbridled boy,
To fly the favours of so good a king;
To pluck his indignation on thy head
By the misprising of a maid too virtuous
For the contempt of empire. 30

_Re-enter_ CLOWN.

_Clo._ O madam, yonder is heavy news within between
two soldiers and my young lady!

_Count._ What is the matter?

_Clo._ Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some
comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I thought 35
he would.

_Count._ Why should he be killed?

_Clo._ So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does:
the danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of men, though
it be the getting of children. Here they come will tell you 40
more: for my part, I only hear your son was run away.
[_Exit._

_Enter_ HELENA _and two_ Gentlemen.

_First Gent._ Save you, good madam.

_Hel._ Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.

_Sec. Gent._ Do not say so.

_Count._ Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen, 45
I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,
That the first face of neither, on the start,
Can woman me unto't: where is my son, I pray you?

_Sec. Gent._ Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence:
We met him thitherward; for thence we came, 50
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,
Thither we bend again.

_Hel._ Look on his letter, madam; here's my passport.
[_reads_] When thou canst get the ring upon my finger which
never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body that 55
I am father to, then call me husband: but in such a 'then' I write
a 'never.'

This is a dreadful sentence.

_Count._ Brought you this letter, gentlemen?

_First Gent._ Ay, madam;
And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pains. 60

_Count._ I prithee, lady, have a better cheer;
If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,
Thou robb'st me of a moiety: he was my son;
But I do wash his name out of my blood,
And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he? 65

_Sec. Gent._ Ay, madam.

_Count._ And to be a soldier?

_Sec. Gent._ Such is his noble purpose; and, believe 't,
The Duke will lay upon him all the honour
That good convenience claims.

_Count._ Return you thither?

_First Gent._ Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. 70

_Hel._ [_reads_] Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.
'Tis bitter.

_Count._ Find you that there?

_Hel._ Ay, madam.

_First Gent._ 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply,
which his heart was not consenting to. 75

_Count._ Nothing in France, until he have no wife!
There's nothing here that is too good for him
But only she; and she deserves a lord
That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him? 80

_First Gent._ A servant only, and a gentleman
Which I have sometime known.

_Count._ Parolles, was it not?

_First Gent._ Ay, my good lady, he.

_Count._ A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
My son corrupts a well-derived nature 85
With his inducement.

_First Gent._ Indeed, good lady,
The fellow has a deal of that too much,
Which holds him much to have.

_Count._ Y' are welcome, gentlemen.
I will entreat you, when you see my son, 90
To tell him that his sword can never win
The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you
Written to bear along.

_Sec. Gent._ We serve you, madam,
In that and all your worthiest affairs.

_Count._ Not so, but as we change our courtesies. 95
Will you draw near? [_Exeunt Countess and Gentlemen._

_Hel._ 'Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.'
Nothing in France, until he has no wife!
Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is 't I 100
That chase thee from thy country and expose
Those tender limbs of thine to the event
Of the none-sparing war? and is it I
That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou
Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark 105
Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers,
That ride upon the violent speed of fire,
Fly with false aim; move the still-peering air,
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there; 110
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
I am the caitiff that do hold him to 't;
And, though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected: better 'twere
I met the ravin lion when he roar'd 115
With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere
That all the miseries which nature owes
Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,
Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,
As oft it loses all: I will be gone; 120
My being here it is that holds thee hence:
Shall I stay here to do't? no, no, although
The air of paradise did fan the house,
And angels officed all: I will be gone,
That pitiful rumour may report my flight, 125
To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!
For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away. [_Exit._

LINENOTES:

[7] _the ruff_] _his ruff_ Rowe. _the ruffle_ Whalley conj.

[8] _know_] _knew_ Rowe.

[9] _sold_] F3 F4. _hold_ F1 F2.

_sold ... manor for_] _holds ... manner for_ Harness conj. _hold ...
manor by_ Collier conj.

[11] [Reads the letter. Theobald.

[13] _ling_] F2 F3 F4. _lings_ F1.

[14] _old ling_] _youngling_ S. Walker conj.

_brains_] _brain_ Pope.

[18] _E'en_] Theobald. _In_ Ff.

[19] Count. [reads] A letter. Ff.

[30] _contempt_] F1 F2 F3. _content_ F4.

[41] _hear_] _heard_ Hanmer.

[42] SCENE III. Pope.

First Gent.] 1 Gen. Rowe. French E. Ff. See note (VI).

[44] Sec. Gent.] 2 Gen. Rowe. French G. F1 F3 F4. Fren. G. F2. See
note (VI).

[45] _patience. Pray you,_] _patience, pray you_ F1 F2. _patience;
pray you_ F3. _patience: pray you_ F4. _patience, 'pray you:_ Hanmer.

[46] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[48] _I pray you_] om. Theobald.

[50] _for_] _from_ Rowe.

[53] _his_] _this_ Rowe.

[54] [reads.] Capell.

[54, 55] _upon my ... off_] _from my ... off_ Hanmer. _upon thy ...
off mine_ Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[59] First Gent.] 1 G. F1 F2 F3. 1 Gen. F4.

[59, 60] _Ay, madam ... pains_] Arranged as in Capell; printed as
prose in Ff.

[62] _are_] _as_ Rowe.

[71] [reads] Reading. Rowe.

[72] _bitter_] F1. _better_ F2 F3 F4.

[73] _Ay_] _Yes_ Rowe.

[74] _haply_] F1. _happily_ F2 F3 F4.

[81, 82] _A servant ... known_] Printed as prose in Ff; as verse first
in Pope.

[82] _sometime_] F1 F2. _sometimes_ F3. _sometimes_ F4. _sometime_
Pope (ed. 2).

_was it_] Ff. _was't_ Pope.

[84-86] _A very ... inducement_] Printed as prose by Hanmer.

[84] _very_] om. S. Walker conj.

_and_] om. Pope.

[86] _Indeed_] _Why, indeed_ Capell.

[86-94] _Indeed ... affairs_] Printed as prose in Ff; as verse first
in Capell.

[87] _that too_] Rowe. _that, too_ Ff.

[88] _holds him much to have_] _soils him much to have_ Theobald conj.
_'hoves him not much to have_ Hanmer. _'hoves him much to leave_
Collier (Collier MS.), _fouls him much to have_ Singer conj.

[95] _courtesies_] Rowe (ed. 2). _courtesies_, Ff.

[96] [Exeunt C. and G.] Rowe. [Exit. Ff.

[97] SCENE IV. Pope.

[107] _violent_] _volant_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[108] _move the still peering_] F1. _move the still-piercing_ F2
F3 F4 (_still piercing_ F4). _pierce the still-moving_ Hanmer
(Warburton). _move the still-piecing_ Steevens (Anon. conj.). _rove
the still-piecing_ Tyrwhitt conj. _move the still-pierced_ Nares conj.
_mow the still-pacing_ Jackson conj. _wound the still-piecing_ Collier
(Collier MS.). _move the still 'pearing_ Grant White conj.
(withdrawn), _move the still-closing_ Bailey conj.

[109] _sings_] F1. _stings_ F2 F3 F4.

[112] _to't_] _to it_ Theobald.

[115] _ravin_] Capell. _ravine_ F1 F2 F3. _raving_ F4.
_rav'ning_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[124] _angels_] _angles_ F1.

[126] _consolate_] _consolats_ F2.

SCENE III. _Florence. Before the_ DUKE'S _palace_.

_Flourish. Enter the_ DUKE _of Florence_, BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, _and_ Trumpets.

_Duke._ The general of our horse thou art; and we,
Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence
Upon thy promising fortune.

_Ber._ Sir, it is
A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet
We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake 5
To the extreme edge of hazard.

_Duke._ Then go thou forth;
And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,
As thy auspicious mistress!

_Ber._ This very day,
Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:
Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove 10
A lover of thy drum, hater of love. [_Exit._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope.

Before ... palace.] Capell. Scene changes to the Duke's court in
Florence. Theobald.

PAROLLES] om. Capell.

[3] _Sir, it is_] See note (XIII.)

[4] _but yet_] F1. _but_ F2 F3 F4.

[6] _the_] _th'_ Ff.

_thou_] om. Pope.

SCENE IV. _Rousillon. The_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Enter_ COUNTESS _and_ STEWARD.

_Count._ Alas! and would you take the letter of her?
Might you not know she would do as she has done,
By sending me a letter? Read it again.

_Stew._ [_Reads_] I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:
Ambitious love hath so in me offended, 5
That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,
With sainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that from the bloody course of war
My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far 10
His name with zealous fervour sanctify:
His taken labours bid him me forgive;
I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth
From courtly friends with camping foes to live,
Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth: 15
He is too good and fair for death and me;
Whom I myself embrace to set him free.

_Count._ Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!
Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her, 20
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus she hath prevented.

_Stew._ Pardon me, madam:
If I had given you this at over-night,
She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.

_Count._ What angel shall 25
Bless 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 justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife; 30
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient messenger:
When haply he shall hear that she is gone, 35
He will return; and hope I may that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again.
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
To make distinction: provide this messenger: 40
My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE IV..] SCENE VI. Pope.

[4] Stew. [Reads] Collier. Letter Ff. Ste. Capell.

_Saint_] S. F1 F2 F3. _St._ F4.

[7] _have_] _hane_ F1.

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

_peace, whilst_] F3 F4. _peace. Whilst_ F1 F2.

[12] _His taken_] _Herculean_ Rann conj.

[15] _dogs_] _dog_ Rowe.

[18] Count.] Cou. Capell. om. Ff.

[19] _Rinaldo_] _Rynaldo_ F1 F3 F4. _Rynardo_ F2.

_did never lack_] _ne'er lack'd_ Hanmer.

[22] _me_] om. Pope.

[26] _cannot_] _can't_ S. Walker conj.

[27] _whom_] _which_ Hanmer.

[29] _Write, write_] F1 F3 F4. _Write and write_ F2.
_Write, oh, write_ Hanmer.

[33] _he do_] _do he_ Rowe (ed. 2). _does he_ Hanmer.

[39] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

_skill in sense_] _skill or sense_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[42] _and_] _but_ Hanmer.

SCENE V. _Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off._

_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 lose all the sight.

_Dia._ They say the French count has done most honourable
service.

_Wid._ It is reported that he has taken their greatest 5
commander; and that with his own hand he slew the Duke's
brother. [_Tucket._] We have lost our labour; they are gone
a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

_Mar._ Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves
with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French 10
earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is
so rich as honesty.

_Wid._ I have told my neighbour how you have been
solicited by a gentleman his companion.

_Mar._ I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a 15
filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.
Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths,
tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they
go under: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and
the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck 20
of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but
that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I
hope I need not to advise you further; but I hope your own
grace will keep you where you are, though there were no
further danger known but the modesty which is so lost. 25

_Dia._ You shall not need to fear me.

_Wid._ I hope so.

_Enter_ HELENA, _disguised like a Pilgrim._

Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at my
house; thither they send one another: I'll question her.
God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound? 30

_Hel._ To Saint Jaques le Grand.
Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?

_Wid._ At the Saint Francis here beside the port.

_Hel._ Is this the way?

_Wid._ Ay, marry, is't. [_A march afar._] Hark you!
they come this way. 35
If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,
But till the troops come by,
I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;
The rather, for I think I know your hostess
As ample as myself.

_Hel._ Is it yourself? 40

_Wid._ If you shall please so, pilgrim.

_Hel._ I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.

_Wid._ You came, I think, from France?

_Hel._ I did so.

_Wid._ Here you shall see a countryman of yours
That has done worthy service.

_Hel._ His name, I pray you. 45

_Dia._ The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?

_Hel._ But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
His face I know not.

_Dia._ Whatsome'er he is,
He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him 50
Against his liking: think you it is so?

_Hel._ Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.

_Dia._ There is a gentleman that serves the count
Reports but coarsely of her.

_Hel._ What's his name?

_Dia._ Monsieur Parolles.

_Hel._ O, I believe with him, 55
In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated: all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that
I have not heard examined.

_Dia._ Alas, poor lady! 60
'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
Of a detesting lord.

_Wid._ I write good creature, wheresoe'er she is,
Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her
A shrewd turn, if she pleased.

_Hel._ How do you mean? 65
May be the amorous count solicits her
In the unlawful purpose.

_Wid._ He does indeed;
And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard 70
In honestest defence.

_Mar._ The gods forbid else!

_Wid._ So, now they come:

_Drum and Colours._

_Enter_ BERTRAM, PAROLLES, _and the whole army._

That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest son;
That, Escalus.

_Hel._ Which is the Frenchman?

_Dia._ He;
That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow. 75
I would he loved his wife: if he were honester
He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?

_Hel._ I like him well.

_Dia._ 'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave
That leads him to these places: were I his lady, 80
I would poison that vile rascal.

_Hel._ Which is he?

_Dia._ That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?

_Hel._ Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.

_Par._ Lose our drum! well.

_Mat._ He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us. 85

_Wid._ Marry, hang you!

_Mar._ And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
[_Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, and army._

_Wid._ The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you
Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents 90
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, 95
I will bestow some precepts of this virgin
Worthy the note.

_Both._ We'll take your offer kindly. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE V.] SCENE VII. Pope.

Without the walls.] Capell. A public place in Florence. Theobald.

A tucket...] Transferred to line 7 by Dyce.

DIANA] her daughter. Ff.

VIOLENTA] om. Capell.

[1-14] As seventeen lines, ending _come ... city ... sight... done ...
service ... reported ... commander ... slew ... labour ... hark ...
trumpets ... again ... of it ... earl ... name ... rich ... honesty
... neighbour ... gentleman ... companion_ in Ff. First as prose by
Pope.

[3] Dia.] Violenta. Edd. conj.

[5] _taken_] _ta'en_ Rowe.

_greatest_] _great'st_ Ff.

[7] [Tucket.] Capell.

[18] _not_] _but_ Hanmer. om. Warburton.

[20] _is, example_] Rowe (ed. 2). _is example_ Ff.

[22] _threaten_] Pope, _threatens_ Ff.

[25] _known_] _found_ Hanmer (Warburton).

_the modesty_] _of the modesty_ Long MS.

[27] Enter...] Rowe. Enter Hellen. Ff.

[31] _le_] F3 F4. _la_ F1 F2.

[33] _here_] om. Theobald.

[34-37] Arranged as in Ff; as prose in Pope; as three lines, ending
_Hark you!... pilgrim ... by_ in Capell.

[35] _is't_] _is it_ Capell.

A march afar.] Ff. Tucket. Capell.

[36] _holy_] om. Capell.

[37] _the_] _the the_ F2.

[40] _ample_] _amply_ Capell conj.

[40, 41] _Is it ... pilgrim_] As one line in Capell.

[43] _I did_] _True, I did_ Hanmer.

[48] _Whatsome'er he is_] _What somere he is_ F1 F3 F4. _What somere
his is_ F2. _Whatsoe'er he is_ Rowe.

[52] _mere the_] _the meer_ Hanmer. _meerlye_ Warburton.

[54] _coarsely_] Johnson. _coursely_ Ff.

[60] _Alas_] _Ah_ Pope.

[63] _I write good creature,_] F1. _I right good creature,_ F2 F3 F4.
_Ah! right good creature!_ Rowe. _Ah! right; good creature!_ Theobald.
_Ay, right:--Good creature!_ Capell. _A right good creature:_ Steevens
(Malone conj.). _I weet, good creature,_ Steevens conj. _I write, good
creature,_ Grant White.

[68] _brokes_] _brooks_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[71] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[72] Enter Bertram...] Enter Count Rossillion... Ff (after _defence_,
line 71).

[77] _is't not a_] _but is it not A_ Hanmer.

[79] _he is_] _he's_ Hanmer.

[80] _places_] _paces_ Theobald. _pranks_ Heath conj. _passes_ Lettsom
conj.

[81] _I would_] _I'd_ Pope.

[82-84] _That ... well_] S. Walker reads as three lines, ending
_melancholy ... drum ... Well._

[84] _well_] om. Hanmer.

[87] [Parolles bows to them. Capell.

[88] Exeunt....] Exit. Ff.

[89] _bring you_] Rowe (ed. 2). _bring you,_ (_you_ in next line) F1.
_bring You,_ F2 F3 F4.

[96] _of_] F1. _on_ F2 F3 F4.

SCENE VI. _Camp before Florence._

_Enter_ BERTRAM _and the two French_ Lords.

_Sec. Lord._ Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him
have his way.

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

_Sec. Lord._ On my life, my lord, a bubble. 5

_Ber._ Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

_Sec. Lord._ Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct
knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my
kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless
liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one 10
good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.

_First Lord._ It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing
too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some
great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.

_Ber._ I would I knew in what particular action to try him. 15

_First Lord._ None better than to let him fetch off his
drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

_Sec. Lord._ I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly
surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he knows
not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink him so, 20
that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into
the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our
own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination:
if he do not, for the promise of his life and in the
highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you and 25
deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and
that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never
trust my judgement in any thing.

_First Lord._ O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch
his drum; he says he has a stratagem for't: when your 30
lordship sees the bottom of his success 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. Here he comes.

_Enter_ PAROLLES.

_Sec. Lord._ [_Aside to Ber._] O, for the love of laughter, 35
hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his
drum in any hand.

_Ber._ How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in
your disposition.

_First Lord._ A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. 40

_Par._ 'But a drum'! is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost!
There was excellent command,--to charge in with our
horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!

_First Lord._ That was not to be blamed in the command
of the service: it was a disaster of war that Cæsar 45
himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to
command.

_Ber._ Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success:
some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is
not to be recovered. 50

_Par._ It might have been recovered.

_Ber._ It might; but it is not now.

_Par._ It is to be recovered: but that the merit of service
is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer,
I would have that drum or another, or 'hic jacet.' 55

_Ber._ Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur: if you
think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument
of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in
the enterprise and go on; I will grace the attempt for a
worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the Duke shall both 60
speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his
greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

_Par._ By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

_Ber._ But you must not now slumber in it.

_Par._ I'll about it this evening: and I will presently 65
pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty,
put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight
look to hear further from me.

_Ber._ May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are gone
about it? 70

_Par._ I know not what the success will be, my lord;
but the attempt I vow.

_Ber._ I know thou'rt valiant; and, to the possibility of
thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

_Par._ I love not many words. [_Exit._ 75

_Sec. Lord._ No more than a fish loves water. Is not
this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to
undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done;
damns himself to do and dares better be damned than to
do't? 80

_First Lord._ You do not know him, my lord, as we do:
certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour
and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but when
you find him out, you have him ever after.

_Ber._ Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of 85
this that so seriously he does address himself unto?

_Sec. Lord._ None in the world; but return with an invention
and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but
we have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall to-night;
for indeed he is not for your lordship's respect. 90

_First Lord._ We'll make you some sport with the fox
ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old lord
Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a
sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.

_Sec. Lord._ I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught. 95

_Ber._ Your brother he shall go along with me.

_Sec. Lord._ As't please your lordship: I'll leave you.
[_Exit._

_Ber._ Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.

_First Lord._ But you say she's honest.

_Ber._ That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once 100
And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,
By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,
Tokens and letters which she did re-send;
And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:
Will you go see her?

_First Lord._ With all my heart, my lord. [_Exeunt._ 105

LINENOTES:

SCENE VI.] SCENE IX. Pope.

Camp before Florence.] Capell.

Enter...] Rowe. Enter Count Rossillion and the Frenchmen, as at first.
Ff.

[1] Sec. Lord.] Cap. E. Ff, and] generally throughout the scene, 1.
Ld. Rowe. Fr. Env. Collier. See note (VI).

[3] First Lord.] Cap. G. Ff, and throughout the scene. 2. Ld. Rowe.
Fr. Gent. Collier. See note (VI).

[18] Sec. Lord.] C. E. F1. G. E. F2. Cap. E. F3 F4. Omitted by Capell,
who continues the following speech to _1. L._

[22] _leaguer_] F4. _leager_ F1 F2 F3.

_adversaries_] _adversary_ or _adversary's_ Grant White conj.

[29, 30] _O ... drum_] Omit and lines 35, 36, 37. Capell conj.

[29] _fetch_] _fetch off_ Dyce (Collier MS.).

[31] _his_] Rowe. _this_ Ff.

[32] _ore_] _oar_ Theobald, _ours_ Ff. _ores_ Collier MS.

[33] _John_] _Tom_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

_inclining_] _inelining_ F1.

[35] SCENE X. Pope.

Enter P.] Dyce (after line 37).

[35-37] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[36] _honour_] F3 F4. _honor_ F1 F2. _humour_ Theobald.

[42] _in_] F1 F2 F3. _him_ F4.

[44, 45] _command_] _conduct_ Collier conj.

[55] _'hic jacet.'_] _hic jacet_-- Theobald.

[57] _mystery_] _mastery_ Collier conj.

[73, 74] As three lines, ending _valiant ... souldiership ...
Farewell_ in Ff.

[73] _thou'rt_] Capell. _th' art_ Ff.

[74] _thy_] om. Warburton.

[76] SCENE XI. Pope.

[79] _do_] _do't_ F4.

[79, 80.] _to do 't_] _do 't_ Rann.

[83] _discoveries_] _discovery_ S. Walker conj.

[88] _probable_] _improbable_ S. Walker conj.

[92] _case_] _uncase_ Hanmer. _uncape_ Anon. conj.

[93] _is parted_] _are parted_ Hanmer.

_tell me_] _you'll tell me_ Rann conj.

[95] _I ... caught_] Continued to the former speaker by Capell.

_go look_] _go and look_ Rowe. _go lime_ Long MS. _go lack_ Jackson
conj. _go loop_ Anon. conj.

[97] Sec. Lord.] 2 Lord. Theobald. Cap. G. Ff.

Sec. Lord. _As't ... you_] Fr. Cent. _As't ... lordship._ Fr. En.
_I'll leave you._ Collier.

[99, 105] First Lord.] Cap. E. Ff.

[104] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

SCENE VII. _Florence. The_ Widow's _house._

_Enter_ HELENA _and_ Widow.

_Hel._ If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
I know not how I shall assure you further,
But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.

_Wid._ Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,
Nothing acquainted with these businesses; 5
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.

_Hel._ Nor would I wish you.
First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
Is so from word to word; and then you cannot, 10
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.

_Wid._ I should believe you;
For you have show'd me that which well approves
You're great in fortune.

_Hel._ Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far, 15
Which I will over-pay and pay again
When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,
Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolved to carry her: let her in fine consent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it. 20
Now his important blood will nought deny
That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,
That downward hath succeeded in his house
From son to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds 25
In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

_Wid._ Now I see
The bottom of your purpose.

_Hel._ You see it lawful, then: it is no more, 30
But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
Herself most chastely absent: after this,
To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns 35
To what is past already.

_Wid._ I have yielded:
Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,
That time and place with this deceit so lawful
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musics of all sorts and songs composed 40
To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves; for he persists
As if his life lay on't.

_Hel._ Why then to-night
Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed, 45
And lawful meaning in a lawful act,
Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
But let's about it. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE VII.] SCENE XII. Pope.

[5] _businesses_] _basenesses_ Anon. conj.

[8, 17] _count he_] _county_ Edd. conj.

[8] _is_] _his_ F2

[14] _You're_] Y'are Ff. _You are_ Capell.

[17] _he_] om. Pope.

[19] _Resolved_] Collier (Egerton MS.). _Resolve_ F1. _Resolves_ F2 F3
F4.

_in fine_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[20] _how 'tis_] _how, 'tis_ Warburton.

[21] _his important_] F1 F2. _this important_ F3 F4. _this
importurate_ Rowe (ed. i). _his importunate_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[22] _county wears_] _countie weares_ F1. _county weares_ F2 F3.
_count wears_ F4. _count does wear_ Rowe. See note (XIV).

[28, 29] _Now ... purpose_] As in Capell. As one line in Ff. _Now do I
see ... purpose_ (as one line) Hanmer.

[34] _after this_] F2 F3 F4. _after_ F1. _afterwards_ Collier conj.

[36] _past_] _pact_ Anon. conj.

[40] _musics_] _Musickes_ F1 F2. _Musicks_ F3. _Musick_ F4.

[41] _steads_] F4. _steeds_ F1 F2 F3.

[42] _eaves_] Hanmer. _eeves_ Ff.

[46] _And lawful_] _Unlawful_ Hanmer.

_lawful act_] _wicked act_ Warburton. _lawless act_ Anon. conj.