ACT II. SCENE I.-Paris. A room in the King's palace. Flourish. Enter King, with young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war; Bertram, Parol-les, and attendants. King. Farewell, young lord, these warlike principles, Do not throw from you:-and you, my lord, fare well: Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all, And is enough for both. 1-Lord. It is our hope, sir, After well-enter'd soldiers, to return And find your grace in health. King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confess he owes the malady 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty! King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; They say, our French lack language to deny, If they demand: beware of being captives, Before you serve. 3 Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. (1) i. e. Those excepted who possess modern Italy, the remains of the Roman empire. (2) Seeker, inquirer. (3) Be not captives before you are soldiers. King. Farewell. Come hither to me. [The King retires to a couch. 1 Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us. Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark2 Lord. O, 'tis brave wars! Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coill with; Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, steal away bravely. Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry, Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn, But one to dance with 12 By heaven, I'll steal away. 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body. 1 Lord. Farewell, captain. 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles! Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours áre kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals:You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me. 2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? [Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; (1) With a noise, bustle. (2) In Shakspeare's time it was usual for gentlemen to dance with swords on. for they wear themselves in the cap of time, there, do muster true gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell. Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exe, Bertram and Parolles. Enter Lafeu. Laf. Pardon, my lord, [Kneeling.] for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up. Laf Then here's a man Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you Had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy; and That, at my bidding, you could so stand up. King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for't. Laf. But, my good lord, 'tis thus; Laf. No. Good faith, across :4 O, will you eat No grapes, my royal fox? yes, but you will, Could reach them: I have seen a medicine,5 Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary, 6 King. What her is this? (1) They are the foremost in the fashion. (2) Have the true military step. (3) The dance. (4) Unskilfully; a phrase taken from the exer cise at a quintaine. (5) A female physician. (6) A kind of dance. VOL. 111. B Laf. Why, doctor she: My lord, there's one arriv'd, If you will see her,-now, by my faith and honour, If seriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that, in her sex, her years, profession, Wisdom, and constancy, hath amaz'd me more Than I dare blame my weakness: Will you see her (For that is her demand,) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me. Now, good Lafeu, King. Laf. And not be all day neither. Nay, I'll fit you, [Exit Lafeu. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter Lafeu, with Helena. Laf. Nay, come your ways. This haste hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways; This is his majesty, say your mind to him: A traitor you do look like; but such traitors His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,2 That dare leave two together; fare you well. [Ex. King. Now, fair one, does your business follow us? Hel. Ay, my good lord. Gerard de Narbon was My father; in what he did profess, well found.3 King. I knew him. Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him; Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death (1) By profession is meant her declaration of the object of her coming. (2) I am like Pandarus. He bade me store up, as a triple eye,1 I come to tender it, and my appliance, King. We thank you, maiden; A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful; Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give, Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, flown From simple sources ;3 and great seas have dried, (1) A third eye. (2) An allusion to Daniel judging the two Elders. (3) i. e. When Moses smote the rock in Horeb. |