Ber. How now, monsieur ? this drum sticks forely in your disposition.

2 Lord. A pox on’t, let it go ; 'tis but a drum.

Par. But a drum! Is’t but a drum? A drum so loft! There was an excellent command! to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers.

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

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success : some difhonour we had, in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recover'd.

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 seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or bic jacet.

Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this inftrument of honour again into its native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprize, and go on; I will grace the aftempt for a worthy exploit : if you speed well in it, the duke shall both 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 number in it.

Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will presently 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?

dilemmas,}-infallible projects,

Par.

lord ;

Par. I know not what the success will be, my but the attempt I vow.

Ber. I know, thou art valiant; and, to the possibility of thy 'soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewel. Par. I love not many words.

[Exit. i Lord. No more than a fith loves water.-Is not this a strange fellow, my lord ? that so confidently seems to undertake this bufiness, which he knows is not to be done ; damns himself 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 steal himself into a man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of discoveries ; but when you find hiin out, you have him ever after.

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

2 Lord. None in the world ; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: buc we have almost “imboss'd him, you shall see his fall tonight ; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship’s respect.

i Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, ere we' case him. He was first smok'd 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. I must go look my twigs; he shall be caught.

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. 2 Lord. As't please your lordship : I'll leave you. (Exit.

Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and Thew you The lass I spoke of.

i Lord. But, you say, she's honest.

Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once, And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her, By this fame coxcomb that we have i'the wind,

soldiership, ]-martial skill. & address bimself unto ?]-undertake.

imboss'd him,)-run him down. cafe him.)-(trip him.

k You'll tell me.

Tokens

Tokens and letters, which she did re-fend;
And this is all I have done : She's a fair creature;
Will you go see her ?

i Lord. With all my heart, my lord. (Exeuns.

1

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 ;
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 fo, from word to word; and then you cannot
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.

Wid. I should believe you;
For you have shew'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,
When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,

,

.

* idoubt]-fu pect.

But I fall loje the grounds I work upon.]-Without discovering myself to the count, and thereby frustrating my design.

to your sworn counsell-under an oath of secrely.
good aid )- lent for fo good an end.

Lays

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
Now his o important blood will nought deny
That she'll demand: A ring the county wears,
That downward hath succeeded in his house,
From fon to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it : this ring he holds
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,
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 chaftly absent : after this,
To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns
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 muficks of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her unworthiness : it nothing steads us,
To chide him from our eaves; for he persilts,
As if his life lay on't.

Hel. Why then, to-night
Let us asfay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is ' wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
! Unlawful meaning in a lawful act;

o important]-importunate. P perfever, ]--persevere, proceed.
9 wicked meaning)-on the part of Bertram, an intentional adulterer.
And lawful.

Where

Where both not fin, and yet a sinful fact :
But let's about it.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Part of the French Camp in Florence.

Enter one of the French Lords, with five or fix Soldiers

in ambut. Lord. He can come no other way but by this hedge' corner : When you fally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no matter : for we must not seem to understand him ; unless fome one amongst us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

Sol. Good captain, let me be the interpreter.

Lord. Art not acquainted with him ? knows he not thy voice?

Sol. No, sir, I warrant you.

Lord. But whatlinfy-woolly haft thou to speak to us again?

Sol. Even such as you speak to me.

Lord. He must think us some band of ' strangers i'the adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another ; so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose : chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes ; to beguile

s linfy-woolly]-gibberish-chough's language.

' ftrangers i'the adversary's entertainment. ]-foreign troops in the enemy's pay. u to know]-to make known, to let him know.

two