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a Mere the truth:] Quite the truth. b Honesty,-] That is, chastity.

I write good creature;] So the first folio, but which the editor of the second, not perhaps understanding, altered to,"I right, good creature." The phrase to write, in the sense of to proclaim, &c. was not at all uncommon formerly. It occurs, indeed, three or four times in Shakespeare: thus, in the present play, Act II. Sc. 3, Lafeu says,

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"Sirrah, I write man," &c.

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

HEL. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.
PAR. Lose our drum! well.

MAR. He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.

WID. Marry, hang you!

MAR. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier! [Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Officers, and

Soldiers.

WID. The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,

And,

"I'd give bay Curtal, and his furniture,

My mouth no more were broken than these boys',
And writ as little beard."

Again, in "King Lear," Act V. Sc. 3:-

"About it; and write happy, when thou hast done." d And brokes-] That is, panders.

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a Of this virgin,-] This is only one of the frequent instances in

Shakespeare where of is employed for on.

VOL. II.

2 LORD. If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

1 LORD. On my life, my lord, a bubble. BER. Do you think, I am so far deceived in him?

1 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 promisebreaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.

2 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.

2 LORD. None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

1 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, 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 deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in any thing.

2 LORD. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says, he has a stratagem for't: when your 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,(2) your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

1 LORD. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

Enter PAROLLES.

BER. How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely 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 lost-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 dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered.

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.

if

BER. Why, if you have a stomach to 't, monsieur, 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 speak

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b Embossed him,-] In the old language of the chase, the stag

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from me.

BER. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it?

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

BER. I know thou art valiant; and, to the possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

PAR. I love not many words.

[Exit. 1 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: damus himself to do, and dares better be damned than to 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 him 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?

1 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.

2 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.

1 LORD. I must go look my twigs; he shall be caught.

BER. Your brother, he shall go along with me. 1 LORD. As't please your lordship: I'll leave [Exit. BER. Now will I lead you to the house, and show you the lass I spoke of.

you.

2 LORD. But, you say, she's honest. BER. That's all the fault: I spoke with her

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Nothing acquainted with these businesses; And would not put my reputation now

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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, By the good aid that I of you shall borrow, Err in bestowing it.

WID. I should believe you; you have show'd me that, which well approves You are great in fortune.

For

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 woos your

daughter,

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent,

a Your sworn counsel-] Your pledged secrecy.

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