Page images
PDF
EPUB

Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fashion: richly fuited, but unsuitable; just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which we wear not now; your date is better in your pie and your porridge, than in your cheek; and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French wither'd pears; it looks ill, it eats drily; marry, 'tis a wither'd pear: it was formerly better; marry, yet 'tis a wither'd pear. Will you any thing with it?

Hel. Not my virginity yet.

There fhall your mafter have a thousand loves,
A mother, and a mistress, and a friend,
[A phoenix, captain, and an enemy,
A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign,
A counfellor, a traitress, and a dear;
His humble ambition, proud humility;
His jarring concord; and his difcord dulcet;
His faith, his fweet difafter; with a world
Of pretty fond adoptious chriftendoms,

That blinking Cupid goffips. Now fhall he-]
I know not, what he fhall-God fend him well!-
The court's a learning place-and he is one-
Par. What one, i'faith?

Hel. That I wish well-'tis pity-
Par. What's pity?

Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't,
Which might be felt; that We the poorer born,
Whose bafer ftars do fhut us up in wishes,
Might with effects of them follow our friends:
And fhew what we alone must think, which never
Returns us thanks.

Enter Page.

Page. Monfieur Parolles,

My lord calls for you.

[Exit Page.

Par. Little Helen, farewel; if I can remember thee,

I will think of thee at court.

Hel.

Hel. Monfieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable ftar.

Par. Under Mars, I.

Hel. I especially think, under Mars.

Par. Why under Mars?

Hel. The wars have kept you fo under, that you muft needs be born under Mars.

Par. When he was predominant.

Hel. When he was retrograde, I think, rather.
Par. Why think you fo?

Hel. You go fo much backward, when you fight.
Par. That's for advantage.

Hel. So is running away, when fear propofes fafety: but the compofition, that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good ming, and I like the wear well.

Par. I am fo full of busineffes, as I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my inftruction fhall ferve to naturalize thee, fo thou wilt be capable of courtier's counsel, and understand what advice fhall thruft upon thee; elfe thou dieft in thine unthankfulnefs, and thine ignorance makes thee away; farewel. When thou haft leisure, fay thy prayers; when thou haft none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband, and use him as he ufes thee: fo farewel.

[Exit.

SCENE

IV.

Hel.

UR remedies oft in ourselves do lie,

fky

Gives us free fcope; only, doth backward pull
Our flow defigns, when we ourselves are dull.
What power is it, which mounts my love fo high,
That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye?
The mightiest space in fortune nature brings
To join like likes; and kifs, like native things.
Impoffible be ftrange attempts, to those
That weigh their pain in fenfe; and do fuppofe.

15

What

What hath been, cannot be. Who ever ftrove
To fhew her merit, that did miss her love?
The King's disease-my project may deceive me,
But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me.

SCENE V.

Changes to the Court of France.

[Exit.

Flourish Cornets. Enter the King of France with letters, and divers Attendants.

King.

TH

HE Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue

A braving war.

1 Lord. So 'tis reported, Sir.

King. Nay, 'tis moft credible; we here receive it. A certainty vouch'd from our coufin Auftria; With caution, that the Florentine will move us For fpeedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the bufinefs, and would feem To have us make denial.

I Lord. His love and wisdom,
Approv'd fo to your Majesty, may plead
For ample credence.

King. He hath arm'd our answer;
And Florence is deny'd, before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to fee
The Tufcan fervice, freely have they leave
To ftand on either part.

2 Lord. It may well ferve

A nursery to our gentry, who are fick
For breathing and exploit.

King. What's he comes here;

Enter Bertram, Lafeu and Parolles.

1 Lord. It is the count Roufillon, my good lord,

young Bertram.

King. Youth, thou bear'ft thy father's face. Frank nature, rather curious than in hafte, Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May'ft thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

Ber. My thanks and duty are your Majesty's.
King. I would, I had that corporal foundness now,
As when thy father and myself in friendship
First try'd our foldiership: he did look far
Into the service of the time, and was

Difcipled of the brav'ft. He lafted long;
But on us both did haggish age

fteal on,
And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
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 fcorn return to them unnoted,
Ere they can hide their levity in honour:
So like a courtier, no contempt or bitterness
Were in him; pride or sharpness, if there were,
His equal had awak'd them; and his honour,
Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exceptions bid him fpeak; and at that time
His tongue obey'd his hand. Who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place,

And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks;
Making them proud; and his humility,

In their poor praife, he humbled: Such a man
Might be a copy to thefe younger times;

Which, follow'd well, would now demonstrate them
But goers backward.

Ber. His good remembrance, Sir,

Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb;
So in approof lives not his epitaph,

As in your royal speech.

[say,

King. 'Would, I were with him! he would always (Methinks, I here him now; his plaufive words He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them

To grow there, and to bear;) Let me not live,

16

Thus

(Thus 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 fnuff

Of younger fpirits, whofe apprehenfive fenfes
All but new things difdain; whose judgments are
Mere fathers of their garments; whofe conftancies
Expire before their fashions;this he wifh'd.
I, after him, do after him wish too,

(Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home,)
I quickly were diffolved from my hive.
To give fome labourer room.

2 Lord. You're loved, Sir;

They, that least lend it you, fhall lack you first.
King. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,
Since the phyfician at your father's died?

He was much fam'd.

Ber. Some fix months fince, my lord.

King. If he were living, I would try him yet ;Lend me an arm;-the reft have worn me out

With feveral applications; nature and fickness

Debate it at their leifure.

Welcome, count,

My fon's no dearer.

Ber. Thank your Majefty.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

Count.

I

SCENE VI.

Changes to the Countess's at Roufillon.

Enter Countefs, Steward and Clown.

Will now hear; what fay 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 modefty, and make foul the clearness of our defervings, when of ourfelves we publish them.

Count.

« PreviousContinue »