Part 10

_Par._ Save you, fair queen! 100

_Hel._ And you, monarch!

_Par._ No.

_Hel._ And no.

_Par._ Are you meditating on virginity?

_Hel._ Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you: let 105 me ask you a question. Man is enemy to virginity; how may we barricado it against him?

_Par._ Keep him out.

_Hel._ But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant, in the defence yet is weak: unfold to us some warlike 110 resistance.

_Par._ There is none: man, sitting down before you, will undermine you and blow you up.

_Hel._ Bless our poor virginity from underminers and blowers up! Is there no military policy, how virgins 115 might blow up men?

_Par._ Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up: marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lose your city. It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preserve virginity. 120 Loss of virginity is rational increase and there was never virgin got till virginity was first lost. That you were made of is metal to make virgins. Virginity by being once lost may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; away with 't! 125

_Hel._ I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.

_Par._ There's little can be said in 't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity, is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible disobedience. He 130 that hangs himself is a virgin: virginity murders itself; and should be buried in highways out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach. Besides, virginity is 135 peevish, proud, idle, made of self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but lose by 't: out with 't! within ten year it will make itself ten, which is a goodly increase; and the principal itself not much the worse: away with 't! 140

_Hel._ How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking?

_Par._ Let me see: marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes. 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with 't while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request. Virginity, like an old courtier, 145 wears her cap out of fashion; richly suited, but unsuitable: just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which 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 withered pears, it looks ill, it eats drily; 150 marry, 'tis a withered pear; it was formerly better; marry, yet 'tis a withered pear: will you any thing with it?

_Hel._ Not my virginity yet.... There shall your master have a thousand loves, A mother and a mistress and a friend, 155 A poenix, captain and an enemy, A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign, A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear; His humble ambition, proud humility, His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet, 160 His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world Of pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms, That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he-- I know not what he shall. God send him well! The court's a learning place, and he is one-- 165

_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, 170 Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes, Might with effects of them follow our friends, And show what we alone must think, which never Returns us thanks.

_Enter_ Page.

_Page._ Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. [_Exit._ 175

_Par._ Little Helen, farewell: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court.

_Hel._ Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.

_Par._ Under Mars, I. 180

_Hel._ I especially think, under Mars.

_Par._ Why under Mars?

_Hel._ The wars have so kept you under, that you must needs be born under Mars.

_Par._ When he was predominant. 185

_Hel._ When he was retrograde, I think, rather.

_Par._ Why think you so?

_Hel._ You go so much backward when you fight.

_Par._ That's for advantage.

_Hel._ So is running away, when fear proposes the safety: 190 but the composition that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well.

_Par._ I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee acutely. I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee, so thou wilt be 195 capable of a courtier's counsel, and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast none, remember thy friends: get thee a good husband, and use 200 him as he uses thee: so, farewell. [_Exit._

_Hel._ Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky Gives us free scope; only doth backward pull Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull. 205 What power is it which mounts my love so high; That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye? The mightiest space in fortune nature brings To join like likes and kiss like native things. Impossible be strange attempts to those 210 That weigh their pains in sense, and do suppose What hath been cannot be: who ever strove To show 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. [_Exit._ 215

LINENOTES:

## ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.

Enter.... ] Enter yong Bertram, Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke. Ff.

[1] Count.] Mother. Ff, and afterwards Mo.

_delivering_] _delivering up_ Hanmer. _dissevering_ Warburton.

_son from me,_] _son, for me_ or _son, 'fore me_, Becket conj.

[3] _And I in going, madam_] F1. _And in going Madam_ F2 F3 F4. _And in going, madam, I_ Rowe.

[9] _lack_] _slack_ Theobald (Warburton).

[13] _persecuted_] _prosecuted_ Hanmer.

[17] _passage_] _preface_ Hanmer. _presage_ Warburton. _pesage_ Becket conj.

_was_] om. Collier (Collier MS.).

[18] _would_] _it would_ Rowe, _'t would_ Singer.

[19] _have_] _have had_ Hanmer.

_play_] _play'd_ Warburton.

[29, 31, 52] Ber.] Ros. Ff.

[35] _hopes of her good that her_] _good hopes of her that her_ or _hopes of her that her good_ Anon. conj.

[36] _promises; her_] Rowe. _promises her_ Ff. _promises her;_ Pope.

_her dispositions_] _the honesty of her dispositions_ Staunton conj.

_dispositions_] _disposition_ Rowe.

[39] _their_] _her_ Hammer (Warburton).

[41] _from her tears_] _tears from her_ Pope.

[46] _it be rather thought you_] _you be rather thought to_ Hanmer.

_to have--_] Ff. _to have it._ Warburton. _have it._ Capell. _to have._ Steevens.

[48] _lamentation_] F1. _lamentations_ F2 F3 F4.

[50] Count.] Hel. Tieck.

_be_] _be not_ Theobald (Warburton).

[52, 53] Ber. _Madam, ..._ Laf. _How_ ... ] Laf. _How ..._ Ber. _Madam_, ... Theobald conj.

[63] _head_] F1. _hand_ F2 F3 F4.

_Farewell, my lord:_] _Farewell my Lord,_ Ff. _Farewel.--My lord Lafeu,_ Capell. FAREWELL. MY LORD, Steevens.

[63-67] Hanmer ends the lines _'tis an ... advise him ... attend ... Bertram._ S. Walker would end them _My lord Lafeu, ... my lord ... that shall ... Bertram,_ reading _can't_ for _cannot_ in line 65.

[64] _Advise him._] _Advise him you._ Capell.

[65-87] Laf. _He cannot ... draw_] Omitted in F4.

[67] _Heaven_] _May heaven_ Hanmer.

[68] [To Helena] Rowe.

[71] _must hold_] _uphold_ Rann (Mason conj.).

[72] [Exeunt...] Rowe. om. Ff.

[73] SCENE II. Pope.

[75] _those I_] _they are_ Hanmer.

[77] _in't but Bertram's_] _in it but my Bertram's_ Pope. _in it, but of Bertram_ Capell. _in 't but only Bertram's_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[79] _'Twere_] F1 F2 F3. _It were_ Pope.

[80] _particular_] F1 F2 F3. _partic'lar_ Pope.

[81] _me:_] Rowe. _me_ F1 F2 F3.

[84] _The_] _Th'_ F1 F2 F3.

[88] _brows_] _browes_ F1 F2. _arrows_ F3 F4.

[89] _our_] _my_ Collier MS.

[90] _trick_] _trait_ Becket conj.

[92] _reliques_] F1 F2. _relick_ F3 F4.

Enter Parolles.] Ff. Dyce transfers to line 99.

[93] [Aside] Edd.]

[95] _solely_] F3 F4. _solie_ F1 F2. _wholly_ Hanmer.

[97] _steely_] _seely_ Williams conj.

[98] _Look_] Rowe. _Lookes_ F1 F2. _Looks_ F3 F4.

_i'the_] _in the_ Pope.

_withal_] om. Pope.

[99] _Cold_] S. Walker conjectures that this is corrupt.

_folly_] F3 F4. _follie_ F1 F2.

[100] SCENE III. Pope.

_Save_] _'Save_ Hanmer.

[105] _stain_] _strain_ Halliwell conj.

[107] _barricado_] Rowe. _barracedo_ F1. _barrocado_ F2 F3 F4.

[107-109] _him?_ Par. _Keep him out._ Hel. _But_] _him to keep him out? for_ Hanmer.

[109] _assails_] _assails us_ S. Walker conj.

[109, 110] _valiant, in the defence yet_] Ff. _valiant in the defence, yet_ Steevens.

[110] _to us_] F1. _us_ F2 F3 F4.

[112] _sitting_] Johnson. _setting_ Ff.

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

[121] _rational_] _national_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.). _natural_ Anon. ap. Halliwell conj.

[122] _got_] F2 F3 F4. _goe_ F1.

[130] _mothers_] _mother_ Rowe.

[130, 131] _He ... is_] _He ... is like_ Hanmer. _As he ... so is_ Warburton.

[135] _his_] _its_ Rowe. _on its_ Hanmer.

[137] _inhibited_] F1. _inhabited_ F2 F3 F4. _prohibited_ Pope.

[138, 139] _ten year ... ten,_] _ten years ... ten_ Hanmer. _ten yeare ... two_ F1. _ten yeares ... two_ F2 F3. _ten years ... two_ F4. _two years ... two_ Collier, ed. 2 (Steevens conj.). _ten years ... twelve_ Tollet conj. _ten months ... two_ Singer (Malone conj.). _one year ... two_ Grant White. _the year ... two_ Anon. conj.

[142, 143] _it likes_] _likes it_ S. Walker conj.

[143] _'Tis_] _And 'tis_ Hanmer.

[147] _wear_] Capell. _were_ Ff. _we wear_ Rowe.

[152] _yet_] _yes,_ Hanmer.

_will you_] _will you do_ Collier MS.

_with it?_] _with me?_ Johnson conj. _with us?_ Tyrwhitt conj. _with it? I am now bound for the court._ Malone conj. _with it? We are for the Court._ Staunton conj.

[153] _Not_] _Not with_ Collier MS.

_yet._] _yet. You're for the Court:_ Hanmer. See note (II).

[153, 154] _Not ... your_] _No!--my virginity! yet There shall its_ Jackson conj.

[154] _shall_] _should_ Steevens conj.

[155] _A mother_] _Another_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[156-163] _A phoenix ... shall he_] Put in brackets as spurious by Warburton.

[156] _captain_] _captor_ Anon. conj.

[159] _humble_] F1. _humblest_ F2 F3 F4.

[162] _pretty_] _petty_ Harness.

_fond, adoptious_] _fond-adoptious_ S. Walker conj.

[163] _he--_] Rowe. _he:_ Ff.

[165] _learning place_] _learning-place_ Steevens.

_one--_] Rowe. _one._ Ff.

[167] _pity--_] Rowe. _pitty._ F1 F2 F3. _pity._ F4.

[168] Par. _What's pity?_] Omitted in Pope (ed. 2).

[170] _the_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[176] Exit.] Theobald.

[183] _wars have_] Pope. _warres hath_ F1 F2. _waters hath_ F3 F4. _waters have_ Rowe.

[190] _So ... safety_] Printed as two lines in Ff, the first ending _away_.

_the safety_] _safety_ F3 F4.

[191] _makes_] _make_ Hanmer.

[192] _wing_] _ming_ Warburton.

_I like the wear_] _is like to wear_ Mason conj.

[193] _businesses_] F1 F2 F3. _business_ F4. _businesses, as_ Theobald.

[195] _instruction_] _instrument_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[196] _of a_] F1. _of the_ F2 F3 F4. _of_ Pope.

[202] SCENE IV. Pope.

[207] _That_] _Which_ Capell.

[208] _The mightiest space_] _The mighty and base_ Mason conj. _The wid'st apart_ Staunton conj.

_fortune nature_] _nature fortune_ Malone conj. (withdrawn).

_brings_] _springs_ Anon. (Fras. Mag.) conj.

[208, 209] _The ... To join like likes_] _Through ... Likes to join likes_ Johnson conj. _The ... Like to join like Long_ MS.

[212] _hath been cannot be_] _hath not been ca'nt be_ Hanmer. _ha'nt been cannot be_ Mason conj. _n'ath been cannot be_ Staunton conj.

[214] _The king's disease_--] Rowe. (_The Kings disease_) Ff.

## SCENE II. _Paris._ _The_ KING'S _palace._

_Flourish of cornets._ _Enter the_ KING OF FRANCE _with letters, and divers Attendants._

_King._ The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue A braving war.

_First Lord._ So 'tis reported, sir.

_King._ Nay, 'tis most credible; we here receive it A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, 5 With caution, that the Florentine will move us For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the business, and would seem To have us make denial.

_First Lord._ His love and wisdom, Approved so to your majesty, may plead 10 For amplest credence.

_King._ He hath arm'd our answer, And Florence is denied before he comes: Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see The Tuscan service, freely have they leave To stand on either part.

_Sec. Lord._ It well may serve 15 A nursery to our gentry, who are sick For breathing and exploit.

_King._ What's he comes here?

_Enter_ BERTRAM, LAFEU, _and_ PAROLLES.

_First Lord._ It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord, Young Bertram.

_King._ Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, 20 Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

_Ber._ My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

_King._ I would I had that corporal soundness now, As when thy father and myself in friendship 25 First tried our soldiership! He did look far Into the service of the time, and was Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long; But on us both did haggish age steal on, And wore us out of act. It much repairs me 30 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 scorn return to them unnoted Ere they can hide their levity in honour: 35 So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were, His equal had awaked them; and his honour, Clock to itself, knew the true minute when Exception bid him speak, and at this time 40 His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him He used as creatures of another place; And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks, Making them proud of his humility, In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man 45 Might be a copy to these younger times; Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now But goers backward.

_Ber._ His good remembrance, sir, Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb; So in approof lives not his epitaph 50 As in your royal speech.

_King._ Would I were with him! He would always say-- Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them, To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'-- 55 This 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 snuff Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses 60 All but new things disdain; whose judgements are Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies Expire before their fashions. This he wish'd: I after him do after him wish too, Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, 65 I quickly were dissolved from my hive, To give some labourers room.

_Sec. Lord._ You are loved, sir; They that least lend it you shall lack you first.

_King._ I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count, Since the physician at your father's died? 70 He was much famed.

_Ber._ Some six months since, my lord.

_King._ If he were living, I would try him yet. Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out With several applications: nature and sickness Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count; 75 My son's no dearer.

_Ber._ Thank your majesty. [_Exeunt. Flourish._

LINENOTES:

## SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope.

Flourish of cornets.] Flourish cornets. Ff.

[1] _Senoys_] _Siennois_ or _Siennese_ Lloyd conj.

_the ears_] Capell. _th' eares_ Ff.

[3, 9, 18] First Lord.] 1. Lord. Rowe. 1. Lo. G. Ff.

[15, 67] Sec. Lord.] 2. Lord. Rowe. 2. Lo. E. Ff.

[15] _well may_] _may well_ F3 F4.

[18] _It is_] F1 F4. _It 'tis_ F2 F3.

_Rousillon_] Pope. _Rosignoll_ F1. _Rosillion_ F2. _Rossillion_ F3 F4.

[21] _Hath well composed thee_] _Compos'd thee well_ Pope.

[28] _bravest_] _brav'st_ Pope.

[32] _well_] _ill_ Long MS.

[35] _hide their levity in honour_] _vye their levity with his honour_ Hanmer. _hide their levity in humour_ Long MS.

[35, 36] _honour: So like a courtier,_] Ff. _honour, So like a courtier:_ Capell (Blackstone conj.). _honour: No courtier-like_ Lloyd conj.

[36] _contempt nor_] _no contempt nor_ Rowe (ed. 1). _no contempt or_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[37] _in his pride or sharpness;_] _in him; pride or sharpness_, Theobald (Warburton). _in him, pride or sharpness;_ Capell.

_if they were_] _if there were_ Theobald (Warburton).

[39] _Clock_] _Block_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[40] _Exception_] _Exceptions_ Theobald.

_this_] _that_ Rowe.

[41] _his hand_] _the hand_ Johnson conj. _it's hand_ Capell. _his head_ Long MS.

[42] _another place_] _a brother-race_ Hanmer.

[44] _proud of_] _proud; and_ Warburton.

[44, 45] _humility, In ... praise he humbled_] _humility: He in ... praise, humbled_ Becket conj.

[45] _he humbled_] _be-humbled_ Staunton conj.

[47] _demonstrate them now_] _now demonstrate them_ Pope.

[50] _So in approof lives not his_] _Approof so lives not in his_ Johnson conj. _So his approof lives not in_ Capell.

[56] _This_] Ff. _Thus_ Pope.

[58] _it_] _wit_ Staunton conj.

[62] _fathers_] _feathers_ Tyrwhitt conj. _parcels_ Williams conj.

[67] _labourers_] _labourer_ Warburton.

_You are_] Capell. _You'r_ F1 F2. _You're_ F3 F4.

[76] _Thank_] _Thanks to_ Rowe.

[Exeunt.] Exit. Ff.

## SCENE III. _Rousillon._ _The_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Enter_ COUNTESS, Steward, _and_ Clown.

_Count._ I will now hear; what say 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 modesty and make 5 foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.

_Count._ What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: the complaints I have heard of you I do not all believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for I know you 10 lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours.

_Clo._ 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow.

_Count._ Well, sir. 15

_Clo._ No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though many of the rich are damned: but, if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isbel the woman and I will do as we may.

_Count._ Wilt thou needs be a beggar? 20

_Clo._ I do beg your good will in this case.

_Count._ In what case?

_Clo._ In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no heritage: and I think I shall never have the blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for they say barnes are 25 blessings.

_Count._ Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry.

_Clo._ My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives.

_Count._ Is this all your worship's reason? 30

_Clo._ Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are.

_Count._ May the world know them?

_Clo._ I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry that 35 I may repent.

_Count._ Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness.

_Clo._ I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake.

_Count._ Such friends are thine enemies, knave. 40

_Clo._ You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the knaves come to do that for me, which I am aweary of. He that ears my land spares my team, and gives me leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: he that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he 45 that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage; for young Charbon the puritan and old Poysam the papist, howsome'er 50 their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one; they may joul horns together, like any deer i' the herd.

_Count._ Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave?

_Clo._ A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the 55 next way:

For I the ballad will repeat, Which men full true shall find; Your marriage comes by destiny, Your cuckoo sings by kind. 60

_Count._ Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon.

_Stew._ May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you: of her I am to speak.

_Count._ Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her; Helen I mean. 65

_Clo._

Was this fair face the cause, quoth she, Why the Grecians sacked Troy? Fond done, done fond, Was this King Priam's joy? With that she sighed as she stood, 70 With that she sighed as she stood, And gave this sentence then; Among nine bad if one be good, Among nine bad if one be good, There's yet one good in ten. 75

_Count._ What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah.

_Clo._ One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying o' the song: would God would serve the world so all the year! we'd find no fault with the tithe-woman, if I were 80 the parson: one in ten, quoth a'! an we might have a good woman born but one every blazing star, or at an earth-quake, 'twould mend the lottery well: a man may draw his heart out, ere a' pluck one.

_Count._ You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command 85 you.

_Clo._ That man should be at woman's command, and yet no hurt done! Though honesty be no puritan, yet it will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am going, forsooth: the 90 business is for Helen to come hither. [_Exit._

_Count._ Well, now.

_Stew._ I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely.

_Count._ Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; 95 and she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds: there is more owing her than is paid; and more shall be paid her than she'll demand.

_Stew._ Madam, I was very late more near her than I think she wished me: alone she was, and did communicate 100 to herself her own words to her own ears; she thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son: Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put such difference betwixt their two estates; Love no god, that would not extend his might, 105 only where qualities were level; ... queen of virgins, that would suffer her poor knight surprised, without rescue in the first assault, or ransom afterward. This she delivered in the most bitter touch of sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in: which I held my duty speedily to acquaint you 110 withal; sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns you something to know it.