Part 16
_First Lord._ That approaches apace: I would gladly 30 have him see his company anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own judgements, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.
_Sec. Lord._ We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other. 35
_First Lord._ In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?
_Sec. Lord._ I hear there is an overture of peace.
_First Lord._ Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.
_Sec. Lord._ What will Count Rousillon do then? will 40 he travel higher, or return again into France?
_First Lord._ I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his council.
_Sec. Lord._ Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal of his act. 45
_First Lord._ Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished; and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a 50 groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.
_Sec. Lord._ How is this justified?
_First Lord._ The stronger part of it by her own letters, which makes her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say is come, 55 was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place.
_Sec. Lord._ Hath the count all this intelligence?
_First Lord._ Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.
_Sec. Lord._ I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this. 60
_First Lord._ How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!
_Sec. Lord._ And how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath here acquired for him shall at home be encountered 65 with a shame as ample.
_First Lord._ The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues. 70
_Enter a_ Messenger.
How now! where's your master?
_Serv._ He met the Duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next morning for France. The Duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king. 75
_Sec. Lord._ They shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend.
_First Lord._ They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now.
_Enter_ BERTRAM.
How now, my lord! is't not after midnight? 80
_Ber._ I have to-night dispatched sixteen businesses, a month's length a-piece, by an abstract of success: I have congied with the Duke, done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her; writ to my lady mother I am returning; entertained my convoy; and between these 85 main parcels of dispatch effected many nicer needs: the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.
_Sec. Lord._ If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship. 90
_Ber._ I mean, the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier? Come, bring forth this counterfeit module, has deceived me, like a double-meaning prophesier. 95
_Sec. Lord._ Bring him forth: he has sat i' the stocks all night, poor gallant knave.
_Ber._ No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?
_Sec. Lord._ I have told your lordship already, the stocks 100 carry him. But to answer you as you would be understood; he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of his setting i' the stocks: and what think 105 you he hath confessed?
_Ber._ Nothing of me, has a'?
_Sec. Lord._ His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it. 110
_Enter_ PAROLLES _guarded, and_ First Soldier.
_Ber._ A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of me: hush, hush!
_First Lord._ Hoodman comes! Portotartarosa.
_First Sold._ He calls for the tortures: what will you say without 'em? 115
_Par._ I will confess what I know without constraint: if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no more.
_First Sold._ Bosko chimurcho.
_First Lord._ Boblibindo chicurmurco.
_First Sold._ You are a merciful general. Our general 120 bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.
_Par._ And truly, as I hope to live.
_First Sold._ [_reads_] First demand of him how many horse the Duke is strong. What say you to that?
_Par._ Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: 125 the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit and as I hope to live.
_First Sold._ Shall I set down your answer so?
_Par._ Do: I'll take the sacrament on 't, how and which 130 way you will.
_Ber._ All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!
_First Lord._ You're deceived, my lord: this is Monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist,--that was his own phrase,-- that had the whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf, 135 and the practice in the chape of his dagger.
_Sec. Lord._ I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean, nor believe he can have every thing in him by wearing his apparel neatly.
_First Sold._ Well, that's set down. 140
_Par._ Five or six thousand horse, I said,--I will say true,--or thereabouts, set down, for I'll speak truth.
_First Lord._ He's very near the truth in this.
_Ber._ But I con him no thanks for't, in the nature he delivers it. 145
_Par._ Poor rogues, I pray you, say.
_First Sold._ Well, that's set down.
_Par._ I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor.
_First Sold._ [_reads_] Demand of him, of what strength they are 150 a-foot. What say you to that?
_Par._ By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred and 155 fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces. 160
_Ber._ What shall be done to him?
_First Lord._ Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my condition, and what credit I have with the Duke.
_First Sold._ Well, that's set down. [_Reads_] You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be i' the camp, a Frenchman; 165 what his reputation is with the Duke; what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt. What say you to this? what do you know of it?
_Par._ I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of 170 the inter'gatories: demand them singly.
_First Sold._ Do you know this Captain Dumain?
_Par._ I know him: a' was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve's fool with child,--a dumb innocent, that could not say him nay. 175
_Ber._ Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.
_First Sold._ Well, is this captain in the Duke of Florence's camp?
_Par._ Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. 180
_First Lord._ Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.
_First Sold._ What is his reputation with the Duke?
_Par._ The Duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him 185 out o' the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket.
_First Sold._ Marry, we'll search.
_Par._ In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon a file with the Duke's other letters in my tent.
_First Sold._ Here 'tis; here's a paper: shall I read it to 190 you?
_Par._ I do not know if it be it or no.
_Ber._ Our interpreter does it well.
_First Lord._ Excellently.
_First Sold._ [reads] Dian, the count's a fool, and full of gold,-- 195
_Par._ That is not the Duke's letter, sir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again. 200
_First Sold._ Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.
_Par._ My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity and devours up all the fry it finds. 205
_Ber._ Damnable both-sides rogue!
_First Sold._ [_reads_] When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it; After he scores, he never pays the score: Half won is match well made; match, and well make it; He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before; 210 And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this, Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss: For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.
Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear, 215 PAROLLES.
_Ber._ He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme in's forehead.
_Sec. Lord._ This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist and the armipotent soldier. 220
_Ber._ I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.
_First Sold._ I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you.
_Par._ My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to 225 die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live.
_First Sold._ We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: 230 you have answered to his reputation with the Duke and to his valour: what is his honesty?
_Par._ He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he is stronger than 235 Hercules: he will lie, sir, with such volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but 240 little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.
_First Lord._ I begin to love him for this.
_Ber._ For this description of thine honesty? A pox 245 upon him for me, he's more and more a cat.
_First Sold._ What say you to his expertness in war?
_Par._ Faith, sir, has led the drum before the English tragedians; to belie him, I will not, and more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that country he had the 250 honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain.
_First Lord._ He hath out-villained villany so far, that the rarity redeems him. 255
_Ber._ A pox on him, he's a cat still.
_First Sold._ His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.
_Par._ Sir, for a quart d'écu he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from 260 all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.
_First Sold._ What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?
_Sec. Lord._ Why does he ask him of me?
_First Sold._ What's he? 265
_Par._ E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil: he excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: in a retreat he outruns any lackey; many, in coming on he has the cramp. 270
_First Sold._ If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine?
_Par._ Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.
_First Sold._ I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure. 275
_Par._ [_Aside_] I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger. Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken? 280
_First Sold._ There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: the general says, you that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head. 285
_Par._ O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!
_First Sold._ That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [_Unblinding him._ So, look about you: know you any here?
_Ber._ Good morrow, noble captain. 290
_Sec. Lord._ God bless you, Captain Parolles.
_First Lord._ God save you, noble captain.
_Sec. Lord._ Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu? I am for France.
_First Lord._ Good captain, will you give me a copy of 295 the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'ld compel it of you: but fare you well. [_Exeunt Bertram and Lords._
_First Sold._ You are undone, captain, all but your scarf; that has a knot on't yet. 300
_Par._ Who cannot be crushed with a plot?
_First Sold._ If you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir; I am for France too: we shall speak of you there. 305 [_Exit, with Soldiers._
_Par._ Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, 'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more; But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft As captain shall: simply the thing I am Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart, 310 Let him fear this, for it will come to pass That every braggart shall be found an ass. Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive! There's place and means for every man alive. 315 I'll after them. [_Exit_
LINENOTES:
[1] First Lord.] 1 Ld. Rowe. Cap. G. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[2] Sec. Lord.] 2 Ld. Rowe. Cap. E. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[16] _made_] _paid_ Staunton conj.
[18] _delay_] _allay_ Hanmer.
[22] _till_] _ere_ Hanmer. _when_ Mason conj.
[23, 24] _nobility, ... stream_] Theobald. _nobility ... stream,_ Ff.
[25] _meant_] Ff. _most_ Hanmer. _meantime_ Heath conj. _mean and_ Mason conj. _maint_ Nicholson conj. _mere_ Anon. conj.
[26] _trumpeters_] _the trumpeters_ Rowe.
[30] _apace_] _agace_ F3.
[31] _company_] _companion_ Hanmer.
_anatomized_] _anatomiz'd_ Rowe. _anathomiz'd_ Ff.
[32] _judgements_] Ff. _judgement_ Pope.
_wherein so curiously_] _where so incuriously_ Badham conj.
_curiously_] F1 F2. _seriously_ F3 F4.
[33] _this_] F1 F2. _his_ F3 F4.
[36] _these_] F1. _those_ F2 F3 F4.
[39] _concluded_] _is concluded_ Rowe (ed. 1).
[47] _is_] om. Capell.
[48] _most_] _a most_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[49] _the_] _through the_ Capell.
[50] _as_] om. Long MS.
[53] _stronger_] _stranger_ Collier (Collier MS.).
[54] _makes_] Ff. _make_ Malone.
[55] _itself_] _is selfe_ F2. See note (XVI).
[56] _was_] _and_ Collier (Collier MS.).
[58, 59] _point from point_] Ff. _from point to point_ Hanmer. _point for point_ Capell.
[64] _gain_] _gains_ Edd. conj.
[70] Messenger] Ff. Servant Rowe (ed. 2).
[74, 75] _commendations_] _commendation_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[78] SCENE IV. Pope.
First Lord.] Ber. F1 F2. Cap. G. F3 F4.
[79] Enter B.] Enter Count Rossillion Ff (after line 77).
[83] _congied_] Ff. _conge'd_ Capell.
[86] _effected_] F3 F4. _affected_ F1 F2.
[94] _module_] Ff. _medal_ Hanmer (Warburton). _model_ Collier.
_module, has_] F2. _module has_ F1. _module; 'has_ F3 F4. _module; h'as_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[96] _forth_] _forth_ [Exeunt Soldiers.] Capell.
_he has_] _h'as_ F1 F2. _ha's_ F3 F4.
_i'the_] _i'th_ Ff. _in the_ Rowe.
[100] Sec. Lord.] 2 L. Capell. Cap. E. F1 F2. Cap. G. F3 F4. 1 Ld. Rowe.
[105] _i'the_] _i'th_ Ff.
[107] _has a'_] _ha's a_ F1 F2 F3. _has a_ F4. _has he_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[110] _hear_] _bear_ Anon conj.
[Enter...] Enter Parolles with his Interpreter. Ff.
[111] SCENE V. Pope.
[112] _hush, hush!_] _hush_ F2.
[112, 113 _hush, hush!_ First Lord. _Hoodman_] 1 Lord. _Hush! hoodman_ Hanmer. 1 L. _Hush, hush! hoodman_ S. Walker conj.
[113] _Hoodman_] _Headsman_ Grey conj.
[114] First Sold.] Int. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[116, 117] _I will ... more_] Printed as two lines in Ff, ending _...constraint, ...more._
[132] Ber. _All's one to him. What_] Capell. _All's one to him._ Ber. _What_ Ff. _All's one to me._ Ber. _What_ Rowe. 1 Lord, or 2. Lord, _All's ... him_ Ber. _What_ Ritson conj. _All's one to me._ Ber. _All's one to him! what_ Anon. conj.
[132-139, 143-145, 161-163, 176, 177, 181, 182, 193, 194, 206, 217-222, 244-246, 254-256, 264] are marked as 'Asides' by Capell.
[133] _You're_] _Y'are_ Ff.
[135] _theoric_] _theory_ Rowe.
[152] _live_] _die_ S. Walker conj. _leave_ Staunton conj. _shrive_ Anon. conj.
_this_] _but this_ Hanmer. See note (XIV).
[155] _Guiltian_] _Julian_ S. Walker conj.
[155, 156] _and fifty_] Rowe (ed. 2). _fifty_ F1 F2. om. F3 F4.
[157] _and fifty_] Rowe (ed. 2). _fifty_ Ff.
[163] _condition_] F1. _conditions_ F2 F3 F4.
[165] _i'the_] i'th F1 F3 F4. _it'h_ F2.
[167] _wars_] F1 F2 F3. _war_ F4.
[170] _particular_] _particulars_ Capell.
[171] _inter'gatories_] _interrogatories_ F4. _interrogatory_ Capell.
[173] _a'_] _a_ Ff. _he_ Rowe.
[174] _shrieve's_] _sheriff's_ Hanmer.
[175] [Dumain lifts up his hand in anger. Johnson.
[182] _your lordship_] Pope. _your Lord_ Ff. _you Lord_ Rowe (ed. 1).
[185] _this_] F1 F2. _the_ F3 F4.
[186] _o' the_] _a' th_ Ff.
[189] _a file_] _the file_ Theobald.
[195] After this line Johnson supposes one to be lost.
_gold_] _golden store_ or _golden ore_ Steevens conj. _gold, I speak it_ Jackson conj. (reading lines 208-210 in this order 209, 210, 208).
[207] First Sold. [reads] Int. Let. Ff. Inter. reads the letter. Rowe.
[209] _well made_] _ill made_ Capell conj. _half made_ Jackson conj.
_match, and well_] _match well and_ Hanmer. _watch, and well_ Johnson conj. (who would read the lines 207-210 in the following order, 209, 207, 208, 210).
_and well_] _an' we'll_ Steevens conj.
[212] _not_] _but_ Pope (ed. 2. Theobald).
[213] _count's_] _count_ F2.
[214] _when_] _where_ Collier (Collier MS.).
[218] _in's_] _in his_ Rowe.
[222] _now_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.
[223] _the_] F3 F4. _your_ F1 F2. _our_ Capell.
[227] _i' the_] _i' th_ Ff.
[228] _or_] F1 F2. om. F3 F4.
[233] _an egg_] _an Ag._ (i.e. _Agnes_) Becket conj.
[235] _in breaking_] F1. _breaking_ F2 F3 F4.
_'em_] _em_ F1 F2 F3. _them_ F4.
[246] _he's_] _he is_ Pope.
[248] _has_] _ha's_ Ff. _h'as_ Rowe.
[254] _out-villained_] _out-villanied_ S. Walker conj.
[259] _quart d'écu_] Pope. _cardceue_ F1. _cardecue_ F2 F3 F4.
[261] _for it_] _in it_ Hanmer.
[266] _o' the_] _a' th_ F1 F2 F4, _at'h_ F3.
[270] _has_] _ha's_ F1.
[276] [Aside] Rowe (ed. 2).
[279] _this danger_] _danger_ Rowe.
[288] [Unblinding him.] Rowe (ed. 1). [Unbinding him. Rowe (ed. 2). [Unmuffling him. Steevens.
[291, 293] Sec. Lord.] Lo. E. F1.
[296] _the sonnet_] F1 F2. _the same sonnet_ F3 F4. _that same sonnet_ Rowe.
[297] _an_] _and_ Ff. _if_ Pope.
[298] [Exeunt B. and Lords.] Exeunt. Ff.
[305] [Exit...] Exit. Ff.
[306] SCENE VI. Pope.
_am I_] _I am_ Hanmer.
[312] After this S. Walker conjectures that a line has been omitted.
## SCENE IV. _Florence. The_ Widow's _house._
_Enter_ HELENA, Widow, _and_ DIANA.
_Hel._ That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you, One of the greatest in the Christian world Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful, Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel: Time was, I did him a desired office, 5 Dear almost as his life; which gratitude Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth, And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd His Grace is at Marseilles; to which place We have convenient convoy. You must know, 10 I am supposed dead: the army breaking, My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding, And by the leave of my good lord the king, We'll be before our welcome.
_Wid._ Gentle madam, You never had a servant to whose trust 15 Your business was more welcome.
_Hel._ Nor you, mistress, Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower, As it hath fated her to be my motive 20 And helper to a husband. But, O strange men! That can such sweet use make of what they hate, When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play With what it loathes for that which is away. 25 But more of this hereafter. You, Diana, Under my poor instructions yet must suffer Something in my behalf.
_Dia._ Let death and honesty Go with your impositions, I am yours Upon your will to suffer.
_Hel._ Yet, I pray you: 30 But with the word the time will bring on summer, When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns, And be as sweet as sharp. We must away; Our waggon is prepared, and time revives us: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL: still the fine's the crown; 35 Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. [_Exeunt._
LINENOTES:
## SCENE IV.] SCENE VII. Pope.
[3] _'fore_] _for_ F1.
[6] _which_] _for which_ Hanmer.
[9] _is at_] _it_ F2.
_Marseilles_] Rowe (ed. 2). _Marcellæ_ F1. _Marsellis_ F2 F3. _Marselis_ F4.
[16] _you_] F4. _your_ F1 F2 F3.
[23] _saucy trusting of_] Ff. _fancy trusting in_ Hanmer. _fancy trusting of_ Warburton.
[30, 31] _I pray you: But with the word_] Ff. _I pray you, Bear with the word:_ Hanmer. _I pray you, But with the word:_ Capell. _I pray you,--But with the word,_ Steevens (Henley conj.). _I fray you But with the word:_ Collier (Blackstone conj.). _I play you But with the word:_ Jackson conj. _I pray you: But with the world_ Collier MS. _I pay you But with the word;_ Grant White. _I pay you But with the word,_ Staunton conj.