Part 17

[31-33] _But ... away_] _But--with the word 'The time ... sharp,'--we must away_ Anon. conj.

[34] _revives_] Ff. _reviles_ Hanmer. _revyes_ Warburton. _invites_ Johnson and Heath conj.

[35] _the fine's_] Theobald. _the fines_ F1. _that fines_ F2 F3. _that finds_ F4.

[36] _course_] _curse_ Rowe (ed. 2).

## SCENE V. _Rousillon. The_ COUNT'S _palace._

_Enter_ COUNTESS, LAFEU, _and_ Clown.

_Laf._ No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced by the king 5 than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.

_Count._ I would I had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. If she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have 10 owed her a more rooted love.

_Laf._ 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.

_Clo._ Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad, or rather, the herb of grace. 15

_Laf._ They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.

_Clo._ I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in grass.

_Laf._ Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool? 20

_Clo._ A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.

_Laf._ Your distinction?

_Clo._ I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.

_Laf._ So you were a knave at his service, indeed. 25

_Clo._ And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.

_Laf._ I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.

_Clo._ At your service. 30

_Laf._ No, no, no.

_Clo._ Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.

_Laf._ Who's that? a Frenchman?

_Clo._ Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy 35 is more hotter in France than there.

_Laf._ What prince is that?

_Clo._ The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.

_Laf._ Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to 40 suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still.

_Clo._ I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, 45 which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.

_Laf._ Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and 50 I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks.

_Clo._ If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature. 55 [_Exit._

_Laf._ A shrewd knave and an unhappy.

_Count._ So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will. 60

_Laf._ I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a 65 self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?

_Count._ With very much content, my lord; and I wish 70 it happily effected.

_Laf._ His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed. 75

_Count._ It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together.

_Laf._ Madam, I was thinking with what manners I 80 might safely be admitted.

_Count._ You need but plead your honourable privilege.

_Laf._ Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I thank my God it holds yet.

_Re-enter_ Clown.

_Clo._ O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a 85 patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

_Laf._ A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery 90 of honour; so belike is that.

_Clo._ But it is your carbonadoed face.

_Laf._ Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk with the young noble soldier.

_Clo._ Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine 95 hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

## SCENE V.] SCENE VIII. Pope.

COUNTESS,2] Old Lady, Ff.

[5] _advanced_] _advantaged_ Warburton.

[6] _than by that_] _but for that_ Hanmer.

[7] _I had_] _he had_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

[13] _salads_] _sallets_ Ff.

[15] _salad_] _sallet_ Ff.

[16] _herbs_] Ff. _sallet-herbs_ Rowe. _pot-herbs_ Collier MS.

[19] _grass_] Rowe. _grace_ Ff.

[24] _his wife_] _this wife_ F2.

[26] _bauble_] _folly_ Hanmer.

[34] _Who's_] F4. _Whose_ F1 F2 F3.

[35] _a'_] _a_ Ff. he Rowe (ed. 2).

_name_] Rowe. _maine_ F1 F2. _main_ F3. _mean_ F4. _mien_ Anon. conj.

[36] _hotter_] _honour'd_ Hanmer (Warburton).

_there_] F1 F2. _here_ F3 F4.

[41] _suggest_] _seduce_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[42] _I am_] _I'm_ Theobald.

[43, 44] _fire But, sure, he ... world;_] _fire, but sure he ... world,_ Ff. _fire; but since he ... world,_ Hanmer. _fire. But, for he ... world,_ Capell.

[44] _his_] _the_ Collier MS.

[54] _sir_] om. Rowe.

[57] _he_] Rowe. _a_ Ff.

[60] _pace_] _place_ Hanmer.

_runs_] _he runs_ F3 F4.

[72] _Marseilles_] Pope. _Marcellus_ F1. _Marsellis_ F2. _Marselles_ F3 F4.

[73] _he_] Rowe (ed. 2). _a_ Ff. _and_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[76] _It_] _Ir_ F1. _I_ F2.

_that I hope I_] _that hope that I_ Warburton.

[90] Laf.] F1. La. F2 F3 F4. Count Rowe.

[90, 91] _A scar ... that_] Printed as three lines in Ff, ending _got ... honour ... that_.

[92] _carbonadoed_] Theobald. _carbinado'd_ Ff.

[93] Laf.] F1 F3 F4. La. F2 (and frequently in this scene).

[93, 94] _Let us ... soldier_] Printed as three lines in Ff, ending _see ... talk ... soldier_.

## ACT V.

## SCENE I. _Marseilles. A street._

_Enter_ HELENA, Widow, _and_ DIANA, _with two_ Attendants.

_Hel._ But this exceeding posting day and night Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it: But since you have made the days and nights as one, To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, Be bold you do so grow in my requital 5 As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;

_Enter a_ Gentleman.

This man may help me to his majesty's ear, If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.

_Gent._ And you.

_Hel._ Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. 10

_Gent._ I have been sometimes there.

_Hel._ I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen From the report that goes upon your goodness; And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, Which lay nice manners by, I put you to 15 The use of your own virtues, for the which I shall continue thankful.

_Gent._ What's your will?

_Hel._ That it will please you To give this poor petition to the king, And aid me with that store of power you have 20 To come into his presence.

_Gent._ The king's not here.

_Hel._ Not here, sir!

_Gent._ Not, indeed: He hence removed last night and with more haste Than is his use.

_Wid._ Lord, how we lose our pains!

_Hel._ ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet, 25 Though time seem so adverse and means unfit. I do beseech you, whither is he gone?

_Gent._ Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; Whither I am going.

_Hel._ I do beseech you, sir, Since you are like to see the king before me, 30 Commend the paper to his gracious hand, Which I presume shall render you no blame But rather make you thank your pains for it. I will come after you with what good speed Our means will make us means.

_Gent._ This I'll do for you. 35

_Hel._ And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd, Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again. Go, go, provide. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

Marseilles. A street.] Capell. The Court of France. Pope.

[3] _you have_] _you've_ Pope.

[6] Enter a Gentleman.] Rowe. Enter a gentle Astringer. F1. Enter a gentle Astranger. F2. Enter a Gentleman a stranger. F3 F4.

[16] _virtues_] _virtue_ S. Walker conj.

[29] _I do_] _I_ Hanmer.

[35] _make us means._] _make us._ Anon. conj.

[36-38] Printed as prose in Ff. First as verse by Pope.

## SCENE II. _Rousillon._ _Before the_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Enter_ Clown, _and_ PAROLLES, _following_.

_Par._ Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure. 5

_Clo._ Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.

_Par._ Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor. 10

_Clo._ Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get thee further.

_Par._ Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

_Clo._ Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's 15 close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.

_Enter_ LAFEU.

Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray 20 you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship. [_Exit._

_Par._ My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly 25 scratched.

_Laf._ And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive 30 long under her? There's a quart d'écu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.

_Par._ I beseech your honour to hear me one single word. 35

_Laf._ You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.

_Par._ My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

_Laf._ You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum? 40

_Par._ O my good lord, you were the first that found me!

_Laf._ Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.

_Par._ It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, 45 for you did bring me out.

_Laf._ Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out. [_Trumpets sound._] The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire 50 further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow.

_Par._ I praise God for you. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

## SCENE II. Before ... palace.] Edd. Inner-court of the palace. Capell.

following.] Capell. ill-favoured. Collier MS.

[1] _Monsieur_] _Mr_ Ff. _Lavache_] Edd. (Tollet conj.).

_Lavatch_ Ff. _Lapatch_ Jervis conj.

[4] _mood_] _moat_ Theobald. See note (XVII).

[10] _spake_] F1. _speake_ F2. _speak_ F3 F4.

[12] _or against_] _against_ Theobald.

[18] _Here_] Clo. _Here_ Ff.

_purr_] _purre_ F1 F2 F3. _pur_ F4. _puss_ Mason conj.

_or of_] _or_ Warburton.

[19] _musk-cat_] Theobald. _Muscat_ Ff. _mouse-cat_ Anon. conj.

_has_] _hath_ Pope.

[22] _ingenious_] _ingenuous_ Anon. conj.

[23] _similes_] Theobald (Warburton). _smiles_ Ff.

[31] _under her?_] F2 F3 F4. _under?_ F1.

_quart'd'écu_] Pope. _cardecue_ Ff.

[36] _You_] _If you_ Anon. conj.

[39] _'word'_] _word_ F1 F2. _one word_ F3 F4. _a word Collier_ (Egerton MS.).

[45] _lies in you_] _lies on you_ Capell.

[49] [Trumpets sound.] Sound trumpets. Theobald, om. Ff.

## SCENE III. _Rousillon. The_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Flourish. Enter_ KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, _the two_ French Lords, _with_ Attendants.

_King._ We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know Her estimation home.

_Count._ 'Tis past, my liege; And I beseech your majesty to make it 5 Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth; When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, O'erbears it and burns on.

_King._ My honour'd lady, I have forgiven and forgotten all; Though my revenges were high bent upon him, 10 And watch'd the time to shoot.

_Laf._ This I must say, But first I beg my pardon, the young lord Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady Offence of mighty note; but to himself The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife 15 Whose beauty did astonish the survey Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve Humbly call'd mistress.

_King._ Praising what is lost Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither; 20 We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill All repetition: let him not ask our pardon; The nature of his great offence is dead, And deeper than oblivion we do bury The incensing relics of it: let him approach, 25 A stranger, no offender; and inform him So 'tis our will he should.

_Gent._ I shall, my liege. [_Exit._

_King._ What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?

_Laf._ All that he is hath reference to your highness.

_King._ Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me 30 That set him high in fame.

_Enter_ BERTRAM.

_Laf._ He looks well on't.

_King._ I am not a day of season, For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail In me at once: but to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth; 35 The time is fair again.

_Ber._ My high-repented blames, Dear sovereign, pardon to me.

_King._ All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Let's take the instant by the forward top; For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees 40 The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time Steals ere we can effect them. You remember The daughter of this lord?

_Ber._ Admiringly, my liege, at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart 45 Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue: Where the impression of mine eye infixing, Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, Which warp'd the line of every other favour; Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen; 50 Extended or contracted all proportions To a most hideous object: thence it came That she whom all men praised and whom myself, Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye The dust that did offend it.

_King._ Well excused: 55 That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away From the great compt: but love that comes too late. Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, To the great sender turns a sour offence, Crying 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults 60 Make trivial price of serious things we have, Not knowing them until we know their grave: Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, Destroy our friends and after weep their dust: Our own love waking cries to see what's done, 65 While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon. Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: The main consents are had; and here we'll stay To see our widower's second marriage-day. 70

_Count._ Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless! Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!

_Laf._ Come on, my son, in whom my house's name Must be digested, give a favour from you To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, 75 That she may quickly come. [_Bertram gives a ring._] By my old beard, And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this, The last that e'er I took her leave at court, I saw upon her finger.

_Ber._ Hers it was not. 80

_King._ Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood Necessitied to help, that by this token 85 I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most?

_Ber._ My gracious sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never hers.

_Count._ Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it 90 At her life's rate.

_Laf._ I am sure I saw her wear it.

_Ber._ You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it: In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought 95 I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully I could not answer in that course of honour As she had made the overture, she ceased In heavy satisfaction and would never 100 Receive the ring again.

_King._ Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Hath not in nature's mystery more science Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know 105 That you are well acquainted with yourself, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety That she would never put it from her finger, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, 110 Where you have never come, or sent it us Upon her great disaster.

_Ber._ She never saw it.

_King._ Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; And makest conjectural fears to come into me, Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove 115 That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;-- And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly, And she is dead; which nothing, but to close Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, More than to see this ring. Take him away. 120 [_Guards seize Bertram._

My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him! We'll sift this matter further.

_Ber._ If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy 125 Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was. [_Exit, guarded._

_King._ I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

_Enter a Gentleman._

_Gent._ Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not: Here's a petition from a Florentine, 130 Who hath for four or five removes come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know Is here attending: her business looks in her 135 With an importing visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself.

_King._ [_reads_] Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the 140 Count Rousillon a widower: his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: grant it me, O king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPILET. 145

_Laf._ I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for this: I 'll none of him.

_King._ The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors: Go speedily and bring again the count. 150 I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd.

_Count._ Now, justice on the doers!

_Re-enter_ BERTRAM, _guarded_.

_King._ I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you, And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, Yet you desire to marry.

_Enter_ Widow _and_ DIANA.

What woman's that? 155

_Dia._ I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capilet: My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied.

_Wid._ I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour 160 Both suffer under this complaint we bring, And both shall cease, without your remedy.

_King._ Come hither, count; do you know these women?

_Ber._ My lord, I neither can nor will deny But that I know them: do they charge me further? 165

_Dia._ Why do you look so strange upon your wife?

_Ber._ She's none of mine, my lord.

_Dia._ If you shall marry, You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; You give away myself, which is known mine; 170 For I by vow am so embodied yours, That she which marries you must marry me, Either both or none.

_Laf._ Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you are no husband for her. 175

_Ber._ My lord, this a fond and desperate creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour Than for to think that I would sink it here.

_King._ Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend 180 Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour Than in my thought it lies.

_Dia._ Good my lord, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think He had not my virginity.

_King._ What say'st thou to her?

_Ber._ She's impudent, my lord, 185 And was a common gamester to the camp.

_Dia._ He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, He might have bought me at a common price: Do not believe him. O, behold this ring, Whose high respect and rich validity 190 Did lack a parallel; yet for all that He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, If I be one.