ACT II.

[Scene iii.]Scene vi.Pope.[1]hear; what say you]Theobald.heare, what say youFf.hear what you sayCapell.gentlewoman?]F4.gentlewoman.F1 F2 F3.[3]even]winCollier conj.[6]foul]outRowe (ed. 2).[10]'tis]it isS. Walker conj., reading lines 9-12 as verse, endingcomplaints ... believe ... them ... make ... yours.[12]yours]yareWarburton conj.[13]I am]that I amCapell.[17]may have]F1.haveF2 F3 F4.[18]to go to]to go intoLong MS.[18, 19]the woman]your womanGrant White.[19]and I will]F2 F3 F4.and w willF1.and we willCollier.[25]o']Rowe (ed. 2).aFf.ofRann.barnes]F1.bearnsF2.barnsF3 F4.[38]out o']Capell.out aF1 F2 F3.out ofF4.[41]You're]Capell.Y'areFf.You areSteevens.madam, in]madam; e'enHanmer.madam, myTyrwhitt conj.[42]aweary]wearyRowe.[43]to in]F4.to InneF1 F2 F3.[46]cherishes]F1.cherishethF2 F3 F4.[50]Charbon ... Poysam]See note (iii).howsome'er]how somereF1 F2.howsomeereF3.howsomereF4.howsoe'erPope.[57-60]For I ... kind]Printed as verse first in Rowe (ed. 2).[66]the cause, quoth she]quoth she, the causeCollier (Collier MS.).[68]Fond done, done fond]omitted by Pope.[68, 69]done find ... joy?]done, fond ... joy,F1 F2.fond done;—for Paris he ... joy.Theobald (Warburton).fond done! but Paris he ... joy,Capell conj.done fond, good sooth, it was: ... joy?Collier (Collier MS.).For it undone, undone, quoth he, ... joy.Rann (Heath conj.).[70, 71]With ... stood]With ... stood,bis. Ff (bis in italics).[71]Omitted by Pope.][72-75]And gave ... ten]Printed first as verse in Rowe (ed. 2).[73, 74]one]noneCapell conj.[74]Omitted by Pope.][78]a]F1 F2.theF3 F4.[79]o' the]Capell.o' th'Rowe (ed. 2).ath'F1 F2.a'thF3 F4.song]song and mending of the sexCollier (Collier MS.o' the).[82]one]Collier (Collier MS.).oreF1 F2.o'reF3 F4.o'erRowe. om. Pope.orCapell.onRann.ereCollier (ed. 1).forHarness.'foreStaunton.atHalliwell conj.[83]well]wheelMalone conj.draw]prayRowe.[84]a']heRowe (ed. 2).[86]you.]Pope,you?Ff.[87]woman's]F1.a woman'sF2 F3 F4.[87, 88]and yet]F1 F2.and getF3 F4.[88]no puritan]a puritanRann. (Tyrwhitt conj.).[89]do no hurt]do what is enjoinedMalone conj.[96]advantage]advantagesRowe.[105]would]shouldCapell.not]om. Long MS.might, only]F4.might onelie,F1 F2.might onelyF3.[106]level; ... queen]levell, QueeneF1 F2.levell: QueenF3F4.level: Complain'd against the QueenRowe.level; Diana no queenTheobald.See note (iv).[107]knight]sprightWarburton conj.surprised]to be surpris'dRowe.[107, 108]without rescue in the first assault,]in the first assault, without rescueCapell.[109]virgin]a virginPope.[110]held]held itRowe.[113]honestly]honestyF3 F4.[115]neither]F1.neverF2 F3 F4.[118]Enter H.]Enter Hellen. Ff. Enter H. Singer (after line 126).See note (v).[119]Scene vii.Pope.Even] Old Cou.EvenFf.[120]ever]om. Pope.e'erEdd. conj.[126]Such were our faults, or]Ff.Such-were our faults, tho'Hanmer.Such were our faults,—O!Johnson (Warburton conj.).Search we out faults, forCollier MS.then ... them]them ... thenStaunton.[128]You know, Helen]Helen, you knowPope.[130, 131]Nay ... said 'a mother']As one line in Ff.[131]said 'a mother']said motherF3 F4.[133]I am]Ff.I'mPope.[137]seeds]soilAnon. conj.[143]The]ThisS. Walker conj.eye]eyesPope.[144]Why?]—Why, Ff.Why,— Rowe.are]artF2.[151]mother?]Rowe (ed. 2).mother.Ff.[155]I care ... heaven]I cannot ask for more than that of heav'nHanmer.I can no more fear, than I do fear heav'nWarburton.I cannot more fear than I do fear heav'nHeath conj.I'd care no more for't than I do for heavenCapell.I care would ... heaven or I crave would ... heavenMason conj.I care no more for than you do, 'fore heavenBecker conj. [Aside]I care no more for than I do for heavenStaunton conj.[156, 157]Can't no other, But I ... he ... brother?]Theobald.Cant no other, But I ... he ... brother.Ff.Can't no other? But I ... he ... brother.Pope.Can't be no other Way I ... but he ... brother?Hanmer.[162]loneliness]Theobald.lovelinessFf.lowlinessHall conj.livelinessBecket conj.[168]th' one to th']Knight.'ton tooth to th'F1.'ton to th'F2.'tone to th'F3 F4.one to th'Rowe.[169]it]it isF2.behaviours]behaviourF3 F4.[173]you have]you'vePope.[175]thine]F1.mineF2 F3 F4.[176]truly]trueHanmer.[180]disclose]F3 F4.disclose:F1 F2.[184]heaven]F1.heavensF2 F3 F4.[184, 185]That ... son]As in Pope. Printed as one line in Ff.[193]captious]cariousJohnson conj.cap'ciousFarmer conj.copiousJackson conj.intenible]intemibleF1.inteemibleNicholson conj.[194]waters]waterRowe.[195]lose]F4.looseF1 F2 F3.loveTyrwhitt conj.[202]liking]F1.livingF2.lovingF3 F4.[203]Wish ... dearly]Love dearly and wish chastelyMalone conj.[205]that]sheHanmer.[207]her]F1. om. F2 F3 F4.whichRowe.[210]tell true]om. Steevens conj.[211]tell truth]F1.tell trueF2 F3 F4.tell you trueCapell (corrected in note).[214]manifest]manifoldCollier (Long MS.).[220]languishingsFf.languishesReed (1803).[226]Haply]Pope.HappilyFf.[229]that they cannot help him]that he can't be help'dHanmer.that they cannot helpCapell conj.that they cannot heal himS. Walker conj.[230]cannot help]can't help himCapell conj.cannot cureBailey conj.[233]in't]hintsHanmer (Warburton).[237]By the]Byth'F1 F2 F3.By th'F4.[238]to try]F1.toF2 F3 F4.for theRowe.[239]The]ThisHanmer.on his]on'sS. Walker conj.[240]and]anF1.[243]attendants]attendanceS. Walker conj.[245]into]F1 F2.untoF3 F4.uponHanmer.[246]Be gone]F3 F4.BegonF1 F2.

[Scene iii.]Scene vi.Pope.

[1]hear; what say you]Theobald.heare, what say youFf.hear what you sayCapell.

gentlewoman?]F4.gentlewoman.F1 F2 F3.

[3]even]winCollier conj.

[6]foul]outRowe (ed. 2).

[10]'tis]it isS. Walker conj., reading lines 9-12 as verse, endingcomplaints ... believe ... them ... make ... yours.

[12]yours]yareWarburton conj.

[13]I am]that I amCapell.

[17]may have]F1.haveF2 F3 F4.

[18]to go to]to go intoLong MS.

[18, 19]the woman]your womanGrant White.

[19]and I will]F2 F3 F4.and w willF1.and we willCollier.

[25]o']Rowe (ed. 2).aFf.ofRann.

barnes]F1.bearnsF2.barnsF3 F4.

[38]out o']Capell.out aF1 F2 F3.out ofF4.

[41]You're]Capell.Y'areFf.You areSteevens.

madam, in]madam; e'enHanmer.madam, myTyrwhitt conj.

[42]aweary]wearyRowe.

[43]to in]F4.to InneF1 F2 F3.

[46]cherishes]F1.cherishethF2 F3 F4.

[50]Charbon ... Poysam]See note (iii).

howsome'er]how somereF1 F2.howsomeereF3.howsomereF4.howsoe'erPope.

[57-60]For I ... kind]Printed as verse first in Rowe (ed. 2).

[66]the cause, quoth she]quoth she, the causeCollier (Collier MS.).

[68]Fond done, done fond]omitted by Pope.

[68, 69]done find ... joy?]done, fond ... joy,F1 F2.fond done;—for Paris he ... joy.Theobald (Warburton).fond done! but Paris he ... joy,Capell conj.done fond, good sooth, it was: ... joy?Collier (Collier MS.).For it undone, undone, quoth he, ... joy.Rann (Heath conj.).

[70, 71]With ... stood]With ... stood,bis. Ff (bis in italics).

[71]Omitted by Pope.]

[72-75]And gave ... ten]Printed first as verse in Rowe (ed. 2).

[73, 74]one]noneCapell conj.

[74]Omitted by Pope.]

[78]a]F1 F2.theF3 F4.

[79]o' the]Capell.o' th'Rowe (ed. 2).ath'F1 F2.a'thF3 F4.

song]song and mending of the sexCollier (Collier MS.o' the).

[82]one]Collier (Collier MS.).oreF1 F2.o'reF3 F4.o'erRowe. om. Pope.orCapell.onRann.ereCollier (ed. 1).forHarness.'foreStaunton.atHalliwell conj.

[83]well]wheelMalone conj.

draw]prayRowe.

[84]a']heRowe (ed. 2).

[86]you.]Pope,you?Ff.

[87]woman's]F1.a woman'sF2 F3 F4.

[87, 88]and yet]F1 F2.and getF3 F4.

[88]no puritan]a puritanRann. (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[89]do no hurt]do what is enjoinedMalone conj.

[96]advantage]advantagesRowe.

[105]would]shouldCapell.

not]om. Long MS.

might, only]F4.might onelie,F1 F2.might onelyF3.

[106]level; ... queen]levell, QueeneF1 F2.levell: QueenF3F4.level: Complain'd against the QueenRowe.level; Diana no queenTheobald.See note (iv).

[107]knight]sprightWarburton conj.

surprised]to be surpris'dRowe.

[107, 108]without rescue in the first assault,]in the first assault, without rescueCapell.

[109]virgin]a virginPope.

[110]held]held itRowe.

[113]honestly]honestyF3 F4.

[115]neither]F1.neverF2 F3 F4.

[118]Enter H.]Enter Hellen. Ff. Enter H. Singer (after line 126).See note (v).

[119]Scene vii.Pope.

Even] Old Cou.EvenFf.

[120]ever]om. Pope.e'erEdd. conj.

[126]Such were our faults, or]Ff.Such-were our faults, tho'Hanmer.Such were our faults,—O!Johnson (Warburton conj.).Search we out faults, forCollier MS.

then ... them]them ... thenStaunton.

[128]You know, Helen]Helen, you knowPope.

[130, 131]Nay ... said 'a mother']As one line in Ff.

[131]said 'a mother']said motherF3 F4.

[133]I am]Ff.I'mPope.

[137]seeds]soilAnon. conj.

[143]The]ThisS. Walker conj.

eye]eyesPope.

[144]Why?]—Why, Ff.Why,— Rowe.

are]artF2.

[151]mother?]Rowe (ed. 2).mother.Ff.

[155]I care ... heaven]I cannot ask for more than that of heav'nHanmer.I can no more fear, than I do fear heav'nWarburton.I cannot more fear than I do fear heav'nHeath conj.I'd care no more for't than I do for heavenCapell.I care would ... heaven or I crave would ... heavenMason conj.I care no more for than you do, 'fore heavenBecker conj. [Aside]I care no more for than I do for heavenStaunton conj.

[156, 157]Can't no other, But I ... he ... brother?]Theobald.Cant no other, But I ... he ... brother.Ff.Can't no other? But I ... he ... brother.Pope.Can't be no other Way I ... but he ... brother?Hanmer.

[162]loneliness]Theobald.lovelinessFf.lowlinessHall conj.livelinessBecket conj.

[168]th' one to th']Knight.'ton tooth to th'F1.'ton to th'F2.'tone to th'F3 F4.one to th'Rowe.

[169]it]it isF2.

behaviours]behaviourF3 F4.

[173]you have]you'vePope.

[175]thine]F1.mineF2 F3 F4.

[176]truly]trueHanmer.

[180]disclose]F3 F4.disclose:F1 F2.

[184]heaven]F1.heavensF2 F3 F4.

[184, 185]That ... son]As in Pope. Printed as one line in Ff.

[193]captious]cariousJohnson conj.cap'ciousFarmer conj.copiousJackson conj.

intenible]intemibleF1.inteemibleNicholson conj.

[194]waters]waterRowe.

[195]lose]F4.looseF1 F2 F3.loveTyrwhitt conj.

[202]liking]F1.livingF2.lovingF3 F4.

[203]Wish ... dearly]Love dearly and wish chastelyMalone conj.

[205]that]sheHanmer.

[207]her]F1. om. F2 F3 F4.whichRowe.

[210]tell true]om. Steevens conj.

[211]tell truth]F1.tell trueF2 F3 F4.tell you trueCapell (corrected in note).

[214]manifest]manifoldCollier (Long MS.).

[220]languishingsFf.languishesReed (1803).

[226]Haply]Pope.HappilyFf.

[229]that they cannot help him]that he can't be help'dHanmer.that they cannot helpCapell conj.that they cannot heal himS. Walker conj.

[230]cannot help]can't help himCapell conj.cannot cureBailey conj.

[233]in't]hintsHanmer (Warburton).

[237]By the]Byth'F1 F2 F3.By th'F4.

[238]to try]F1.toF2 F3 F4.for theRowe.

[239]The]ThisHanmer.

on his]on'sS. Walker conj.

[240]and]anF1.

[243]attendants]attendanceS. Walker conj.

[245]into]F1 F2.untoF3 F4.uponHanmer.

[246]Be gone]F3 F4.BegonF1 F2.

Flourish of cornets.EntertheKing,attended withdiversyoungLordstaking leave for the Florentine war;Bertram,andParolles.

King.Farewell, younglords;these warlike principlesDo not throw from you:and you, my lords, farewell:Share the advice betwixt you; ifboth gain, allThe gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,And is enough for both.5First Lord.'Tisour hope, sir,After well-enter'd soldiers, to returnAnd find your Grace in health.King.No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heartWill not confesshe owesthe malady10That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;Whether I live or die, be you the sonsOf worthy Frenchmen: lethigherItaly,—Thosebatedthat inherit but the fallOf the last monarchy,—see that you come15Not to woo honour, but towed it; whenThe bravestquestantshrinks, find what you seek,That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.Sec. Lord.Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!King.Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:20They say, our French lack language to deny,If they demand: beware of being captives,Before you serve.Both.Our hearts receive your warnings.King.Farewell.Come hither to me.[Exit.First Lord.O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!Par.'Tis not hisfault, the spark.25Sec. Lord.O, 'tis brave wars!Par.Most admirable: I have seen those wars.Ber.I am commanded here, and kepta coilwith'Too young,'and 'the next year,' and ''tis too early.'Par.An thy mind stand to't, boy,steal away bravely.30Ber.I shall stayhere the forehorse to a smock,Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,Till honour be bought up, and no sword wornBut one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.First Lord.There's honour in the theft.Par.Commit it, count.35Sec. Lord.I am your accessary; and so, farewell.Ber.I grow to you, and ourparting is a tortured body.First Lord.Farewell,captain.Sec. Lord.Sweet Monsieur Parolles!Par.Noble heroes, my sword andyoursare kin. Good40sparks and lustrous,a word, good metals: you shall findin the regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio,with hiscicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; itwas this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; andobserve his reportsforme.45First Lord.We shall, noble captain.[Exeunt Lords.Par.Mars dote on you for hisnovices! what will ye do?Ber.Stay: the king.Re-enterKing.Par.[Aside to Ber.]Use a more spacious ceremony tothe noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list50of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them: for theywear themselves in the cap of the time,there do mustertruegait,eat, speak, andmoveunder the influence of the most receivedstar; and though the devil lead the measure, such areto be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.55Ber.And I will do so.Par.Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewysword-men.[Exeunt Bertram and Parolles.EnterLafeu.Laf.[Kneeling]Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.King.I'll feethee tostand up.60Laf.Then here's a man stands, thathasbroughthis pardon.I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy;And that at my bidding you could so stand up.King.I wouldI had; so I had broke thy pate,And ask'd theemercy for't.65Laf.Good faith,across: but, my good lord, 'tis thus;Will you be cured of your infirmity?King.No.Laf.O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?Yes, but you willmy noble grapes, an if70My royal fox could reach them: I haveseen a medicineThat's able to breathe life into a stone,Quicken a rock, and make you dance canaryWith spritely fire and motion; whose simple touchIs powerful toaraiseKingPepin, nay,75To givegreat Charlemain a penin'shand,And writeto her a love-line.King.What 'her' is this?Laf.Why,Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,If seriously I mayconveymy thoughts80In this my light deliverance, I have spokeWith one that, in her sex, her years, profession,Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me moreThanI dareblamemy weakness: will you see her,For that is her demand, and know her business?That done, laugh well at me.85King.Now, good Lafeu,Bring in the admiration; that we with theeMay spend our wonder too, or take off thineBy wondering how thou took'st it.Laf.Nay, I'll fit you,And not be all day neither.[Exit.90King.Thus he his specialnothingever prologues.Re-enterLafeu,withHelena.Laf.Nay, come your ways.King.This haste hath wings indeed.Laf.Nay, come your ways;This is his majesty, say your mind to him:A traitor you do look like; but such traitors95His majesty seldom fears:I amCressid's uncle,That dare leave two together; fare you well.[Exit.King.Now, fair one, does your business follow us?Hel.Ay, my good lord.Gerard de Narbonwas my father;Inwhat he did profess, well found.100King.I knew him.Hel.The rather will I spare mypraisestowards him;Knowing him is enough.On'sbed of deathManyreceiptshe gave me; chiefly one,Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,105And of his old experiencetheonly darling,He bade me store up, as a triple eye,Safer than mine owntwo, more dear; I have so:And, hearing your high majesty is touch'dWith that malignant cause, wherein thehonour110Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,I come to tender it and my appliance,With all bound humbleness.King.We thank you, maiden;But may not be so credulous of cure,When our most learned doctors leave us, and115The congregated college have concludedThat labouring art can neverransomnatureFrom herinaidible estate; I saywe must notSostainour judgement, or corrupt our hope.To prostitute our past-cure malady120To empirics, or to dissever soOur great self and our credit, to esteemA senseless help, when help past sense we deem.Hel.My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains:I will no more enforcemineoffice on you;125Humbly entreating from your royal thoughtsA modest one, to bear me back again.King.I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I giveAs one near death to those that wish him live:130But, what at full I know, thou know'st no part;I knowing all my peril, thou no art.Hel.What I can do can do no hurt to try,Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedyHe that of greatest works is finisher,135Oft does them by the weakest minister:So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown,When judges have been babes; great floods have flownFrom simple sources; and great seas have dried,Whenmiracles have by the greatestbeen denied.140Oft expectation fails, and most oft thereWhere most it promises; and oft it hitsWhere hope is coldest, and despair mostfits.King.I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:145Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.Hel.Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:It is not so with Him that all things knows,As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;But most it is presumption in us when150The help of heaven we count the act of men.Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.I am not animpostor, that proclaimMyself against the level of mine aim;155But know I think, and think I know most sure,My art is not past power, nor you past cure.King.Art thou so confident? within what spaceHopest thou my cure?Hel.The great'st grace lendinggrace,Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring160Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;Ere twice in murk and occidental dampMoist Hesperus hath quench'dhissleepy lamp;Or four and twenty times the pilot's glassHath told the thievish minutes how they pass;165What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.King.Upon thy certainty and confidenceWhat darest thou venture?Hel.Tax of impudence,A strumpet's boldness, a divulgedshame170Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's nameSear'd otherwise, ne worse ofworst extended,With vilest torture let my life be ended.King.Methinks in thee some blessed spirit dothspeakHis powerful soundwithinan organ weak:175And what impossibility would slayIn common sense, sense saves another way.Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rateWorth name of life, in thee hath estimate,Youth, beauty, wisdom,courage, all180That happinessand primecan happy call:Thou this to hazard needs must intimateSkill infinite or monstrous desperate.Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,That ministers thine own death if I die.185Hel.If I break time, or flinch in propertyOf what I spoke, unpitied let me die,And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;But, if I help, what do you promise me?King.Make thy demand.Hel.But will you make it even?190King.Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes ofheaven.Hel.Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly handWhat husband in thy power I will command:Exempted be from me the arroganceTo choose from forth the royal blood of France,195My low and humble name to propagateWith any branch orimageof thy state;But such a one, thy vassal, whom I knowIs free for me to ask, thee to bestow.King.Here is my hand; the premises observed,200Thy will by my performance shall be served:Somake thechoice ofthyown time; for I,Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.More should I question thee, and more I must,Though more to know could not be more to trust,205From whence thou camest, how tended on: but restUnquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceedAs high as word, my deed shall matchthy deed.[Flourish. Exeunt.

King.Farewell, younglords;these warlike principles

Do not throw from you:and you, my lords, farewell:

Share the advice betwixt you; ifboth gain, all

The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,

And is enough for both.

5First Lord.'Tisour hope, sir,After well-enter'd soldiers, to returnAnd find your Grace in health.

First Lord.'Tisour hope, sir,

After well-enter'd soldiers, to return

And find your Grace in health.

King.No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heartWill not confesshe owesthe malady10That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;Whether I live or die, be you the sonsOf worthy Frenchmen: lethigherItaly,—Thosebatedthat inherit but the fallOf the last monarchy,—see that you come15Not to woo honour, but towed it; whenThe bravestquestantshrinks, find what you seek,That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

King.No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart

Will not confesshe owesthe malady

That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;

Whether I live or die, be you the sons

Of worthy Frenchmen: lethigherItaly,—

Thosebatedthat inherit but the fall

Of the last monarchy,—see that you come

Not to woo honour, but towed it; when

The bravestquestantshrinks, find what you seek,

That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

Sec. Lord.Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!King.Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:20They say, our French lack language to deny,If they demand: beware of being captives,Before you serve.

Sec. Lord.Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!

King.Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:

They say, our French lack language to deny,

If they demand: beware of being captives,

Before you serve.

Both.Our hearts receive your warnings.

King.Farewell.Come hither to me.[Exit.

First Lord.O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!

Par.'Tis not hisfault, the spark.

25Sec. Lord.O, 'tis brave wars!

Sec. Lord.O, 'tis brave wars!

Par.Most admirable: I have seen those wars.

Ber.I am commanded here, and kepta coilwith'Too young,'and 'the next year,' and ''tis too early.'

Ber.I am commanded here, and kepta coilwith

'Too young,'and 'the next year,' and ''tis too early.'

Par.An thy mind stand to't, boy,steal away bravely.

30Ber.I shall stayhere the forehorse to a smock,Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,Till honour be bought up, and no sword wornBut one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.

Ber.I shall stayhere the forehorse to a smock,

Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,

Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn

But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.

First Lord.There's honour in the theft.

Par.Commit it, count.

35Sec. Lord.I am your accessary; and so, farewell.

Sec. Lord.I am your accessary; and so, farewell.

Ber.I grow to you, and ourparting is a tortured body.

First Lord.Farewell,captain.

Sec. Lord.Sweet Monsieur Parolles!

Par.Noble heroes, my sword andyoursare kin. Good40sparks and lustrous,a word, good metals: you shall findin the regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio,with hiscicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; itwas this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; andobserve his reportsforme.

Par.Noble heroes, my sword andyoursare kin. Good

sparks and lustrous,a word, good metals: you shall find

in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio,with his

cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it

was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; and

observe his reportsforme.

45First Lord.We shall, noble captain.[Exeunt Lords.

First Lord.We shall, noble captain.[Exeunt Lords.

Par.Mars dote on you for hisnovices! what will ye do?

Ber.Stay: the king.

Re-enterKing.

Par.[Aside to Ber.]Use a more spacious ceremony tothe noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list50of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them: for theywear themselves in the cap of the time,there do mustertruegait,eat, speak, andmoveunder the influence of the most receivedstar; and though the devil lead the measure, such areto be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.

Par.[Aside to Ber.]Use a more spacious ceremony to

the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list

of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them: for they

wear themselves in the cap of the time,there do mustertrue

gait,eat, speak, andmoveunder the influence of the most received

star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are

to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.

55Ber.And I will do so.

Ber.And I will do so.

Par.Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewysword-men.[Exeunt Bertram and Parolles.

Par.Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy

sword-men.[Exeunt Bertram and Parolles.

EnterLafeu.

Laf.[Kneeling]Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.

King.I'll feethee tostand up.

60Laf.Then here's a man stands, thathasbroughthis pardon.I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy;And that at my bidding you could so stand up.

Laf.Then here's a man stands, thathasbroughthis pardon.

I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy;

And that at my bidding you could so stand up.

King.I wouldI had; so I had broke thy pate,And ask'd theemercy for't.

King.I wouldI had; so I had broke thy pate,

And ask'd theemercy for't.

65Laf.Good faith,across: but, my good lord, 'tis thus;Will you be cured of your infirmity?

Laf.Good faith,across: but, my good lord, 'tis thus;

Will you be cured of your infirmity?

King.No.

Laf.O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?Yes, but you willmy noble grapes, an if70My royal fox could reach them: I haveseen a medicineThat's able to breathe life into a stone,Quicken a rock, and make you dance canaryWith spritely fire and motion; whose simple touchIs powerful toaraiseKingPepin, nay,75To givegreat Charlemain a penin'shand,And writeto her a love-line.

Laf.O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?

Yes, but you willmy noble grapes, an if

My royal fox could reach them: I haveseen a medicine

That's able to breathe life into a stone,

Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary

With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch

Is powerful toaraiseKingPepin, nay,

To givegreat Charlemain a penin'shand,

And writeto her a love-line.

King.What 'her' is this?

Laf.Why,Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,If seriously I mayconveymy thoughts80In this my light deliverance, I have spokeWith one that, in her sex, her years, profession,Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me moreThanI dareblamemy weakness: will you see her,For that is her demand, and know her business?That done, laugh well at me.

Laf.Why,Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,

If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,

If seriously I mayconveymy thoughts

In this my light deliverance, I have spoke

With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,

Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more

ThanI dareblamemy weakness: will you see her,

For that is her demand, and know her business?

That done, laugh well at me.

85King.Now, good Lafeu,Bring in the admiration; that we with theeMay spend our wonder too, or take off thineBy wondering how thou took'st it.

King.Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration; that we with thee

May spend our wonder too, or take off thine

By wondering how thou took'st it.

Laf.Nay, I'll fit you,And not be all day neither.[Exit.

Laf.Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither.[Exit.

90King.Thus he his specialnothingever prologues.

King.Thus he his specialnothingever prologues.

Re-enterLafeu,withHelena.

Laf.Nay, come your ways.

King.This haste hath wings indeed.

Laf.Nay, come your ways;This is his majesty, say your mind to him:A traitor you do look like; but such traitors95His majesty seldom fears:I amCressid's uncle,That dare leave two together; fare you well.[Exit.

Laf.Nay, come your ways;

This is his majesty, say your mind to him:

A traitor you do look like; but such traitors

His majesty seldom fears:I amCressid's uncle,

That dare leave two together; fare you well.[Exit.

King.Now, fair one, does your business follow us?

Hel.Ay, my good lord.Gerard de Narbonwas my father;Inwhat he did profess, well found.

Hel.Ay, my good lord.

Gerard de Narbonwas my father;

Inwhat he did profess, well found.

100King.I knew him.

King.I knew him.

Hel.The rather will I spare mypraisestowards him;Knowing him is enough.On'sbed of deathManyreceiptshe gave me; chiefly one,Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,105And of his old experiencetheonly darling,He bade me store up, as a triple eye,Safer than mine owntwo, more dear; I have so:And, hearing your high majesty is touch'dWith that malignant cause, wherein thehonour110Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,I come to tender it and my appliance,With all bound humbleness.

Hel.The rather will I spare mypraisestowards him;

Knowing him is enough.On'sbed of death

Manyreceiptshe gave me; chiefly one,

Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,

And of his old experiencetheonly darling,

He bade me store up, as a triple eye,

Safer than mine owntwo, more dear; I have so:

And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd

With that malignant cause, wherein thehonour

Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,

I come to tender it and my appliance,

With all bound humbleness.

King.We thank you, maiden;But may not be so credulous of cure,When our most learned doctors leave us, and115The congregated college have concludedThat labouring art can neverransomnatureFrom herinaidible estate; I saywe must notSostainour judgement, or corrupt our hope.To prostitute our past-cure malady120To empirics, or to dissever soOur great self and our credit, to esteemA senseless help, when help past sense we deem.

King.We thank you, maiden;

But may not be so credulous of cure,

When our most learned doctors leave us, and

The congregated college have concluded

That labouring art can neverransomnature

From herinaidible estate; I saywe must not

Sostainour judgement, or corrupt our hope.

To prostitute our past-cure malady

To empirics, or to dissever so

Our great self and our credit, to esteem

A senseless help, when help past sense we deem.

Hel.My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains:I will no more enforcemineoffice on you;125Humbly entreating from your royal thoughtsA modest one, to bear me back again.

Hel.My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains:

I will no more enforcemineoffice on you;

Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts

A modest one, to bear me back again.

King.I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I giveAs one near death to those that wish him live:130But, what at full I know, thou know'st no part;I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

King.I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:

Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give

As one near death to those that wish him live:

But, what at full I know, thou know'st no part;

I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

Hel.What I can do can do no hurt to try,Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedyHe that of greatest works is finisher,135Oft does them by the weakest minister:So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown,When judges have been babes; great floods have flownFrom simple sources; and great seas have dried,Whenmiracles have by the greatestbeen denied.140Oft expectation fails, and most oft thereWhere most it promises; and oft it hitsWhere hope is coldest, and despair mostfits.

Hel.What I can do can do no hurt to try,

Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy

He that of greatest works is finisher,

Oft does them by the weakest minister:

So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown,

When judges have been babes; great floods have flown

From simple sources; and great seas have dried,

Whenmiracles have by the greatestbeen denied.

Oft expectation fails, and most oft there

Where most it promises; and oft it hits

Where hope is coldest, and despair mostfits.

King.I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:145Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.

King.I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;

Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:

Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.

Hel.Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:It is not so with Him that all things knows,As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;But most it is presumption in us when150The help of heaven we count the act of men.Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.I am not animpostor, that proclaimMyself against the level of mine aim;155But know I think, and think I know most sure,My art is not past power, nor you past cure.

Hel.Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:

It is not so with Him that all things knows,

As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;

But most it is presumption in us when

The help of heaven we count the act of men.

Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;

Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.

I am not animpostor, that proclaim

Myself against the level of mine aim;

But know I think, and think I know most sure,

My art is not past power, nor you past cure.

King.Art thou so confident? within what spaceHopest thou my cure?

King.Art thou so confident? within what space

Hopest thou my cure?

Hel.The great'st grace lendinggrace,Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring160Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;Ere twice in murk and occidental dampMoist Hesperus hath quench'dhissleepy lamp;Or four and twenty times the pilot's glassHath told the thievish minutes how they pass;165What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.

Hel.The great'st grace lendinggrace,

Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring

Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;

Ere twice in murk and occidental damp

Moist Hesperus hath quench'dhissleepy lamp;

Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass

Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass;

What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,

Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.

King.Upon thy certainty and confidenceWhat darest thou venture?

King.Upon thy certainty and confidence

What darest thou venture?

Hel.Tax of impudence,A strumpet's boldness, a divulgedshame170Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's nameSear'd otherwise, ne worse ofworst extended,With vilest torture let my life be ended.

Hel.Tax of impudence,

A strumpet's boldness, a divulgedshame

Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name

Sear'd otherwise, ne worse ofworst extended,

With vilest torture let my life be ended.

King.Methinks in thee some blessed spirit dothspeakHis powerful soundwithinan organ weak:175And what impossibility would slayIn common sense, sense saves another way.Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rateWorth name of life, in thee hath estimate,Youth, beauty, wisdom,courage, all180That happinessand primecan happy call:Thou this to hazard needs must intimateSkill infinite or monstrous desperate.Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,That ministers thine own death if I die.

King.Methinks in thee some blessed spirit dothspeak

His powerful soundwithinan organ weak:

And what impossibility would slay

In common sense, sense saves another way.

Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate

Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate,

Youth, beauty, wisdom,courage, all

That happinessand primecan happy call:

Thou this to hazard needs must intimate

Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.

Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,

That ministers thine own death if I die.

185Hel.If I break time, or flinch in propertyOf what I spoke, unpitied let me die,And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;But, if I help, what do you promise me?

Hel.If I break time, or flinch in property

Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,

And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;

But, if I help, what do you promise me?

King.Make thy demand.

Hel.But will you make it even?

190King.Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes ofheaven.

King.Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes ofheaven.

Hel.Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly handWhat husband in thy power I will command:Exempted be from me the arroganceTo choose from forth the royal blood of France,195My low and humble name to propagateWith any branch orimageof thy state;But such a one, thy vassal, whom I knowIs free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

Hel.Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand

What husband in thy power I will command:

Exempted be from me the arrogance

To choose from forth the royal blood of France,

My low and humble name to propagate

With any branch orimageof thy state;

But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know

Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

King.Here is my hand; the premises observed,200Thy will by my performance shall be served:Somake thechoice ofthyown time; for I,Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.More should I question thee, and more I must,Though more to know could not be more to trust,205From whence thou camest, how tended on: but restUnquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceedAs high as word, my deed shall matchthy deed.[Flourish. Exeunt.

King.Here is my hand; the premises observed,

Thy will by my performance shall be served:

Somake thechoice ofthyown time; for I,

Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.

More should I question thee, and more I must,

Though more to know could not be more to trust,

From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest

Unquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.

Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed

As high as word, my deed shall matchthy deed.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

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