By any token of presumptuous fuit:
Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him;
Yet never know, how that defert shall be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible fieve,
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,

Religious in mine error, I adore

The fun that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more. My dearest Madam,

A

Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do; but if yourself,
Whofe aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever in so true a flame of liking

Wish chaftly, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love; O then give pity
To her, whose state is such, that cannot chuse
But lend, and give, where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that which search implies;
But riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.

Count. Had you not lately an intent, speak truly To go to Parisito

Hel. Madam, I had.
Count. Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear.
You know, now, my father left me some prescriptions
Of rare and prov'd effects; fuch as his reading
And manifest experience had collected

For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me,
In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them, i
As notes, whose faculties inclusive were,
More than they were in note: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approv'd, fet down,
To cure the desperate languishings whereof
The King is render'd loft.

Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak?
Hel. My Lord your fon made me to think of this;

Elfe Paris, and the medicine, and the King,
Had from the conversation of my thoughts
Haply been absent then.

Count. But think you, Helen,

If you should tender your supposed aid,

VOL. III.

C

He

He would receive it? He and his physicians
Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him;
They, that they cannot help. How shall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

Hel. There's fomething hints

More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st Of his profeffion), that his good receipt

Shall for my legacy be fanctified

By th' luckiest stars in heav'n; and, would your Honour But give me leave to try success, I'd venture

The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's cure,

By fuch a day and hour.

Count. Doft thou believe't?

Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly.

Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and

love;

Means and attendants; and my loving greetings
To those of mine in court. I'll stay at home,

And pray God's blessing into thy attempt:

Begone, to-morrow; and be fure of this,

What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss.

১

A

ACT II.

[Exeunt.

SCENEI.

The court of France.

Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles.

diples

: these warlike prin

Do not throw from you: you, my Lords, farewel;

Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain,

The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,

And is enough for both.

1 Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir,

After well-enter'd foldiers, to return

And find your Grace in health.

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

A 11

Will not confess it owns the malady
That doth my life befiege: farewel, young Lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the fons
Of worthy Frenchmen; let higher Italy *
(Those 'bated that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy †) fee, that you come
Not to woo Honour, but to wed it; when
The bravest questant shrinks, find what you feek,
That fame may cry you aloud: I fay, farewel.

2 Lord. Health at your bidding serve your Majesty! King. Those girls of Italy,-take heed of them;

They fay, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you ferve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.
King. Farewel, Come hither to me. To attendants.
[Exit.

I Lord. Oh, my sweet Lord, that you will stay be

hind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark

2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars.

A

Par. Most admirable; I have seen those wars.. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early.Par. An thy mind stand to it, boy, steal away

bravely.

Ber. Shall I stay here the forehorse to a smock,

*The ancient geographers have divided Italy into the Higher and the Lower, the Appennine hills being a kind of natural line of parti. tion. The fide next the Adriatic was denominated the Higher Italy, and the other fide the Lower. And the two feas followed the fame. terms of distinction; the Adriatic being called the Upper Sea and the Tyrrhene or Tuscan the Lower. Now, the Sennores, of Senois, with whom the Florentines are here supposed to be at war, inhabited the Higher Italy, their chief town being Ariminum, now called Rimini, upon the Adriatic.

+ Italy, at the time of this scene, was under three very different tenures. The emperor, as fuccessor of the Roman Emperors, had one part; the pope, by a pretended donation from Constantine, another part, and the third was composed of free ftates. Now, by the last monarchy is meant the Roman, the last of the four general monarchies. Upon the fall of this monarchy, in the scramble, feveral cities fet up for themselves, and cecanie free flates; now, there might be said properly

to inherit the fad of the monarchy.

C2

:

Creeking

Creeking my shoes on the plain masonry,

Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? By heav'n I'll steal away. 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par. Commit it, Count.

2 Lord. I am your accessary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd

body.

I Lord. Farewel, Captain.

2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles!

17

f

1

Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good sparks and lustrous. A word, good metals. You Thall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one Captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very sword intrench'd it; say to him, I live, and observe his reports of me.. 2 Lord. We shall, noble Captain.

Par. Mars doat on you for his novices? what will

ye do?

Ber. Stay; the King[Exeunt Lords. Par. Ufe a more specious ceremony to the Noble Lords, you have restrain'd yourself within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expressive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there to mufter true gate, eat, speak, and move under the in fluence of the most receiv'd ftar: and tho' the devil lead the meafure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel.

Ber. And I will do fo.

Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy sword-men.

SCENE II. Enter the King and Lafeu.

Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up.

Laf. Then here's a man stands that hath bought his

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 would I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And alk'd thee mercy for't.

Laf Laf. Goodfaith, across:

but, my good Lord, 'tis

Will you be cur'd of your infirmity?

King No.

[thus

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

Yes; but you will, an if

1

My Royal fox could reach them: I have feen a medi

That's able to breathe life into a stone;'

[cine*,

Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary
With sprighly fire and motion; whose simple touch

Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,

To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,
And write to her a love-line.

King. What her is this?

Laf. Why, doctor-she; my Lord, there's one arriv'd, If you will fee her. Now, by my faith and honour, If feriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that in her fex, her years, professiont, Wisdom, and conftancy, hath amaz'd me more Than I dare blame my weakness! will you fee her, For that is her demand, and know her business That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration, that we with theesh
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,
By wondering how thou took'ft it.

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither.

[Exit Lafeu.

King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

Laf. [Returns.] Nay, come your ways.

[Bringing in Helena.

King. This hafte hath wings indeed.

Laf. Nay, come your ways,

J

This is his Majesty, say your mind to him;
A traitor you do look like; but fuch traitors
His Majesty feldom fears; I'm Creffid's uncle,
That dare leave two together: fare you well. [Exit.