And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he? 2 Gent. Ay, Madam. Count. And to be a foldier? 2 Gent. Such is his noble purpose; and, believe't, The Duke will lay upon him all the honour That good convenience claims. Count. Return you thither? 2.92 1 Gent. Ay, Madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. Hel. Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France. 'Tis bitter. L Count. Find you that there? Hel. Yes, Madam. [Reading. 1 Gent. 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his heart was not confenting to. Count. Nothing in France until he have no wife? There's nothing here that is too good for him, But only the; and she deferves a Lord A That twenty fuch rude boys might tend upon, I Gent. A fervant only, and a gentleman Which I have fometime known. Count. Parolles, was't not? * 12 1 Gent. Ay, my good Lady, he. My fon corrupts a well-derived nature 1 Gent. Indeed, good Lady, the fellow has a deal of that too much, which holds him much to have. Count. Y'are welcome, Gentlemen; I will intreat you, when you fee my fon, to tell him, that his fword can never win the honour that he loses: more I'll intreat you written to bear along. 1 Gent. We ferve you, Madam, in that and all your worthiest affairs. Count. Not fo, but as we change our courtefies. Will you draw near? [Exeunt Countess and Gent. Hel. Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France. Nothing in France, until he has no wife ! Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France; Then haft thou all again. Poor Lord! is't I. : That L 1 " That chase thee from thy country, and expose Changes to the Duke's court in Florence. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, Parolles. Duke. The General of our Horse thou art, and we, Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence Upon thy promifing fortune. Ber. Sir, it is A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet Duke. Then go forth, F2 1 - And And fortune play upon thy prosp'rous helm, - As thy aufpicious mistress! cand vo Ber. This very day, n [Exeunt SCENE VI. Changes to Roufillon in France.. Enter Countess and Steward. Count. Alas! and would you take the letter of her? Might you not know, the would do as he has done, By sending me a letter? Read it again, LETTER. I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone : My dearest master, your dear fon, may bie 1.9 I, his despiteful Juno, fent him forth 1 G Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words Which thus she hath prevented. Stew. Pardon, Madam, If I had given you this at over-night, Count. What angel shall Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, And And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath [Exeunt Changes to a public place in Florence. A tucket afar off.. Enter an old widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and Mariana, with other citizens. Wid. Nay, come. For if they do approach the city we shall lose all the fight. Dia. They say the French Count has done most honourable fervice. Wid. It is reported, that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he flew the Duke's brother. We have loft our labour, they are gone a contrary way: hark, you may know by their trumpets. Mar. Come, let's return, again, and fuffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French Earl; the honour of a maid is her name, and no legacy is so rich as honesty. Wid. I have told my neighbour how you have been folicited by a gentleman his companion. Mar. I know that knave, (hang him!) one Parolles; a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young Earl; beware of them, Diana; their promises. enticements, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of luft, are the things they go under; many a maid hath been feduced by them; and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible shews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceffion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but I hope your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger found but the modesty which is fo loft. Dia. You fshall not need to fear me. Enter Helena, disguis'd like a pilgrim. Wid. I hope fo Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know the will lie at my house; thither they send one another; I'll question her: God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound? Hel. To St. Jaques le Grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? Wid. At the St. Francis, befide the port. Hel. Is this the way? [A march afar off. Wid. Ay, marry, is't. Hark you, they come this way. If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, but till the troops come I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd; The rather, for I think I know your hoftefs As ample as myself. Hel. Is it yourself? Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrim. [by. Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. Wid. You came, I think, from France. Hel. I did fo. Wid. Here you shall see a countryman of your's, That has done worthy service. Hel. His name, I pray you? Dia. The Count Roufillon: know you fuch a one? Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him, His face I know not. Dia. Whatsoe'er he is, He's bravely taken here. He stole from France, Hel. Ay, furely, merely.truth; I know his lady. |