Par. I humbly thank you, Sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor. Int. Demand of him of what strength they are afoot. What say you to that? Par. By my troth, Sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me fee; Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corambus so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cofmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred and fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and fifty each: fo that the muster-file, rotten and found, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their caffocks, left they shake themselves to pieces. Ber. What shall be done to him? I Lord. Nothing; but let him have thanks. Demand of him my conditions, and what credit I have with the Duke. Int. Well, that's fet down. You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be i' th' camp, a Frenchman: what his reputation is with the Duke, what his valour, honesty, and expertness in war; or whether he thinks it were not possible with well-weighing fums of gold to corrupt him to a revolt. What fay you to this? what do you know of it? Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the interrogatories. Demand them fingly. Int. Do you know this Captain Dumain? Par. I know him; he was a botcher's prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipp'd for getting the sheriff's fool with child; a dum innocent, that could not say him nay. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls. Int. Well, is this Captain in the Duke of Florence's camp? Par. Upon my knowledge he is, and lowfy. I Lord. Nay, look not so upon me, we shall hear of your ordfaip anon. Int. 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 the other day, to turn him him out o' th' band. I think I have his letter in my pocket. Int. Marry, we'll search. Par. In good fadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon the file with the Duke's other letters in my tent. Int. Here 'tis, here's a paper, shall I read it to you? Par. I do not know if it be it or no. Ber. Our interpreter does it well. 1 Lord. Excellently. Int. Dian, the Count's a fool, and full of gold. 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 Roufillon, a foolish idle boy; but for all that very ruttish. I pray you, Sir, put it up again. Int. 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 lafcivious boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds. Ber. Damnable! both fides rogue. Interpreter reads the letter. When he fwears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it. Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, Parolles. : Ber. He shall be whipped through the army with this rhime in his forehead. 2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, Sir; the manifold linguist, and the armipotent foldier. Ber, I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me. Int. I perceive, Sir, by the General's looks, we shall be fain to hang you. Par. My life, Sir, in any cafe; not that I am afraid to die, but that my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, Sir, in a dungeon, i th stocks, any where, fo I may live. Int. We'll-fee what may be done, so you confefs freely; therefore, once more, to this Captain Dumain: you have anfwer'd to his reputation with the Duke, and to his valour. What is his honesty? Par. He will fteal, Sir, an egg out of a cloister; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Neffus. He profeffes no keeping of oaths; in breaking them he is ftronger than Hercules. He will lye, Sir, with fuch volubility, that you would think Truth were a fool: drunkeness is his best virtue, for he will be fwinedrunk, and in his fleep he does little harm, fave to his bed-cloaths about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but 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. Lord. I begin to love him for this. : Ber. For this description of thine honesty? a pox upon him for me, he is more and more a cat. Int. What fay you of his expertness in war? Par. 'Faith, Sir, h'as led the drum before the English tragedians: to belye him, I will not; and more of his foldiership I know not; except in that country he had the 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. 1 Lord. He hath out-villain'd villany fo far, that the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox-on him, he's a cat still. Int. 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'ecu, he will fell the feefimple of his falvation, the inheritance of it, and cut th' entail from all remainders, and a perpetual fucceffion for it perpetually.: T Int. What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain? 2 Lord. Why does he ask him of me? Par. E'en a crow o' th' fame neft; 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 lacquey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. Int. If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine ? Par. Ay, and the Captain of his Horse Count Roufillon. Int. I'll whisper with the General, and know his pleasure... Par. I'll no more drumming, a plague of all drums! Only to feem to deserve well, and to beguile the fuppofition of that lascivious young boy the Count, have I run into danger; yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken? [Afide. Int. There is no remedy, Sir, but you must die; the General fays, you that have so traiteroufly difcovered the fecrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men, very nobly held, can serve the world for no honeft ufe; therefore you must die. Come, headfman, off with his head. Par. O Lord, Sir, let me live, or let me fee my death. Int. That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [Unbinding him. 6o look about you; know you any here? 2 Lord. Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu? I am for France. 1 Lord. Good Captain, will you give me a copy of that fame fonnet, you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Roufillon? if I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you: but fare you well. [Exeunt Int. You are undone, Captain, all but your fearf; that has a knot on't yet. VOL. IIL. I Par Par. Who cannot be crush'd with a plot ? Int. If you could find out a country where but women were that had receiv'd so much fhame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you well, Sir; I am for France too, we shall speak of you there. [Exit. 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 fleep as foft As Captain shall. Simply the thing I am Shall make me live: who knows himself a braggart, Let him fear this; for it will come to pass, That every braggart shall be found an afs. Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live Safest in shame! being fool'd, by fool'ry thrive; There's place and means for every man alive, I'll after them. SCENE VII. Changes to the Widow's house at Florence. [Exit. Hel. That you hat you may well perceive I have not wrong'd One of the greatest in the Christian world [you, Time was I did him a defired office Dear almost as his life; which gratitude 3 1 - And answer thanks. I duly am inform'd, W Wid. Gentle Madam, You never had a fervant, to whose truft 1 Hel. Nor you, Mistress, se bosales to |