Par. In good fadnefs, 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, fhall I read it to you? Ber. Our Interpreter does it well. I 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, à foolish idle boy; but, for all that, very ruttish, I pray you, Sir, put it up again. Int. Nay, I'll read it firft, by your favour. Par. My meaning in't, I proteft, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young Count to be a dangerous and lascivious 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. And fay, a foldier (Dian) told thee this: Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, PAROLLES. (22) Men are to mell with, boys are not to kifs.] All the Editors have obtruded a new Maxim upon us here, that Boys are not to kiss.—Livia, in Beaumont and Fletcher's Tamer tam'd, is of a quite oppofite Opinion. For Boys were made for Nothing but dry Kisses. And our Poet's Thought, I am perfwaded, went to the fame Tune; that Boys are only to kiss; Men to mingle with, and give more substantial Pleasures. To mell, is deriv'd from the French Word, mêler; to mingle, Ber. Ber. He fhall be whipt through the army with this rhime in his forehead. 2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, Sir, the manifold linguift, and the armi potent soldier. Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, ani 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, fo you confe's freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain : you have answer'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 lie, Sir, with fuch volubility, that you would think, truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swinedrunk, and in his fleep he does little harm, fave to his bed-cloaths about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in ftraw. I have but little more to say, Sir, of his honefty, he has every thing that an honeft man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing. I Lord. I begin to love him for this. Ber. For this description of thine honesty? a pox up. on him for me, he is more and more a cat. Int. What fay you to his expertness in war? Par. Faith, Sir, h'as led the drum before the Eng life Tragedians to belie 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 call'd Mile-end, to inftruct for the doubling of files. I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain. I Lord. He hath out-villain'd villany so far, that the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox on him, he's a cat ftill.. 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 fee-fimple of his falvation, the inheritance of it, and cut th' intail from all remainders, and a perpetual fucceffion for it perpetually. Int. What's his Brother, the other Captain Dumain ? 2 Lord. Why does he ask him of me? Int. What's he? Par. E'en a crow o' th' fame neft; not altogether fo 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 out-runs any lacquey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp. Int. If your life be faved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine? Par. Ay, and the Captain of his horfe, 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 deferve well, and to beguile the suppofition of that lafcivious 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 fo traiterously discovered the fecrets of your army, and made fuch peftiferous reports of men very nobly held, can ferve the world for no honeft ufe; therefore you muft die. Come, headsman, 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. So, look about you; know you any here? Ber. Ber. Good morrow, noble Captain. 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 Sonnet 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 scarf; that has a knot on't yet. Par. Who cannot be crufh'd with a Plot ? Int. If you could find out a Country where but women were that had receiv'd so much shame, 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 fhall. 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 fhall be found an afs. Ruft, fword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live Safeft in fhame! being fool'd, by fool'ry thrive; There's place and means for every man alive. I'll after them. [Exit. SCENE changes to the Widow's House, at Florence. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana. Hel. THAT you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you, One of the Greatest in the christian world Shall be my Surety; 'fore whofe Throne 'tis needful, Time was, I did him a defired office Dear almost as his life; which gratitude My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding, Wid. Gentle Madam, You never had a servant, to whose truft Hel. Nor you, Miftrefs, Ever a friend, whofe thoughts more truly labour And helper to a husband. But, O ftrange men! Dia. Let death and honefty Go with your impofitions, I am yours Hel. Yet I pray you: But with the word the time will bring on fummer, (23) Our Waggon is prepar'd, and time revives us ; (23) Our Waggon is prepar'd, and Time revives us ;] The Word revives conveys fo little Idea of Sense here, that it seems very liable to Sufpicion. How could Time revive these travelling Adventurers? Mr. Warburton very reasonably conjectures, that we should read, and Time revyes us ; i. c. looks us in the Face, calls upon us to haften. All's |