Is there no military policy how

blowers up!
virgins might blow up men?

Par. Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up; marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lose your city, It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational increase : and there was never virgin got, till virginity was first loft. That you were made of, is metal to make virgins. Virginity, by being once loft, may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is ever lost; 'tis too cold a companion: away with't.

Hel. I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.

Par. There's little can be faid in't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To fpeak on the part of virginity, is to accuse your mother; which is most infallible difobedience. As he that hangs himself, so is a virgin : Virginity murthers itself, and should be buried in highways out of all fanctified limit, as a'desperate ' offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, ' much like a cheese; confumes itself to the very pa

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ring, and fo dies with feeding its own ftomach. ' Befides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of • felf-love; which is the most prohibited fin in the

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canon. Keep it not, you cannot chuse but lose by't.

• Out with't: within ten years it will make itself two, "which is a goodly increase, and the principal itself

not much the worse. Away with't.

Hel. How might one do, Sir, to lose it to her own liking ?

Par. Let me fee. Marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes. 'Tis a commodity will lofe the glofs with lying. The longer kept, the lefs worth; off with't while 'tis vendible. Answer the time of request. Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fathion; richly futed, but unfutable: just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which we wear not now. Your date is better in your pye and your porridge, than in your cheek; and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French wither'd pears; it looks ill, it eats drily; marry, 'tis a wither'd pear: it was formerly better; marry, yet 'tis a wither'd pear. Will you any thing with it?

Hel. Not my virginity yet.
There shall your master have a thousand loves,
A mother, and a mistress, and a friend*;
I know not what he shall-God send him well!ج
The court's a learning place-and he is one
Par. What one, i' faith?

Hel. That I wish well-'tis pity-
Par. What's pity?

Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't
Which might be felt; that we the poorer born,
Whore baser stars do shut us up in wishes,
Might with effects of them follow our friends:
And shew what we alone must think, which never
Returns us thanks.

Enter Page.

Page. Monfieur Parolles,

My Lord calls for you.

[Exit Page.

Par. Little Helen, farewel; if I can remember.

thee, I will think of thee at court.

Hel. Monfieur Parolles, you were born under a

charitable star.

Par. Under Mars, I.

Hel. I especially think under Mars.

Par. Why under Mars?

Hel. The wars have kept you so under, that you

must needs be born under Mars.

Par. When he was predominant.

Hel. When he was retrograde, I think rather.

Par. Why think you fo?

Hel. You go fo much backward, when you fight.

A

Par. That's for advantage.

Hel. So is running away, when fear proposes fafety: but the composition, that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good ming; and I like the wear well.

Par. I am fo full of businesses, as I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee, fo thou wilt be capable of courtier's counsel, and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; elfe thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewel. When thou hast leifure, fay thy prayers; when thou hast none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband, and use him as he ufes thee: fo farewel. [Exit.

Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we afcribe to Heav'n. The fated sky Gives us free scope; only doth backward pull Our flow designs, when we ourselves are dull. What power is it which mounts my love fo high, That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye? The mightiest space in fortune nature brings To join like likes, and kiss like native things. Impossible be strange attempts to those That weigh their pain in sense; and do suppose, What hath been, cannot be. Whoever strove To shew her merit, that did miss her love? The King's disease - my project may deceive me, But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me. [Exit.

Changes to the court of France.

Flourish cornets. Enter the king of France with letters.

and divers attendants.

King. The Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue A braving war.

I Lond. So 'tis reported, Sir.

VOL. III.

King. move, us

King. Nay, 'tis most credible; we here receive it, A certainty vouch'd from our cousin Austria; With caution, that the Florentine will For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the business, and would feem To have us make denial.

1 Lord. His love and wisdom, Approv'd fo to your Majesty, may plead For ample credence.

King. He hath arm'd our answer;
And Florence is deny'd, before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to fee
The Tufcan service, freely have they leave
To stand on either part.

2 Lord. It may well ferve
A nursery to our gentry, who are fick
For breathing and exploit.

King. What's he comes here?

Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles.

R

A

:

I Lord. It is the Count Roufillon, my good Lord, Young Bertram.

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King. Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face. Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May'st thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris,

Ber. My thanks and duty are your Majesty's. King. I would I had that corporal foundness now, As when thy father and myself in friendship First try'd our foldiership: he did look far Into the service of the time, and was Discipled of the brav'st. He lasted long; But on us both did haggish age steal on, And wore us out of act. It much repairs me To talk of your good father; in his youth He had the wit which I can, well observe To-day in our young lords; but they may jest, Till their own fcorn return to them unnoted, Ere they can hide their levity in honour: So like a courtier, no contempt or bitterness Were in him; pride or sharpness, if there were, His equal had awak'd them; and his honour,

:

Clock

Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exceptions bid him speak; and at that time
His tongue obey'd his hand. Who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place,
And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks;

Such a man

Making them proud; and his humility,
In their poor praise, he humbled.
Might be a copy to these younger times;
Which, follow'd well, would now demonstrate them
But goers backward.

Ber. His good remembrance, Sir,

Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb;
So in approof lives not his epitaph,

As in your royal speech.

:

King. Would I were with him! he would always fay, (Methinks I hear him now; his plaufive words He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them To grow there, and to bear), Let me not live(Thus his good melancholy oft began, On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, When it was out), let me not live (quoth he) After my flame lacks oil; to be the snuff Of younger spirits, whose apprehenfive senses All but new things difdain; whose judgments are Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies Expire before their fashions: - this he wish'd. I, after him, do after him with too (Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home) I quickly were dissolved from my hive,

To give fome labourer room.

2 Lord. You're loved, Sir;

They that least lend it you, shall lack you first.

:

King. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, Count,

Since the physician at your father's died?

He was much fam'd.

Ber. Some fix months since, my Lord.

Lend me an arm;

King. If he were living, I would try him yet; the rest have worn me out nature and fickness

With feveral applications;

Debate it at their leisure.
My fon's no dearer.

Welcome, Count,

Ber. Thank your Majefty.

(Flourish. Exeunt.