By our remembrances of days foregone, Such were our faults, or then we thought them none. Hel. What is your pleasure, Madam? Count. Helen, you know, I am a mother to you. Count. Nay, a mother; Why not a mother? when I faid a mother, God's mercy! maiden, do's it curd thy blood, Count. I fay, I am your mother. The Count Roufillon cannot be my brother; Count. Nor I your mother? Hel. You are my mother, Madam; 'would you were, (So that my lord, your fon, were not my brother) Indeed, my mother!-or were you both our mothers I care no more for, than I do for heav'n, So I were not his fifter: can't no other, But I your daughter, he must be my brother? Count. Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law; God fhield, you mean it not, daughter and mother So ftrive upon your pulfe! what, pale again? My My fear hath catch'd your fondness. Now I fee (6) That truth fhould be fufpected; speak, is't fo? Hel. Good Madam, pardon me. Hel. Your pardon, noble mistress. Count. Love you my fon? Hel. Do not you love him, Madam ? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, (6) Now I fee The mystery of your loveliness, and find -] The Mystery of her Loveliness is beyond my Comprehenfion: The old Countess is faying nothing ironical, nothing taunting, or in Reproach, that this Word fhould find a place here; which it could not, unless farcastically employ'd, and with fome Spleen. I dare warrant, the Poet meant, his old Lady fhould fay no more than this: "I now find the Mystery of your creeping into Corners, and weeping, and pining in fecret." For this Reafon I have amended the Text, Loneliness. The Steward, in the foregoing Scene, where he gives the Countess Intelligence of Helen's Behaviour, fays; Alone She was, and did communicate to herself her own Words to her own Ears. Hel. Hel. Then, I confefs, Here on my knee, before high heav'ns and you, I love your fon: My friends were poor, but honest; fo's my love; That he is lov'd of me; I follow him not Nor would I have him, 'till I do deserve him; My dearest Madam, The fun that looks upon his worshipper, Hel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by Grace it felf, I fwear. For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me, To To cure the defperate languifhings, whereof Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, fpeak? 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, Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your fuppofed aid, Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him : The danger to it felf? Hel. There's fomething in't More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st Shall for my legacy be fanctified By th' luckieft ftars in heav'n; and, would your honour But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's Cure, By fuch a day and hour. Count. Doft thou believ't? Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love; Means and attendants; and my loving greetings [Exeunt 3 ACT ACT II. SCENE, the Court of France. Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. KING. Arewel, young Lords: thefe warlike principles Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain, 1 Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; Of worthy French men; (6) let higher Italy (Thofe bated, that inherit but the Fall (Thofe Of the last Monarchy;) fee, &c.] This feems to me One of the very obfcure Paffages of Shakespeare, and which therefore may very well demand Explanation. Italy, at the time of this Scene, was under three very different Tenures. The Emperor, as Succeffor of the Roman Emperors, had one Part; the Pope, by a pretended Donation from Conftantine, another; and the Third was compos'd of free States. Now by the last Monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, feveral Cities fet up for Themselves, and became free States: Now these might be faid properly to inherit the Fall of the Monarchy. This being premifed, now to the Sense, The King fays, |