Ever a friend, whose thoughts more truly labour And helper to a husband. But, O strange men! Dia. Let death and honesty Go with your impositions, I am your's Hel. Yet, I pray you: 550 But with the word, the time will bring on summer, Our waggon is prepar'd, and time revives us ; SCENE V. Rousillon. Enter Countess, LAFEU, and Clown. Laf. No, no, no, your son was mis-led with a snipttaffata fellow there; whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbak'd and doughy youth of a nation in his colour. Your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour; and your son here at home, more advanced by the king than by that red-tail'd humble bee I speak of. 571 Count. I would, I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating : if she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love. Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady. We may pick a thousand sallets, ere we light on such another herb. 579 Clo. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the sallet, or rather the herb of grace. Laf. They are not sallet-herbs, you knave, they are nose-herbs. Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have not much skill in grass. Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave or a fool? Clo. A fool, sir, at a woman's service; and a knave, at a man's... Laf. Your distinction? 590 Clo. Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service. Laf. So you were a knave at his service, indeed. Clo. And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, `to do her service. Laf. I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool. Clo. At your service. Laf. No, no, no. Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman? *601 Clo. Faith, sir, he has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France than there. Laf. What prince is that? 1 Clo. The black prince, sir; alias the prince of darkness; alias the Devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to seduce thee from thy master thou talk'st of; serve him still, 610 Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the master I speak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some, that humble themselves, may; but the many will be too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire. 619 Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well look'd' to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall bè jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature. Laf. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy. [Exit. Count. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himself much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will. . 632 Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss and I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death, and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I mov'd the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority' of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness has promis'd me to do it; and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceiv'd against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it? 642 Count. With very much content, my lord; and I wish it happily effected. Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able a body as when he number'd thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him that in such intelligence hath seldom fail'd. Count. It rejoices me, that, I hope, I shall see him ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here to-night: to-night I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me 'till they meet together. 652 Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might safely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privilege. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Enter Clown. Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't, or no, the velvet knows but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile" and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare. 663 Count. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour. So, belike, is that. Clo. But it is your carbonado'd face. Laf. Let us see your son, I pray you: I long to talk with the young noble soldier. Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man. [Exeunt. ACT |