Ber. There's letters from my mother; what the import is, I know not yet.

Par. Ay, that would be known: to th' wars, my boy, to th' wars.

He wears his honour in a box, unseen,

That hugs his kickfy-wickfy here at home;
Spending his manly marrow in her arms,
Which fhould fuftain the bound and high curvet
Of Mars's fiery fteed: to other regions
France is a ftable, we that dwell in't jades,
Therefore to th' wars.

Ber. It fhall be fo, I'll fend her to my house,
Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
And wherefore I am fled; write to the King
That which I durft not speak. His present gift
Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,

Where noble fellows ftrike. War is no ftrife
To the dark house, and the detefted wife.

Par. Will this capricio hold in thee, art fure?
Ber. Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.
I'll fend her straight away: to-morrow

I'll to the wars, fhe to her fingle forrow.

Par. Why, these balls bound, there's noife in it.'Tis hard;

A young man, married, is a man that's marr'd:
Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go,
The King hath done you wrong: but, huh! 'tis fo.
[Exeunt.

Hel. Mch. She is not well, but yet fhe has her Μ

Y mother greets me kindly, is fhe well? Clo. health; fhe's very merry, but yet fhe is not well : but, thanks be given, fhe's very well, and wants nothing i'th' world; but yet fhe is not well.

Hel.

Hel. If fhe be very well, what does fhe ail, that she's not very well?

Clo. Truly, fhe's very well, indeed, but for two things.

Hel. What two things?

Clo. One, that fhe's not in heav'n, whither God fend her quickly; the other, that she's in earth, from whence God fent her quickly?

Enter Parolles.

Par. Bless you, my fortunate lady!

Hel. I hope, Sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortune.

Par. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them ftill. O, my knave, how does my old lady?

Clo. So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would, she did, as you say.

Par. Why, I fay nothing.

Clo. Marry, you are the wifer man; for many a man's tongue fpeaks out his master's undoing: to fay nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.

Par. Away, thou'rt a knave.

Clo. You should have faid, Sir, before a knave, th'art a knave; that's, before me th'art a knave: this had been truth, Sir.

Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee,

Clo. Did you find me in yourfelf, Sir? or were you taught to find me? the search, Sir, was protfiable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the encreafe of laughter.

Par. A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.
Madam, my Lord will go away to night,
A very
ferious bufinefs calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,

Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off by a compell'd reftraint:

Whole want and whofe delay, is ftrew'd with sweets Which they diftil now in the curbed time,

To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy, *And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel. What's his will elfe?

Par. That you will take your inftant leave o'th'
King.

And make this hafte as your own good proceeding;
Strengthen'd with that apology, you think,
May make it probable need.

Hel. What more commands he?

Par. That having this obtain'd you presently

Attend his further pleasure.

Hel. In every thing I wait upon his will.

Par. I fhall report it fo.

Hel, I pray you.-Come, Sirrah.

SCENE

[Exit Parolles.

[To Clown.

[Exeunt.

X.

Enter Lafeu and Bertram.

UT, I hope, your Lordship thinks not him

Laf. B a foldier.

Ber. Yes, my Lord, and of very valiant approof.
Laf. You have it from his own deliverance.
Ber. And by other warranted teftimony.

Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.

Ber. I do affure you, my Lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant.

Laf. I have then finned against his experience, and tranfgrefs'd against his, valour; and my ftate that

And pleasure drown the brim.] Metaphor taken from an overflowing Cup. It is one of the boldest and nobleft Expreffions in all Shakespear.

way

way is dangerous, fince I cannot yet find in my heart

I pray you, make us

to repent here he comes;
:
friends, I will pursue the amity.

Enter Parolles.

Par. These things fhall be done, Sir.
Laf. I pray you, Sir, who's his taylor?

Par. Sir?

Laf. O, I know him well; I, Sir, he, Sir's, a good workman, a very good taylor.

Ber. Is he gone to the King? [Afide to Parolles.

Par. She is.

Ber. Will fhe away to night?

Par. As you'll have her.

Ber. I have writ my letters, cafketed my treasure, given order for our horses; and to night, when I fhould take poffeffion of the bride—and ere I do begin

Laf. A good traveller is fomething at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lies three thirds, and ufes a known truth to pafs a thoufand nothings with, fhould be once heard, and thrice beaten-God fave you, captain.

Ber. Is there any unkindness between my Lord and you, Monfieur ?

Par. I know not, how I have deserved to run into my Lord's difpleasure.

*

Laf. You have made fhift to run into't, boots and spurs and all, like him that leapt into the custard; and out of it you'll run again, rather than fuffer question for your refidence.

Ber. It may be, you have miftaken him, my Lord. Laf. And fhall do fo ever, tho' I took him at's prayers. Fare you well, my Lord, and believe this

You have made fhift to run into't, boots and spurs and all, like him that leapt into the cuftard.] It was a Foolery practis'd at City-Entertainments, whilft the Jefler or Zany was in Vogue, for him to jump into a large deep Cuftard: fet for the Purpose. Mr. Theobald.

of

of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut: the foul of this man is his clothes. Truft him not in matter of heavy confequence: I have kept of them tame, and know their natures. Farewel, Monfieur, I have spoken better of you, than you have or will deferve at my hand, but we must do good against evil. JExit.

Par. An idle lord, I fwear.

Ber. I think fo.

Par. Why, do you not know him?

Ber. Yes, I know him well, and common fpeech Gives him a worthy pafs. Here comes my clog.

Hel.

I

Have, Sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the King, and have procur'd his leave

For prefent parting; only, he defires

Some private fpeech with you.

Ber. I fhall obey his will.

You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,

Which holds not colour with the time; nor does
The miniftration and required office

On my particular. Prepar'd I was not
For fuch a bufinefs; therefore am I found

So much unfettled: this drives me to intreat you,
That presently you take your way for home,
And rather mufe, than afk, why I intreat you;
For my refpects are better than they feem,
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than fhews itself at the firft view,

Το you that know them not. This to my mother.

[Gives a letter.

Twill be two days ere I shall fee you, fo

I leave you to your wisdom.

Hel.