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Sec. Lord. His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face: if your lordship be in 't, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it.

Ber. A plague upon him! [looking off]. Muffled! he can say nothing of me.-Hush, hush!

Enter the six Soldiers, bringing in PAROLLES blindfolded.

First Lord. Hoodman2 comes!-Portotartarossa.

First Sold. He calls for the tortures: what will you say without 'em?

Par. I will confess what I know without constraint: if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can

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Par. Five or six thousand horse, I said,-I will say true,—or thereabouts, set down,—for I'll speak truth.

First Lord. He's very near the truth in this. [Ber. But I con him no thanks for 't, in the' nature he delivers it. ]

Par. Poor rogues, I pray you, say.

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First Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor. First Sold. [Reads] "Demand of him, of what strength they are a-foot." What say you to that?

Par. By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: [Spurio, a hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each: so that] the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces.

Ber. What shall be done to him?

First Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks.-Demand of him my condition," and what credit I have with the duke.

First Sold. Well, that's set down. [Reads] "You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the duke; what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt." What say you to this? what do you know of it?

Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the inter'gatories: demand them singly.

209

First Sold. Do you know this Captain Dumain?

3 Chape, the metal tip at the end of the scabbard.

1 Shed, upset.

2 Hoodman, Parolles blindfolded.

4 A-foot, i.e. in infantry. 5 Condition, character.

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"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 Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again. [Bertram lifts his hand as if to strike Parolles. First Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour.

Par. My meaning in 't, I protest, 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-sides rogue!
First Sold. [Reads]

250

"When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and

take it;

After he scores, he never pays the score:

Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;

He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before; And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this, Men are to mell1 with, boys are not to kiss: For count of this," the count's a fool, I know it, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it. Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear, 260 PAROLLES."

Ber. He shall be whipped through the army, with this rhyme in 's forehead.

Sec. Lord. This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier.

Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.

First Sold. I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you.

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[First Lord whispers to the Soldier. Par. [Falls on his knees] My life, sir, in any case: 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' the stocks, or any where, so I may live. First Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you have answered to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour: what is his honesty?

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Par. He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking 'em he is stronger than Hercules: he will lie, sir, with such volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: [drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw.] I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.

292

First Lord. I begin to love him for this. [Ber. For this description of thine honesty?? A pox upon him for me, he's more and more a cat.]

1 Mell, meddle.

2 Count of this, take notice of this.

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2 Cardecue, quart d'écu, a quarter of a French crown= fifteen pence.

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 outruns any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

First Sold. If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine? Par. Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.

First Sold. I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.

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Par. [Aside] I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve

well, and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger: yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?

First Sold. There is no remedy, sir, but you must die [Parolles groans]: the general says, you that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die.-Come, headsman, off with his head. Par. O Lord, sir, let me live, or let me see my death!

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First Sold. That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [Unmuffling him. So, look about you: know you any here?

349

[All laugh, and bow mockingly to Parolles. Ber. Good morrow, noble captain. Sec. Lord. God bless you, Captain Parolles. First Lord. God save you, noble captain. Sec. Lord. Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu? I am for France.

First Lord. Good captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you: but fare you well.

[Exeunt Bertram and Lords, laughing. First Sold. You are undone, captain; all but your scarf, that has a knot on 't yet. 359 Par. [Rising] Who cannot be crushed with a plot?

First Sold. [If you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation.] Fare ye well, sir; I am for France too: we shall speak of you there. [Exit with Soldiers. Par. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,

"I would burst at this. Captain I'll be no

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[SCENE IV. Florence. Room in the Widow's house.

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 whose throne 't is needful,

Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:
Time was, I did him a desired office,
Dear almost as his life; which gratitude
Through flintyTartar's bosomwould peep forth,
And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd
His grace is at Marseilles; to which place
We have convenient convoy. You must know,
I am supposed dead: the army breaking,1 11
My husband hies him home; where, heaven
aiding,

And by the leave of my good lord the king,
We'll be before our welcome.

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Clo. The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.-(Act iv. 5. 44, 45.)

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