That truth should be fufpected; fpeak, is't fo? If it be fo, you've wound a goodly clew; If it be not, forfwear't: howe'er, I charge thee, To tell me true. Hel. Good madam, pardon me! Hel. Do not you love him, madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The state of your affection; for your passions Have to the full appeach'd. Hel. Then I confefs, Here on my knee, before high heav'ns and you, My friends were poor, but honest; fo's my love: That he is lov'd of me: I follow him not By any token of prefumptuous fuit; Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him; The fun that looks upon his worshipper, But knows of him no more. My dearest madam, X x 2 Was Was both herself and love; o, then give pity Count. Had you not lately an intent, fpeak truly, Hel. I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear: For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me As notes, whofe faculties inclufive were More than they were in note: amongst the rest, To cure the defperate languishings, 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 converfation of my thoughts, Haply, been absent then. Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your fuppofed aid, He would receive it? he and his phyficians Are of a mind; he, that he can't be help'd; They, that they cannot help: how fhall they credit Hel. There's fomething hints, More than my father's skill, which was the great'st Shall Shall, for my legacy, be fanctified By th' luckiest stars in heav'n: and, would your honour This well-loft life of mine on his grace's cure, By fuch a day and hour. Count. Do'st thou believe it? Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt have my leave, and love, Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings To thofe of mine in court: I'll stay at home, And pray god's bleffing upon thy attempt: Be gone to-morrow; and be fure of this, What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss. [Exeunt. ** ACT II. SCENE I. The Court of France. Enter the King, with two young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram, and Parolles. Flourish cornets. FA KING. AREWEL, young lord; thefe warlike principles And is enough for both. I Lord. 'Tis our hope, fir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confefs it owns the malady That doth my life befiege: farewel, young lords; Of Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy' 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty! If they demand: beware of being captives Before you serve. Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. [Exit. 1 Lord. O, my fweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the spark 2 Lord. O, 'tis brave wars. Par. Moft admirable; I have feen those wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with; Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early. Par. An thy mind ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely. Till honour be brought up, and no fword worn, I Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your acceffary; and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and this our parting is A tortur'd body. I Lord. Farewel, worthy captain. a The ancient geographers have divided Italy into the higher and the lower, the Appennine bills being a kind of natural line of partition, the fide next the Adriatick was denominated the higher Italy, and the other fide the lower: and the two feas followed the fame terms of diftinction, the Adriatick being called the upper fea, and the Tyrrhene or Tuscan the lower. Now the Sennones or Senois, with whom the Florentines are here fuppofed to be at war, inhabited the higher Italy, their chief town being Ariminum, now called Rimini, upon the Adriatick. Reflecting upon the abject and degenerate condition of the cities and ftates which arofe out of the ruins of the Roman empire, the last of the four great monarchies of the world. 2 Lord. 2 Lord. Sweet monfieur Parolles! Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good sparks and luftrous! A word, good metals: you fhall find, in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very sword intrench'd it; fay to him, I live; and obferve his reports of me. I Lord. We fhall noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! what will you do? Ber. Stay; the king [Ex. Lords. Par. Ufe a more fpacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrain'd yourself within the lift of too cold an adieu : be more expressive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there do muster together, dress, speak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd ftar; and, though the devil lead the measure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel. Ber. And I will do fo. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy swordmen. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter the King, and Lafeu. Laf. Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to ftand up. Laf. Then here's a man stands that hath brought his pardon. I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to afk me mercy ; And that, at my bidding, you could so stand up. King. I would I had, fo I had broke thy pate, And ark'd thee mercy for't. Laf. Good faith, acrofs: but, my good lord, 'tis thus ; Will you be cur'd of your infirmity? King. No. Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, an if my royal fox Could |