as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to his skin.

Count. Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions?

Clo. From below your duke, to beneath your constable, it will fit

any question.

Count. It must be an answer of most monstrous size that must fit all demands.

Clo. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth of it: here it is, and all that belongs to’t: ask

me; if I am a courtier, — it shall do you no harm to learn.

Count. To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, fir, are you a courtier ?

Člo. O lord, fir — there's a simple putting off: more, more, a hundred of them. Count. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves

you. Clo. O lord, fir — thick, thick, spare not me. Count. I think, fir, you can eat none of this homely meat. Clo. O lord, fir — nay, put me to't, I warrant you. Count. You were lately whipp'd, fir, as I think. Clo. O lord, fir — spare not me.

Count. Do you cry, o lord, fir, at your whipping, and spare not me? indeed, your o lord, for, is very sequent to your whipping: you would answer very well to a whipping if you were but bound to't.

Clo. I ne'er had worse luck in my life, in my o lord, fir; I see, things may serve long, and not serve ever.

Count. I play the noble huswife with the time, to entertain it so merrily with a fool. Clo. O lord, fir — why,

why, there't serves well again.
Count. An end, fir; to your business: give Helen this,
And urge her to a present answer back :
Commend me to my kinsmen, and my son:
This is not much.

Clo.

Clo. Not much commendation to them.
Count. Not much employment for you; you understand me.
Clo. Most fruitfully, I am there before my legs.
Count. Haste you again.

[Exeunt.

T

The Court of France.

Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles.
Laf. HEY say, miracles are paft, and we have our

philosophical persons to make modern and familiar, things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it, that we make trifles of terrours, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.

Par. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our later times.

Ber. And so 'tis.
Laf. To be relinquifh'd of the artists.
Par. So I fay, both of Galen and Paracelfus.
Laf. Of all the learned and authentick fellows.
Par. Right, so I say.
Laf. That gave him out incurable.
Par. Why, there ’tis, fo say I too.
Laf. Not to be help’d.
Par. Right, as 'twere a man assur’d of an-
Laf. Uncertain life ; and sure death.
Par. Just, you say well: fo would I have faid.
Laf. I may truly fay, it is a novelty to the world.

Par. It is indeed; if you will have it in showing, you shall read it in what do

you

call there Laf. A showing of a heav'nly effect in an earthly actor. Par. That's it, I would have said the very fame. .

Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier : for me, I speak in respect

Par.

Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a most facinerious spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the

Laf. Very hand of heav’n.
Par. Ay, fo I say.
Laf. In a most weak

Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence, which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made than only the recov'ry of the king, as to be

Laf. Generally thankful.

Enter King, Helena, and Attendants. Par. I would have said it ; you said well : here comes the king

Laf. Lustick, as the Dutchman says : l'll like a maid the better while I have a tooth in my head: why, he's able to lead her a corranto.

Par. Mort du vinaigre! is not this Helen?
Laf. 'Fore god, I think so.

King. Go, call before me all the lords in court.
Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;
And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense
Thou hast repeald, a second time receive
The confirmation of my promis'd gift,
Which but attends thy naming.

Enter three or four lords.
Fair maid, send forth thine eye; this youthful parcel
Of noble bachelors ftand at my bestowing,
O'er whom both sov'reign power and father's voice
I have to use: thy frank election make;
Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.
Hel

. To each of you, one fair and virtuous mistress
Fall, when love please! marry, to each but one !
Vol. II.

Laf.

Laf. I'd give bay curtal and his furniture,
My mouth no more were broken than these boys',
And writ as little beard.

King. Peruse them well:
Not one of those but had a noble father.

[phe addresses herself to a lord.
Hel. Gentlemen, heav'n hath, through me, restor’d
The king to health.

All. We understand it, and thank heav’n for you.

Hel. I am a simple maid ; and therein wealthiest,
That, I protest, I simply am a maid :
Please it your majesty, I have done already:
The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,
We blus that thou shoulds choose; but being refus’d
Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever,
We'll ne'er come there again.

King. Make choice, and, see,
Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me.

Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,
And to imperial love, that god most high,
Do my fighs stream. — Sir, will

you

hear i Lord. And grant it. Hel. Thanks, fir; - all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for

my suit?

my life.

Hel. The honour, fir, that fames in your fair eyes,

[to the second lord.
Before I speak, too threat’ningly replies:
Love make your fortunes twenty times above
Her that so wishes, and her humble love!

2 Lord. No better, if you please.

Hel. My wish receive,
Which great love grant! and so I take my leave.

Laf. Do all they deny her? if they were fons of mine, I'd have them whipp’d, or I would send them to the Turk to make eunuchs of.

Hel.

your bed

Hel. Be not afraid that I your hand should take,

[to the third lord. I'll never do you wrong for your own fake: Blessing upon your vows! and in Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none of her : sure, they are bastards to the Englis; the French ne'er got 'em. Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good

[to the fourth. To make yourself a son out of my blood.

4 Lord. Fair one, I think not so. Par. There's one grape yet, I am sure, thy father drunk wine.

Laf. But if thou be’it not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen : I have known thee already.

Hel. I dare not say I take you, but I give
Me and my service, ever whilft I live,
Into your guiding power : this is the man.

[to Bertram. King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's thy wife.

Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness,
In such a business give me leave to use
The help of mine own eyes.

King. Know'st thou not, Bertram,
What The hath done for me?

Ber. Yes, my good lord,
But never hope to know why I should marry her.

King. Thou know'st, she rais’d me from my sickly bed.

Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down
Must answer for your raising? I know her well:
She had her breeding at my father's charge :
A poor physician's daughter : she my wife!
Disdain rather corrupt me ever !

King. 'Tis
But title thou disdain'st in her; the which
I can build up: strange is it that our bloods
Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,
Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off
VOL. II.

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