My being here it is that holds thee hence: To confolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day! For, with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away. [Exit. SCENE V. Florence. Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, Drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, Parolles. Duke. T HE general of our horse thou art; and we, Great in our hope, lay our beft love and credence Upon thy promising fortune. Ber. Sir, it is A charge too heavy for my strength; but yet We'll ftrive to bear it for your worthy fake, To th' extreme edge of hazard. Duke. Then go forth, And fortune play upon thy profp'rous helm, As thy aufpicious mistress! Ber. This very day, Great Mars, I put myself into thy file; Make me but like my thoughts, and I fhall prove A lover of thy drum; hater of love. [Exeunt. VOL. II. Bbb SCENE Count. ·A SCENE VI. Roufillon in France. Enter Countess, and Steward. LAS! and would you take the letter of her? Might you not know, fhe would do as she has done, By sending me a letter? Read it again. Letter. I am faint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone; Ah, what sharp ftings are in her mildeft words! Stew. Pardon, madam, If I had given you this at overnight She might have been o'erta'en; and yet fhe writes, Count. Count. What angel fhall Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, Grief would have tears, but forrow bids me speak. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Florence. A Tucket afar off. Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and Mariana, Wid. N with other Citizens. AY, come for if they do approach the city, we fhall lofe all the fight. Dia. They fay, the French count has done most honourable fervice. Wid. It is reported that he has ta’en their greatest commander, and that with his own hand he flew the duke's brother. We have loft our labour, they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets. Bbb 2 Mar. Mar. Come, let's return again, and fuffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is fo rich as honefty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion. Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a filthy officer he is in thofe fuggeftions for the young earl: beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all thefe engines of luft, are but the things they go under; many a maid hath been feduced by them, and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible fhows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that diffuade fucceffion, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger found, but the modesty which is so lost. Dia. You fhall not need to fear me. Enter Helena disguised like a Pilgrim. Wid. I hope fo. Look, here comes a pilgrim : I know, fhe will lie at my house; thither they send one another; I'll question her: god fave you, pilgrim! whither are you bound? Hel. To faint Jaques le grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do befeech you Wid. At the faint Francis here befide the port. Hel. Is this the way? [a march afar off Wid. Ay, marry, is't. Hark you! they come this way: "if you will tarry, holy pilgrim, but till the troops come by, I will conduct you where you fhall be lodg'd; The rather, for, I think, I know your hostess As ample as myself. Hel. Is it yourfelf? Wid. If you fhall please fo, pilgrim. Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. Wid. You came, I think, from France? Hel. True, I did so. of yours, Wid. Here you shall see a countryman That has done worthy fervice. Hel. His name, I pray you? Dia. The count Roufillon; know you fuch a one? Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him; His face I know not. Dia. Whatfoe'er he is, He's bravely taken here. He stole from France, Hel. Ay, furely, the mere truth; I know his lady. Reports but coarsely of her. Hel. What's his name? Hel. O, I believe with him, In argument of praise, or to the worth I have not heard examin'd. Dia. Ah, poor lady! 'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife Of a detefting lord. Wid. Ah! right; good creature! wherefoe'er fhe is, Her heart weighs fadly: this young maid might do her A fhrewd turn, if the pleas'd. Hel. How do you mean? May be, the am'rous count folicits her In the unlawful purpose. Wid. He does, indeed; And brokes with all that can in fuch a fuit Corrupt the tender honour of a maid: But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard SCENE |