Laf. No, no, no.

Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve

as great a prince as you are.

Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman?

Clo. Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy is more hotter in France than there. Laf. What prince is that?

Clo. The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.

Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou

talkest of; serve him still.

40

Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always 50 loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in 's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire. Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; 60 and I tell thee so before, because I would

42. "an English name”; Folios 1, 2, “maine"; Folio 3, "main"; Folio 4, "mean"; Rowe first suggested "name"; the allusion is obviously to the Black Prince.-I. G.

43. "his fisnomy is more hotter"; Hanmer's proposal "honor'd” for "hotter" seems to be a most plausible emendation.-I. G.

Warburton thought we should read honor'd; but the Clown's allusion is double; to Edward the Black Prince, and to the prince of darkness. The presence of Edward was indeed hot in France: the other allusion is obvious.-H. N. H.

58. "flowery way"; so in Macbeth, Act ii. sc. 3: “That go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire."-H. N. H.

not fall out with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.

[Exit.

Laf. A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
Count. So he is. My lord that's gone made

himself much sport out of him: by his au-
thority he remains here, which he thinks is 70
a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he
has no pace, but runs where he will.

Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I
was about to tell you, since I heard of the
good lady's death and that my lord your son
was upon his return home, I moved the king
my master to speak in the behalf of my
daughter; which, in the minority of them
both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious re-
membrance, did first propose: his highness 80
hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up
the displeasure he hath conceived against
your son, there is no fitter matter. How
does your ladyship like it?

Count. With very much content, my lord; and
I wish it happily effected.

Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles,
of as able body as when he numbered thirty:
he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived
by him that in such intelligence hath seldom 90
failed.

Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters that my son

will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together. Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.

Count. You need but plead your honorable privilege.

Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I thank my God it holds yet.

Re-enter Clown.

Clo. O madam, yonder 's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on 's face: whether there be a scar under 't or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good
livery of honor; so belike is that.

Clo. But it is your carbonadoed face.
Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long
to talk with the young noble soldier.
Clo. Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with deli-

cate fine hats and most courteous feathers,
which bow the head and nod at every man.

100

110

[Exeunt.

107. "pile"; referring to the pile of the velvet patch.-H. N. H.

ACT FIFTH

SCENE I

Marseilles. A street.

Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants.

Hel. But this exceeding posting day and night Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it: But since you have made the days and nights as

one,

To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold you do so grow in my requital
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;

Enter a Gentleman.

This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power. God save you,
sir.

Gent. And you.

Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. Gent. I have been sometimes there.

11

6. "Enter a Gentleman"; Folio 1 reads "A gentle Astringer"; Folio 2, "A gentle Astranger"; Folios 3, 4, "A Gentleman a stranger.” "Astringer" a keeper of goshawks; the word occurs nowhere else in Shakespeare. There seems, however, no very particular reason for its omission in modern editions, though it is true that in the Folio the speeches given to "the Astringer" all have the prefix "Gent."-I. G.

Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen From the report that goes upon your goodness; And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,

Which lay nice manners by, I put you to

The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

Gent.

Hel. That it will please you

What's your will?

To give this poor petition to the king,

And aid me with that store of power you have
To come into his presence.

Gent. The king's not here.

Hel.

Gent.

21

Not here, sir!

Not, indeed:

He hence removed last night and with more

haste

Than is his use.

Wid.

Lord, how we lose our pains!

Hel. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet,

Though time seem so adverse and means unfit. I do beseech you, whither is he gone? Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; Whither I am going.

Hel.

I do beseech you, sir,

Since you are like to see the king before me, 30
Commend the paper to his gracious hand,
Which I presume shall render you no blame
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Gent.

This I'll do for you.