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Hel. How do you mean?
May be, the armorous count solicits her
In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard
in honestest defence.

Enter with a drum and colours, a party of the
rentine army, BERTRAM and PAROLLES.
Mar. The gods forbid else!

Wid: So, now they come:
That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;
Thal Escalus.

Hel. Which is the Frenchman?
Dia. He;

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2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

1 Lord. I with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him; such I will have, whom, I am sure, he knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the Flo-leaguer* of the dversaries, when we bring him to our tents: Be but your lordship present a his examination; if he do not, for the promise of his life, and in the highest compulson of base fear, offer to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgement in any thing. 2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter let him for't: when your lodship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to what metal his counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's entermainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fel-fetch his drum; he says, he has a stratagem

low;

[ter, I would, he lov'd his wife: if he were honesHe were much goodlier:-Is't not a handsome gentleman?

Hel. I like him well.

Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honest: Yond's that

same knave,

That leads him to these places: were I his
I'd poison that vile rascal.
Hel. Which is he?

[lady,

Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: Why is

he melancholy?

Hel. Perchance he's hurt i'the battle.

Par. Lose our drum! well.

Enter PAROLLES.

1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter hinder not the humour of his design; let him fetch of his drum in any hand.

Ber. How now monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so lost!-There was an excellenct command.

Mar. He's shrewdly vexed at something: to charge in with our horse upon our own Look, he has spied us.

Wip. Mary, hang you!

Mar your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!

Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Officers,
and Soldiers.

Wid. The troop is past: Come Pilgrim, 1
will bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoyn'd penitents
There's four or five to great Saint Jaques
Already at my house.
[bound,

Hel. I humbly thank you:

Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,
To eat with us to-night, the charge, and thank-
ing,

Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts on this virgin,
Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly; [Exeunt.

SCENE VI-Camp before Florence. Enter BERTRAM, and the two French LORDS. 1 Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him have his way.

2 Lord If your lordship finds him not a hilding,t hold me no more in your respect.

1 Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. Ber. Do you think, I am so far deceiv'd in him?

1 Lord. Believe it, my lord in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endles liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertain

inent.

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wings, and to rend our own soldiers.

2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the service; it was a disaster of war that Cæsar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered. Par. It might have been recovered. Ber. It might, but it is not now.

Par. It is to be recoved: but that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and

exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet.t

Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to't monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honor again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit; if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

Par. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certanity, put myself into my mortal preparation, and, by midnight, look to hear further from me.

Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace. you are going about it.

Par. I know not what the success may be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.

Ber. I know thou art valliant; and, to the possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farwell.

Par. I love not many words.

* The camp.

[Exit

t I would recover the lost drum or another, or die in the attempt.

tors.

I will pen down my plans and the probable obstruc

1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water. Is this not a strange fellow, my lord? that so confid ntly seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damned than to do't.

2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certainly it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and for a week, escap a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed at al of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto ?

1 Lord. None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies but we have almost embossed him* you shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for lordship's respect.

2 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, ere we case him. He was first smoaked by the Lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night. 1. Lord. I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.

Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with

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her:

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Wid. I have yielded :

Instruct my daughter how she shall persevere,
That time and place, with this deceit so lawful,
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musick of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her unworthiness: It nothing steads us,
To chide him from our caves ; for he persists
As if his life lay on't.

Hel. Why then, to-night

Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
Ad meaning in a lawful act;
Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
But let's about it.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-Without the Florentine Camp. Enter first LORD, with five or six soldiers in ambush.

1 Lord. He can come no other way but

By this same coxcomb that we have i'the wind, by this hedge' corner, When you sally upon

Tokens and letters which she did re-send; And this is all I have done; She's a fair creaWill you go se her? [ture; 2 Lord. With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt. SCENE VI-Florence.-A Room in the WIDOW's House.

Enter HELENA and Widow.

Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not she, I know not how I shall assure you further, But I shall loose the grounds I work upon. Wid. Though my estate be fallen, I was well

born,

Nothing acquainted with these businesses;
And would not put my reputation now
In any standing act.

Hel. Nor would I wish you. [band;
First, give me trust, the count he is
my hus-
And, what to your sworn counsel I have spo-

ken,

Is so, from word to word; and then you cannot,

By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.

Wid I should believe you;

For you have show'd me that, which well apYou are great in misfortune. [proves

Hel. Take this purse of gold, And let me buy your friendly help thus far, Which I will over-pay, and pay again, When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty, Resolves to carry her; let her in fine, consent, As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,

* Hunted him down. † Befere we strip him naked. e. By discovering herself to the count.

him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no matter for we must not seem to understand him; unless some one among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

ter.

Sold. Good captain, let me be the interpre

1 Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

1 Sold. No, Sir, I warrant you.

1 Lord. But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?

1 Sold. Even such as you speak to me.

1 Lord. He must think us some band of strangers i'the adversary's entertainment.§ Now he hath a smack of all labouring languag es; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak know straight our purpose; cough's languange, one to another; so we seem to know, is to gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

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before it, and of his creatures, not daring the | Till we do hear from them. reports of my tongue.

1 Lord. This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of.

[Aside. Par. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say, I got them in exploit: Yet slight ones will not carry it: They will say, Came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not give. Whorefore? what the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butterwoman's mouth, and buy another of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.

1 Lord. Is it impossible, he should know what he is, and be that he is? [Aside. Par. I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish word.

1 Lord. We cannot afford you so. Par. Or the bearing of my beard;

it was a stratagem.

1 Lord. 'Twould not do.

[Aside.

and to

say.

[Aside.

Par. Or to drown my clothes, and say, I was stripped.

Lord. Hardly serve.

[Aside.

Par. Though I swore I leaped from the win

dow of the citadel

1 Lord. How deep? Par. Thirty fathom.

[Aside.

1 Lord. Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.

[Aside. Par. I would, I had any drum of the enemy's; I would swear, I recovered it. 1 Lord. You shall hear one anon [Aside. Par. A drum now of the enemy's! [Alarum within. 1 Lord. Throca movousus, cargo. cargo, cargo. All. Cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo. Par. O! ransom, ransom: Do not hide mine eyes. [They seize him and blindfold him.

1 Soid. Boskos thromuldo boskos

Par. I know you are the Muskos' regiment.
And I shall lose my life for want of language:
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian or French, let him speak to me,
I will discover that which will undo
The Florentine.

1 Sold. Boskos vauvado :

I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue :
-Kerelybonto :— -Sir,
Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen po-
Are at thy bosom.
[niards

Par. Oh!

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And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,
Their force, their purposes: nay, I'll speak that
Which
you will wonder at.

1 Sold. But wilt thou faithfully?
Par. If I do not, damu me.

1 Sold. Acordo linta.

Come on, thou art granted space.

[Exit, with PAROLLES guarded.

2 Sold. Captain I will.

1 Lord. He will betray us all unto ourInform 'em that. [selves:

2 Sold. So I will, Sir.

1 Lord. Till then I'll keep him dark, and safely lock'd. [Exeun!

SCENE II.-Florence.-A Room in the
WIDOW's House.

Enter BERTRAM and DIANA.

Ber. They told me, that your name was
Fontibell.

Dia. No my good lord, Diana.

Ber. Titled goddess;

And worth it, with addition! But fair soul,
In your fine frame hath love no quality?
If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,

You are no maiden but a monument:

When you are dead you should be such a one

As you are now, for you are cold and stern;
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your sweet self was got.

Dia. She then was honest.

Ber. So should you be.

Dia. No:

My mother did but duty; such, my lord,
As you owe to you wife.

Ber. No more of that!

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If I should swear by Jove's great attributes,
I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill? this has no holding,
To swear by him whom I protest to love,
That I will work against him: Therefore your
oaths

At least in my opinion.
Are words and poor conditions; but unseal'd:

Ber. Change it, change it;
Se not so holy cruel; love is holy;
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts,
That you do charge men with: Stand no more
Who then recover; say, thou art mine, and ever
But thyself unto my sick desires,
[off
My love, as it begins, shall so persever.
Dia. I see, that men make hopes, in such
affairs,
[ring.
That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that
Ber. I lend it thee, my dear, but have no
To give it from me
[power

Dia. Will you not, my lord?
Ber. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors:
Which were the greatest obloquy i'the world
In me to lose.

Dia. Mine honour's such a ring:

1 Lord. Go tell the count Rousillon, and e. Against his determined resolution never to comy brother, [him muffled.habi with. Helena. †The scene is-we never swear by what is not holy,

We have caught the woodcock, and will keep but take to witness the Highest, the Divinity.

The proof.

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My chastity's the jewel of our house, Bequeathed down from many ancestors; Which were the greatest obloquy i'the world In me to lose: Thus your own proper wisdom Brings in the champion honour on my part, Against your vain assault.

Ber. Here, take my ring:

My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine, And I'll be bid by thee.

Dia. When midnight comes, knock at my chamber window;

I'll order take, my mother shall not hear.
Now will I charge you in the band of truth,
When you have conquered my yet maiden bed,
Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me :
My reasons are most strong; and you shall
know them,

When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:
And on your finger, in the night, I'll put
Another ring; that, what in time proceeds,
May token to the future our past deeds.
Adieu, till then; then, fail not: You have won
A wife of me, though there my hope be done.
Ber. A heaven on earth I have won by
wooing thee.
[Exit.
Dia. For which live long to thank both
heaven and me!

You may so in the end.

My mother told me just how he would woo,
As if she sat in his heart; she says, all men
Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me,
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him,
When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so
braid,*

Marry that will, I'll live and die a maid:
Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin
To cozen him, that would unjustly win. [Exit.

SCENE III.-The Fiorentine Camp. Enter the two French LORDS, and two or three Soldiers.

1 Lord. You have not given him his mother's letter?

2 Lord. I have delivered it an hour since: there is something in't that stings his nature; for, on the reading it, he changed almost into another man.

1 Lord. He has much worthy blame laid upon him, for shaking off so good a wife, and so sweet a lady.

Be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his company to night?

2 Lord. Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.

1 Lord. That approaches apace: I would gladly have him see his company* anatomized; that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.

2 Lord. We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of

the other.

1 Lord. In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?

2 Lord. I hear, there is an overture of peace. 1 Lord Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.

2 Lord. What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel higher, or return again to France?

1 Lord. I perceive by this demand, you are not altogether of his council.

2 Lord. Let it be forbid, Sir! so should I be a great deal of his act.

1 Lord. Sir, his wife, some two months since, fled from his house; her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le grand; which holy undertaking, with most austere sanctimony, she accomplished: and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven. 2 Lord. How is this justified?

1 Lord. The stronger part of it by her own. letters; which makes her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say, is come, was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place. 2 Lord. Hath the count all this intelligence? 1 Lord. Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.

2 Lord. I am heartily sorry, that he'll be glad of this.

1 Lord. How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses!

2 Lord. And how mightily, some other times, we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity, that his valour hath here acquired for him, shall at home be encountered with a shame as

2 Lord. Especially he hath incurred the ev-ample. erlasting displeasure of the king, who had even turned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.

1 Lord When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it.

2 Lord He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.

1 Lord. Now, God delay our rebellion; as we are ourselves, what things are we!

2 Lord. Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all treasons, we still see them reveal themselves, till they attain to their abhorred ends; so he, that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper

stream o'erflows himself.t

1 Lord. Is it not meant damnable‡ in us, to
*Crafty, deceitful.

1. Betrays his own secrets in his own talk.
Here, as elsewhere, used adverbially.

1 Lord. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues.

Enter a SERVANT. How now? where's your master?

Serv. He met the duke in the street, Sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave; his lordship will next morning for France. The duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king.

2 Lord. They shall be no more than needful there. if they were more than they can commend.

Enter BERTRAM.

1 Lord. They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now. How now my lord, is't not after midnight?

Ber. I have to-night despatched sixteen businesses, a month's length a-peice, by an abstract *For companion.

of success: I have conge'd with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned after her; writ to my lady mother, I am returning; entertained my convoy; and, between these main parcels of despatch, effected many nicer needs; the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.

2 Lord. If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.

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

1 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.

1 Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. I humbly thank you sir, a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor. 1 Sold. 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:

Ber. I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter: But shall we have this dialouge between the fool and the soldier? -Come, bring forth this counterfeit module; he has deceived me, like a double-Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, meaning prophesier.

2Lord. Bring him forth: [Exeunt SOLDIERS.] he has sat in the stocks all night, pour gallant

knave.

Ber. No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping his spurst so long. How does he carry himself?

1 Lord. I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But to answer you as you would be understood; he weeps, like a wench that had shed her milk: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance, to this very instant disaster of his setting i'the stocks: And what think you he hath confessed?

Ber. Nothing of me, has he?

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Corambus so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each: mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred and fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll: half of which dare not shake the snow from off their cossacks, lest they shake themselves to pieces. Ber. What shall be done to him?

1 Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my conditions, and what credit I have with the duke?

1 Sold. Well, that's set down. You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be 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

2 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 pa-corrupt him to revolt. What say you to this? tience to hear it.

"Re-enter SOLDIERS, with PAROLLES. Ber. A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of me; hush! hush!

1 Lord. Hoodman comes!-Porto tartarossa. 1 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

say no more.

1 Sold. Bosko chimurcho.

2 Lord. Boblibindo chicurmurco.

1 Sold. You are a merciful general:-Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.

Par. And truly, as I hope to live.

1 Sold. First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong. What say you to that?

Par. Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable; the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live. 1 Sold. Shall I set down your answer so? Par. Do; I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will.

Ber. All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!

1 Lord. You are deceived, my lord; this is monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase,) that had the whole theorict of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger.

2 Lord. I will never trust a man again, for keeping his sword clean; nor believe he can have every thing in him, by wearing his apparel neatly.

1 Sold. Well, that's set down.

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what do you known of it?

Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the intergatories:‡ Demand them singly.

1 Sold. Do you know this captain Dumain? Par. I know him: he was a butchr's prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the sheriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, that could not say him, nay.

[DUMAIN lifts up his hand in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands: though I know, his brains are ferfeit to the next tile that falls.

1 Sold. Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp?

Par. Upon my knowledge he is, and lousy 1 Lord. Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.

1 Sold. What is his reputation with the duke? Par. The duke knows him for no other but a

poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o'the band. I think, I have his letter in my pocket.

1 Sold. Marry, we'll search.

Par. In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent.

1 Sold. Here 'tis; here's a paper? Shall I read it to you?

Par. I do not know, if it be it, or no.
Ber. Our interpreter does it well.
1 L rd. Excellently.

1 Sold. 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 allure

*Cossack then signified a horseman's loose coat.
Disposition and character. For interrogatories:
An idiot, under the care of the sheriff.
A natural fool.

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