Count. Alas! and would you take the letter of her? Might you not know, fhe would do as fhe has done, By fending me a letter? Read it again. Stew. I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone ; With fainted vow my faults to have amended. Ah, what sharp ftings are in her mildeft words!- Which thus fhe hath prevented. Stew. Pardon me, madam : If I had given you this at over-night, She might have been o'er-ta'en; and yet fhe writes, • Herculean. P advice]-difcretion. Pursuit Ee 3 Purfuit would be but vain. Count. What angel fhall Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, Let every word weigh heavy of her worth, SCENE V. Without the walls of Florence. A tucket afar off. [Exeunt. Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, and Mariana, with other citizens. Wid. Nay, 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. a I bave no fkill in fenfe to make diftinction:]-I am unable to determine. 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. 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 honesty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been folicited by a gentleman his companion. Mar. I know the knave; hang him! one Parolles : a filthy officer he is in' thofe fuggestions for the young earl. -Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of luft,' are not the things they go under : many a maid hath been feduced by them; and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible fhews 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 known, but the ' modesty which is fo loft. t Dia. You fhall not need to fear me. Enter Helena, difguifed like a pilgrim. Wid. I hope fo.Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lye at my house: thither they fend one another: I'll queftion her. God fave you, pilgrim! Whither are you bound? in thofe fuggeftions]-plots that he lays; in intriguing. are not the things they go under :]-what their names befpeak them. "Not of that dye which their investments fhew." HAMLET, Act I, S. 3. Pol. modefty which is loft.]—character, which is tarnish'd, though the attempt should fail. Hel. To St. Jaques le grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? Wid. Ay, marry is it. Hark you! [A march afar off. 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 yourself? Wid. If you fhall please fo, pilgrim. Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leifure. Hel. I did fo. Wid. Here you fhall fee a countryman of yours, 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 ftole from France, Hel. Ay, furely, meer the truth; I know his lady. Hel. What's his name? Dia. Monfieur Parolles. Hel. Oh, I believe with him, In argument of praife, or to the worth Of the great count himself, fhe is too mean "for-becaufe. Το To have her name repeated; all her deferving I have not heard examined. Dia. Alas, poor lady! 'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife Of a detefting lord. Wid. A right good creature: wherefoe'er she 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 amorous count folicits her In the unlawful purpose. Wid. He does, indeed; 'Andy 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 In honefteft defence. Enter with drums and colours, Bertram, Parolles, Officers and Soldiers attending. Mar. The gods forbid elfe! Wid. So, now they come : That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son; That, Efcalus. Hel. Which is the Frenchman? Dia. He; That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow; I would, he lov'd his wife: if he were honester, He were much goodlier :-Is't not a handfome gentleman? Hel. I like him well. Dia. 'Tis pity, he is not honeft: Yond's that fame knave, That leads him to these places; were I his lady, I'd poison that vile rascal. * examined.]-call'd in question. y brokes]-tampers. Hel. |