there, do muster true gait*, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure +, such are to be follow'd; after them, and take a more dilated farewell. Ber. And I will do so. Par. Worthy fellows: and like to prove most sinewy sword-men. [Exeunt Bertram and Parolles. Enter LAFEU. Laf. Pardon, my lord, [Kneeling] for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up. Stands, that has brought his pardon. I would, you King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for't. Laf. Goodfaith, across : But, my good lord, 'tis thus; will you be cured King. No. Laf. O, will you eat No grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, Could reach them: I have seen a medicine §, That's able to breathe life into a stone; Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary, With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch To give great Charlemain a pen in his hand, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she: my lord, there's one arrived, If you will see her, now by my faith and honour, If seriously I may convey my thoughts In this my light deliverance, I have spoke With one, that, in her sex, her years, profession, Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more Have the true military step. † The dance. Unskilfully; a phrase taken from the exercise at a quintaine. A female physician. . A kind of dance. By profession is meant her declaration of the object of her coming. Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her, (For that is her demand,) and know her business? That done, laugh well at me. King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration; that we with thee Laf. Nay, Pll fit you, And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafeú. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA. Laf. Nay, come your ways. King. This haste hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways; This is his majesty, say your mind to him: Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him; Knowing him, is enough. On his bed of death Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so; King. We thank you, maiden; But may not be so credulous of cure, When our most learned doctors leave us; and I am like Pandarus. + Of acknowledged excellence. A third eye. Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem. King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grate ful: Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give, Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, Oft does them by the weakest minister: From simple sources; and great seas have dried, Where most it promises; and oft it hits, Where hope is coldest, and despair most sits. King. I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid; Thy pains, not used, must by thyself be paid: But know I think, and think I know most sure, An allusion to Daniel judging the two elders. + i. e. When Moses smote the rock in Horeb. This must refer to the children of Israel passing the Red Sea, when miracles had been denied by Pharaoh. i. e. Pretend to greater things than befits the mediocrity of my condition, Hel. The greatest grace lending grace, Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring, Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring; Ere twice in mark and occidental damp Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass; Hel. Tax of impudence, A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,- King. Methinks, in thee some blessed spirit doth speak; His powerful sound within an organ weak; In common sense, sense saves another way. And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee; King. Make thy demand. Hel. But will you make it even? King. Ay, by my sceptre, and my hopes of heaven. Hel. Then shalt thou give me, with thy kingly hand, What husband in thy power I will command: To choose from forth the royal blood of France; The evening star. ti. e. May be counted among the gifts enjoyed by them. The spring or morning of life. King. Here is my hand; the premises observed, More should I question thee, and more I must; SCENE II.-Rousillon.-A Room in the COUNTESS'S Enter COUNTESS and CLOWN. Count. Come on, Sir; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding. Clo. I will shew myself highly fed, and lowly taught: I know my business is but to the court." Count. To the court! Why, what place make you special, when you put off that with such contempt? But to the court! Clo. Truly madam, if God hath lent a man any manners, he may easily put it off at court: he that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and, indeed, such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the court: but, for me, I have an answer will serve all men. Count. Marry, that's a bountiful answer, that fits all questions. Clo. It is like a barber's chair, that fits all but tocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock. Count. Will your answer serve fit to all ques. tions? Clo. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French crown for your taffata punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's fore-finger, as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday, a morris for May-day, 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. |