Enter Helena and Clown.

Hel. My mother greets me kindly, is fhe well?

Clo. She is not well, but yet fhe has her health; fhe's very merry, but yet fhe is not well: but, thanks be given, fhe's very well, and wants nothing i'th' world; but yet she is not well.

Hel. If fhe be very well, what does fhe ail, that fhe's not very well?

Clo. Truly, fhe's very well, indeed, but for two things.

Hel. What two things?

Clo. One, that she's not in heav'n, whither God fend her quickly; the other, that he's in earth, from whence God fend her quickly!

Enter Parolles.

Par. Blefs you, my fortunate lady !

Hel. I hope, Sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortune.

Par. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them ftill. O, my knave, how does my old lady?

Clo. So that you had her wrinkles and I her mony, I would, fhe did, as you fay.

Par. Why, I fay nothing.

Clo. Marry, you are the wiser man ; for many a man's tongue fhakes out his mafter's undoing to fay nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.

Par. Away, thou'rt a knave.

Clo. You fhould have faid, Sir, before a knave, th'art a knave; that's, before me th'art a knave: this had been truth, Sir.

Par. Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee. Clo. Did you find me in yourself, Sir? or were you taught to find me the fearch, Sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure, and the encrease of laughter.

Par.

Par. A good knave, i'faith, and well fed.
Madam, my Lord will go away to night,
A very serious bufinefs calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,

Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge
But puts it off by a compell'd reftraint:

Whofe want, and whofe delay, is ftrew'd with fweets
Which they diftil now in the curbed time,

To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy,
And pleasure drown the brim.

Hel. What's his will elfe?

Par. That you will take your inftant leave o'th' King, And make this hafte as your own good proceeding; Strengthen'd with what apology, you think, May make it probable need.

Hel. What more commands he?

Par. That having this obtain'd, you presently

Attend his further pleasure.

Hel. (16) In every thing I wait upon his will.
Par. I fhall report it fo.

Hel. I pray you.

Come, Sirrah.

Enter Lafeu and Bertram.

[Exit Parolles, [To Clown. [Exeunt

Laf. But, I hope, your Lordship thinks not him a foldier.

Ber. Yes, my Lord, and of very valiant approof.
Laf. You have it from his own deliverance.
Ber. And by other warranted teftimony.

Laf. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.

(16) Hel. In every Thing I wait upon bis Will.

Per. I fhall report it for

Hel, I pray you come, Sirrah.] The Pointing of He len's last short Speech stands thus abfurdly, thro' all the Editions. My Regulation refores the true Meaning. Upon Parolles faying, He fhall report it fo; Helena is intended to reply, I pray you, do so; and then, turning to the Clown, She more familiarly addreffes him, and bids him come along with her.

Ber

Ber. I do affure you, my Lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant.

Laf. I have then finned against his experience, and tranfgrefs'd against his valour; and my ftate that way is dangerous, fince I cannot yet find in my heart to repent: here he comes; I pray you, make us friends, Î will purfue the amity.

Enter Parolles.

Par. These things fhall be done, Sir..
Laf. I pray you, Sir, who's his taylor?

Par. Sir?

Laf. O, I know him well; I, Sir, he, Sir's, a good workman, a very good taylor.

Ber. Is the gone to the King?

Par. She is.

Ber. Will the away to night?
Par. As you'll have her.

[Afide to Parolles.

Bar. I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, given order for our horfes; and to night, when I fhould take poffeffion of the bride- and ere I do

begin

Laf. A good traveller is fomething at the latter end of a dinner; but one that lyes three thirds, and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, fhould be once heard, and thrice beaten God fave you,

captain.

Ber. Is there any unkindness between my Lord and. you, Monfieur ?

Par. I know not, how I have deserved to run into my Lord's displeasure.

Laf. (17) You have made shift to run into't, boots and fpurs and all, like him that leapt into the custard;

(17) You have made shift to run into't, Boots and Spurs and all, like him that leapt into the Cuftard.] This odd Allufion is not introduc'd without a View to Satire. It was a Foolery practis'd at City-Entertainments, whilst the Jefter or Zany was in Vogue, for him to jump into a large deep Cuftard: fet for the Purpose, to set on a Quantity of barren Spectators to laugh; as our Peet fays in his Hamlet.

and

and out of it you'll run again, rather than fuffer queftion for your refidence.

Ber. It may be, you have mistaken him, my Lord.

Laf. And fhall do fo ever, tho' I took him at's prayers. Fare you well, my Lord, and believe this of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut: the foul of this man is his clothes. Truft him not in matter of heavy confequence: I have kept of them tame, and know their natures. Farewel, Monfieur, I have spoken better of you, than you have or will deferve at my hand, but we muft do good against evil. [Exit.

Par. An idle lord, I fwear.

Ber. I think fo.

Par. Why, do you not know him?

Ber. Yes, I know him well, and common fpeech Gives him a worthy pafs. Here comes my clog.

Enter Helena.

Hel. I have, Sir, as I was commanded from you, Spoke with the King, and have procur'd his leave For prefent parting; only, he defires

Some private fpeech with you.

Ber. I fhall obey his will.

You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time; nor does
The miniftration and required office

On my particular. Prepar'd I was not

For fuch a bufinefs; therefore am I found
So much unfettled: this drives me to intreat you,
That prefently you take your way for home,
And rather mufe, than ask, why I intreat you;
For my respects are better than they feem,
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than fhews itself at the first view,
To you that know them not. This to my mother.

[Giving a letter 'Twill be two days ere I fhall fee you, fo

I leave you to your wisdom.

Hel. Sir, I can nothing fay,

But that I am your moft obedient fervant.

Ber

Ber. Come, come, no more of that.

Hel. And ever shall

With true obfervance feek to eke out That,

Wherein tow'rd me my homely ftars have fail'd
To equal my great fortune.

Ber. Let That go:

My hafte is very great.

Farewel; hie home.

Hel. Pray, Sir, your pardon.

Ber. Well, what would you say?

Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe;
Nor dare I fay, 'tis mine, and yet it is;

But, like a tim'rous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.

Ber. What would you have?

Hel. Something, and scarce fo much nothing, indeed.

I would not tell you what I would, my Lord-'faith,

yes;

Strangers and foes do funder, and not kifs.

Ber. I pray you, ftay not: but in hafte to horse. Hel. (18) I fhall not break your bidding, good my Lord. [Exit Helena. Ber. Where are my other men, Monfieur ?-farewel. Go thou tow'r'd home, where I will never come, Whilst I can shake my sword, or hear the drum : Away, and for our flight.

Par. Bravely, Couragio!

[Exeunt.

(18) Hel. I shall not break your Bidding, good my Lord: Where are my other Men? Monfieur, farewel.

Ber. Go thou toward bome, where I will never come,] What other Men is Helen here enquiring after? Or who is She fuppos'd to ask for them? The old Countefs, 'tis certain, did not fend her to the Court without fome Attendants: but neither the Clown, nor any of her Retinue, are now upon the Stage: Bertram, observing Helen to linger fondly, and wanting to fhift her off, puts on a Shew of Hafte, asks Parolles for his Servants, and then gives his Wife an abrupt Difmiffion.

ACT