Count.

Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear.
You know my father left me some prescriptions
Of rare and prov'd effects, such as his reading
And manifest experience had collected

For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me
In heedfullest reservation to bestow them,
As notes, whose faculties inclusive were,
More than they were in note: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approv'd, set down,

To cure the desperate languishings whereof
The king is render'd lost.

Count.

For Paris, was it? speak.

This was your motive

Hel. My lord your son made me to think of this;
Else Paris and the medicine and the king

Had, from the conversation of my thoughts,
Haply, been absent then.

Count.

But think you, Helen,

If you should tender your supposed aid,

He would receive it? He and his physicians

Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him,
They, that they cannot help: how shall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,

Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off

The danger to itself?

Hel.

There's something hints,

More than my father's skill, which was the greatest

Of his profession, that his good receipt

Shall, for my legacy, be sanctified

By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour

But give me leave to try success, I'd venture

The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure
By such a day and hour.

Count.

Dost thou believ't?

Hel. Ay, madam, knowingly.

Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave, and love, Means, and attendants, and my loving greetings

To those of mine in court; I'll stay at home,

And
pray
Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this,

God's blessing into thy attempt:

What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I-Paris. A Room in the King's Palace.

Flourish. Enter King, with young Lords, taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and Attendants. King. Farewell, young lord; these warlike principles Do not throw from you :-and you, my lord, farewell :Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all,

The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,

And is enough for both.

First Lord.

It is our hope, sir,

After well-enter'd soldiers, to return

And find your grace in health.

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart

Will not confess he owes the malady

That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the sons

Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy1

(Those bated,2 that inherit but the fall

Of the last monarchy) see, that you come

Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when

The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,

That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

Second Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!
King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them;
They say, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand; beware of being captives,
Before you serve.

Both.

Our hearts receive your warnings.

[The King retires to a couch.

King. Farewell.-Come hither to me.

First Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault, the spark.

Second Lord.

O, 'tis brave wars!

Par. Most admirable: I have seen those wars.

Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with-
'Too young,' and 'the next year,' and ''tis too early.'
Par. An thy mind stand to 't, boy, steal away bravely.
Ber. I shall stay here,

Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,

Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn,

But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.
First Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par.

Commit it, Count.

Second Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell.
Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.
First Lord. Farewell, captain.

Second Lord. Sweet Monsieur Parolles !

Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals :-you shall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one Captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword intrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me.

Second Lord. We shall, noble captain.

Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will ye do?

Ber. Stay; the king

[Seeing him rise.

Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, 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 followed: 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.

Laf. Then here's a man stands, that has bought his pardon. I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy ; And that, at my bidding, you could so stand up. 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 cur'd

Of your infirmity?

O, will you eat

No grapes, my royal fox? yes, but you will,
My noble grapes, an if my royal fox
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,

4

With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch