You know my father left me some prescriptions For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me Count. For Paris, was it? speak. This was your motive Hel. My lord your son made me to think of this; Had, from the conversation of my thoughts, 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, Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off Hel. There's something in 't, 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, Count. Dost thou believe 't? Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly. Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave, and love, To those of mine in court: I'll stay at home, [Exeunt. ACT II. 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. I 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 That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords; 2 Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty! Before you serve. Both Lords. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewell.-[Retires to a couch, beckoning Attendants.] Come hither to me. I Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay 2 Lord. behind us! 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 the forehorse to a smock, 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. I Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par. Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so, farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body. 1 Lord. Farewell, captain. 2 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 entrenched it: say to him, I live, and observe his reports for me. 2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices!-[Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? Ber. Stay; the king— 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 swordmen. [Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES. Enter LAFEU. Laf. [Kneeling.] Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. Laf. Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon. I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy; King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate, Laf. Good faith, across: but, my good lord, 'tis thus ; King. No. Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, my noble grapes, an if To give great Charlemain a pen in 's hand, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, doctor she: my lord, there's one arriv'd, In this my light deliv'rance, I have spoke King. Laf. And not be all day neither. Nay, I'll fit you, [Exit. King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. Re-enter LAFEU, with HELENA. This haste hath wings indeed. Laf. Nay, come your ways. King. Laf. Nay, come your ways; This is his majesty, say your mind to him: King. Now, fair one, does your business follow us? Gerard de Narbon was my father; In what he did profess, well found. King. I knew him. Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him ; Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one, Which, as the dearest issue of his practice, And of his old experience the only darling, He bade me store up, as a triple eye, Safer than mine own two, more dear: I have so: I come to tender it, and my appliance, [Exit. King. We thank you, maiden; But may not be so credulous of cure, To empirics; or to dissever so 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 grateful: Hel. What I can do, can do no hurt to try, Oft does them by the weakest minister : So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown, When judges have been babes; great floods have flown Oft expectation fails, and most oft there Where most it promises; and oft it hits, Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits. King. I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid ; Thy pains, not us'd, must by thyself be paid: Proffers, not took, reap thanks for their reward. Hel. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd: It is not so with Him that all things knows, The help of heaven we count the act of men, |