ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

Ber. How now, monfieur? this drum fticks forely in your difpofition.

2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum.

Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum fo loft! There was an excellent command! to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own foldiers.

2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the fervice; it was a difafter of war that Cæfar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our fuccefs: fome difhonour we had, in the lofs of that drum; but it is not to be recover'd.

Par. It might have been recover'd.
Ber. It might; but it is not now.

Par. It is to be recover'd: but that the merit of fervice is feldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or bic jacet.

Ber. Why, if you have a ftomach to't, monfieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this inftrument of honour again into its native quarter, be magnani. mous in the enterprize, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke fhall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost fyllable of your worthinefs.

Par. By the hand of a foldier, I will undertake it.
Ber. But you must not now flumber in it.

Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will prefently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myfelf in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation, and, by midnight, look to hear further from me.

Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it?

dilemmas,infallible projects,

Par.

Par. I know not what the fuccefs will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.

Ber. I know, thou art valiant; and, to the poffibility of thy' foldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewel.

Par. I love not many words.

[Exit.

I Lord. No more than a fish loves water.-Is not this a ftrange fellow, my lord? that fo confidently feems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn'd than do't?

2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Ber. Why, do you think, he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto?

2 Lord. None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost imbofs'd him, you fhall fee his fall tonight; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship's respect.

h

k

1 Lord. We'll make you fome fport with the fox, ere we i cafe him. He was first smok'd by the old lord Lafeu when his difguife and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night. I must go look my twigs; he fhall be caught.

Ber. Your brother, he fhall go along with me.

2 Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you. [Exit. Ber. Now will I lead you to the houfe, and fhew you The lafs I spoke of.

1 Lord. But, you fay, fhe's honest.

Ber. That's all the fault: I fpoke with her but once, And found her wondrous cold; but I fent to her, By this fame coxcomb that we have i'the wind,

foldiership,]-martial fkill. & addrefs bimself unto ?]-undertake. imbofs'd him,]-run him down.

* You'll tell me.

i cafe him.]—strip him.

Tokens

Tokens and letters, which she did re-fend;

And this is all I have done: She's a fair creature;
Will you go see her?

I Lord. With all my heart, my lord.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

VII.

Florence. The Widow's Houfe.

k

Enter Helena, and Widow.

Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not fhe, I know not how I fhall affure you further, 'But I fhall lose the grounds I work upon.

Wid. Though my eftate be fallen, I was well born, Nothing acquainted with these businesses

And would not put my reputation now

In any staining act.

Hel. Nor would I wish you.

First, give me truft, the count he is my husband;
And, what" to your fworn counsel I have spoken,
Is fo, from word to word; and then you cannot
By the "good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.

Wid. I fhould believe you;

For you have fhew'd me that, which well approves

You are great in fortune.

Hel. Take this purfe of gold,

And let me buy your friendly help thus far,

Which I will over-pay, and pay again,

When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter,

mifdoubt]-fufpect.

But I fball loje the grounds I work upon.]-Without discovering myfelf to the count, and thereby fruftrating my defign.

m

to your worn counfel]-under an oath of fecrefy.

good aid-lent for fo good an end.

Lays

Lays down his wanton fiege before her beauty,
Refolves to carry her; let her, in fine, confent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
Now his important blood will nought deny
That she'll demand: A ring the county wears,
That downward hath fucceeded in his house,
From fon to fon, fome four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would not feem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

Wid. Now I fee

The bottom of your purpose.

Hel. You fee it lawful then: It is no more,
But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
Defires this ring; appoints him an encounter ;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chaftly abfent: after this,
Το marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns
To what is past already.

Wid. I have yielded :

Inftruct my daughter how fhe fhall perfever,
That time, and place, with this deceit so lawful,
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With muficks of all forts, and fongs compos'd
To her unworthinefs: it nothing fteads us,
To chide him from our eaves; for he perfifts,
As if his life lay on't.

Hel. Why then, to-night

Let us affay our plot; which, if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,

! Unlawful meaning in a lawful a&t;

• important]-importunate.

P perfever,]-persevere, proceed.

I wicked meaning]-on the part of Bertram, an intentional adulterer.

• And lawful.

Where

Where both not fin, and yet a finful fact :

But let's about it.

[Exeunt.

IV. SCENE I.

ACT IV.

Part of the French Camp in Florence.

Enter one of the French Lords, with five or fix Soldiers in ambufo.

Lord. He can come no other way but by this hedge' corner: When you fally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourfelves, no matter: for we muft not feem to understand him; unless some one amongst us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

Sol. Good captain, let me be the interpreter.

Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice?

Sol. No, fir, I warrant you.

Lord. But what linfy-woolfy haft thou to speak to us again?

Sol. Even fuch as you speak to me.

Lord. He must think us fome band of strangers i'the adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a fmack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we fpeak one to another; so we feem to know, is " to know ftraight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile

S

linfy-woolfy]-gibberish-chough's language.

ftrangers i'the adverfary's entertainment.]-foreign troops in the ene"to knew]-to make known, to let him know.

my's pay.

two

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »