Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you; I long to talk with the young, noble soldier. Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate, fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Marseilles. A Street. Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants. Be bold, you do so grow in my requital, Enter a gentle Astringer. This man may help me to his majesty's ear, Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen Gent. What's your will? Hel. That it will please you To give this poor petition to the king; And aid me with that store of power you have To come into his presence. Gent. The king's not here. Hel. Gent. Not here, sir? Not, indeed; He hence removed last night, and with more haste Than is his use. Wid. Lord, how we lose our pains! Hel. All's well that ends well, yet; VOL. I.-45 Though time seems so adverse, and means unfit.- Hel. Gent. This I'll do for you. Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well thanked, Whate'er falls more.- -We must to horse again;— Go, go, provide. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Rousillon. The inner Court of the Countess's Palace. Enter Clown and PAROLLES. Par. Good monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafeu this letter. I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure. Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Pr'ythee, allow the wind. Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor. Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Pr'ythee, get thee further. Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Clo. Foh, pr'ythee, stand away. A paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself. Enter LAFEU. Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, (but not a musk-cat,) that has fallen into the unclean fish-pond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit Clown. Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched. Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for you. Let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business. Par. I beseech your honor to hear me one single word. Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't. Save your word. Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Laf. You beg more than one word then.-Cox' my passion! give me your hand. - How does your drum? Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee. Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sound.] The king's coming, I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me: I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Countess's Enter King, Countess, LAFEU, Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, &c. King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lacked the sense to know Count. 'Tis past, my liege: And I beseech your majesty to make it Natural rebellion, done i'the blade of youth; When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, King. My honored lady, I have forgiven and forgotten all; Though my revenges were high bent upon him, This I must say, Laf. Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive; King. Praising what is lost, All repetition. Let him not ask our pardon: Gent. I shall, my liege. [Exit Gentleman. King. What says he to your daughter? Have you spoke? Laf. All that he is hath reference to your highness. King. Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me, That set him high in fame. Laf. Enter BERTRAM. He looks well on't. King. I am not a day of season, For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail In me at once; but to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth, Ber. My high-repented blames, Dear sovereign, pardon to me. King. All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admirably, my liege: at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart Where the impression of mine eye infixing, To a most hideous object. Thence it came, King. Well excused: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away From the great compt. But love, that comes too late, Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, To the great sender turns a sour offence, Crying, that's good that's gone. Our rash faults Count. Which better than the first, O dear Heaven, bless! Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's name That she may quickly come. By my old beard, Ber. Hers it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fastened to't. This ring was mine, and, when I gave it Helen, Necessitied to help, that by this token I would relieve her. Had you that craft to reave her Ber. My gracious sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, |