ACT II. SCENE 1. Paris. The KING'S palace  Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING with divers young LORDS taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM and PAROLLES; ATTENDANTS    KING. Farewell, young lords; these war-like principles     Do not throw from you. And you, my lords, 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. 'Tis our hope, sir,     After well-ent'red 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 Italy-     Those bated 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 aloud. 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.   KING. Farewell.  [To ATTENDANTS]  Come hither to me.                                        The KING retires attended   FIRST LORD. O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!   PAROLLES. 'Tis not his fault, the spark.     SECOND LORD. O, 'tis brave wars!   PAROLLES. Most admirable! I have seen those wars.   BERTRAM. I am commanded here and kept a coil with     'Too young' and next year' and "Tis too early.'   PAROLLES. An thy mind stand to 't, boy, steal away bravely.   BERTRAM. 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.   FIRST LORD. There's honour in the theft.   PAROLLES. Commit it, Count.   SECOND LORD. I am your accessary; and so farewell.   BERTRAM. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body.   FIRST LORD. Farewell, Captain.   SECOND LORD. Sweet Monsieur Parolles!   PAROLLES. 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     entrench'd it. Say to him I live; and observe his reports for me.   FIRST LORD. We shall, noble Captain.   PAROLLES. Mars dote on you for his novices!       Exeunt LORDS     What will ye do?                              Re-enter the KING    BERTRAM. Stay; the King!   PAROLLES. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have     restrain'd 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 receiv'd star; and though the devil lead     the measure, such are to be followed. After them, and take a more     dilated farewell.   BERTRAM. And I will do so.   PAROLLES. Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.                                      Exeunt BERTRAM and PAROLLES                                Enter LAFEU    LAFEU.  [Kneeling]  Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.   KING. I'll fee thee to stand up.   LAFEU. Then here's a man stands that has brought 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.   LAFEU. Good faith, across!     But, my good lord, 'tis thus: will you be cur'd     Of your infirmity?   KING. No.   LAFEU. 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     With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch     Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,     To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand     And write to her a love-line.   KING. What her is this?   LAFEU. Why, Doctor She! My lord, there's one arriv'd,     If you will see her. Now, by my faith and honour,     If seriously I may convey my thoughts     In this my light deliverance, I have spoke     With one that in her sex, her years, profession,     Wisdom, and constancy, hath amaz'd me more     Than I dare blame my weakness. Will you see her,     For that is her demand, and know her business?     That done, laugh well at me.   KING. Now, good Lafeu,     Bring in the admiration, that we with the     May spend our wonder too, or take off thine     By wond'ring how thou took'st it.   LAFEU. Nay, I'll fit you,     And not be all day neither.                       Exit LAFEU   KING. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.                     Re-enter LAFEU with HELENA    LAFEU. Nay, come your ways.   KING. This haste hath wings indeed.   LAFEU. Nay, come your ways;     This is his Majesty; say your mind to him.     A traitor you do look like; but such traitors     His Majesty seldom fears. I am Cressid's uncle,     That dare leave two together. Fare you well.            Exit   KING. Now, fair one, does your business follow us?   HELENA. Ay, my good lord.     Gerard de Narbon was my father,     In what he did profess, well found.   KING. I knew him.   HELENA. 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 th' only darling,     He bade me store up as a triple eye,     Safer than mine own two, more dear. I have so:     And, hearing your high Majesty is touch'd     With that malignant cause wherein the honour     Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,     I come to tender it, and my appliance,     With all bound humbleness.   KING. We thank you, maiden;     But may not be so credulous of cure,     When our most learned doctors leave us, and     The congregated college have concluded     That labouring art can never ransom nature     From her inaidable estate-I say we must not     So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,     To prostitute our past-cure malady     To empirics; or to dissever so     Our great self and our credit to esteem     A senseless help, when help past sense we deem.   HELENA. My duty then shall pay me for my pains.     I will no more enforce mine office on you;     Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts     A modest one to bear me back again.   KING. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful.     Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give     As one near death to those that wish him live.     But what at full I know, thou know'st no part;     I knowing all my peril, thou no art.   HELENA. What I can do can do no hurt to try,     Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.     He that of greatest works is finisher     Oft does them by the weakest minister.     So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,     When judges have been babes. Great floods have flown     From simple sources, and great seas have dried     When miracles have by the greatest been denied.     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.   HELENA. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd.     It is not so with Him that all things knows,     As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;     But most it is presumption in us when     The help of heaven we count the act of men.     Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;     Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.     I am not an impostor, that proclaim     Myself against the level of mine aim;     But know I think, and think I know most sure,     My art is not past power nor you past cure.   KING. Art thou so confident? Within what space     Hop'st thou my cure?   HELENA. The greatest Grace lending grace.     Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring     Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,     Ere twice in murk and occidental damp     Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,     Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass     Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,     What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,     Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.   KING. Upon thy certainty and confidence     What dar'st thou venture?   HELENA. Tax of impudence,     A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame,     Traduc'd by odious ballads; my maiden's name     Sear'd otherwise; ne worse of worst-extended     With vilest torture let my life be ended.   KING. Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak     His powerful sound within an organ weak;     And what impossibility would slay     In common sense, sense saves another way.     Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate     Worth name of life in thee hath estimate:     Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all     That happiness and prime can happy call.     Thou this to hazard needs must intimate     Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.     Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,     That ministers thine own death if I die.   HELENA. If I break time, or flinch in property     Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die;     And well deserv'd. Not helping, death's my fee;     But, if I help, what do you promise me?   KING. Make thy demand.   HELENA. But will you make it even?   KING. Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.   HELENA. Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand     What husband in thy power I will command.     Exempted be from me the arrogance     To choose from forth the royal blood of France,     My low and humble name to propagate     With any branch or image of thy state;     But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know     Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.   KING. Here is my hand; the premises observ'd,     Thy will by my performance shall be serv'd.     So make the choice of thy own time, for I,     Thy resolv'd patient, on thee still rely.     More should I question thee, and more I must,     Though more to know could not be more to trust,     From whence thou cam'st, how tended on. But rest     Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest.     Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed     As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed.                                               [Flourish. Exeunt]     ACT II. SCENE 2. Rousillon. The COUNT'S palace  Enter COUNTESS and CLOWN    COUNTESS. Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of your     breeding.   CLOWN. I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught. I know my     business is but to the court.   COUNTESS. To the court! Why, what place make you special, when you     put off that with such contempt? But to the court!   CLOWN. Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may     easily put it off at court. He that cannot make a leg, put off's     cap, kiss his hand, and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip,     nor cap; and indeed such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for     the court; but for me, I have an answer will serve all men.   COUNTESS. Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all questions.   CLOWN. It is like a barber's chair, that fits all buttocks-the pin     buttock, the quatch buttock, the brawn buttock, or any buttock.   COUNTESS. Will your answer serve fit to all questions?   CLOWN. As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your     French crown for your taffety punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's     forefinger, as a pancake for Shrove Tuesday, a morris for Mayday,     as the nail to his hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding     quean to a wrangling knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's     mouth; nay, as the pudding to his skin.   COUNTESS. Have you, I, say, an answer of such fitness for all     questions?   CLOWN. From below your duke to beneath your constable, it will fit     any question.   COUNTESS. It must be an answer of most monstrous size that must fit     all demands.   CLOWN. But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should     speak truth of it. Here it is, and all that belongs to't. Ask me     if I am a courtier: it shall do you no harm to learn.   COUNTESS. To be young again, if we could, I will be a fool in     question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir,     are you a courtier?   CLOWN. O Lord, sir!-There's a simple putting off. More, more, a     hundred of them.   COUNTESS. Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.   CLOWN. O Lord, sir!-Thick, thick; spare not me.   COUNTESS. I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.   CLOWN. O Lord, sir!-Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.   COUNTESS. You were lately whipp'd, sir, as I think.   CLOWN. O Lord, sir!-Spare not me.   COUNTESS. Do you cry 'O Lord, sir!' at your whipping, and 'spare     not me'? Indeed your 'O Lord, sir!' is very sequent to your     whipping. You would answer very well to a whipping, if you were     but bound to't.   CLOWN. I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my 'O Lord, sir!' I see     thing's may serve long, but not serve ever.   COUNTESS. I play the noble housewife with the time,     To entertain it so merrily with a fool.   CLOWN. O Lord, sir!-Why, there't serves well again.   COUNTESS. An end, sir! To your business: give Helen this,     And urge her to a present answer back;     Commend me to my kinsmen and my son. This is not much.   CLOWN. Not much commendation to them?   COUNTESS. Not much employment for you. You understand me?   CLOWN. Most fruitfully; I am there before my legs.   COUNTESS. Haste you again.                              Exeunt     ACT II. SCENE 3. Paris. The KING'S palace  Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES    LAFEU. They say miracles are past; and we have our philosophical     persons to make modern and familiar things supernatural and     causeless. Hence is it that we make trifles of terrors,     ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge when we should submit     ourselves to an unknown fear.   PAROLLES. Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot     out in our latter times.   BERTRAM. And so 'tis.   LAFEU. To be relinquish'd of the artists-   PAROLLES. So I say-both of Galen and Paracelsus.   LAFEU. Of all the learned and authentic fellows-   PAROLLES. Right; so I say.   LAFEU. That gave him out incurable-   PAROLLES. Why, there 'tis; so say I too.   LAFEU. Not to be help'd-   PAROLLES. Right; as 'twere a man assur'd of a-   LAFEU. Uncertain life and sure death.   PAROLLES. Just; you say well; so would I have said.   LAFEU. I may truly say it is a novelty to the world.   PAROLLES. It is indeed. If you will have it in showing, you shall     read it in what-do-ye-call't here.   LAFEU.  [Reading the ballad title]  'A Showing of a Heavenly     Effect in an Earthly Actor.'   PAROLLES. That's it; I would have said the very same.   LAFEU. Why, your dolphin is not lustier. 'Fore me, I speak in     respect-   PAROLLES. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange; that is the brief     and the tedious of it; and he's of a most facinerious spirit that     will not acknowledge it to be the-   LAFEU. Very hand of heaven.   PAROLLES. Ay; so I say.   LAFEU. In a most weak-   PAROLLES. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence;     which should, indeed, give us a further use to be made than alone     the recov'ry of the King, as to be-   LAFEU. Generally thankful.                   Enter KING, HELENA, and ATTENDANTS    PAROLLES. I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the King.   LAFEU. Lustig, as the Dutchman says. I'll like a maid the better,     whilst I have a tooth in my head. Why, he's able to lead her a     coranto.   PAROLLES. Mort du vinaigre! Is not this Helen?   LAFEU. 'Fore God, I think so.   KING. Go, call before me all the lords in court.                                                Exit an ATTENDANT     Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;     And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense     Thou has repeal'd, a second time receive     The confirmation of my promis'd gift,     Which but attends thy naming.                       Enter three or four LORDS      Fair maid, send forth thine eye. This youthful parcel     Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,     O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice     I have to use. Thy frank election make;     Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.   HELENA. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress     Fall, when love please. Marry, to each but one!   LAFEU. I'd give bay Curtal and his furniture     My mouth no more were broken than these boys',     And writ as little beard.   KING. Peruse them well.     Not one of those but had a noble father.   HELENA. Gentlemen,     Heaven hath through me restor'd the King to health.   ALL. We understand it, and thank heaven for you.   HELENA. I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest     That I protest I simply am a maid.     Please it your Majesty, I have done already.     The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me:     'We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be refused,     Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever,     We'll ne'er come there again.'   KING. Make choice and see:     Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.   HELENA. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,     And to imperial Love, that god most high,     Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit?   FIRST LORD. And grant it.   HELENA. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.   LAFEU. I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace for my     life.   HELENA. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,     Before I speak, too threat'ningly replies.     Love make your fortunes twenty times above     Her that so wishes, and her humble love!   SECOND LORD. No better, if you please.   HELENA. My wish receive,     Which great Love grant; and so I take my leave.   LAFEU. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine I'd have     them whipt; or I would send them to th' Turk to make eunuchs of.   HELENA. Be not afraid that I your hand should take;     I'll never do you wrong for your own sake.     Blessing upon your vows; and in your bed     Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!   LAFEU. These boys are boys of ice; they'll none have her.     Sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got 'em.   HELENA. You are too young, too happy, and too good,     To make yourself a son out of my blood.   FOURTH LORD. Fair one, I think not so.   LAFEU. There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drunk wine-but     if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known     thee already.   HELENA.  [To BERTRAM]  I dare not say I take you; but I give     Me and my service, ever whilst I live,     Into your guiding power. This is the man.   KING. Why, then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.   BERTRAM. My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your Highness,     In such a business give me leave to use     The help of mine own eyes.   KING. Know'st thou not, Bertram,     What she has done for me?   BERTRAM. Yes, my good lord;     But never hope to know why I should marry her.   KING. Thou know'st she has rais'd me from my sickly bed.   BERTRAM. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down     Must answer for your raising? I know her well:     She had her breeding at my father's charge.     A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain     Rather corrupt me ever!   KING. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which     I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,     Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,     Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off     In differences so mighty. If she be     All that is virtuous-save what thou dislik'st,     A poor physician's daughter-thou dislik'st     Of virtue for the name; but do not so.     From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,     The place is dignified by the doer's deed;     Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,     It is a dropsied honour. Good alone     Is good without a name. Vileness is so:     The property by what it is should go,     Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;     In these to nature she's immediate heir;     And these breed honour. That is honour's scorn     Which challenges itself as honour's born     And is not like the sire. Honours thrive     When rather from our acts we them derive     Than our fore-goers. The mere word's a slave,     Debauch'd on every tomb, on every grave     A lying trophy; and as oft is dumb     Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb     Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?     If thou canst like this creature as a maid,     I can create the rest. Virtue and she     Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.   BERTRAM. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do 't.   KING. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.   HELENA. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I'm glad.     Let the rest go.   KING. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,     I must produce my power. Here, take her hand,     Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift,     That dost in vile misprision shackle up     My love and her desert; that canst not dream     We, poising us in her defective scale,     Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know     It is in us to plant thine honour where     We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt;     Obey our will, which travails in thy good;     Believe not thy disdain, but presently     Do thine own fortunes that obedient right     Which both thy duty owes and our power claims;     Or I will throw thee from my care for ever     Into the staggers and the careless lapse     Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate     Loosing upon thee in the name of justice,     Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.   BERTRAM. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit     My fancy to your eyes. When I consider     What great creation and what dole of honour     Flies where you bid it, I find that she which late     Was in my nobler thoughts most base is now     The praised of the King; who, so ennobled,     Is as 'twere born so.   KING. Take her by the hand,     And tell her she is thine; to whom I promise     A counterpoise, if not to thy estate     A balance more replete.   BERTRAM. I take her hand.   KING. Good fortune and the favour of the King     Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony     Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief,     And be perform'd to-night. The solemn feast     Shall more attend upon the coming space,     Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her,     Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.               Exeunt all but LAFEU and PAROLLES who stay behind,                                       commenting of this wedding   LAFEU. Do you hear, monsieur? A word with you.   PAROLLES. Your pleasure, sir?   LAFEU. Your lord and master did well to make his recantation.   PAROLLES. Recantation! My Lord! my master!   LAFEU. Ay; is it not a language I speak?   PAROLLES. A most harsh one, and not to be understood without bloody     succeeding. My master!   LAFEU. Are you companion to the Count Rousillon?   PAROLLES. To any count; to all counts; to what is man.   LAFEU. To what is count's man: count's master is of another style.   PAROLLES. You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too     old.   LAFEU. I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age     cannot bring thee.   PAROLLES. What I dare too well do, I dare not do.   LAFEU. I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise     fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might     pass. Yet the scarfs and the bannerets about thee did manifoldly     dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I     have now found thee; when I lose thee again I care not; yet art     thou good for nothing but taking up; and that thou'rt scarce     worth.   PAROLLES. Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee-   LAFEU. Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou hasten thy     trial; which if-Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good     window of lattice, fare thee well; thy casement I need not open,     for I look through thee. Give me thy hand.   PAROLLES. My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.   LAFEU. Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.   PAROLLES. I have not, my lord, deserv'd it.   LAFEU. Yes, good faith, ev'ry dram of it; and I will not bate thee     a scruple.   PAROLLES. Well, I shall be wiser.   LAFEU. Ev'n as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at a smack     o' th' contrary. If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf and     beaten, thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I     have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee, or rather my     knowledge, that I may say in the default 'He is a man I know.'   PAROLLES. My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.   LAFEU. I would it were hell pains for thy sake, and my poor doing     eternal; for doing I am past, as I will by thee, in what motion     age will give me leave.                                 Exit   PAROLLES. Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off me:     scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must be patient; there     is no fettering of authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can     meet him with any convenience, an he were double and double a     lord. I'll have no more pity of his age than I would have of-     I'll beat him, and if I could but meet him again.                           Re-enter LAFEU    LAFEU. Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's news for     you; you have a new mistress.   PAROLLES. I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make some     reservation of your wrongs. He is my good lord: whom I serve     above is my master.   LAFEU. Who? God?   PAROLLES. Ay, sir.   LAFEU. The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou garter up     thy arms o' this fashion? Dost make hose of thy sleeves? Do other     servants so? Thou wert best set thy lower part where thy nose     stands. By mine honour, if I were but two hours younger, I'd beat     thee. Methink'st thou art a general offence, and every man should     beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to breathe     themselves upon thee.   PAROLLES. This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.   LAFEU. Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel     out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond, and no true traveller;     you are more saucy with lords and honourable personages than the     commission of your birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are     not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you.  Exit                             Enter BERTRAM    PAROLLES. Good, very, good, it is so then. Good, very good; let it     be conceal'd awhile.   BERTRAM. Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!   PAROLLES. What's the matter, sweetheart?   BERTRAM. Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,     I will not bed her.   PAROLLES. What, what, sweetheart?   BERTRAM. O my Parolles, they have married me!     I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.   PAROLLES. France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits     The tread of a man's foot. To th' wars!   BERTRAM. There's letters from my mother; what th' import is I know     not yet.   PAROLLES. Ay, that would be known. To th' wars, my boy, to th'       wars!     He wears his honour in a box unseen     That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,     Spending his manly marrow in her arms,     Which should sustain the bound and high curvet     Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions!     France is a stable; we that dwell in't jades;     Therefore, to th' war!   BERTRAM. It shall be so; I'll send her to my house,     Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,     And wherefore I am fled; write to the King     That which I durst not speak. His present gift     Shall furnish me to those Italian fields     Where noble fellows strike. War is no strife     To the dark house and the detested wife.   PAROLLES. Will this capriccio hold in thee, art sure?   BERTRAM. Go with me to my chamber and advise me.     I'll send her straight away. To-morrow     I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.   PAROLLES. Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard:     A young man married is a man that's marr'd.     Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go.     The King has done you wrong; but, hush, 'tis so.      Exeunt     ACT II. SCENE 4. Paris. The KING'S palace  Enter HELENA and CLOWN    HELENA. My mother greets me kindly; is she well?   CLOWN. She is not well, but yet she has her health; she's very     merry, but yet she is not well. But thanks be given, she's very     well, and wants nothing i' th' world; but yet she is not well.   HELENA. If she be very well, what does she ail that she's not very     well?   CLOWN. Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.   HELENA. What two things?   CLOWN. One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her quickly!     The other, that she's in earth, from whence God send her quickly!                          Enter PAROLLES    PAROLLES. Bless you, my fortunate lady!   HELENA. I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good     fortunes.   PAROLLES. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on,     have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?   CLOWN. So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she     did as you say.   PAROLLES. Why, I say nothing.   CLOWN. Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes     out his master's undoing. To say 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.   PAROLLES. Away! th'art a knave.   CLOWN. You should have said, sir, 'Before a knave th'art a knave';     that's 'Before me th'art a knave.' This had been truth, sir.   PAROLLES. Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.   CLOWN. Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find     me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find     in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of     laughter.   PAROLLES. A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.     Madam, my lord will go away to-night:     A very serious business calls on him.     The great prerogative and rite of love,     Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;     But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;     Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,     Which they distil now in the curbed time,     To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy     And pleasure drown the brim.   HELENA. What's his else?   PAROLLES. That you will take your instant leave o' th' King,     And make this haste as your own good proceeding,     Strength'ned with what apology you think     May make it probable need.   HELENA. What more commands he?   PAROLLES. That, having this obtain'd, you presently     Attend his further pleasure.   HELENA. In everything I wait upon his will.   PAROLLES. I shall report it so.   HELENA. I pray you.                              Exit PAROLLES     Come, sirrah.                                         Exeunt     ACT II. SCENE 5. Paris. The KING'S palace  Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM    LAFEU. But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.   BERTRAM. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.   LAFEU. You have it from his own deliverance.   BERTRAM. And by other warranted testimony.   LAFEU. Then my dial goes not true; I took this lark for a bunting.   BERTRAM. I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge,     and accordingly valiant.   LAFEU. I have then sinn'd against his experience and transgress'd     against his valour; and my state that way is dangerous, since I     cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes; I pray you     make us friends; I will pursue the amity                           Enter PAROLLES    PAROLLES.  [To BERTRAM]  These things shall be done, sir.   LAFEU. Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?   PAROLLES. Sir!   LAFEU. O, I know him well. Ay, sir; he, sir, 's a good workman, a     very good tailor.   BERTRAM.  [Aside to PAROLLES]  Is she gone to the King?   PAROLLES. She is.   BERTRAM. Will she away to-night?   PAROLLES. As you'll have her.   BERTRAM. I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,     Given order for our horses; and to-night,     When I should take possession of the bride,     End ere I do begin.   LAFEU. A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner;     but one that lies three-thirds and uses a known truth to pass a     thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten.     God save you, Captain.   BERTRAM. Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?   PAROLLES. I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's     displeasure.   LAFEU. You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs and all,     like him that leapt into the custard; and out of it you'll run     again, rather than suffer question for your residence.   BERTRAM. It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.   LAFEU. And shall do so ever, though I took him at's prayers.     Fare you well, my lord; and believe this of me: there can be no     kernal in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes;     trust him not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them     tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur; I have spoken     better of you than you have or will to deserve at my hand; but we     must do good against evil.                              Exit   PAROLLES. An idle lord, I swear.   BERTRAM. I think so.   PAROLLES. Why, do you not know him?   BERTRAM. Yes, I do know him well; and common speech     Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.                            Enter HELENA    HELENA. I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,     Spoke with the King, and have procur'd his leave     For present parting; only he desires     Some private speech with you.   BERTRAM. I shall obey his will.     You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,     Which holds not colour with the time, nor does     The ministration and required office     On my particular. Prepar'd I was not     For such a business; therefore am I found     So much unsettled. This drives me to entreat you     That presently you take your way for home,     And rather muse than ask why I entreat you;     For my respects are better than they seem,     And my appointments have in them a need     Greater than shows itself at the first view     To you that know them not. This to my mother.                                                [Giving a letter]     'Twill be two days ere I shall see you; so     I leave you to your wisdom.   HELENA. Sir, I can nothing say     But that I am your most obedient servant.   BERTRAM. Come, come, no more of that.   HELENA. And ever shall     With true observance seek to eke out that     Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd     To equal my great fortune.   BERTRAM. Let that go.     My haste is very great. Farewell; hie home.   HELENA. Pray, sir, your pardon.   BERTRAM. Well, what would you say?   HELENA. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,     Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;     But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal     What law does vouch mine own.   BERTRAM. What would you have?   HELENA. Something; and scarce so much; nothing, indeed.     I would not tell you what I would, my lord.     Faith, yes:     Strangers and foes do sunder and not kiss.   BERTRAM. I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.   HELENA. I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.   BERTRAM. Where are my other men, monsieur?     Farewell!                                        Exit HELENA     Go thou toward home, where I will never come     Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.     Away, and for our flight.   PAROLLES. Bravely, coragio!                             Exeunt