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Another Room in the Same. | |
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Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM. | |
| Laf. But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier. | |
| Ber. Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. | |
| Laf. You have it from his own deliverance. | 5 |
| Ber. And by other warranted testimony. | |
| Laf. Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting. | |
| Ber. I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant. | |
| Laf. I have then sinned against his experience and transgressed 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. | |
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Enter PAROLLES. | 10 |
| Par. [To BERTRAM.] These things shall be done, sir. | |
| Laf. Pray you, sir, who’s his tailor? | |
| Par. Sir? | |
| Laf. O! I know him well. Ay, sir; he, sir, is a good workman, a very good tailor. | |
| Ber. [Aside to PAROLLES.] Is she gone to the king? | 15 |
| Par. She is. | |
| Ber. Will she away to-night? | |
| Par. As you’ll have her. | |
| Ber. I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, | |
| Given orders for our horses; and to-night, | 20 |
| When I should take possession of the bride, | |
| End ere I do begin. | |
| Laf. 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. | |
| Ber. Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur? | |
| Par. I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord’s displeasure. | 25 |
| Laf. You have made shift to run into ’t, boots and spurs and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and out of it you’ll run again, rather than suffer question for your residence. | |
| Ber. It may be you have mistaken him, my lord. | |
| Laf. And shall do so ever, though I took him at his prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this of me, there can be no kernel 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. | |
| Par. An idle lord, I swear. | |
| Ber. I think not so. | 30 |
| Par. Why, do you not know him? | |
| Ber. Yes, I do know him well; and common speech | |
| Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog. | |
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Enter HELENA. | |
| Hel. I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, | 35 |
| Spoke with the king, and have procur’d his leave | |
| For present parting; only, he desires | |
| Some private speech with you. | |
| Ber. I shall obey his will. | |
| You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, | 40 |
| 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 | 45 |
| 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 | 50 |
| 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. | |
| Hel. Sir, I can nothing say, | |
| But that I am your most obedient servant. | 55 |
| Ber. Come, come, no more of that. | |
| Hel. 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. | 60 |
| Ber. Let that go: | |
| My haste is very great. Farewell: hie home. | |
| Hel. Pray sir, your pardon. | |
| Ber. Well, what would you say? | |
| Hel. I am not worthy of the wealth I owe, | 65 |
| 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. | |
| Ber. What would you have? | |
| Hel. Something, and scarce so much: nothing, indeed. | 70 |
| I would not tell you what I would, my lord:— | |
| Faith, yes; | |
| Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss. | |
| Ber. I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse. | |
| Hel. I shall not break your bidding, good my lord. | 75 |
| Ber. [To PAROLLES.] Where are my other men, monsieur? [To HELENA.] 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. | |
| Par. Bravely, coragio! [Exeunt. | 80 |
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