By our remembrances of days foregone, Such were our faults, or then we thought them none. Hel. What is your pleasure, Madam? Count. Helen, you know, I am a mother to you. Count. Nay, a mother; Why not a mother? when I faid a mother, your mother; And put you in the catalogue of those, That were enwombed mine; 'tis often feen, God's mercy! maiden, do's it curd thy blood, The many colour'd Iris, rounds thine eyes? Hel. That I am not. Count. I fay, I am your mother. The Count Roufillon cannot be my brother; I am from humble, he from honour'd, name; No note upon my parents, his all noble. Count, Nor I your mother? Hel. You are my mother, Madam; 'would you were, So I were not his fifter: can't no other, My My fear hath catch'd your fondness.-Now I fee (6) That truth fhould be fufpected; fpeak, is't fo? If it be not, forfwear't; howe'er, I charge thee, To tell me truly. Hel. Good Madam, pardon me. Count. Love you my fon? Hel. Do not you love him, Madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The ftate of your affection; for your paffions Have to the full appeach'd. (6) -Now I fee The myft'ry of your loveliness, and find -] The Mystery of her Loveliness is beyond my Comprehension : The old Countess is faying nothing ironical, nothing taunting, or in Reproach, that this Word fhould find a place here; which it could not, unless farcaftically employ'd, and with fome Spleen. I dare warrant, the Poet meant, his old Lady should fay no more than this: "I now find the Mystery of your creeping into "Corners, and weeping, and pining in fecret." For this Reafon I have amended the Text, Loneliness. The Steward, in the foregoing Scene, where he gives the Countess Intelligence of Helen's Behaviour, says ; Alone She was, and did communicate to herself her own Words to her own Ears. Hel. Hel. Then, I confefs, Here on my knee, before high heav'ns and you, My friends were poor, but honeft; fo's my love; Nor would I have him, 'till I do deserve him; The fun that looks upon his worshipper, But knows of him no more. My dearest Madam, Bel. Madam, I had. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by Grace it felf, I fwear. For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me, Το To cure the defperate languishings, whereof Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak ? Hel. My lord your fon made me to think of this; Had from the converfation of my thoughts, Count. But think you, Helen, If you should tender your fuppofed aid, He would receive it? he and his phyficians Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him: They, that they cannot help. How fhall they credit Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off Hel. There's fomething in't More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st Shall for my legacy be fanctified By th' luckiest stars in heav'n; and, would your Count. Doft thou believe't? Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly. honour Count. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love; Means and attendants; and my loving greetings [Exeunt. SCENE, the Court of France. Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. KING. Arewel, young Lords: these warlike principles wel; Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain, 1 Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart Will not confefs, it owns the malady That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; Of worthy French men; (6) let higher Italy (Thofe Of the laft Monarchy ;) fee, &e.) This feems to me One of the very obfcure Paffages of Shakespear, and which therefore may very well demand Explanation. Italy, at the time of this Scene, was under three very different Tenures. The Emperor, as Succeffor of the Roman Emperors, had one Part; the Pope, by a pretended Donation from Conftantine, another; and the Third was compos'd of free States. Now by the laft Monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, feveral Cities fet up for Themselves, and became free States: Now these might be faid properly to inherit the Fall of the Momarchy. This being premised, now to the Sense. The King says, |