There's nothing here that is too good for him
But only she; and she deserves a lord

That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?
First Gent. A servant only, and a gentleman
Which I have sometime known.

Count.

Parolles, was it not?

First Gent. Ay, my good lady, he.

Count. A very tainted fellow, and full of wicked

ness.

My son corrupts a well-derived nature

With his inducement.

First Gent.

90

Indeed, good lady,

The fellow has a deal of that too much,
Which holds him much to have.

Count. You're welcome, gentlemen.
I will entreat you, when you see my son,
To tell him that his sword can never win

The honour that he loses: more I'll entreat you
Written to bear along.

Sec. Gent.

We serve you, madam, In that and all your worthiest affairs.

Count. Not so, but as we change our courtesies. 100 Will you draw near?

[Exeunt Countess and Gentlemen.

Hel. Till I have no wife, I have nothing in
France.'

Nothing in France, until he has no wife!

Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;
Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is 't I
That chase thee from thy country and expose
Those tender limbs of thine to the event

Of the none-sparing war? and is it I

That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou

92, 93. He has plenty of that superfluous thing, a vain belief in his own merit.

Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark

Of smoky muskets?

O you leaden messengers,

That ride upon the violent speed of fire,

Fly with false aim; move the still-piecing air,
That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord.
Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;
Whoever charges on his forward breast,
I am the caitiff that do hold him to 't;
And, though I kill him not, I am the cause
His death was so effected: better 'twere

I met the ravin lion when he roar'd

With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere
That all the miseries which nature owes

Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rou-
sillon,

Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,

As oft it loses all: I will be gone;

My being here it is that holds thee hence:
Shall I stay here to do 't? no, no, although
The air of paradise did fan the house
And angels officed all: I will be gone,
That pitiful rumour may report my flight,

To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!
For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away.

120

[Exit.

SCENE III. Florence. Before the DUKE's palace.

Flourish.

Enter the DUKE of Florence, BERTRAM, PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, and Trumpets.

Duke. The general of our horse thou art;

and we,

113. still-piecing, still-closing. Steevens' emendation for

Ff still-peering or still-piercing.

120. ravin, ravenous.

124. Whence, from thence where.

Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence
Upon thy promising fortune.

Ber.

Sir, it is

A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet
We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake
To the extreme edge of hazard.

Duke.

And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,
As thy auspicious mistress!

Ber.

Then go thou forth;

This very day,

Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:

Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove
A lover of thy drum, hater of love.

[Exeunt.

must be winter

SCENE IV. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.

Enter COUNTESS and Steward.

Count. Alas! and would you take the letter
of her?

Might you not know she would do as she has done,
By sending me a letter? Read it again.
Stew. [Reads]

I am Saint Jacques' pilgrim, thither gone:
Ambitious love hath so in me offended,
That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon,

With sainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that from the bloody course of war
My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far

His name with zealous fervour sanctify:

His taken labours bid him me forgive;
I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth

ΙΟ

4. Saint Jacques' pilgrim, a pilgrim to the shrine of Saint James

at Compostella, Spain.

From courtly friends, with camping foes to live, Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth :

He is too good and fair for death and me;

Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.
Count. Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest
words!

Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus she hath prevented.

Stew.

Pardon me, madam :
If I had given you this at over-night,

She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.

Count.

What angel shall

Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,

To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth.
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient messenger:
When haply he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
To make distinction: provide this messenger:
My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.

19. advice, judgment.

[Exeunt.

30. this unworthy husband of, this husband unworthy of.

20

30

40

SCENE V. Florence. Without the walls. A
tucket afar off.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA, and MARIANA, with other Citizens.

Wid. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.

Dia. They say the French count has done most honourable service.

Wid. It is reported that he has taken their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother. [Tucket.] We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice 10 ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Wid. I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and 20 all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but I hope your 18. suggestions, solicitations. 22. go under, pass for. 177

18. officer, agent.

VOL. III

N