blowers up! Is there no military policy how virgins might blow up men?

Par. Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up; marry, in blowing him down again, with the breach yourfelves made, you lofe your city, It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preferve virginity. Lofs of virginity is rational increafe: and there was never virgin got, till virginity was first loft. That you were made of, is metal to make virgins, Virginity, by being once loft, may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is ever loft; 'tis too cold a companion: away with't.

Hel. I will ftand for't a little, though therefore I die a virgin.

<

Par. There's little can be faid in't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To fpeak on the part of virginity, is to accufe your mother; which is moft infallible difobedience. As he that hangs himself, fo is a virgin : Virginity murthers itself, and fhould be buried in highways out of all fanctified limit, as a defperate offendrefs against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheefe; confumes itself to the very paring, and fo dies with feeding its own ftomach. Befides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of felf-love; which is the most prohibited fin in the canon. Keep it not, you cannot chufe but lose by't. Out with't: within ten years it will make itself two, • which is a goodly increase, and the principal itself not much the worfe. Away with't.

6

Hel. How might one do, Sir, to lose it to her own liking?

Par. Let me fee. Marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes. 'Tis a commodity will lofe the glofs with lying. The longer kept, the lefs worth; off with't while 'tis vendible. Anfwer the time of requeft. Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fathion; richly futed, but unfutable: juft like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which we wear not now. Your date is better in your pye and your porridge, than in your cheek; and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French wither'd pears; it looks ill, it eats drily; marry, 'tis a wither'd pear: it was formerly bet

ter;

ter; marry, yet 'tis a wither'd pear. Will you any thing with it?

Hel. Not my virginity yet.

There fhall your master have a thousand loves,

A mother, and a mistress, and a friend *;

I know not what he fhall-God fend him well!-
The court's a learning place-and he is one-
Par. What one, i̇' faith ?

Hel. That I wifh well-'tis pity

Par. What's pity?

Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't
Which might be felt; that we the poorer born,
Whose bafer ftars do fhut us up in wishes,

Might with effects of them follow our friends:
And fhew what we alone must think, which never
Returns us thanks.

Enter Page.

Page. Monfieur Parolles,

My Lord calls for you.

[Exit Page.

Par. Little Helen, farewel; if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court.

Hel. Monfieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable ftar.

Par. Under Mars, I.

Hel. I especially think under Mars.

Par. Why under Mars?

Hel. The wars have kept you fo under, that you muft needs be born under Mars.

Par. When he was predominant.

Hel. When he was retrograde, I think rather.

Par. Why think you fo?

Hel. You go fo much backward, when you fight.

Par. That's for advantage.

Hel. So is running away, when fear proposes safety: but the composition, that your valour and fear makes ♬n you, is a virtue of a good ming; and I like the wear well.

Par. I am fo full of bufineffes, as I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction fhall ferve to naturalize thee, fo thou wilt be capable of courtier's counsel, and underftand what advice fhall thruft upon thee; elfe thou dieft in thine unthankfulnefs, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewel. When thou haft leisure, fay thy prayers; when thou haft none, remember thy friends; get thee a good husband, and use him as he ufes thee: fo farewel. [Exit.

Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,
Which we afcribe to Heav'n. The fated sky
Gives us free scope; only doth backward pull
Our flow defigns, when we ourselves are dull.
What power is it which mounts my love fo high,
That makes me fee, and cannot feed mine eye?
The mightiest space in fortune nature brings
To join like likes, and kifs like native things.
Impoffible be ftrange attempts to those

That weigh their pain in sense; and do suppose,
What hath been, cannot be. Whoever ftrove
To fhew her merit, that did mifs her love?
The King's disease - my project may deceive me,
But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me. [Exit.

Changes to the court of France.

Flourish cornets. Enter the king of France with letters, and divers attendants.

King. The Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears; Have fought with equal fortune, and continue

A braving war.

I Lord. So 'tis reported, Sir.
VOL. III.

B

King

King. Nay, 'tis moft credible; we here receive it, A certainty vouch'd from our cousin Austria ; With caution, that the Florentine will move us For fpeedy aid; wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the bufinefs, and would feem To have us make denial.

1 Lord. His love and wisdom, Approv'd fo to your Majefty, may plead For ample credence.

King. He hath arm'd our anfwer;

And Florence is deny'd, before he comes :
Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see
The Tuscan fervice, freely have they leave
To ftand on either part.

2 Lord. It may well ferve

A nursery to our gentry, who are fick
For breathing and exploit.

King. What's he comes here?

Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles.

I Lord. It is the Count Roufillen, my good Lord, Young Bertram.

King. Youth, thou bear'ft thy father's face. Frank nature, rather curious than in hafte,

Hath well compos'd thee. Thy father's moral parts May't thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

Ber. My thanks and duty are your Majefty's. King, I would I had that corporal foundness now, As when thy father and myfelf in friendship First try'd our foldierfhip: he did look far Into the fervice of the time, and was Difcipled of the brav'ft. He lafted long; But on us both did haggish age steal on, And wore us out of act. It much repairs me To talk of your good father; in his youth He had the wit which I can well obferve To-day in our young lords; but they may jeft, Till their own fcorn return to them unnoted, Ere they can hide their levity in honour: So like a courtier, no contempt or bitterness Were in him; pride or fharpness, if there were, His equal had awak'd them; and his honour,

Clock

Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Exceptions bid him speak; and at that time
His tongue obey'd his hand. Who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place,

And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks;
Making them proud; and his humility,

In their poor praise, he humbled. Such a man
Might be a copy to thefe younger times;

Which, follow'd well, would now demonstrate them
But goers backward.

Ber. His good remembrance, Sir,

Lies richer in your thoughts, than on his tomb;
So in approof lives not his epitaph,

As in your royal speech.

King. Would I were with him! he would always fay, (Methinks I hear him now; his plaufive words He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them To grow there, and to bear), Let me not live(Thus his good melancholy oft began, On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, When it was out), let me not live (quoth he) After my flame lacks oil; to be the fnuff Of younger fpirits, whofe apprehensive senses All but new things difdain; whofe judgments are Mere fathers of their garments; whofe conftancies Expire before their fashions :- this he wifh'd. I, after him, do after him wish too

(Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home) I quickly were diffolved from my hive,

To give fome labourer room.

2 Lord. You're loved, Sir;

They that least lend it you, fhall lack you firft.
King. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, Count,
Since the phyfician at your father's died?

He was much fam'd.

Ber. Some fix months fince, my Lord.

King. If he were living, I would try him yet;

Lend me an arm`;

the reft have worn me out

With feveral applications; nature and sickness
Debate it at their leifure. Welcome, Count,

My fon's no dearer.

Ber. Thank your Majefty.

B 2

[Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE