2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, fir, the manifold linguift, and the armipotent foldier.

Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me.

Inter. I perceive, fir, by our general's looks, we shall be fain to hang you.

Par. My life, fir, in any cafe: not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: let me live, fir, in a dungeon, i'the ftocks, or any where, so I may live.

Inter. We'll fee what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this captain Dumain: You have anfwer'd to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour; What is his honefty?

h

Par. He will fteal, fir, an egg out of a cloifter; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Neffus. He profeffes no keeping of oaths; in breaking them, he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, fir, with fuch volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his beft virtue; for he will be fwine-drunk; and in his fleep he does little harm, fave to his bed-cloathes about him; but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but little more to fay, fir, of his honefty: he has every thing that an honeft man fhould not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.

1 Lord. I begin to love him for this.

Ber. For this defcription of thine honefty? A pox upon him for me, he is more and more a cat.

Inter. What fay you to his expertnefs in war?

Par. Faith, fir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians, to belie him, I will not, and more of his

-

foldiership I know not; except, in that country, he had

h He will freal, fir, an egg out of a cloister ;]—stoop to any petty sa. crilege; rob the 'ipital.

the

the honour to be the officer at a place there call'd Mileend, to inftruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain.

I Lord. He hath out-villain'd villany fo far, that the rarity redeems him.

Ber. A pox on him! he's a cat ftill.

Inter. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt.

Par. Sir, for a quart d'ecu he will fell the fee-fimple of his falvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the intail from all remainders, and a perpetual fucceffion for it perpetually.

Inter. What's his brother, the other captain Dumain? 2 Lord. Why does he afk him of me?

Inter. What's he?

Par. E'en a crow of the fame neft; not altogether fo great as the first in goodnefs, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: In a retreat he out-runs any lacquey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

Inter. If your life be faved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine?

Par. Ay, and the captain of his horfe, count Roufillon. Inter. I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.

k

Par. I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to feem to deferve well, and to beguile the fuppofition of that lafcivious young boy the count, have 1 run into this danger: Yet, who would have fufpected an ambufh where I was taken? [Afide. Inter. There is no remedy, fir, but you must die: the general fays, you, that have fo traiterously discovered the

i quart d'ecu]-a quarter of a crown-piece.

k

to beguile the fuppofition of]-impofe upon.

fecrets

fecrets of your army, and made fuch peftiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no very honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.

Par. O Lord, fir; let me live, or let me fee my death! Inter. That fhall you, and take your leave of all your friends. [Unbinding him. So, look about you; Know you any here? Ber. Good-morrow, noble captain.

2 Lord. God bless you, captain Parolles. 1 Lord. God fave you, noble captain.

2 Lord. Captain, what greeting will you to my lord Lafeu? I am for France.

1 Lord. Good captain, will you give me a copy of that fame fonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count Roufillon ? an I were not a very coward, I'd compel it of you; but fare you well. [Exeunt. Inter. You are undone, captain; all but your scarf, that has a knot on't yet.

Par. Who cannot be crufh'd with a plot?

Inter. If you could find out a country where but women were that had received fo much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you well, fir; I am for France too; we shall speak of you there. [Exit. Par. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, 'Twould burft at this: Captain, I'll be no more; But I will eat and drink, and fleep as foft As captain fhall: fimply the thing I am

Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,
Let him fear this; for it will come to pafs,
That every braggart fhall be found an afs.
Ruft, fword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live
Safeft in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive!
There's place, and means, for every man alive.
I'll after them.

1 beadfman]-executioner.

}

[Exit. SCENE

SCENE IV.

The Widow's House at Florence.

Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana.

Hel. That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd

you,

One of the greatest in the Christian world

Shall be my furety; 'fore whose throne, 'tis needful,
Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:

m

Time was, I did him a defired office,
Dear almost as his life; which gratitude
Through flinty Tartar's bofom would peep forth,
And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd,

His grace

is at Marseilles; to which place

We have convenient convoy. You must know,
I am fuppofed dead: the army "breaking,

My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,
And by the leave of my good lord the king,

We'll be, before our welcome.

Wid. Gentle madam,

You never had a fervant, to whose trust

Your business was more welcome.

Hel. Nor you, mistress,

Ever a friend, whofe thoughts more truly labour
To recompence your love; doubt not, but heaven
Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,
As it hath fated her to be my motive

And helper to a husband. But O ftrange men!
That can such sweet ufe make of what they hate,

m which]-for which.

• motive]-affiftant.

VOL. II.

G g

a breaking,]-being disbanded.

When

P

When faucy trufting of the cozen'd thoughts
Defiles the pitchy night! fo luft doth play
With what it loaths, for that which is away:
But more of this hereafter :-You, Diana,
Under my poor inftructions yet must suffer
Something in my behalf.

Dia. Let death and honefty

Go with your impofitions, I am yours
Upon your will to fuffer.

Hel. Yer, I 'fray you,———

But with the word: the time will bring on fummer,
When briars fhall have leaves as well as thorns,
And be as fweet as fharp. We must away;

Our waggon is prepar'd, and time revives us :
All's well, that ends well: ftill the fine's the crown;
Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.

SCENE V.

Roufillon.

Enter Countefs, Lafeu, and Clown.

[Exeunt.

Laf. No, no, no, your fon was mif-led with a 'fnipttaffata fellow there; whofe " villainous faffron would have

P faucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts]-lafcivious conceit of stolen joys. a for that]-miftaking it for that.

I'fray you, But with the word:]-I only frighten you with the word fuffer: a fhort time will usher in our joys.-I pray you.

time revives us:]-the lucky circumftance of the King's vifit at Marseilles, roufes us, incites us to fet forward.

'fnipt-taffata fellow]-coxcomb

villainous faffron]-deep-died vices were enough to infect a whole nation. Yellow ftarch was then much in wear, and saffron used in paftry.

"I must have faffron to colour the warden pyes." WINTER'S TALE, A& IV, Sc. 2. Cla.

made