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By any token of prefumptuous fuit:

Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him;
Yet never know, how that defert fhall be.
I know I love in vain, ftrive against hope;
Yet, in this captious and intenible fieve,
I ftill pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lofe ftill: thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore

The fun that looks upon his worshipper,

But knows of him no more. My dearest Madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do; but if yourself,
Whofe aged honour cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever in fo true a flame of liking

Wish chaftly, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love; O then give pity
To her, whofe ftate is fuch, that cannot chufe
But lend, and give, where the is fure to lofe;
That feeks not to find that which fearch implies;
But riddle-like, lives fweetly where fhe dies.

Count. Had you not lately an intent, speak truly, To go to Paris??

Hel. Madam, I had.

Count Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear.
You know, my father left me fome prescriptions
Of rare and prov'd effects; fuch as his reading
And manifeft experience had collected

For general fov'reignty; and that he will'd me,
In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them,
As notes, whofe faculties inclufive were,
More than they were in note: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approv'd, fet down,
To cure the desperate languifhings whereof
The King is render'd loft.

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Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, fpeak? Hel. My Lord your fon made me to think of this; Elfe Paris, and the medicine, and the King, Had from the converfation of my thoughts

Haply been absent then.

Count. But think you, Helen,

If you should tender your fuppofed aid,

VOL. III.

C

He

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
A poor unlearned virgin, when the fchools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to itself?

Hel. There's fomething hints

More than my father's fkill, (which was the great'fst Of his profeffion), that his good receipt..

Shall for my legacy be fanctified

By th' luckieft ftars in heav'n; and, would your Honour But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture

The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's cure,

By fuch a day and hour.

Count. Doft thou believe't?
Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly.

Gount. Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love;

Means and attendants; and my loving greetings
To thofe of mine in court. I'll ftay at home,
And pray God's blefling into thy attempt:
Begone, to-morrow; and be fure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not mifs.

[Exeunt.

A CT

II.

SCENE

I.

The court of France.

Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave. for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish cornets.

King. FAre

Arewel, young Lords: thefe warlike principles

Do not throw from you: you, my Lords, farewel; Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain,

The gift doth ftretch itself as 'tis receiv'd,

And is enough for both..

1 Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir,

After well-enter'd foldiers, to return
And find your Grace in health.

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;/
Whether I live or die, be you the fons
Of worthy Frenchmen; let higher Italy *
(Thofe 'bated that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy †) fee, that you come
Not to woo Honour, but to wed it; when
The braveft queftant fhrinks, find what you feek,
That fame may cry you aloud: I fay, farewel.

2 Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majefty!
King. Thofe girls of Italy,-take heed of them;
They fay, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you ferve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.

King. Farewel. Come hither to me. To attendants.

[Exit.

1 Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will ftay be

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Par. Moft admirable; I have feen those wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early.

Par. An thy mind ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely.

Ber. Shall I ftay here the forehorfe to a fmock,

*The ancient geographers have divided Italy into the Higher and the Lower, the Appennine hills being a kind of natural line of partition. The fide next the Adriatic was denominated the Higher Italy, and the other fide the Lower. And the two feas followed the fame terms of distinction; the Adriatic being called the Upper Sea and the Tyrrhene or Tuscan the Lower. Now, the Sennores, or Senois, with whom the Florentines are here fuppofed to be at war, inhabited the Higher Italy, their chief town being Ariminum, now called Rimini, upon the Adriatic.

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Italy, at the time of this fcene, was under three very different tenures. The emperor, as fucceffer of the Roman Emperors, had one part; the pope, by a pretended donation from Constantine, another part, and the third was compofed of free ftates. Now, by the last monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general monarchies. Upon the fall of this merarchy, in the fcramble, feveral cities fet up for themselves, and cecame free ftates; now, the might be said properly to inherit the fad of the monarchy.

C 2

Crecking

Creeking my fhoes on the plain masonry,

Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? By heav'n I'll fteal away. 1 Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par. Commit it, Count.

2 Lord. I am your acceffary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body.

1 Lord. Farewel, Captain,

2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles !.

Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin ; good fparks and luftrous. A word, good metals, You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one Captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very fword intrench'd it; fay to him, I live, and obferve his reports of me.. 2 Lord. We fhall, noble Captain..

Par. Mars doat on you for his novices? what will ye do?

Ber. Stay; the King

[Exeunt Lords.

Par. Ufe a more fpecious ceremony to the Noble Lords, you have restrain'd yourself within the list of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, there to mufter true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd star: and tho' the devil lead the measure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel.

Ber. And I will do fo.

Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy fword-men.

SCENE II. Enter the King and Lafeu.

L

Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up.

Laf. Then here's a man stands that hath bought his pardon.

I would you had kneel'd, my Lord, to afk me mercy; And that at my bidding you could fo ftand up.

King. I would I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And afk'd thee mercy for't..

Laf

Laf. Goodfaith, acrofs: but, my good Lord, 'tis Will you be cur'd of your infirmity?.

King No.

[thus

Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my Royal fox Yes; but you will, an if

My Royal fox could reach them: I have feen a mediThat's able to breathe life into a stone;

Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary

[cine*,

With fprighly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch
Is powerful to araife King Pepin, nay,

To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,
And write to her a love-line."

"King. What her is this?

Laf. Why, doctor-fhe; my Lord, there's one arriv'd, If you will fee her. Now, by my faith and honour, If feriously I may convey my thoughts

In this my light deliverance, I have spoke

With one, that in her fex, her years, profeffiont, Wisdom, and conftancy, hath amaz'd me more Than I dare blame my weakness! will you see her, For that is her demand, and know her bufinefs? That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration, that we with thee

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May fpend our wonder too, or take off thine, suit By wondering how thou took'ft it.,

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither.

245 LI

[Exit Lafeu.

King. Thus he his fpecial nothing ever prologues. Laf. [Returns.] Nay, come your ways.

[Bringing in Helena.

King. This hafte hath wings indeed.

Laf. Nay, come your ways,

I

This is his Majesty, fay your mind to him;
A traitor you do look like; but fuch traitors
His Majefty feldom fears; I'm Creffid's uncle,
That dare leave two together: fare you well, [Exit.

* Medicine is here put for a fhe physician.

By profeffion is here meant her declaration of the end purpose of her coming.

SCENE

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