By any token of prefumptuous fuit:

Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him;
Yet never know, how that defert shall 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

With chaftly, and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and love; O then give pity
To her, whose state is such, that cannot chufe
But lend, and give, where she is sure to lofe;
That feeks not to find that which fearch implies;
But riddle-like, lives fweetly where the dies.

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

Hel. Madam, I had.

Count. Wherefore? tell true.

Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I fwear.
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'ft refervation to bestow them,
As notes, whofe faculties inclufive were,
More than they were in note: amongst the rest,
There is a remedy, approv'd, set down,
To cure the defperate languifhings whereof
The King is render'd loft.

Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak?
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 abfent then.

Count. But think you, Helen,

If you should tender your fuppofed aid,

VOL. III.

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'st Of his profeflion), that his good receipt

Shall for my legacy be fanctified

By th' luckiest stars 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.

Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt 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 bleffing into thy attempt:
Begone, to-morrow; and be fure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not mifs.

[Exeunt.

ACT 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. Farewel, young Lords: these warlike prin

ciples

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 Majesty!
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 stay behind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault; the fpark

2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars.

Par. Most 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, steal 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 parti tion. 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 Lotter. Now, the Sennones, 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.

Italy, at the time of this fcene, was under three very different tenures. The emperor, as fucceffor of the Roman Emperors, had one part; the pope, by a pretended donation from Conftantine, another part; and the third was compofed of free ftates. Now, by the last monarchy is meant the Roman, the iaft of the four general monarchies. the fall of this monarchy, in the fcrambi, feveral cities fet up for themselves, and became free ftates; now, these might be faid properly to inherit the fall of the monarchy.

C 2

Upon

Creeking

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 steal 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.

I Lord. Farewel, Captain.

2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles !.

Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good sparks 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 sword intrench'd it; fay to him, I live, and observe his reports of me. 2 Lord. We fhall, noble Captain.

ye

Par. Mars doat on you for his novices? what will 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 expreflive 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 moft receiv'd ftar: 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.

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

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

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

King. I would I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And alk'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 sprighly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch
Is powerful to araise 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 weaknefs will you fee her, For that is her demand, and know her business? That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration, that we with thee
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,

By wondering how thou took'it it.

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither.

[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,

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 phyfician.

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

SCENE