Laf. He cannot want the best That shall attend his love. of nature, to preserve virginity. Loss of virginity is rational increase; and there was never virgin Count. Heaven bless him!-Farewell, Bertram.got, till virginity was first lost. That, you were [Exit Countess. made of, is metal to make virgins. Virginity, by Ber. The best wishes, that can be forged in your being once lost, may be ten times found: by being thoughts [To HELENA,] be servants to you! Be ever kept, it is ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make away with it. much of her. Laf. Farewell, pretty lady: You must hold the credit of your fathe [Exeunt BERTRAM and LAFEU. Hel. O, were that all!--I think not on my father, And these great tears grace his remembrance more Than those I shed for him. What was he like? I have forgot him: my imagination Carries no favour in it, but Bertram's. I am undone; there is no living, none, If Bertram be away. It were all one, That I should love a bright particular star, And think to wed it, he is so above me: In his bright radiance and collateral light Must I be comforted, not in his sphere. The ambition in my love thus plagues itself: The hind, that would be mated by the lion, Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though a plague, To see him every hour; to sit and draw His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls, In our heart's table; heart, too capable Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:4 But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy Must sanctify his relics. Who comes here? Par. There is none; man, sitting down before you, will undermine you, and blow you up. Hel. Bless our poor virginity from underminers, and 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, im blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lose your city. It is not politick in the commonwealth 1 i. e. may you be mistress of your wishes, and have power to bring them to effect. 2 That is, Helen's own tears, which were caused in reality by the departure of Bertram, though attributed by Lafeu and the Countess to the loss of her father, and which, from this misapprehension of theirs, graced his memory more than those she actually shed for him. 3 Helena considers her heart as the tablet on which his resemblance was portrayed. Hel. I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die a virgin. Par. There's little can be said in't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To speak on the part of virginity, is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible disobedience. He, that hangs himself is a virgin virginity murders itself; and should be buried in highways, out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach. Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of self-love, which is the most inhibitedió sin in the canon. Keep it not: you cannot choose but lose by't: Out with't: within ten years it will make itself ten, which is a goodly increase, and the principal itself not much the worse: Away with't. 11 Hel. How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking? Par. Let me see: Marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes.12 'Tis a commodity will lose the gloss with lying; the longer kept, the less worth: off with't, while 'tis vendible: answer the time of request. Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fashion; richly suited, but unsuitable : just like the brooch and toothpick, which wear13 not now: Your date14 is better in your pie and your porridge, than in your cheek: And your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French withered pears; it looks ill, it eats dryly; marry, 'tis a wi thered pear; it was formerly better; marry, yet, 'tis a withered pear: Will you any thing with it? Hel. Not my virginity yet.1. There shall your master have a thousand loves, Hel. That I wish well.-'Tis pity- Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't, itself tro.' The emendation is Hanmer's. Out with it, is used equivocally. Applied to virginity, it means, give it away; part with it: considered in another light, it signifies put it out to interest, it will produce you ten for one. 12 Parolles plays upon the word liking, and says, She must do it for virginity to be so lost, must like him that likes not virginity. 13 The old copy reads were, Rowe corrected it. Shakspeare here, as in other places, uses the active for the 4 i. e. every line and trace of his sweet countenance. 5 i. e. altogether, without any admixture of the oppo-passive. site quality. 6 Cold for naked, as superfluous for overclothed. This makes the propriety of the antithesis. 7 Perhaps there is an allusion here to the fantastic Monarcho mentioned in a note on Love's Labour's Lost, Act i. Sc. 1. 8 That is, some tincture, some little of the hue or colour of a soldier; as much as to say, 'you that are a bit of a soldier.' 9 He that hangs himself, and a virgin, are in this circumstance alike, they are both self-destroyers. 10 Forbidden. 1 The old copy reads, within ten years it will make 14 A quibble on date, which means age, and a candied fruit then much used in pies. 15 I cannot but think, with Hanmer and Johnson, that some such clause as You're for the court,' has been omitted. Unless we suppose, with Malone, that the omission is in Parolles's speech, and that he may have said, I am now bound for the court. Something of the kind is necessary to connect Helena's rhapsodical speech; she could not mean to say, that she shall prove every thing to Bertram. 16 i. e. a number of pretty, fond, adopted appellations or Christian names, to which blind Cupid stands godfather. It is often used for baptism by old writers. Enter a Page. And show what we alone must think; which never | Prejudicates the business, and would seem Page. Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. [Exit Page. Par. Little Helen, farewell: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court. Hel. Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star. Par. Under Mars, I. Hel. I especially think, under Mars. Hel. The wars have so kept you under, that you must needs be born under Mars. Par. When he was predominant. Hel. When he was retrograde, I think, rather. Hel. You go so much backward, when you fight. Hel. So is running away, when fear proposes the safety; But the composition, that your valour and fear makes in you, is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well. 2 Par. I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's counsel, and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast none, remember thy friends: get thee a good husband, and use him as he uses thee: so farewell. [Exit. Hel. Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky Gives us free scope; only, doth backward pull Our slow designs, when we ourselves are dull. What power is it which mounts my love so high; That makes me see, and cannot feed mine The mightiest space in fortune nature brings To join like likes, and kiss like native things." Impossible be strange attempts, to those That weigh their pains in sense; and do suppose, What hath been cannot be : Who ever strove To show her merit, that did miss her love? The king's disease-my project may deceive But my intents are fix'd, and will not leave me. eye 24 me, [Exit. SCENE H. Paris. A Room in the King's Pa- Have fought with equal fortune, and continue 1 Lord. So 'tis reported, sir. 2 Lord. What's he comes here? Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES. King. Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; Ber. My thanks and duty are your majesty's. In their poor praise he humbled: Such a man Ber. King. 'Would, I were with him! He would al- (Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words King. Nay, 'tis most credible; we here receive it On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, 1 i. e. and show by realities what we now must only think. 2 This is a metaphor from Shakspeare's favorite source; Falconry. A bird of good wing was a bird of swift and strong flight. If your valour will suffer you to go backward for advantage, and your fear, for the same reason, will make you run away, the composition is a virtue that will fly far and swiftly. Mason thinks we should read-is like to wear well.' 3 Capable and susceptible were synonymous in Shakspeare's time, as appears by the dictionaries. He len says before: 'heart too capable Of every line and trick of his sweet favour.' 4 She means, why am I made to discern excellence, and left to long after it without the food of hope.' 5 The mightiest space in fortune is a licentious expression for persons the most widely separated by fortune; whom nature (i. e. natural affection) brings to join like likes (i. e. equals,) and kiss like native things (i. e. and unite like things formed by nature for each other.) Or in other words, Nature often unites those whom fortune or inequality of rank has separated.' When it was out,-let me not live, quoth he 6 The citizens of the small republic of which Sienna is the capital. The Sanesi, as Boccaccio calls them, which Painter translates Senois, after the French method. 7 To repair in these plays generally signifies to renevate. 8 That is, cover petty faults with great merit: honour does not stand for dignity of rank or birth, but acquired reputation. This is an excellent observation (says Johnson,) jocose follies, and slight offences, are only allowed by mankind in him that overpowers them by great qualities.' 9 Nor was sometimes used without reduplication. 'He was so like a courtier, that there was in his dignity of manner nothing contemptuous, and in his keenness of wit nothing bitter. If bitterness or contemptuous ness ever appeared, they had been awakened by some injury, not of a man below him, but for his equal.' 10 His for its. 11 The approbation of his worth lives not so much t his epitaph as in your royal speech. Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home, 2 Lord.* You are lov'd, sir; They, that least lend it you, shall lack you first. King. I fill a place, I know't.-How long is't, count, Since the physician at your father's died? Ber. Some six months since, my lord. Thank your majesty. SCENE III. Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess, Steward, and Clown.' Count. I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman? Stew. Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I wish might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours; for then we wound our modesty, and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them. Count. What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: The complaints, I have heard of you, I do not all believe; 'tis my slowness, that I do not: for, I know, you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours. Clo. 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow. Count. Well, sir. Clo. No, madam, 'tis not so well, that I am poor; though many of the rich are damned: But, if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the world, Isabel the woman and I will do as we may. Count. Wilt thou needs be a beggar? Clo. In Isabel's case, and mine own. Service is no heritage: and, I think, I shall never have the blessing of God, till I have issue of my body: for, they say, bearns are blessings. Count. Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry. Clo. My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go, that the devil drives. Count. Is this all your worship's reason? Clo. Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are. Count. May the world know them? Clo. I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry, that I may repent. Count. Thy marriage, sooner than thy wicked ness. Clo. I am out of friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake. Count. Such friends are thine enemies, knave. Clo. You are shallow, madam; e'en great friends; I Who have no other use of their faculties than to invent new modes of dress. 2 So in Macbeth: for the knaves come to do that for ine, which I am a-weary of. He, that ears' my land, spares my team, and gives me leave to inn the crop: if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: He that comforts my wife, is the nourisher of my flesh and blood; he, that cherishes my flesh and blood, loves my flesh and blood; he, that loves my flesh and blood, is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wife, is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage: for young Charbon the puritan, and old Poysam the papist, howsoe'er their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one, they may joll horns together, like any deer i'the herd. Count. Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave? Clo. A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next way:10 For I the ballad will repeat, Which men full true shall find; Count. Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon. Stew. May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you; of her I am to speak. Count. Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman, I would speak with her; Helen I mean. Clo. Was this fair face the cause, quoth she, Why the Grecians sacked Troy? 12 Was this king Priam's joy.11 And gave this sentence then j There's yet one good in ten. Count. What, one good in ten; you corrupt the song, sirrah. Clo. One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying o'the song: 'Would, God would serve the world so all the year! we'd find no fault with the tithe-woman, if I were the parson: One in ten, quoth a'! an we might have a good woman born, but on14 every blazing star, or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the lottery well; a man may draw his heart out, ere he pluck one. Count. You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you? Clo. That man should be at woman's command, and yet no hurt done!-Though honesty be no puritan, yet it will do no hurt; it will wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am going, forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither. [Exit Clown. Count. Well, now. Stew. I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely. Count. Faith, I do her father bequeathed her to me; and she herself, without other advantage, may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds: there is more owing her, than is paid; and more shall be paid her, than she'll demand. Stew. Madam, I was very late more near her than, I think, she wished me alone she was, and did 13 The name of Helen brings to the Clown's memory this fragment of an old ballad; something has escaped him it appears, for Paris was king Priam's only joy,' as Helen was Sir Paris's. According to two fragments. quoted by the commentators. 14 The old copy reads one. Malone substituted on. 15 The clown answers, with the licentious petulance allowed to the character, that if a man does as a wo man commands, it is likely he will do amiss;' that he does not amiss, he makes the effect not of his lady's goodness, but of his own honesty, which, though not very nice or puritanical, will do no hurt, but, unlike the puritans, will comply with the injunctions of supe riors; and wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart;' will obey commands, though not much pleased with a state of subjection. communicate to herself, her own words to her own ears; she thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any stranger sense. Her matter was, she loved your son: Fortune, she said, was no goddess, that had put such difference betwixt their two estates; Love, no god, that would not extend his might, only where qualities were level; Diana, no queen of virgins, that would suffer her poor knight to be surprised, without rescue, in the first assault, or ransom afterward: This she delivered in the most bitter touch of sorrow, that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in: which I held my duty, speedily to acquaint you withal; sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns you something to know it. Count. You have discharged this honestly; keep it to yourself: many likelihoods informed me of this before, which hung so tottering in the balance, that I could neither believe, nor misdoubt; Pray you, leave me stall this in your bosom, and I thank you for your honest care: I will speak with you further anon. [Exit Steward. Enter HELENA. 2 Hel. Mine honourable mistress. That were enwombed mine: "Tis often seen,. Count. I say, I am your mother. Hel. That I am not. Pardon, madam; Count. were (So that my lord, your son, were not my brother,) Indeed, my mother!-or were you both our mothers, 1 The old copies omit Diana. Theobald inserted the word. 2 Since. I care no more for, than I do for heaven, God shield, you mean it not! daughter and mother, Hel. Good madam, pardon me! Count. Do you love my son? Hel. Your pardon, noble mistress! Count. Love you my son? Hel. Do not you love him, madam? Count. Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose The state of your affection; for your passions Have to the full appeach'd. Hel. Then, I confess, My friends were poor, but honest: so's my love: Nor would I have him, till I do deserve him; The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, Madam, I had. Hel. Count. Wherefore? tell true. Hel. I will tell truth; by grace itself, I swear, You know, my father left me some prescriptions Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading, And manifest experience, had collected 12 Johnson is perplexed about this word captious, which (says he) I never found in this sense, yet I can 3 The old copy reads, if ever we are nature's.' not tell what to substitute, unless carious for rotten' The correction is Pope's 4 i. e. according to our recollection. Farmer supposes captious to be a contraction of capacious! Steevens believes that captious meant recipient! 5 There is something exquisitely beautiful in this re-capable of receiving! and intenible incapable of holdpresentation of that suffusion of colours which glimmersing or retaining :-he rightly explains the latter word, around the sight when eyelashes are wet with tears. 6 There is a designed ambiguity, i. e. I care as much for: I wish it equally. 7 i. e. can it be no other way, but if I be your daughter, he must be my brother? 8 Contend. 9 The old copy reads loveliness. The emendation is Theobald's. It has been proposed to read lowliness. 10 The source, the cause of your grief. 11 In their language, according to their nature. which is printed in the old copy intemible by mistake. 13 i. c. whose respectable conduct in age proces that you were no less virtuous when young. 14 Helena means to say-If ever you wished that the deity who presides over chastity, and the queen of amorous rites, were one and the same person, or, in other words, if ever you wished for the honest and lawful completion of your chaste desires.' Malone thinks the line should be thus read : Love dearly, and wish chastely, that your Dian,' &c Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when This was your motive ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE 1. Paris. A Room in the King's Palace. Flourish. Enter King, with young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and Attendants. King. Farewell, young lord,' these warlike principles King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them; Both Par. "Tis not his fault; the spark- Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock, Commit it, count. 2 Lord. I am your accessary; and so farewell. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body,12 I Lord. Farewell, captain. 2 Lord. Sweet monsieur Parolles! Par. Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals:You shall find in the regiment of the Spini, one captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his reports for me. 2 Lord. We shall, noble captain. Par. Mars dote on you for his novices! [Exeunt Lords.] What will you do? Ber. Stay; the king [Seeing him rise. Par. Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords: you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more expressive to them; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time, 15 there do muster true gait;14 eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure,15 such are to be Do not throw from you:-and you, my lord, fare-followed: after them, and take a more dilated fare well: Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain all, And is enough for both. 1 Lord. It is our hope, sir, King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords; Receipts in which greater virtues were enclosed 3 The old copy reads-in't. The emendation is IIan mer's. 4 Into for unto. A common form of expression with old writers. See Troilus and Cressida, Act iii. Sc. 3. The third folio reads unto. 5 In this and the following instance the folio reads lords. The correction was suggested by Tyrwhitt. 6 i. e. as the common phrase runs, I am still heart. hole; my spirits, by not sinking under my distemper, do not acknowledge its influence. well. 14 It seems to me that this passage has been wrongly pointed and improperly explained, there do muster true 7 I prefer Johnson's explanation of this obscure pas-gait; if addressed to Bertram, it means there exercise sage to any that has been offered :- Let upper Italy, where you are to exercise your valour, see that you come to gain honour, to the abatement, that is to the overthrow, of those who inherit but the fall of the last monarchy or the remains of the Roman empire.'. yourself in the gait of fashion; eat, &c. But perhaps |