ACT II I. SCENE I. Florence. A room in the Duke's palace. Florish. Enter DUKE OF FLORENCE, attended; Two FRENCH LORDS, and others. Duke. So that, from point to point, now have you heard The fundamental reasons of this war; Whose great decision hath much blood let forth, Would, in so just a business, shut his bosom Against our borrowing prayers. 2 Lord. Tell. 2 One unacquainted with state secrets. As often as I guess'd. Duke. Be it his pleasure. 2 Lord. But I am sure, the younger of our na ture,1 That surfeit on their ease, will, day by day, Come here for physic. Duke. Welcome shall they be; And all the honors, that can fly from us, Shall on them settle. You know your places well; . When better fall, for your avails they fell: To-morrow to the field. SCENE II. [Florish. Exeunt Rousillon. A room in the Countess's palace. Count. It hath happened all as I would have had it, save that he comes not along with her. Clown. By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man. Count. By what observance, I pray you? Clown. Why, he will look upon his boot, and sing; mend the ruff, and sing; ask questions, and sing; pick his teeth, and sing. I know a man that had this trick of melancholy, sold a goodly manor for a song. Our young fellows. The folding at the top of the boot. Count. Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come. [opening a letter. Clown. I have no mind to Isbel, since I was at court: our old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court. The brains of my Cupid's knocked out; and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach. Count. What have we here? Clown. Ev'n that you have there. : [Exit. Count. [reads.] I have sent you a daughter-inlaw she hath recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the not eternal. You shall hear, I am run away; know it, before the report come: if there be breadth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you. This is not well, rash and unbridled boy, 1 Undervaluing. Re-enter CLOWN. Clown. O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between two soldiers and my young lady. Count. What is the matter? Clown. Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some comfort: your son will not be killed so soon as I thought he would. Count. Why should he be killed' Clown. So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does; the danger is in standing to 't; that's the loss of men, though it be the getting of children. Here they come, will tell you more: for my part, I only hear, your son was run away. [Exit Clown. Enter HELENA and TWO GENTLEMEN. 1 Gen. Save you, good madam. Hel. Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone. 2 Gen. Do not say so. Count. Think upon patience.-Pray you, gentle men: I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief, you? I pray 2 Gen. Madam, he's gone to serve the duke of Florence; 1 Affect me suddenly and deeply, as my sex are usually affected. SHAK. V. E We met him thitherward; from thence we came; And, after some despatch in hand at court, Thither we bend again. Hel. Look on his letter, madam; here's my pass port. [reads] When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body, that I am father to, then call me husband: but in such a then I write a never.' This is a dreadful sentence. Count. Brought you this letter, gentlemen? 1 Gen. Ay, madam, And, for the contents' sake, are sorry for our pains. Count. I pr'ythee, lady, have a better cheer: But I do wash his name out of my blood, And thou art all my child.-Towards Florence is he? 2 Gen. Ay, madam. Count. And to be a soldier? 2 Gen. Such is his noble purpose: and, believe 't, The duke will lay upon him all the honor That good convenience claims. Count. Return you thither? If thou keepest all thy sorrows to thyself. |