The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [810]
beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to breathe
themselves upon thee.
PAROLLES.
This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.
LAFEU.
Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel
out of a pomegranate; you are a vagabond, and no true traveller;
you are more saucy with lords and honourable personages than the
commission of your birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are
not worth another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you.
Exit
Enter BERTRAM
PAROLLES.
Good, very, good, it is so then. Good, very good; let it
be conceal'd awhile.
BERTRAM.
Undone, and forfeited to cares for ever!
PAROLLES.
What's the matter, sweetheart?
BERTRAM.
Although before the solemn priest I have sworn,
I will not bed her.
PAROLLES.
What, what, sweetheart?
BERTRAM.
O my Parolles, they have married me!
I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her.
PAROLLES.
France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits
The tread of a man's foot. To th' wars!
BERTRAM.
There's letters from my mother; what th' import is I
know not yet.
PAROLLES.
Ay, that would be known. To th' wars, my boy, to th' wars!
He wears his honour in a box unseen
That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,
Spending his manly marrow in her arms,
Which should sustain the bound and high curvet
Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions!
France is a stable; we that dwell in't jades;
Therefore, to th' war!
BERTRAM.
It shall be so; I'll send her to my house,
Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
And wherefore I am fled; write to the King
That which I durst not speak. His present gift
Shall furnish me to those Italian fields
Where noble fellows strike. War is no strife
To the dark house and the detested wife.
PAROLLES.
Will this capriccio hold in thee, art sure?
BERTRAM.
Go with me to my chamber and advise me.
I'll send her straight away. To-morrow
I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.
PAROLLES.
Why, these balls bound; there's noise in it. 'Tis hard:
A young man married is a man that's marr'd.
Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go.
The King has done you wrong; but, hush, 'tis so. Exeunt
ACT II. SCENE 4. Paris. The KING'S palace
Enter HELENA and CLOWN
HELENA.
My mother greets me kindly; is she well?
CLOWN.
She is not well, but yet she has her health; she's very
merry, but yet she is not well. But thanks be given, she's very
well, and wants nothing i' th' world; but yet she is not well.
HELENA.
If she be very well, what does she ail that she's not very well?
CLOWN.
Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.
HELENA.
What two things?
CLOWN.
One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her quickly!
The other, that she's in earth, from whence God send her quickly!
Enter PAROLLES
PAROLLES.
Bless you, my fortunate lady!
HELENA.
I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes.
PAROLLES.
You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on,
have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
CLOWN.
So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.
PAROLLES.
Why, I say nothing.
CLOWN.
Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes
out his master's undoing. To say nothing, to do nothing, to know
nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your
title, which is within a very little of nothing.
PAROLLES.
Away! th'art a knave.
CLOWN.
You should have said, sir, 'Before a knave th'art a
knave';
that's 'Before me th'art a knave.' This had been truth, sir.
PAROLLES.
Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
CLOWN.
Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find
me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find
in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.
PAROLLES.
A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.
Madam, my lord will go away to-night:
A very serious business calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,
Which, as your