The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]

[68, 69] done find ... joy?] done, fond ... joy, F1 F2. fond done;—for Paris he ... joy. Theobald (Warburton). fond done! but Paris he ... joy, Capell conj. done fond, good sooth, it was: ... joy? Collier (Collier MS.). For it undone, undone, quoth he, ... joy. Rann (Heath conj.).

[70, 71] With ... stood] With ... stood, bis. Ff (bis in italics).

[71] Omitted by Pope.]

[72-75] And gave ... ten] Printed first as verse in Rowe (ed. 2).

[73, 74] one] none Capell conj.

[74] Omitted by Pope.]

[78] a] F1 F2. the F3 F4.

[79] o' the] Capell. o' th' Rowe (ed. 2). ath' F1 F2. a'th F3 F4.

song] song and mending of the sex Collier (Collier MS. o' the).

[82] one] Collier (Collier MS.). ore F1 F2. o're F3 F4. o'er Rowe. om. Pope. or Capell. on Rann. ere Collier (ed. 1). for Harness. 'fore Staunton. at Halliwell conj.

[83] well] wheel Malone conj.

draw] pray Rowe.

[84] a'] he Rowe (ed. 2).

[86] you.] Pope, you? Ff.

[87] woman's] F1. a woman's F2 F3 F4.

[87, 88] and yet] F1 F2. and get F3 F4.

[88] no puritan] a puritan Rann. (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[89] do no hurt] do what is enjoined Malone conj.

[96] advantage] advantages Rowe.

[105] would] should Capell.

not] om. Long MS.

might, only] F4. might onelie, F1 F2. might onely F3.

[106] level; ... queen] levell, Queene F1 F2. levell: Queen F3F4. level: Complain'd against the Queen Rowe. level; Diana no queen Theobald. See note (iv).

[107] knight] spright Warburton conj.

surprised] to be surpris'd Rowe.

[107, 108] without rescue in the first assault,] in the first assault, without rescue Capell.

[109] virgin] a virgin Pope.

[110] held] held it Rowe.

[113] honestly] honesty F3 F4.

[115] neither] F1. never F2 F3 F4.

[118] Enter H.] Enter Hellen. Ff. Enter H. Singer (after line 126). See note (v).

[119] Scene vii. Pope.

Even] Old Cou. Even Ff.

[120] ever] om. Pope. e'er Edd. conj.

[126] Such were our faults, or] Ff. Such-were our faults, tho' Hanmer. Such were our faults,—O! Johnson (Warburton conj.). Search we out faults, for Collier MS.

then ... them] them ... then Staunton.

[128] You know, Helen] Helen, you know Pope.

[130, 131] Nay ... said 'a mother'] As one line in Ff.

[131] said 'a mother'] said mother F3 F4.

[133] I am] Ff. I'm Pope.

[137] seeds] soil Anon. conj.

[143] The] This S. Walker conj.

eye] eyes Pope.

[144] Why?] —Why, Ff. Why,— Rowe.

are] art F2.

[151] mother?] Rowe (ed. 2). mother. Ff.

[155] I care ... heaven] I cannot ask for more than that of heav'n Hanmer. I can no more fear, than I do fear heav'n Warburton. I cannot more fear than I do fear heav'n Heath conj. I'd care no more for't than I do for heaven Capell. I care would ... heaven or I crave would ... heaven Mason conj. I care no more for than you do, 'fore heaven Becker conj. [Aside] I care no more for than I do for heaven Staunton conj.

[156, 157] Can't no other, But I ... he ... brother?] Theobald. Cant no other, But I ... he ... brother. Ff. Can't no other? But I ... he ... brother. Pope. Can't be no other Way I ... but he ... brother? Hanmer.

[162] loneliness] Theobald. loveliness Ff. lowliness Hall conj. liveliness Becket conj.

[168] th' one to th'] Knight. 'ton tooth to th' F1. 'ton to th' F2. 'tone to th' F3 F4. one to th' Rowe.

[169] it] it is F2.

behaviours] behaviour F3 F4.

[173] you have] you've Pope.

[175] thine] F1. mine F2 F3 F4.

[176] truly] true Hanmer.

[180] disclose] F3 F4. disclose: F1 F2.

[184] heaven] F1. heavens F2 F3 F4.

[184, 185] That ... son] As in Pope. Printed as one line in Ff.

[193] captious] carious Johnson conj. cap'cious Farmer conj. copious Jackson conj.

intenible] intemible F1. inteemible Nicholson conj.

[194] waters] water Rowe.

[195] lose] F4. loose F1 F2 F3. love Tyrwhitt conj.

[202] liking] F1. living F2. loving F3 F4.

[203] Wish ... dearly] Love dearly and wish chastely Malone conj.

[205] that] she Hanmer.

[207] her] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. which Rowe.

[210] tell true] om. Steevens conj.

[211] tell truth] F1. tell true F2 F3 F4. tell you true Capell (corrected in note).

[214] manifest] manifold Collier (Long MS.).

[220] languishings Ff. languishes Reed (1803).

[226] Haply] Pope. Happily Ff.

[229] that they cannot help him] that he can't be help'd Hanmer. that they cannot help Capell conj. that they cannot heal him S. Walker conj.

[230] cannot help] can't help him Capell conj. cannot cure Bailey conj.

[233] in't] hints Hanmer (Warburton).

[237] By the] Byth' F1 F2 F3. By th' F4.

[238] to try] F1. to F2 F3 F4. for the Rowe.

[239] The] This Hanmer.

on his] on's S. Walker conj.

[240] and] an F1.

[243] attendants] attendance S. Walker conj.

[245] into] F1 F2. unto F3 F4. upon Hanmer.

[246] Be gone] F3 F4. Begon F1 F2.

King. Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles

Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:

Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all

The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,

And is enough for both.

First Lord. 'Tis our hope, sir,

After well-enter'd soldiers, to return

And find your Grace in health.

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart

Will not confess he owes the malady

That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;

Whether I live or die, be you the sons

Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,—

Those bated that inherit but the fall

Of the last monarchy,—see that you come

Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when

The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,

That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

Sec. Lord. Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!

King. Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:

They say, our French lack language to deny,

If they demand: beware of being captives,

Before you serve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.

King. Farewell. Come hither to me. [Exit.

First Lord. O my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault, the spark.

Sec. Lord. O, 'tis brave wars!

Par. Most admirable: I have seen 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 stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.

Ber. I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,

Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,

Till honour be bought up, and no sword worn

But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.

First Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par. Commit it, count.

Sec. Lord. I am your accessary; and so, farewell.

Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.

First Lord. Farewell, captain.

Sec. 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 Spinii 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.

First Lord. We shall, noble captain. [Exeunt Lords.

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

Ber. Stay: the king.

Re-enter King.

Par. [Aside to Ber.] 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, there do muster true

gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of the most received

star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are

to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.

Ber. And I will do so.

Par. Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy

sword-men. [Exeunt Bertram and Parolles.

Enter Lafeu.

Laf. [Kneeling] 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 has brought his pardon.

I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy;

And that at my bidding you could so stand up.

King. I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,

And ask'd thee mercy for't.

Laf. Good faith, across: but, my good lord, 'tis thus;

Will you be cured of your infirmity?

King. No.

Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?

Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if

My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine

That's able to breathe life into a stone,

Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary

With spritely fire and motion; whose simple 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 She: my lord, there's one arrived,

If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,

If seriously I may convey my thoughts

In this my light deliverance, I have spoke

With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,

Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more

Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see 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'st it.

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither. [Exit.

King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

Re-enter Lafeu, with Helena.

Laf. Nay, come your ways.

King. This haste hath wings indeed.

Laf. Nay, come your ways;

This is his majesty, say your mind to him:

A traitor you do look like; but such traitors

His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,

That dare leave two together; fare you well. [Exit.

King. Now, fair one, does your business follow us?

Hel. Ay, my good lord.

Gerard de Narbon was my father;

In what he did profess, well found.

100

King. I knew him.

Hel. The rather will I spare my praises towards him;

Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death

Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one,

Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,

105

And of his old experience the only darling,

He bade me store up, as a triple eye,

Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so:

And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd

With that malignant cause, wherein the honour

110

Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,

I come to tender it and my appliance,

With all bound humbleness.

King. We thank you, maiden;

But may not be so credulous of cure,

When our most learned doctors leave us, and

115

The congregated college have concluded

That labouring art can never ransom nature

From her inaidible estate; I say we must not

So stain our judgement, or corrupt our hope.

To prostitute our past-cure malady

120

To empirics, or to dissever so

Our great self and our credit, to esteem

A senseless help, when help past sense we deem.

Hel. My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains:

I will no more enforce mine office on you;

125

Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts

A modest one, to bear me back again.

King. I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:

Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give

As one near death to those that wish him live:

130

But, what at full I know, thou know'st no part;

I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

Hel. What I can do can do no hurt to try,

Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy

He that of greatest works is finisher,

135

Oft does them by the weakest minister:

So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown,

When judges have been babes; great floods have flown

From simple sources; and great seas have dried,

When miracles have by the greatest been denied.

140

Oft expectation fails, and most oft there

Where most it promises; and oft it hits

Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits.

King. I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;

Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:

145

Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.

Hel. Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:

It is not so with Him that all things knows,

As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;

But most it is presumption in us when

150

The help of heaven we count the act of men.

Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;

Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.

I am not an impostor, that proclaim

Myself against the level of mine aim;

155

But know I think, and think I know most sure,

My art is not past power, nor you past cure.

King. Art thou so confident? within what space

Hopest thou my cure?

Hel. The great'st grace lending grace,

Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring

160

Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring;

Ere twice in murk and occidental damp

Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp;

Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass

Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass;

165

What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,

Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.

King. Upon thy certainty and confidence

What darest thou venture?

Hel. Tax of impudence,

A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame

170

Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name

Sear'd otherwise, ne worse of worst extended,

With vilest torture let my life be ended.

King. Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak

His powerful sound within an organ weak:

175

And what impossibility would slay

In common sense, sense saves another way.

Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate

Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate,

Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all

180

That happiness and prime can happy call:

Thou this to hazard needs must intimate

Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.

Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,

That ministers thine own death if I die.

185

Hel. If I break time, or flinch in property

Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,

And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;

But, if I help, what do you promise me?

King. Make thy demand.

Hel. But will you make it even?

190

King. Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.

Hel. Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand

What husband in thy power I will command:

Exempted be from me the arrogance

To choose from forth the royal blood of France,

195

My low and humble name to propagate

With any branch or image of thy state;

But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know

Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

King. Here is my hand; the premises observed,

200

Thy will by my performance shall be served:

So make the choice of thy own time; for I,

Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.

More should I question thee, and more I must,

Though more to know could not be more to trust,

205

From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest

Unquestion'd welcome, and undoubted blest.

Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed

As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

ACT II.

Scene I. Paris. The King's palace.