LINENOTES:

Scene iii.] Scene v. Pope.

Before ... palace.] Capell. Scene changes to the Duke's court in Florence. Theobald.

Parolles] om. Capell.

[3] Sir, it is] See note (xiii.)

[4] but yet] F1. but F2 F3 F4.

[6] the] th' Ff.

thou] om. Pope.

Scene IV. Rousillon. The Count's palace.

Enter Countess and Steward.
Count. Alas! and would you take the letter of her?
Might you not know she would do as she has done,
By sending me a letter? Read it again.
Stew. [Reads] I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:
5
Ambitious love hath so in me offended,
That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon,
With sainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that from the bloody course of war
My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
10
Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far
His name with zealous fervour sanctify:
His taken labours bid him me forgive;
I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth
From courtly friends with camping foes to live,
15
Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth:
He is too good and fair for death and me;
Whom I myself embrace to set him free.
Count. Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!
Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,
20
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus she hath prevented.
Stew. Pardon me, madam:
If I had given you this at over-night,
She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.
25
Count. What angel shall
Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,
30
To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient messenger:
35
When haply he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again.
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
40
To make distinction: provide this messenger:
My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.
[Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

Scene iv..] Scene vi. Pope.

[4] Stew. [Reads] Collier. Letter Ff. Ste. Capell.

Saint] S. F1 F2 F3. St. F4.

[7] have] hane F1.

[10] Bless] 'Bless Capell conj. MS.

peace, whilst] F3 F4. peace. Whilst F1 F2.

[12] His taken] Herculean Rann conj.

[15] dogs] dog Rowe.

[18] Count.] Cou. Capell. om. Ff.

[19] Rinaldo] Rynaldo F1 F3 F4. Rynardo F2.

did never lack] ne'er lack'd Hanmer.

[22] me] om. Pope.

[26] cannot] can't S. Walker conj.

[27] whom] which Hanmer.

[29] Write, write] F1 F3 F4. Write and write F2. Write, oh, write Hanmer.

[33] he do] do he Rowe (ed. 2). does he Hanmer.

[39] I have] I've Pope.

skill in sense] skill or sense Collier (Collier MS.).

[42] and] but Hanmer.

Scene V. Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and Mariana, with other Citizens.
Wid. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we
shall lose all the sight.
Dia. They say the French count has done most honourable
service.
5
Wid. It is reported that he has taken their greatest
commander; and that with his own hand he slew the Duke's
brother. [Tucket.] We have lost our labour; they are gone
a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.
Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves
10
with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French
earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and no legacy is
so rich as honesty.
Wid. I have told my neighbour how you have been
solicited by a gentleman his companion.
15
Mar. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a
filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.
Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths,
tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they
go under: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and
20
the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wreck
of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but
that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I
hope I need not to advise you further; but I hope your own
grace will keep you where you are, though there were no
25
further danger known but the modesty which is so lost.
Dia. You shall not need to fear me.
Wid. I hope so.
Enter Helena, disguised like a Pilgrim.
Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at my
house; thither they send one another: I'll question her.
30
God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?
Hel. To Saint Jaques le Grand.
Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?
Wid. At the Saint Francis here beside the port.
Hel. Is this the way?
35
Wid. Ay, marry, is't. [A march afar.] Hark you! they come this way.
If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,
But till the troops come by,
I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;
The rather, for I think I know your hostess
As ample as myself.
40
Hel. Is it yourself?
Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrim.
Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.
Wid. You came, I think, from France?
Hel. I did so.
Wid. Here you shall see a countryman of yours
That has done worthy service.
45
Hel. His name, I pray you.
Dia. The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?
Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
His face I know not.
Dia. Whatsome'er he is,
He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
50
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
Against his liking: think you it is so?
Hel. Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.
Dia. There is a gentleman that serves the count
Reports but coarsely of her.
Hel. What's his name?
Dia. Monsieur Parolles.
55
Hel. O, I believe with him,
In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated: all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that
I have not heard examined.
60
Dia. Alas, poor lady!
'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
Of a detesting lord.
Wid. I write good creature, wheresoe'er she is,
Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her
A shrewd turn, if she pleased.
65
Hel. How do you mean?
May be the amorous count solicits her
In the unlawful purpose.
Wid. He does indeed;
And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
70
But she is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honestest defence.
Mar. The gods forbid else!
Wid. So, now they come:
Drum and Colours.
Enter Bertram, Parolles, and the whole army.
That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest son;
That, Escalus.
Hel. Which is the Frenchman?
Dia. He;
75
That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.
I would he loved his wife: if he were honester
He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?
Hel. I like him well.
Dia. 'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave
80
That leads him to these places: were I his lady,
I would poison that vile rascal.
Hel. Which is he?
Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?
Hel. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.
Par. Lose our drum! well.
85
Mat. He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.
Wid. Marry, hang you!
Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, and army.
Wid. The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you
90
Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents
There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.
Hel. I humbly thank you:
Please it this matron and this gentle maid
To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking
95
Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts of this virgin
Worthy the note.
Both. We'll take your offer kindly. [Exeunt.

LINENOTES:

Scene v.] Scene vii. Pope.

Without the walls.] Capell. A public place in Florence. Theobald.

A tucket...] Transferred to line 7 by Dyce.

Diana] her daughter. Ff.

Violenta] om. Capell.

[1-14] As seventeen lines, ending come ... city ... sight... done ... service ... reported ... commander ... slew ... labour ... hark ... trumpets ... again ... of it ... earl ... name ... rich ... honesty ... neighbour ... gentleman ... companion in Ff. First as prose by Pope.

[3] Dia.] Violenta. Edd. conj.

[5] taken] ta'en Rowe.

greatest] great'st Ff.

[7] [Tucket.] Capell.

[18] not] but Hanmer. om. Warburton.

[20] is, example] Rowe (ed. 2). is example Ff.

[22] threaten] Pope, threatens Ff.

[25] known] found Hanmer (Warburton).

the modesty] of the modesty Long MS.

[27] Enter...] Rowe. Enter Hellen. Ff.

[31] le] F3 F4. la F1 F2.

[33] here] om. Theobald.

[34-37] Arranged as in Ff; as prose in Pope; as three lines, ending Hark you!... pilgrim ... by in Capell.

[35] is't] is it Capell.

A march afar.] Ff. Tucket. Capell.

[36] holy] om. Capell.

[37] the] the the F2.

[40] ample] amply Capell conj.

[40, 41] Is it ... pilgrim] As one line in Capell.

[43] I did] True, I did Hanmer.

[48] Whatsome'er he is] What somere he is F1 F3 F4. What somere his is F2. Whatsoe'er he is Rowe.

[52] mere the] the meer Hanmer. meerlye Warburton.

[54] coarsely] Johnson. coursely Ff.

[60] Alas] Ah Pope.

[63] I write good creature,] F1. I right good creature, F2 F3 F4. Ah! right good creature! Rowe. Ah! right; good creature! Theobald. Ay, right:—Good creature! Capell. A right good creature: Steevens (Malone conj.). I weet, good creature, Steevens conj. I write, good creature, Grant White.

[68] brokes] brooks Rowe (ed. 2).

[71] Scene VIII. Pope.

[72] Enter Bertram...] Enter Count Rossillion... Ff (after defence, line 71).

[77] is't not a] but is it not A Hanmer.

[79] he is] he's Hanmer.

[80] places] paces Theobald. pranks Heath conj. passes Lettsom conj.

[81] I would] I'd Pope.

[82-84] That ... well] S. Walker reads as three lines, ending melancholy ... drum ... Well.

[84] well] om. Hanmer.

[87] [Parolles bows to them. Capell.]

[88] Exeunt....] Exit. Ff.

[89] bring you] Rowe (ed. 2). bring you, (you in next line) F1. bring You, F2 F3 F4.

[96] of] F1. on F2 F3 F4.

Scene VI. Camp before Florence.

Enter Bertram and the two French Lords.
Sec. Lord. Nay, good my lord, put him to't; let him
have his way.
First Lord. If your lordship find him not a hilding,
hold me no more in your respect.
5
Sec. Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble.
Ber. Do you think I am so far deceived in him?
Sec. Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct
knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my
kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless
10
liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one
good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.
First Lord. It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing
too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some
great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.
15
Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
First Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his
drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.
Sec. Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly
surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he knows
20
not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink him so,
that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into
the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our
own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination:
if he do not, for the promise of his life and in the
25
highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you and
deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and
that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never
trust my judgement in any thing.
First Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch
30
his drum; he says he has a stratagem for't: when your
lordship sees the bottom of his success in't, and to what
metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you
give him not John Drum's entertainment, your inclining
cannot be removed. Here he comes.
Enter Parolles.
35
Sec. Lord. [Aside to Ber.] O, for the love of laughter,
hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his
drum in any hand.
Ber. How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in
your disposition.
40
First Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum.
Par. 'But a drum'! is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost!
There was excellent command,—to charge in with our
horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!
First Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command
45
of the service: it was a disaster of war that Cæsar
himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to
command.
Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success:
some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is
50
not to be recovered.
Par. It might have been recovered.
Ber. It might; but it is not now.
Par. It is to be recovered: but that the merit of service
is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer,
55
I would have that drum or another, or 'hic jacet.'
Ber. Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur: if you
think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument
of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in
the enterprise and go on; I will grace the attempt for a
60
worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the Duke shall both
speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his
greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
Par. By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
Ber. But you must not now slumber in it.
65
Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will presently
pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty,
put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight
look to hear further from me.
Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are gone
70
about it?
Par. I know not what the success will be, my lord;
but the attempt I vow.
Ber. I know thou'rt valiant; and, to the possibility of
thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.
75
Par. I love not many words. [Exit.
Sec. Lord. No more than a fish loves water. Is not
this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to
undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done;
damns himself to do and dares better be damned than to
80
do't?
First Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we do:
certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour
and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but when
you find him out, you have him ever after.
85
Ber. Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of
this that so seriously he does address himself unto?
Sec. Lord. None in the world; but return with an invention
and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but
we have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall to-night;
90
for indeed he is not for your lordship's respect.
First Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox
ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old lord
Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a
sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.
95
Sec. Lord. I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.
Ber. Your brother he shall go along with me.
Sec. Lord. As't please your lordship: I'll leave you. [Exit.
Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.
First Lord. But you say she's honest.
100
Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but once
And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,
By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind,
Tokens and letters which she did re-send;
And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature:
Will you go see her?
105
First Lord. With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt.