| ACT II SCENE V | Paris. The KING's palace. | |
| [Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM] |
| LAFEU | But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier. |
| BERTRAM | Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof. |
| LAFEU | You have it from his own deliverance. |
| BERTRAM | And by other warranted testimony. |
| LAFEU | Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting. | 5 |
| BERTRAM | I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in |
| knowledge and accordingly valiant. |
| LAFEU | I have then sinned against his experience and |
| transgressed against his valour; and my state that |
| way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my | 10 |
| heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make |
| us friends; I will pursue the amity. |
| [Enter PAROLLES] |
| PAROLLES | [To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.
|
| LAFEU | Pray you, sir, who's his tailor? |
| PAROLLES | Sir? | 15 |
| LAFEU | O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good |
| workman, a very good tailor. |
| BERTRAM | [Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?
|
| PAROLLES | She is. |
| BERTRAM | Will she away to-night? | 20 |
| PAROLLES | As you'll have her. |
| BERTRAM | I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure, |
| Given order for our horses; and to-night, |
| When I should take possession of the bride, |
| End ere I do begin. | 25 |
| LAFEU | A good traveller is something at the latter end of a |
| dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a |
| known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should |
| be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain. |
| BERTRAM | Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur? | 30 |
| PAROLLES | I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's |
| displeasure. |
| LAFEU | You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs |
| and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and |
| out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer | 35 |
| question for your residence. |
| BERTRAM | It may be you have mistaken him, my lord. |
| LAFEU | And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's |
| prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this |
| of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the | 40 |
| soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in |
| matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them |
| tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur: |
| I have spoken better of you than you have or will to |
| deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil. | 45 |
| [Exit] |
| PAROLLES | An idle lord. I swear. |
| BERTRAM | I think so. |
| PAROLLES | Why, do you not know him? |
| BERTRAM | Yes, I do know him well, and common speech |
| Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog. | 50 |
| [Enter HELENA] |
| HELENA | I have, sir, as I was commanded from you, |
| Spoke with the king and have procured his leave |
| For present parting; only he desires |
| Some private speech with you. |
| BERTRAM | I shall obey his will. | 55 |
| You must not marvel, Helen, at my course, |
| Which holds not colour with the time, nor does |
| The ministration and required office |
| On my particular. Prepared I was not |
| For such a business; therefore am I found | 60 |
| So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you |
| That presently you take our way for home; |
| And rather muse than ask why I entreat you, |
| For my respects are better than they seem |
| And my appointments have in them a need | 65 |
| Greater than shows itself at the first view |
| To you that know them not. This to my mother: |
[Giving a letter] |
| 'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so |
| I leave you to your wisdom. |
| HELENA | Sir, I can nothing say, | 70 |
| But that I am your most obedient servant. |
| BERTRAM | Come, come, no more of that. |
| HELENA | And ever shall |
| With true observance seek to eke out that |
| Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd | 75 |
| To equal my great fortune. |
| BERTRAM | Let that go: |
| My haste is very great: farewell; hie home. |
| HELENA | Pray, sir, your pardon. |
| BERTRAM | Well, what would you say? | 80 |
| HELENA | I am not worthy of the wealth I owe, |
| Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is; |
| But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal |
| What law does vouch mine own. |
| BERTRAM | What would you have? | 85 |
| HELENA | Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed. |
| I would not tell you what I would, my lord: |
| Faith yes; |
| Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss. |
| BERTRAM | I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse. | 90 |
| HELENA | I shall not break your bidding, good my lord. |
| BERTRAM | Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell. |
[Exit HELENA] |
| Go thou toward home; where I will never come |
| Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum. |
| Away, and for our flight. | 95 |
| PAROLLES | Bravely, coragio! |
| [Exeunt] |