| ACT III SCENE V | Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off. | |
| [
Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA,
and MARIANA, with other Citizens
] |
| Widow | Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we |
| shall lose all the sight. |
| DIANA | They say the French count has done most honourable service. |
| Widow | It is reported that he has taken their greatest |
| commander; and that with his own hand he slew the | 5 |
| duke's brother. |
[Tucket] |
| We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary |
| way: hark! you may know by their trumpets. |
| MARIANA | Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with |
| the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this | 10 |
| French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and |
| no legacy is so rich as honesty. |
| Widow | I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited |
| by a gentleman his companion. |
| MARIANA | I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a | 15 |
| 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 the misery is, | 20 |
| 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, | 25 |
| though there were no further danger known but the |
| modesty which is so lost. |
| DIANA | You shall not need to fear me. |
| Widow | I hope so. |
[Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim] |
| Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at | 30 |
| my house; thither they send one another: I'll |
| question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound? |
| HELENA | To Saint Jaques le Grand. |
| Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you? |
| Widow | At the Saint Francis here beside the port. | 35 |
| HELENA | Is this the way? |
| Widow | 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, | 40 |
| I will conduct you where you shall be lodged; |
| The rather, for I think I know your hostess |
| As ample as myself. |
| HELENA | Is it yourself? |
| Widow | If you shall please so, pilgrim. | 45 |
| HELENA | I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. |
| Widow | You came, I think, from France? |
| HELENA | I did so. |
| Widow | Here you shall see a countryman of yours |
| That has done worthy service. | 50 |
| HELENA | His name, I pray you. |
| DIANA | The Count Rousillon: know you such a one? |
| HELENA | But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him: |
| His face I know not. |
| DIANA | Whatsome'er he is, | 55 |
| He's bravely taken here. He stole from France, |
| As 'tis reported, for the king had married him |
| Against his liking: think you it is so? |
| HELENA | Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady. |
| DIANA | There is a gentleman that serves the count | 60 |
| Reports but coarsely of her. |
| HELENA | What's his name? |
| DIANA | Monsieur Parolles. |
| HELENA | O, I believe with him, |
| In argument of praise, or to the worth | 65 |
| 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. |
| DIANA | Alas, poor lady! | 70 |
| 'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife |
| Of a detesting lord. |
| Widow | I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is, |
| Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her |
| A shrewd turn, if she pleased. | 75 |
| HELENA | How do you mean? |
| May be the amorous count solicits her |
| In the unlawful purpose. |
| Widow | He does indeed; |
| And brokes with all that can in such a suit | 80 |
| Corrupt the tender honour of a maid: |
| But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard |
| In honestest defence. |
| MARIANA | The gods forbid else! |
| Widow | So, now they come: | 85 |
[Drum and Colours] |
[Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the whole army] |
| That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son; |
| That, Escalus. |
| HELENA | Which is the Frenchman? |
| DIANA | He; |
| That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow. | 90 |
| I would he loved his wife: if he were honester |
| He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman? |
| HELENA | I like him well. |
| DIANA | 'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave |
| That leads him to these places: were I his lady, | 95 |
| I would Poison that vile rascal. |
| HELENA | Which is he? |
| DIANA | That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy? |
| HELENA | Perchance he's hurt i' the battle. |
| PAROLLES | Lose our drum! well. | 100 |
| MARIANA | He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us. |
| Widow | Marry, hang you! |
| MARIANA | And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier! |
| [Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and army] |
| Widow | The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you |
| Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents | 105 |
| There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound, |
| Already at my house. |
| HELENA | I humbly thank you: |
| Please it this matron and this gentle maid |
| To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking | 110 |
| 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] |