Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mis tress Fall, when love please!-marry, to each, but one! King. Peruse them well: Not one of those, but had a noble father. Hel. Gentlemen, Heaven hath, through me, restor'd the king to health. All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you. Hel. I am a simple maid; and therein wealthiest, That, I protest, I simply am a maid:—— Please it your majesty, I have done already: We blush, that thou should'st choose; but, be refus'd, We'll ne'er come there again. King. Make choice; and, see, Who shuns thy love, shuns all his love in me. Hel. Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw ames-ace for my life. Hel. The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes, Before I speak, too threat'ningly replies: Love make your fortunes twenty times above 2 Lord. No better, if you please. Hel. My wish receive, Which great love grant! and so I take my leave. Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine, I'd have them whipp'd; or I would send them to the Turk, to make eunuchs of. Hel. Be not afraid [To a Lord.] that I 'your hand should take; I'll never do you wrong for your own sake: you ever wed! Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her: sure, they are bastards to the English; the French ne'er got them. Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, To make yourself a son out of my blood. 4 Lord. Fair one, I think not so. Laf. There's one grape yet,-I am sure, thy father drank wine.-But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already. Hel. I dare not say, I take you; [To Bertram.] but I give Me, and my service, ever whilst I live, Into your guiding power. This is the man. King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's thy wife. Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness, In such a business give me leave to use The help of mine own eyes. King. Know'st thou not, Bertram, What she has done for me? Ber. Yes, my good lord; But never hope to know why I should marry her. King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my sickly bed. Ber. But follows it, my lord, to bring me down Must answer for your raising? I know her well; She had her breeding at my father's charge: A poor physician's daughter my wife!-Disdain Rather corrupt me ever! King. Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st, Is good, without a name; vileness is so: In these to nature she's immediate heir; And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn, Than our fore-goers: the mere word's a slave, Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb I can create the rest: virtue, and she, Is her own dower; honour, and wealth, from me. Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't. King. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou should'st strive to choose. Hel. That you are well restor'd, my lord, I am glad; Let the rest go. King. My honour's at the stake; which to defeat, My love, and her desert; that canst not dream, Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know, We please to have it grow: Check thy contempt: Do thine own fortunes that obedient right, Ber. Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit My fancy to your eyes: When I consider, What great creation, and what dole of honour, King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king, Smile upon this contráct; whose ceremony Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief, And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast Shall more attend upon the coming space, Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her, Thy love's to me religious; else, does err. [Exeunt King, Bertram, Helena, Lords, and Attendants. Laf. Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you. Par. Your pleasure, sir? Laf. Your lord and master did well to make his recantation. Par. Recantation?- My lord? my master? Par. A most harsh one; and not to be understood without bloody succeeding. My master? Laf. Are you companion to the count Rousillon? Par. To any count; to all counts; to what is man. Laf. To what is count's man; count's master is of another style. |