King. Make choice; and, see, Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly; 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 threateningly replies: Love make your fortunes twenty times above My wish receive, Hel. iny leave. Laf. Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine, I'd have them whipped; 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 : 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, 6 i. e. I have no more to say to you. 7 The lowest chance of the dice. 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. What she has done for me? Know'st thou not, Bertram, Yes, my good lord; Ber. 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 King. 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the I can build up. Strange is it, that our bloods, Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off In differences so mighty: If she be All that is virtuous, (save what thou dislik'st, A poor physician's daughter,) thou dislik'st From lowest place when virtuous things proceed, It is a dropsied honour: good alone Is good, without a name; vileness is so ;1 Where dust, and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb 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, 9 Titles. • Good is good independent of any worldly distinction, and so is vileness vile. I must produce my power: Here, take her hand, 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, Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate, King. Take her by the hand, And tell her, she is thine: to whom I promise A counterpoize; if not to thy estate, A balance more replete. Ber. I take her hand. King. Good fortune, and the favour of the king, Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief, And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast [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? Laf. Ay; Is it not a language, I speak? Par. A most harsh one; and not to be understood without bloody succeeding. My master? Luf. 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. Par. You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old. Laf. I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring thee. Par. What I dare too well do, I dare not do. Laf. I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs, and the bannerets, about thee, did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now found thee; when I lose thee again, I care not yet art thou good for nothing but taking up; and that thou art scarce worth. 2 i. e. While I sate twice with thee at dinner. |