SCENE changes to the Duke's Court in Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, Bertram, Drum and Trumpets, Soldiers, Parolles. Duke. HE General of our Horfe thou art, and THE we, Great in our hope, lay our beft love and credence Ber. Sir, it is A Charge too heavy for my strength; but yet Duke. Then go forth, And Fortune play upon thy profp'rous Helm, Ber. This very day, Great Mars, I put my felf into thy file, Make me but like my thoughts, and I fhall prove A lover of thy drum; hater of love. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Roufillon in France. Count. A Enter Countess and Steward. Las! and would you take the letter of her? By fending me a letter? Read it again. LETTER. I am St. Jaques' Pilgrim, thither gone; His taken labours bid him me forgive; ; I, his defpightful Juno, fent him forth Ah, what sharp ftings are in her mildeft words? Stew. Pardon, Madam, If I had given you this at over-night She might have been o'er-ta'en; and yet the writes, Purfuit would be but vain. Count. What Angel shall Bless this unworthy Husband? he cannot thrive, Grief would have tears, and forrow bids me fpeak. [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE changes to a publick Place in FLORENCE. A Tucket afar off. Enter an old widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, and Mariana, with other citizens. Wid. N AY,come. For if they do approach the City, we shall lofe all the fight. Dia. They fay, the French Count has done most honourable service. Wid. It is reported, that he has ta'en their greatest Commander, and that with his own hand he flew the Duke's brother. We have loft our labour, they are gone a contrary way: hark, you may know by their trumpets. Mar. Come, let's return again, and fuffice our felves 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 fo rich as honefty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been follicited by a gentleman his companion. Mar. I know that knave, (hang him!) one Parolles'; a filthy officer he is in thofe fuggeftions for the young Earl, beware of them, Diana; (28) their promises, en (28) Their Promises, Enticements, Oaths, Tokens, and all thefe Engines of Luft, are not the Things they go under; i. e. They are not in Reality to true and fincere, as in Appearance they feem to be. This will be beft explain'd by an other Paffage in Hamlet, where Polonius is counselling his Daughter. -I do know, When the Blood burns, how prodigal the Soul Lends the Tongue votos. These Blazes, ok, my Daughter, Giving more Light than Heat, extinct in Both Ev'n in their Promise as it is a making, You must not take for Fire. -In few, Ophelia, Do not believe his Vows, for they are Brokers Not of that Dye which their Investments fow, Breathing, like fan&tified and holy Barwds, ticements, ticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of luft, are not the things they go under; many a maid hath been feduced by them, and the mifery is, example, that fo terrible fhews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all That diffuade fucceffion, 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, tho' there were no further danger known, but the modefty which is fo loft. Dia. You fhall not need to fear me. Enter Helena, difguis'd like a Pilgrim. Wid. I hope fo. Look, here comes a Pilgrim; I know, fhe will lye at my houfe; thither they send one another; I'll question her: God fave you, Pilgrim! whither are you bound?" Hel. To S. Jaques le Grand. Where do the Pal mers lodge, I do beseech you? Wid. At the St. Francis, befide the Port. Hel. Is this the way? CA march afar off. Wid. Ay, marry, is't. Hark you, they come this way. If you will tarry, holy Pilgrim, but 'till the troops come by, I will conduct you where you fhall be lodg'd; Hel. Is it your felf? Wid. If you fhall please fo, Pilgrim, Hel. I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure. Wid. You came, I think, from France? Hel. I did fo. Wid. Here you fhall fee a Country-man of yours, That has done worthy fervice. Hel. His name, I pray you? Dia. The Count Roufillon: know you fuch a one? Hel. But by the ear, that hears moft nobly of him; His face I know not. Dia. Whatfoe'er he is, He's bravely taken here. He ftole from France, A$ As 'tis reported; for the King had married him Hel. Ay, furely, meer the truth; I know his lady. Dia. There is a Gentleman, that ferves the Count, Reports but courfely of her. Hel. What's his name? Hel. Oh, I believe with him, In argument of praife, or to the worth I have not heard examin'd. Dia. Alas, poor lady! 'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife Of a detefting lord. Wid. Ah! right; good creature! wherefoe'er fhe is, Her heart weighs fadly; this young maid might do her A fhrewd Turn, if the pleas'd. Hel. How do you mean? May be, the am'rous Count follicites her In the unlawful purpose, Wid. He does, indeed; And brokes with all, that can in fuch a fuit. But the is arm'd for him, and keeps her guard Drum and Colours. Enter Bertram, Parolles, Officers and Mar. The Gods forbid elfe! Wid. So, now they come: That is Antonio, the Duke's eldest fon; That, Escalus. Hel. Which is the Frenchman? Dia. He; That with the Plume; 'tis a moft gallant fellow; I would, he lov'd his wife! if he were honester, man? Hel. |