far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.
Bertram
I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
First Lord
None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.
Second Lord
I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him; such I will have, whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination: if he do not, for the promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in any thing.
First Lord
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says he has a stratagem for’t: when your lordship sees the bottom of his success in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.
Enter
Parolles.
Second Lord
Aside to Bertram. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his drum in any hand.
Bertram
How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
First Lord
A pox on’t, let it go; ’tis but a drum.
Parolles
“But a drum”! is’t “but a drum”? A drum so lost! There was excellent command—to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!
First Lord
That was not to be blamed in the command of the service: it was a disaster of war that Caesar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.
Bertram
Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered.
Parolles
It might have been recovered.
Bertram
It might; but it is not now.
Parolles
It is to be recovered: but that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or “hic jacet.”
Bertram
Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur: if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
Parolles
By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
Bertram
But you must not now slumber in it.
Parolles
I’ll about it this evening: and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.
Bertram
May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?
Parolles
I know not what the success will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.
Bertram
I know thou’rt valiant; and, to the possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.
Parolles
I love not many words.
Exit.
Second Lord
No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do and dares better be damned than to do’t?
First Lord
You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it is that he will steal himself into a man’s favour and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.
Bertram
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he does address himself unto?
Second Lord
None in the world; but return with an invention and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall to-night; for indeed he is not for your lordship’s respect.
First Lord
We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.
Second Lord
I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.
Bertram
Your brother he shall go along with me.
Second Lord
As’t please your lordship: I’ll leave you.
Exit.
Bertram
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.
First Lord
But you say she’s honest.
Bertram
That’s all the fault: I spoke with her but once
And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,
By this same coxcomb that we have i’ the wind,
Tokens and letters which she did re-send;
And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature:
Will you go see her?
First Lord
With all my heart, my lord.
Exeunt.
Scene VII
Florence. The Widow’s house.
Enter
Helena and
Widow.
Helena
If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
I know not how I shall assure you further,
But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.
Widow
Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,
Nothing acquainted with these businesses;
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.
Helena
Nor would I wish you.
First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.
Widow
I should believe you;
For you have
Comments (0)