Paris. The KING’s palace.
[Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM]
LAFEU But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
BERTRAM Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
LAFEU You have it from his own deliverance.
BERTRAM And by other warranted testimony.
LAFEU Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.
BERTRAM I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in
knowledge and accordingly valiant.
LAFEU I have then sinned against his experience and
transgressed against his valour; and my state that
way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my
heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make
us friends; I will pursue the amity.
[Enter PAROLLES]
Pray you, sir, who’s his tailor?
PAROLLES Sir?
LAFEU O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, ‘s a good
workman, a very good tailor.
BERTRAM Is there any unkindness between my
lord and you, monsieur?
PAROLLES I know not how I have deserved
to run into my lord’s displeasure.
BERTRAM It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
LAFEU And shall do so ever, though I took him at ‘s
prayers. believe this of me, there can be no kernel in
this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes.
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence;
I have kept of them tame, and know their natures.
Farewell, monsieur: I have spoken better of you than
you have or will to deserve at my hand; but we must
do good against evil.
[Exit]
PAROLLES An idle lord. I swear.
BERTRAM I think so.
PAROLLES Why, do you not know him?
BERTRAM Yes, I do know him well, and common speech
Gives him a worthy pass.
Is she gone to the king?
PAROLLES She is.
BERTRAM Will she away to-night?
PAROLLES As you’ll have her.
BERTRAM I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
Given order for our horses; and to-night,
When I should take possession of the bride,
End ere I do begin. Here comes my clog.
[Enter HELENA]
HELENA I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
Spoke with the king and have procured his leave
For present parting; only he desires
Some private speech with you.
BERTRAM I shall obey his will.
You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
The ministration and required office
On my particular. Prepared I was not
For such a business; therefore am I found
So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you
That presently you take our way for home;
And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
For my respects are better than they seem
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than shows itself at the first view
To you that know them not. This to my mother:
[Giving a letter]
‘Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
I leave you to your wisdom.
HELENA Sir, I can nothing say,
But that I am your most obedient servant.
BERTRAM Come, come, no more of that.
HELENA And ever shall
With true observance seek to eke out that
Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail’d
To equal my great fortune.
BERTRAM Let that go:
My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
HELENA Pray, sir, your pardon.
BERTRAM Well, what would you say?
HELENA I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,
Nor dare I say ’tis mine, and yet it is;
But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.
BERTRAM What would you have?
HELENA Something; and scarce so much: nothing,
indeed. I would not tell you what I would, my lord:
Faith yes; Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
BERTRAM I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.
HELENA I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
[Exit HELENA]
BERTRAM Go thou toward home; where I will never come
Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.
Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:
Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove
A lover of thy drum, hater of love.
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