Comedy plays; Florence (Italy) -- Drama; Married women -- Drama; Runaway husbands -- Drama
PAROLLES. Bless you, my fortunate lady!
HELENA. I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own
good
fortunes.
PAROLLES. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them
on,
have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
CLOWN. So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would
she
did as you say.
PAROLLES. Why, I say nothing.
CLOWN. Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue
shakes
out his master's undoing. To say nothing, to do nothing, to
know
nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your
title, which is within a very little of nothing.
PAROLLES. Away! th'art a knave.
CLOWN. You should have said, sir, 'Before a knave th'art a
knave';
that's 'Before me th'art a knave.' This had been truth, sir.
PAROLLES. Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
CLOWN. Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to
find
me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you
find
in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of
laughter.
PAROLLES. A good knave, i' faith, and well fed.
Madam, my lord will go away to-night:
A very serious business calls on him.
The great prerogative and rite of love,
Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;
But puts it off to a compell'd restraint;
Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,
Which they distil now in the curbed time,
To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy
And pleasure drown the brim.
HELENA. What's his else?
PAROLLES. That you will take your instant leave o' th' King,
And make this haste as your own good proceeding,
Strength'ned with what apology you think
May make it probable need.
HELENA. What more commands he?
PAROLLES. That, having this obtain'd, you presently
Attend his further pleasure.
HELENA. In everything I wait upon his will.
PAROLLES. I shall report it so.
HELENA. I pray you. Exit PAROLLES
Come, sirrah. Exeunt
ACT II. SCENE 5.
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 sinn'd against his experience and
transgress'd
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
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