The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Laf._ O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?
Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if
My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine 70
That's able to breathe life into a stone,
Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary
With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch
Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,
To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand, 75
And write to her a love-line.
_King._ What 'her' is this?
_Laf._ Why, Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,
If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,
If seriously I may convey my thoughts
In this my light deliverance, I have spoke 80
With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,
Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more
Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her,
For that is her demand, and know her business?
That done, laugh well at me.
_King._ Now, good Lafeu, 85
Bring in the admiration; that we with thee
May spend our wonder too, or take off thine
By wondering how thou took'st it.
_Laf._ Nay, I'll fit you,
And not be all day neither. [_Exit._
_King._ Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. 90
_Re-enter_ LAFEU, _with_ HELENA.
_Laf._ Nay, come your ways.
_King._ This haste hath wings indeed.
_Laf._ Nay, come your ways;
This is his majesty, say your mind to him:
A traitor you do look like; but such traitors
His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle, 95
That dare leave two together; fare you well. [_Exit._
_King._ Now, fair one, does your business follow us?
_Hel._ Ay, my good lord.
Gerard de Narbon was my father;
In what he did profess, well found.
_King._ I knew him. 100
_Hel._ The rather will I spare my praises towards him;
Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death
Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one,
Which, as the dearest issue of his practice,
And of his old experience the only darling, 105
He bade me store up, as a triple eye,
Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so:
And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd
With that malignant cause, wherein the honour
Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power, 110
I come to tender it and my appliance,
With all bound humbleness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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