To cure the defperate languishings, whereof
The King is render'd loft.

Count. This was your motive for Paris, was it, speak ?
Hel. My lord your fon made me to think of this;
Elfe Paris, and the medicine, and the King,

Had from the converfation of my thoughts,
Haply, been absent then.

Count. But think you, Helen,

If you fhould tender your fuppofed aid,
He would receive it? he and his phyficians

Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him:
They, that they cannot help. How fhall they credit
A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools,
Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off
The danger to it felf?

Hel. There's fomething in't

More than my father's skill, (which was the great'st
Of his Profeffion,) that his good receipt

Shall for my legacy be fanctified

By th' luckieft ftars in heav'n; and, would your honour But give me leave to try fuccefs, I'd venture

The well-loft life of mine on his Grace's Cure,

By fuch a day and hour.

Count. Doft thou believ't?

Hel. Ay, Madam, knowingly.

Count. Why, Helen, thou fhalt have my leave and

love;

Means and attendants; and my loving greetings
To thofe of mine in Court. I'll ftay at home,
And pray God's bleffing into thy attempt:
Begone, to morrow; and be fure of this,
What I can help thee to, thou shalt not miss.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT II.

SCENE, the Court of France.

Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets.

F

KING.

Arewel, young Lords: these warlike principles
Do not throw from you: you, my Lords, fare-

wel;

Share the advice betwixt you. If both gain,
The gift doth ftretch it self as 'tis receiv'd,
And is enough for both.

1 Lord. "Tis our hope, Sir,

After well-enter'd foldiers, to return
And find your Grace in health.

King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart
Will not confefs, it owns the malady

That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the fons

Of worthy French men; (6) let higher Italy

(Thofe

Of the last Monarchy;) see, &c.] This feems to me One of the very obfcure Paffages of Shakespeare, and which therefore may very well demand Explanation. Italy, at the time of this Scene, was under three very different Tenures. The Emperor, as Succeffor of the Roman Emperors, had one Part; the Pope, by a pretended Donation from Conftantine, another; and the Third was compos'd of free States. Now by the last Monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general Monarchies. Upon the Fall of this Monarchy, in the Scramble, feveral Cities fet up for Themselves, and became free States: Now thefe might be faid properly to inherit the Fall of the Monarchy. This being premised, now to the Sense. The King says,

(Thofe 'bated, that inherit but the Fall

Of the laft Monarchy ;) fee, that you come
Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when
The brave Queftant fhrinks, find what you feek,
That Fame may cry you loud: I fay, farewel.

2 Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majefty! King. Thofe girls of Italy,take heed of them; They fay, our French lack language to deny,

If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you serve.

Both. Our hearts receive your warnings.

King. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants.

[Exit. Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will ftay behind us!

Par. 'Tis not his fault; the fpark

2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars.

Par. Moft admirable; I have seen thofe wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, Too young, and the next year, and 'tis too early.

Par. An thy mind ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely.

Ber. Shall I ftay here the forehorse to a smock, Creeking my fhoes on the plain masonry,

'Till Honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? by heav'n, I'll fteal away. I Lord. There's honour in the theft.

Par. Commit it, Count.

2 Lord. I am your acceffary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body.

Higher Italy; giving it the Rank of Preference to France ; but he corrects himself and fays, I except Those from that Precedency, who only inherit the Fall of the laft Monarchy; as all the little petty States; for inftance, Florence to whom these Voluntiers were going. As if he had faid, I give the Place of Honour to the Emperor and the Pope, but not to the free States. All here is clear; and 'tis exactly Shakespeare's Manner, who lov'd to new his Reading on fuch Occafions. Mr. Warburton.

1 Lord.

་

1 Lord. Farewel, Captain.

2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles!Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good fparks and luftrous. A word, good metals. 7) You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finister cheek; it was this very fword entrench'd it; fay to him, I live, and observe his reports of me.

1 Lord. We fhall, noble captain.

Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what will ye do?

Ber. Stay; the King

[Exeunt Lords.

Par. Ufe a more fpacious ceremony to the noble Lords, you have reftrain'd your self within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themselves in the cap of the time; there, do muster true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd star; and tho' the devil lead the meafure, fuch are to be follow'd: after them, and take a more dilated farewel.

Ber. And I will do fo.

Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove most finewy fword-men. [Exeunt.

Enter the King, and Lafeu.

Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. King. I'll fee thee to stand up.

Laf. Then here's a man stands, that hath bought his pardon.

I would, you had kneel'd, my Lord, to ask me mercy; And that at my bidding you could fo ftand up.

(7) Tou shall find in the Regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio, bis Cicatrice, with an Emblem of War here on his finifter Cheek ;] It is furprizing, none of the Editors could see that a flight Tranfpofition was abfolutely neceffary here, when there is not common Sense in the Passage, as it stands without such Tranfpofition. Parolles only means, " You shall find one Captain Spurio in the Camp with a Scar on his left Cheek, a Mark of War that my Sword gave him.". VO L. III. B

King

King. I would, I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for't.

Laf. Goodfaith, across:

thus;

but, my good Lord, 'tis

Will you be cur'd of your infirmity ?

King. No.

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: (8) I have seen a Med'cin,

That's able to breathe life into a stone;

Quicken a rock, and make you dance Canary

With fprightly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch
Is powerful to araife King Pepin, nay,

To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,
And write to her a love-line.

If

King. What her is this?

Laf. Why, doctor-she: my Lord, there's one arriv'd,

you will fee her. Now, by my faith and honour, If feriously I may convey my thoughts

In this my light deliverance, I have spoke
With one, that in her fex, her years, profeffion,
Wisdom and conftancy, hath amaz'd me more
Than I dare blame my weakness: will you
For that is her Demand, and know her business?
That done, laugh well at me.

King. Now, good Lafeu,

Bring in the admiration, that we with thee

fee her,

May spend our wonder too, or take off thine,

By wond'ring how thou took'ft it.

Laf. Nay, I'll fit you,

And not be all day neither.

[Exit Lafeu.

King. Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

(8) I have seen a Medecine,] Lafen does not mean that he has feen a Remedy, but a Perfon bringing fuch Remedy. I therefore imagine, our Author used the French Word, Medecin,i. e a Phyfician; this agrees with what he subjoins immediately in Reply to the King,

Why, Do&or-She;

and

write to her a Love-line.

Laf.