at some great and trusty business in a main danger fail you. Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him. 2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his drum; which you hear him so confidently undertake to do. I Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will fuddenly surprise him; fuch I will have, whom I am fure 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 adverfaries, when we bring him to our own tents. Be but your Lordship present at his examination; if he do not for the promife of his life, and in the highest compulfion 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 foul upon oath, never truft my judgment in any thing. 2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he fays, he has a stratagem for't; when your Lordship fees the bottom of his success in't, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of oar will be melted, if you give him not Tom Drum's entertainment *, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes. SCENE X. Enter Parolles. 1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the humour of his design, let him fetch off his drum in any hand. Ber. How now, Monfieur? this drum sticks forely in your difpofition. 2 Lord. A pox't on't, let it go, 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! is't but a drum? a drum so loft! there Holingshed, in his description of Ireland, speaking of Patrick Scarfefield, (Mayor of Dublin in the year 1551,) and of his extravagant hofpitality, fubjoins, that no guest had ever a cold or forbidding look front any part of his family: so that bis porter, or any other officer, durst not, for both his ears, give the fimplest man that reforted to his house, Tom Drum's entertainment; Which is, to hale a man in by the head, and thrust him out by both the shoulders. Mr. Theobald. there was an excellent command! to charge in with our horfe upon our own wings, and to rend our own foldiers. 2 Lord. That was not to be blamed in the command of the fervice; it was a disafter of war that Cæfar himfelf could not have prevented, if he had been there to command., Ber. Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: fome dishonour we had in the lofs of that drum, but it is not to be recover'd Par. It might have been recover'd. Par. It is to be recover'd; but that the merit of fervice is feldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet. Ber. Why, if you have a ftomach to't, Monfieur; if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this inftrument 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 fyllable of your worthiness. Par. By the hand of a foldier, I will undertake it. Par. 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. Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are gone about it? Par. I know not what the fuccefs will be, my Lord; but the attempt I vow. Ber. I know th'art valiant; and to the possibility of foldiership, will fubfcribe for thee; farewell. Par. I love not many words. SCENE XI. [Exit. 1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my Lord, that fo confidently feems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to to be done; damns himself to do it, and dares better be damn'd than to do't? 2 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. Ber. Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto? 2 Lord. None in the world, but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost emboss'd him, you shall fee his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your Lordship's refpect. 1 Lord. We'll make you fome sport with the fox, ere we cafe him. He was first mock'd by the old Lord Lafeu; when his disguife and he is parted, tell me what a fprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night. 2 Lord. I must go and look my twigs; he shall be caught. Ber. Your brother, he shall go along with me. 2 Lord. As't please your Lordship. I'll leave you. [Exit. Ber. Now will I lead you to the house, and shew you the lafs I fpoke of. I Lord. But you say she's honest. Ber. That's all the fault; I spoke with her but once, And found her wondrous cold; but I fent to her, I Lord. With all my heart, my Lord. [Exeunt SCENE XII. Changes to the Widow's house. Enter Helena, and Widow. Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not the, I know not how I shall affure you further; But I shall lofe the grounds I work upon. VOL. III. E Wid Wid. Tho' my estate be fallen, I was well born, Nothing acquainted with these businesses; Hel. Nor would I wish you. Wid. I should believe you, For you have shew'd me that which well approves, Hel. Take this purse of gold, And let me buy your friendly help thus far, When I have found it. The Count wooes your daughter, Wid. Now I fee the bottom of your purpose. Wid. 1 have yielded. Instruct my daughter how she shall perfevere, To chide him from our eaves; for he perfifts, Hel. Why then, to-night [Excupt ACT IV. SCENE I. Part of the French camp in Florence. Enter one of the French Lords, with five or fix Soldiers in ambush. Lord. HE E can come no other way but by this hedge corner; when you fally upon him, fpeak what terrible language you will: though you understand it not yourselves, no matter; for we must not feem to understand him, unless some one amongst us, whom we must produce for an interpreter. Sol. Good Captain, let me be th' interpreter. Lord: Art not acquainted with him? knows he not thy voice? Sol. No, Sir, I warrant you. Lord. But what linfy-woolfy haft thou to speak to us again? Sol. Ev'n such as you speak to me.. Lord. He must think us some band of strangers i' th' adverfaries' entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages, therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy; not to know what we speak one to another, so we feem to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must feem very politic. But couch, hoa! here he comes to beguile two hours in a fleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges. Enter Parolles. Par. Ten o'clock; within these three hours 'twill be time E 2 |