Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 3

The Florentine camp.

  1. [Enter the two French Lords, and two or three Soldiers.]
  2. First Lord (Dumaine)
  3. 1897 You have not given him his mother's letter?
  4. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  5. 1898 I have deliv'red it an hour since: there is something in't that
  6. 1899 stings his nature; for on the reading, it he changed almost into
  7. 1900 another man.
  8. First Lord (Dumaine)
  9. 1901 He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a
  10. 1902 wife and so sweet a lady.
  11. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  12. 1903 Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the
  13. 1904 king, who had even tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I
  14. 1905 will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with
  15. 1906 you.
  16. First Lord (Dumaine)
  17. 1907 When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it.
  18. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  19. 1908 He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most
  20. 1909 chaste renown; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of
  21. 1910 her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks
  22. 1911 himself made in the unchaste composition.
  23. First Lord (Dumaine)
  24. 1912 Now, God delay our rebellion: as we are ourselves, what things
  25. 1913 are we!
  26. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  27. 1914 Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all
  28. 1915 treasons, we still see them reveal themselves till they attain
  29. 1916 to their abhorred ends; so he that in this action contrives
  30. 1917 against his own nobility, in his proper stream, o'erflows
  31. 1918 himself.
  32. First Lord (Dumaine)
  33. 1919 Is it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters of our unlawful
  34. 1920 intents? We shall not then have his company to-night?
  35. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  36. 1921 Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.
  37. First Lord (Dumaine)
  38. 1922 That approaches apace: I would gladly have him see his
  39. 1923 company anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own
  40. 1924 judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.
  41. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  42. 1925 We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must
  43. 1926 be the whip of the other.
  44. First Lord (Dumaine)
  45. 1927 In the meantime, what hear you of these wars?
  46. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  47. 1928 I hear there is an overture of peace.
  48. First Lord (Dumaine)
  49. 1929 Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.
  50. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  51. 1930 What will Count Rousillon do then? will he travel higher, or
  52. 1931 return again into France?
  53. First Lord (Dumaine)
  54. 1932 I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his
  55. 1933 counsel.
  56. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  57. 1934 Let it be forbid, sir: so should I be a great deal of his act.
  58. First Lord (Dumaine)
  59. 1935 Sir, his wife, some two months since, fled from his house: her
  60. 1936 pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques-le-Grand: which holy
  61. 1937 undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished; and,
  62. 1938 there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to
  63. 1939 her grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath; and now she
  64. 1940 sings in heaven.
  65. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  66. 1941 How is this justified?
  67. First Lord (Dumaine)
  68. 1942 The stronger part of it by her own letters, which makes her story
  69. 1943 true, even to the point of her death: her death itself which
  70. 1944 could not be her office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed
  71. 1945 by the rector of the place.
  72. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  73. 1946 Hath the count all this intelligence?
  74. First Lord (Dumaine)
  75. 1947 Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the
  76. 1948 full arming of the verity.
  77. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  78. 1949 I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this.
  79. First Lord (Dumaine)
  80. 1950 How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses!
  81. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  82. 1951 And how mightily, some other times, we drown our gain in tears!
  83. 1952 The great dignity that his valour hath here acquired for him
  84. 1953 shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample.
  85. First Lord (Dumaine)
  86. 1954 The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together:
  87. 1955 our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not; and
  88. 1956 our crimes would despair if they were not cherished by our
  89. 1957 virtues.—
  90. [Enter a Servant.]
  91. First Lord (Dumaine)
  92. 1958 How now? where's your master?
  93. Servant
  94. 1959 He met the duke in the street, sir; of whom he hath taken
  95. 1960 a solemn leave: his lordship will next morning for France. The
  96. 1961 duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king.
  97. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  98. 1962 They shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than
  99. 1963 they can commend.
  100. First Lord (Dumaine)
  101. 1964 They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his
  102. 1965 lordship now.
  103. [Enter BERTRAM.]
  104. First Lord (Dumaine)
  105. 1966 How now, my lord, is't not after midnight?
  106. Bertram
  107. 1967 I have to-night despatch'd sixteen businesses, a month's length
  108. 1968 apiece; by an abstract of success: I have conge'd with the duke,
  109. 1969 done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned for her;
  110. 1970 writ to my lady mother I am returning; entertained my convoy; and
  111. 1971 between these main parcels of despatch effected many nicer needs:
  112. 1972 the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.
  113. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  114. 1973 If the business be of any difficulty and this morning your
  115. 1974 departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.
  116. Bertram
  117. 1975 I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it
  118. 1976 hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and
  119. 1977 the soldier?—Come, bring forth this counterfeit module has
  120. 1978 deceived me like a double-meaning prophesier.
  121. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  122. 1979 Bring him forth.
  123. [Exeunt Soldiers.]
  124. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  125. 1980 Has sat i' the stocks all night, poor gallant knave.
  126. Bertram
  127. 1981 No matter; his heels have deserved it, in usurping his
  128. 1982 spurs so long. How does he carry himself?
  129. First Lord (Dumaine)
  130. 1983 I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But to
  131. 1984 answer you as you would be understood: he weeps like a wench that
  132. 1985 had shed her milk; he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he
  133. 1986 supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to this
  134. 1987 very instant disaster of his setting i' the stocks: and what
  135. 1988 think you he hath confessed?
  136. Bertram
  137. 1989 Nothing of me, has he?
  138. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  139. 1990 His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face; if
  140. 1991 your lordship be in't, as I believe you are, you must have the
  141. 1992 patience to hear it.
  142. [Re-enter Soldiers, with PAROLLES.]
  143. Bertram
  144. 1993 A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of me; hush, hush!
  145. First Lord (Dumaine)
  146. 1994 Hoodman comes! Porto tartarossa.
  147. First Soldier
  148. 1995 He calls for the tortures: what will you say without 'em?
  149. Parolles
  150. 1996 I will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me
  151. 1997 like a pasty I can say no more.
  152. First Soldier
  153. 1998 Bosko chimurcho.
  154. First Lord (Dumaine)
  155. 1999 Boblibindo chicurmurco.
  156. First Soldier
  157. 2000 You are a merciful general:—Our general bids you answer to what
  158. 2001 I shall ask you out of a note.
  159. Parolles
  160. 2002 And truly, as I hope to live.
  161. First Soldier
  162. 2003 'First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong.' What say
  163. 2004 you to that?
  164. Parolles
  165. 2005 Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops
  166. 2006 are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my
  167. 2007 reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.
  168. First Soldier
  169. 2008 Shall I set down your answer so?
  170. Parolles
  171. 2009 Do; I'll take the sacrament on 't, how and which way you will.
  172. Bertram
  173. 2010 All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!
  174. First Lord (Dumaine)
  175. 2011 You are deceived, my lord; this is Monsieur Parolles, the gallant
  176. 2012 militarist (that was his own phrase), that had the whole theoric
  177. 2013 of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of
  178. 2014 his dagger.
  179. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  180. 2015 I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean; nor
  181. 2016 believe he can have everything in him by wearing his apparel
  182. 2017 neatly.
  183. First Soldier
  184. 2018 Well, that's set down.
  185. Parolles
  186. 2019 'Five or six thousand horse' I said—I will say true—or
  187. 2020 thereabouts, set down,—for I'll speak truth.
  188. First Lord (Dumaine)
  189. 2021 He's very near the truth in this.
  190. Bertram
  191. 2022 But I con him no thanks for't in the nature he delivers it.
  192. Parolles
  193. 2023 Poor rogues, I pray you say.
  194. First Soldier
  195. 2024 Well, that's set down.
  196. Parolles
  197. 2025 I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are
  198. 2026 marvellous poor.
  199. First Soldier
  200. 2027 'Demand of him of what strength they are a-foot.' What say you to
  201. 2028 that?
  202. Parolles
  203. 2029 By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will
  204. 2030 tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a hundred and fifty, Sebastian, so
  205. 2031 many; Corambus, so many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo,
  206. 2032 Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company,
  207. 2033 Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each: so that the
  208. 2034 muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to
  209. 2035 fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow
  210. 2036 from off their cassocks lest they shake themselves to pieces.
  211. Bertram
  212. 2037 What shall be done to him?
  213. First Lord (Dumaine)
  214. 2038 Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my condition, and
  215. 2039 what credit I have with the duke.
  216. First Soldier
  217. 2040 Well, that's set down. 'You shall demand of him whether one
  218. 2041 Captain Dumain be i' the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation
  219. 2042 is with the duke, what his valour, honesty, expertness in wars;
  220. 2043 or whether he thinks it were not possible, with well-weighing
  221. 2044 sums of gold, to corrupt him to a revolt.'
  222. 2045 What say you to this? what do you know of it?
  223. Parolles
  224. 2046 I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the
  225. 2047 inter'gatories: demand them singly.
  226. First Soldier
  227. 2048 Do you know this Captain Dumain?
  228. Parolles
  229. 2049 I know him: he was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris, from whence he
  230. 2050 was whipped for getting the shrieve's fool with child: a dumb
  231. 2051 innocent that could not say him nay.
  232. [FIRST LORD lifts up his hand in anger.]
  233. Bertram
  234. 2052 Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are
  235. 2053 forfeit to the next tile that falls.
  236. First Soldier
  237. 2054 Well, is this captain in the Duke of Florence's camp?
  238. Parolles
  239. 2055 Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.
  240. First Lord (Dumaine)
  241. 2056 Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.
  242. First Soldier
  243. 2057 What is his reputation with the duke?
  244. Parolles
  245. 2058 The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and
  246. 2059 writ to me this other day to turn him out o' the band: I think I
  247. 2060 have his letter in my pocket.
  248. First Soldier
  249. 2061 Marry, we'll search.
  250. Parolles
  251. 2062 In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there or it is upon
  252. 2063 a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent.
  253. First Soldier
  254. 2064 Here 'tis; here's a paper. Shall I read it to you?
  255. Parolles
  256. 2065 I do not know if it be it or no.
  257. Bertram
  258. 2066 Our interpreter does it well.
  259. First Lord (Dumaine)
  260. 2067 Excellently.
  261. [Reads.]
  262. First Soldier
  263. 2068 'Dian, the Count's a fool, and full of gold,—'
  264. Parolles
  265. 2069 That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an advertisement to a
  266. 2070 proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the
  267. 2071 allurement of one Count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for
  268. 2072 all that very ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again.
  269. First Soldier
  270. 2073 Nay, I'll read it first by your favour.
  271. Parolles
  272. 2074 My meaning in't, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the
  273. 2075 maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious
  274. 2076 boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it
  275. 2077 finds.
  276. Bertram
  277. 2078 Damnable! both sides rogue!
  278. [Reads.]
  279. First Soldier
  280. 2079 'When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it:
  281. 2080 After he scores, he never pays the score;
  282. 2081 Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;
  283. 2082 He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before;
  284. 2083 And say a soldier, 'Dian,' told thee this:
  285. 2084 Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss;
  286. 2085 For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it,
  287. 2086 Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.
  288. 2087 Thine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear,
  289. 2088 PAROLLES.
  290. Bertram
  291. 2089 He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme in his
  292. 2090 forehead.
  293. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  294. 2091 This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the
  295. 2092 armipotent soldier.
  296. Bertram
  297. 2093 I could endure anything before but a cat, and now he's a cat to
  298. 2094 me.
  299. First Soldier
  300. 2095 I perceive, sir, by our general's looks we shall be fain to hang
  301. 2096 you.
  302. Parolles
  303. 2097 My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to die, but that,
  304. 2098 my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of
  305. 2099 nature: let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or
  306. 2100 anywhere, so I may live.
  307. First Soldier
  308. 2101 We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore,
  309. 2102 once more to this Captain Dumain: you have answered to his
  310. 2103 reputation with the duke, and to his valour: what is his honesty?
  311. Parolles
  312. 2104 He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and
  313. 2105 ravishments he parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of
  314. 2106 oaths; in breaking them he is stronger than Hercules. He will
  315. 2107 lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a
  316. 2108 fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk;
  317. 2109 and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bedclothes
  318. 2110 about him; but they know his conditions and lay him in straw. I
  319. 2111 have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty; he has
  320. 2112 everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man
  321. 2113 should have he has nothing.
  322. First Lord (Dumaine)
  323. 2114 I begin to love him for this.
  324. Bertram
  325. 2115 For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him for me;
  326. 2116 he's more and more a cat.
  327. First Soldier
  328. 2117 What say you to his expertness in war?
  329. Parolles
  330. 2118 Faith, sir, has led the drum before the English tragedians,—to
  331. 2119 belie him I will not,—and more of his soldiership I know not,
  332. 2120 except in that country he had the honour to be the officer at a
  333. 2121 place there called Mile-end to instruct for the doubling of
  334. 2122 files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not
  335. 2123 certain.
  336. First Lord (Dumaine)
  337. 2124 He hath out-villanied villainy so far that the rarity redeems
  338. 2125 him.
  339. Bertram
  340. 2126 A pox on him! he's a cat still.
  341. First Soldier
  342. 2127 His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if
  343. 2128 gold will corrupt him to revolt.
  344. Parolles
  345. 2129 Sir, for a quart d'ecu he will sell the fee-simple of his
  346. 2130 salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all
  347. 2131 remainders and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.
  348. First Soldier
  349. 2132 What's his brother, the other Captain Dumain?
  350. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  351. 2133 Why does he ask him of me?
  352. First Soldier
  353. 2134 What's he?
  354. Parolles
  355. 2135 E'en a crow o' the same nest; not altogether so great as the
  356. 2136 first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels
  357. 2137 his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the
  358. 2138 best that is; in a retreat he outruns any lackey: marry, in
  359. 2139 coming on he has the cramp.
  360. First Soldier
  361. 2140 If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the
  362. 2141 Florentine?
  363. Parolles
  364. 2142 Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rousillon.
  365. First Soldier
  366. 2143 I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.
  367. [Aside.]
  368. Parolles
  369. 2144 I'll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to
  370. 2145 seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition of that
  371. 2146 lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger: yet
  372. 2147 who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?
  373. First Soldier
  374. 2148 There is no remedy, sir, but you must die: the general says you
  375. 2149 that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army,
  376. 2150 and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can
  377. 2151 serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come,
  378. 2152 headsman, off with his head.
  379. Parolles
  380. 2153 O Lord! sir, let me live, or let me see my death.
  381. First Soldier
  382. 2154 That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends.
  383. [Unmuffling him.]
  384. First Soldier
  385. 2155 So look about you; know you any here?
  386. Bertram
  387. 2156 Good morrow, noble captain.
  388. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  389. 2157 God bless you, Captain Parolles.
  390. First Lord (Dumaine)
  391. 2158 God save you, noble captain.
  392. Second Lord (Dumaine)
  393. 2159 Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu? I am for
  394. 2160 France.
  395. First Lord (Dumaine)
  396. 2161 Good Captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to
  397. 2162 Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon? an I were not a very
  398. 2163 coward I'd compel it of you; but fare you well.
  399. [Exeunt BERTRAM, Lords, &c.]
  400. First Soldier
  401. 2164 You are undone, captain: all but your scarf; that has a knot on't
  402. 2165 yet.
  403. Parolles
  404. 2166 Who cannot be crushed with a plot?
  405. First Soldier
  406. 2167 If you could find out a country where but women were that had
  407. 2168 received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare
  408. 2169 ye well, sir; I am for France too: we shall speak of you there.
  409. [Exit.]
  410. Parolles
  411. 2170 Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great,
  412. 2171 'Twould burst at this. Captain I'll be no more;
  413. 2172 But I will eat, and drink, and sleep as soft
  414. 2173 As captain shall: simply the thing I am
  415. 2174 Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,
  416. 2175 Let him fear this; for it will come to pass
  417. 2176 That every braggart shall be found an ass.
  418. 2177 Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live
  419. 2178 Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive.
  420. 2179 There's place and means for every man alive.
  421. 2180 I'll after them.
  422. [Exit.]