The Bodleian First Folio

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Reference: V1v - Comedies, p. 230

Left Column


ALL'S Well, that Ends Well.
Actus primus. Scœna Prima. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter yong Bertram Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke. Mother.

In deliuering my sonne from me, I burie a se­

cond husband.

Ros.

And I in going Madam, weep ore my

fathers death anew; but I must attend his maie­

[5]

sties command, to whom I am now in Ward, euermore

in subiection.

Laf.

You shall find of the King a husband Madame,

you sir a father. He that so generally is at all times good,

must of necessitie hold his vertue to you, whose worthi­

[10]

nesse would stirre it vp where it wanted rather then lack

it where there is such abundance.

Mo.

What hope is there of his Maiesties amendment?

Laf.

He hath abandon'd his Phisitions Madam, vn­

der whose practises he hath persecuted time with hope,

[15]

and finds no other aduantage in the processe, but onely

the loosing of hope by time.

Mo.

This yong Gentlewoman had a father, O that

had, how sad a passage tis, whose skill was almost as

great as his honestie, had it stretch'd so far, would haue

[20]

made nature immortall, and death should haue play for

lacke of worke. Would for the Kings sake hee were li­

uing, I thinke it would be the death of the Kings disease.

Laf.

How call'd you the man you speake of Madam?

Mo.

He was famous sir in his profession, and it was

[25]

his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.

Laf.

He was excellent indeed Madam, the King very

latelie spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly: hee

was skilfull enough to haue liu'd stil, if knowledge could

be set vp against mortallitie.

Ros.
[30]

What is it (my good Lord) the King languishes

of?

Laf.

A Fistula my Lord.

Ros.

I heard not of it before.

Laf.

I would it were not notorious. Was this Gen­

[35]

tlewoman the Daughter of Gerard de Narbon ?

Mo.

His sole childe my Lord, and bequeathed to my

ouer looking. I haue those hopes of her good, that her

education promises her dispositions shee inherits, which

makes faire gifts fairer: for where an vncleane mind car­

[40]

ries vertuous qualities, there commendations go with

pitty, they are vertues and traitors too: in her they are

the better for their simplenesse; she deriues her honestie,

Right Column


and atcheeues her goodnesse.

Lafew.

Your commendations Madam get from her

teares.

Mo.
[45]

'Tis the best brine a Maiden can season her praise

in. The remembrance of her father neuer approches her

heart, but the tirrany of her sorrowes takes all liuelihood

from her cheeke. No more of this Helena, go too, no

more least it be rather thought you affect a sorrow, then

[50]

to haue⸺

Hell.

I doe affect a sorrow indeed, but I haue it too.

Laf.

Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,

excessiue greefe the enemie to the liuing.

Mo.

If the liuing be enemie to the greefe, the excesse

[55]

makes it soone mortall.

Ros. Maddam I desire your holie wishes. Laf. How vnderstand we that? Mo. Be thou blest Bertrame, and succeed thy father In manners as in shape: thy blood and vertue
[60]
Contend for Empire in thee, and thy goodnesse Share with thy birth‑right. Loue all, trust a few, Doe wrong to none: be able for thine enemie Rather in power then vse: and keepe thy friend Vnder thy owne lifes key. Be checkt for silence,
[65]
But neuer tax'd for speech. What heauen more wil, That thee may furnish, and my prayers plucke downe, Fall on thy head. Farwell my Lord, 'Tis an vnseason'd Courtier, good my Lord Aduise him.
Laf.
[70]
He cannot want the best That shall attend his loue.
Mo. Heauen blesse him: Farwell Bertram. Ro.

The best wishes that can be forg'd in your thoghts

be seruants to you: be comfortable to my mother, your

[75]

Mistris, and make much of her.

Laf.

Farewell prettie Lady, you must hold the cre­

dit of your father.

Hell. O were that all, I thinke not on my father, And these great teares grace his remembrance more
[80]
Then those I shed for him. What was he like? I haue forgott him. My imagination Carries no fauour in't but Bertrams. I am vndone, there is no liuing, none, If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one,
[85]
That I should loue a bright particuler starre, And think to wed it, he is so aboue me In his bright radience and colaterall light, Must

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Actus primus. Scœna Prima. [Act 1, Scene 1] Enter yong Bertram Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke. Mother.

In deliuering my sonne from me, I burie a se­

cond husband.

Ros.

And I in going Madam, weep ore my

fathers death anew; but I must attend his maie­

[5]

sties command, to whom I am now in Ward, euermore

in subiection.

Laf.

You shall find of the King a husband Madame,

you sir a father. He that so generally is at all times good,

must of necessitie hold his vertue to you, whose worthi­

[10]

nesse would stirre it vp where it wanted rather then lack

it where there is such abundance.

Mo.

What hope is there of his Maiesties amendment?

Laf.

He hath abandon'd his Phisitions Madam, vn­

der whose practises he hath persecuted time with hope,

[15]

and finds no other aduantage in the processe, but onely

the loosing of hope by time.

Mo.

This yong Gentlewoman had a father, O that

had, how sad a passage tis, whose skill was almost as

great as his honestie, had it stretch'd so far, would haue

[20]

made nature immortall, and death should haue play for

lacke of worke. Would for the Kings sake hee were li­

uing, I thinke it would be the death of the Kings disease.

Laf.

How call'd you the man you speake of Madam?

Mo.

He was famous sir in his profession, and it was

[25]

his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.

Laf.

He was excellent indeed Madam, the King very

latelie spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly: hee

was skilfull enough to haue liu'd stil, if knowledge could

be set vp against mortallitie.

Ros.
[30]

What is it (my good Lord) the King languishes

of?

Laf.

A Fistula my Lord.

Ros.

I heard not of it before.

Laf.

I would it were not notorious. Was this Gen­

[35]

tlewoman the Daughter of Gerard de Narbon ?

Mo.

His sole childe my Lord, and bequeathed to my

ouer looking. I haue those hopes of her good, that her

education promises her dispositions shee inherits, which

makes faire gifts fairer: for where an vncleane mind car­

[40]

ries vertuous qualities, there commendations go with

pitty, they are vertues and traitors too: in her they are

the better for their simplenesse; she deriues her honestie, and atcheeues her goodnesse.

Lafew.

Your commendations Madam get from her

teares.

Mo.
[45]

'Tis the best brine a Maiden can season her praise

in. The remembrance of her father neuer approches her

heart, but the tirrany of her sorrowes takes all liuelihood

from her cheeke. No more of this Helena, go too, no

more least it be rather thought you affect a sorrow, then

[50]

to haue⸺

Hell.

I doe affect a sorrow indeed, but I haue it too.

Laf.

Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,

excessiue greefe the enemie to the liuing.

Mo.

If the liuing be enemie to the greefe, the excesse

[55]

makes it soone mortall.

Ros. Maddam I desire your holie wishes. Laf. How vnderstand we that? Mo. Be thou blest Bertrame, and succeed thy father In manners as in shape: thy blood and vertue
[60]
Contend for Empire in thee, and thy goodnesse Share with thy birth‑right. Loue all, trust a few, Doe wrong to none: be able for thine enemie Rather in power then vse: and keepe thy friend Vnder thy owne lifes key. Be checkt for silence,
[65]
But neuer tax'd for speech. What heauen more wil, That thee may furnish, and my prayers plucke downe, Fall on thy head. Farwell my Lord, 'Tis an vnseason'd Courtier, good my Lord Aduise him.
Laf.
[70]
He cannot want the best That shall attend his loue.
Mo. Heauen blesse him: Farwell Bertram. Ro.

The best wishes that can be forg'd in your thoghts

be seruants to you: be comfortable to my mother, your

[75]

Mistris, and make much of her.

Laf.

Farewell prettie Lady, you must hold the cre­

dit of your father.

Hell. O were that all, I thinke not on my father, And these great teares grace his remembrance more
[80]
Then those I shed for him. What was he like? I haue forgott him. My imagination Carries no fauour in't but Bertrams. I am vndone, there is no liuing, none, If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one,
[85]
That I should loue a bright particuler starre, And think to wed it, he is so aboue me In his bright radience and colaterall light, Must I be comforted, not in his sphere; Th' ambition in my loue thus plagues it selfe:
[90]
The hind that would be mated by the Lion Must die for loue. 'Twas prettie, though a plague To see him euerie houre to sit and draw His arched browes, his hawking eie, his curles In our hearts table: heart too capeable
[95]
Of euerie line and tricke of his sweet fauour. But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancie Must sanctifie his Reliques. Who comes heere? Enter Parrolles. One that goes with him: I loue him for his sake, And yet I know him a notorious Liar,
[100]
Thinke him a great way foole, solie a coward, Yet these fixt euils sit so fit in him, That they take place, when Vertues steely bones Lookes bleake i'th cold wind: withall, full ofte we see Cold wisedome waighting on superfluous follie.
Par.
[105]
Saue you faire Queene.
Hel. And you Monarch. Par. No. Hel. And no. Par. Are you meditating on virginitie? Hel.
[110]

I: you haue some staine of souldier in you: Let

mee aske you a question. Man is enemie to virginitie,

how may we barracado it against him?

Par.

Keepe him out.

Hel.

But he assailes, and our virginitie though vali­

[115]

ant, in the defence yet is weak: vnfold to vs some war­

like resistance.

Par.

There is none: Man setting downe before you,

will vndermine you, and blow you vp.

Hel.

Blesse our poore Virginity from vnderminers

[120]

and blowers vp. Is there no Military policy how Vir­

gins might blow vp men?

Par.

Virginity beeing blowne downe, Man will

quicklier be blowne vp: marry in blowing him downe

againe, with the breach your selues made, you lose your

[125]

Citty. It is not politicke, in the Common‑wealth of

Nature, to preserue virginity. Losse of Virginitie, is

rationall encrease, and there was neuer Virgin goe, till

virginitie was first lost. That you were made of, is met­

tall to make Virgins. Virginitie, by beeing once lost,

[130]

may be ten times found: by being euer kept, it is euer

lost: 'tis too cold a companion: Away with't.

Hel.

I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die

a Virgin.

Par.

There's little can bee saide in't, 'tis against the

[135]

rule of Nature. To speake on the part of virginitie, is

to accuse your Mothers; which is most infallible diso­

bedience. He that hangs himselfe is a Virgin: Virgini­

tie murthers it selfe, and should be buried in highwayes

out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate Offendresse a­

[140]

gainst Nature. Virginitie breedes mites, much like a

Cheese, consumes it selfe to the very payring, and so

dies with feeding his owne stomacke. Besides, Virgini­

tie is peeuish, proud, ydle, made of selfe‑loue, which

is the most inhibited sinne in the Cannon. Keepe it not,

[145]

you cannot choose but loose by't. Out with't: within

ten yeare it will make it selfe two, which is a goodly in­

crease, and the principall it selfe not much the worse.

Away with't.

Hel.

How might one do sir, to loose it to her owne

[150]

liking?

Par.

Let mee see. Marry ill, to like him that ne're

it likes. 'Tis a commodity wil lose the glosse with lying:

The longer kept, the lesse worth: Off with't while 'tis

vendible. Answer the time of request, Virginitie like

[155]

an olde Courtier, weares her cap out of fashion, richly

suted, but vnsuteable, iust like the brooch & the tooth­

pick, which were not now: your Date is better in your

Pye and your Porredge, then in your cheeke: and your

virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French

[160]

wither'd peares, it lookes ill, it eates drily, marry 'tis a

wither'd peare: it was formerly better, marry yet 'tis a

wither'd peare: Will you any thing with it?

Hel. Not my virginity yet: There shall your Master haue a thousand loues,
[165]
A Mother, and a Mistresse, and a friend, A Phenix, Captaine, and an enemy, A guide, a Goddesse, and a Soueraigne, A Counsellor, a Traitoresse, and a Deare: His humble ambition, proud humility:
[170]
His iarring, concord: and his discord, dulcet: His faith, his sweet disaster: with a world Of pretty fond adoptious christendomes That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he: I know not what he shall, God send him well,
[175]
The Courts a learning place, and he is one.
Par.

What one ifaith?

Hel.

That I wish well, 'tis pitty.

Par.

What's pitty?

Hel. That wishing well had not a body in't,
[180]
Which might be felt, that we the poorer borne, Whose baser starres do shut vs vp in wishes, Might vvith effects of them follow our friends, And shew what vve alone must thinke, which neuer Returnes vs thankes.
Enter Page. Pag.
[185]

Monsieur Parrolles,

My Lord cals for you.

Par.

Little Hellen farewell, if I can remember thee, I

will thinke of thee at Court.

Hel.

Monsieur Parolles, you were borne vnder a

[190]

charitable starre.

Par.

Vnder Mars I.

Hel.

I especially thinke, vnder Mars.

Par.

Why vnder Mars?

Hel.

The warres hath so kept you vnder, that you

[195]

must needes be borne vnder Mars.

Par.

When he was predominant.

Hel.

When he was retrograde I thinke rather.

Par.

Why thinke you so?

Hel.

You go so much backward when you fight.

Par.
[200]

That's for aduantage.

Hel.

So is running away,

When feare proposes the safetie:

But the composition that your valour and feare makes

in you, is a vertue of a good wing, and I like the

[205]

weare well.

Paroll.

I am so full of businesses, I cannot answere

thee acutely: I will returne perfect Courtier, in the

which my instruction shall serue to naturalize thee, so

thou wilt be capeable of a Courtiers councell, and vn­

[210]

derstand what aduice shall thrust vppon thee, else thou

diest in thine vnthankfulnes, and thine ignorance makes

thee away, farewell: When thou hast leysure, say thy

praiers: when thou hast none, remember thy Friends:

Get thee a good husband, and vse him as he vses thee:

[215]

So farewell.

Hel. Our remedies oft in our selues do lye, Which we ascribe to heauen: the fated skye Giues vs free scope, onely doth backward pull Our slow designes, when we our selues are dull.
[220]
What power is it, which mounts my loue so hye, That makes me see, and cannot feede mine eye? The mightiest space in fortune, Nature brings To ioyne like, likes; and kisse like natiue things. Impossible be strange attempts to those
[225]
That weigh their paines in sence, and do suppose What hath beene, cannot be. Who euer stroue To shew her merit, that did misse her loue? (The Kings disease) my proiect may deceiue me, But my intents are fixt, and will not leaue me.
Exit
 

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<div type="scene" n="1">
   <head rend="italic center">Actus primus. Scœna Prima.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 1]</head>
   <cb n="1"/>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter yong Bertram Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and
      <lb/>Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic center">Mother.</speaker>
      <p n="1">
         <c rend="decoratedCapital">I</c>n deliuering my sonne from me, I burie a se­
      <lb n="2"/>cond husband.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-ber">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ros.</speaker>
      <p n="3">And I in going Madam, weep ore my
      <lb n="4"/>fathers death anew; but I must attend his maie­
      <lb n="5"/>sties command, to whom I am now in Ward, euermore
      <lb n="6"/>in subiection.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="7">You shall find of the King a husband Madame,
      <lb n="8"/>you sir a father. He that so generally is at all times good,
      <lb n="9"/>must of necessitie hold his vertue to you, whose worthi­
      <lb n="10"/>nesse would stirre it vp where it wanted rather then lack
      <lb n="11"/>it where there is such abundance.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="12">What hope is there of his Maiesties amendment?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="13">He hath abandon'd his Phisitions Madam, vn­
      <lb n="14"/>der whose practises he hath persecuted time with hope,
      <lb n="15"/>and finds no other aduantage in the processe, but onely
      <lb n="16"/>the loosing of hope by time.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="17">This yong Gentlewoman had a father, O that
      <lb n="18"/>had, how sad a passage tis, whose skill was almost as
      <lb n="19"/>great as his honestie, had it stretch'd so far, would haue
      <lb n="20"/>made nature immortall, and death should haue play for
      <lb n="21"/>lacke of worke. Would for the Kings sake hee were li­
      <lb n="22"/>uing, I thinke it would be the death of the Kings disease.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="23">How call'd you the man you speake of Madam?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="24">He was famous sir in his profession, and it was
      <lb n="25"/>his great right to be so:<hi rend="italic">Gerard de Narbon</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="26">He was excellent indeed Madam, the King very
      <lb n="27"/>latelie spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly: hee
      <lb n="28"/>was skilfull enough to haue liu'd stil, if knowledge could
      <lb n="29"/>be set vp against mortallitie.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-ber">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ros.</speaker>
      <p n="30">What is it (my good Lord) the King languishes
      <lb n="31"/>of?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="32">A Fistula my Lord.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-ber">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ros.</speaker>
      <p n="33">I heard not of it before.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="34">I would it were not notorious. Was this Gen­
      <lb n="35"/>tlewoman the Daughter of<hi rend="italic">Gerard de Narbon</hi>?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="36">His sole childe my Lord, and bequeathed to my
      <lb n="37"/>ouer looking. I haue those hopes of her good, that her
      <lb n="38"/>education promises her dispositions shee inherits, which
      <lb n="39"/>makes faire gifts fairer: for where an vncleane mind car­
      <lb n="40"/>ries vertuous qualities, there commendations go with
      <lb n="41"/>pitty, they are vertues and traitors too: in her they are
      <lb n="42"/>the better for their simplenesse; she deriues her honestie,<cb n="2"/>and atcheeues her goodnesse.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Lafew.</speaker>
      <p n="43">Your commendations Madam get from her
      <lb n="44"/>teares.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="45">'Tis the best brine a Maiden can season her praise
      <lb n="46"/>in. The remembrance of her father neuer approches her
      <lb n="47"/>heart, but the tirrany of her sorrowes takes all liuelihood
      <lb n="48"/>from her cheeke. No more of this<hi rend="italic">Helena,</hi>go too, no
      <lb n="49"/>more least it be rather thought you affect a sorrow, then
      <lb n="50"/>to haue⸺</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hell.</speaker>
      <p n="51">I doe affect a sorrow indeed, but I haue it too.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="52">Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,
      <lb n="53"/>excessiue greefe the enemie to the liuing.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <p n="54">If the liuing be enemie to the greefe, the excesse
      <lb n="55"/>makes it soone mortall.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-ber">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ros.</speaker>
      <l n="56">Maddam I desire your holie wishes.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <l n="57">How vnderstand we that?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <l n="58">Be thou blest<hi rend="italic">Bertrame</hi>, and succeed thy father</l>
      <l n="59">In manners as in shape: thy blood and vertue</l>
      <l n="60">Contend for Empire in thee, and thy goodnesse</l>
      <l n="61">Share with thy birth‑right. Loue all, trust a few,</l>
      <l n="62">Doe wrong to none: be able for thine enemie</l>
      <l n="63">Rather in power then vse: and keepe thy friend</l>
      <l n="64">Vnder thy owne lifes key. Be checkt for silence,</l>
      <l n="65">But neuer tax'd for speech. What heauen more wil,</l>
      <l n="66">That thee may furnish, and my prayers plucke downe,</l>
      <l n="67">Fall on thy head. Farwell my Lord,</l>
      <l n="68">'Tis an vnseason'd Courtier, good my Lord</l>
      <l n="69">Aduise him.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <l n="70">He cannot want the best</l>
      <l n="71">That shall attend his loue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-cou">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <l n="72">Heauen blesse him: Farwell<hi rend="italic">Bertram</hi>.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-ber">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ro.</speaker>
      <p n="73">The best wishes that can be forg'd in your thoghts
      <lb n="74"/>be seruants to you: be comfortable to my mother, your
      <lb n="75"/>Mistris, and make much of her.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-laf">
      <speaker rend="italic">Laf.</speaker>
      <p n="76">Farewell prettie Lady, you must hold the cre­
      <lb n="77"/>dit of your father.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hell.</speaker>
      <l n="78">O were that all, I thinke not on my father,</l>
      <l n="79">And these great teares grace his remembrance more</l>
      <l n="80">Then those I shed for him. What was he like?</l>
      <l n="81">I haue forgott him. My imagination</l>
      <l n="82">Carries no fauour in't but<hi rend="italic">Bertrams</hi>.</l>
      <l n="83">I am vndone, there is no liuing, none,</l>
      <l n="84">If<hi rend="italic">Bertram</hi>be away. 'Twere all one,</l>
      <l n="85">That I should loue a bright particuler starre,</l>
      <l n="86">And think to wed it, he is so aboue me</l>
      <l n="87">In his bright radience and colaterall light,</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0251-0.jpg" n="231"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="88">Must I be comforted, not in his sphere;</l>
      <l n="89">Th' ambition in my loue thus plagues it selfe:</l>
      <l n="90">The hind that would be mated by the Lion</l>
      <l n="91">Must die for loue. 'Twas prettie, though a plague</l>
      <l n="92">To see him euerie houre to sit and draw</l>
      <l n="93">His arched browes, his hawking eie, his curles</l>
      <l n="94">In our hearts table: heart too capeable</l>
      <l n="95">Of euerie line and tricke of his sweet fauour.</l>
      <l n="96">But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancie</l>
      <l n="97">Must sanctifie his Reliques. Who comes heere?</l>
      <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Parrolles.</stage>
      <l n="98">One that goes with him: I loue him for his sake,</l>
      <l n="99">And yet I know him a notorious Liar,</l>
      <l n="100">Thinke him a great way foole, solie a coward,</l>
      <l n="101">Yet these fixt euils sit so fit in him,</l>
      <l n="102">That they take place, when Vertues steely bones</l>
      <l n="103">Lookes bleake i'th cold wind: withall, full ofte we see</l>
      <l n="104">Cold wisedome waighting on superfluous follie.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="105">Saue you faire Queene.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <l n="106">And you Monarch.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="107">No.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <l n="108">And no.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <l n="109">Are you meditating on virginitie?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="110">I: you haue some staine of souldier in you: Let
      <lb n="111"/>mee aske you a question. Man is enemie to virginitie,
      <lb n="112"/>how may we barracado it against him?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="113">Keepe him out.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="114">But he assailes, and our virginitie though vali­
      <lb n="115"/>ant, in the defence yet is weak: vnfold to vs some war­
      <lb n="116"/>like resistance.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="117">There is none: Man setting downe before you,
      <lb n="118"/>will vndermine you, and blow you vp.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="119">Blesse our poore Virginity from vnderminers
      <lb n="120"/>and blowers vp. Is there no Military policy how Vir­
      <lb n="121"/>gins might blow vp men?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="122">Virginity beeing blowne downe, Man will
      <lb n="123"/>quicklier be blowne vp: marry in blowing him downe
      <lb n="124"/>againe, with the breach your selues made, you lose your
      <lb n="125"/>Citty. It is not politicke, in the Common‑wealth of
      <lb n="126"/>Nature, to preserue virginity. Losse of Virginitie, is
      <lb n="127"/>rationall encrease, and there was neuer Virgin goe, till
      <lb n="128"/>virginitie was first lost. That you were made of, is met­
      <lb n="129"/>tall to make Virgins. Virginitie, by beeing once lost,
      <lb n="130"/>may be ten times found: by being euer kept, it is euer
      <lb n="131"/>lost: 'tis too cold a companion: Away with't.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="132">I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die
      <lb n="133"/>a Virgin.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="134">There's little can bee saide in't, 'tis against the
      <lb n="135"/>rule of Nature. To speake on the part of virginitie, is
      <lb n="136"/>to accuse your Mothers; which is most infallible diso­
      <lb n="137"/>bedience. He that hangs himselfe is a Virgin: Virgini­
      <lb n="138"/>tie murthers it selfe, and should be buried in highwayes
      <lb n="139"/>out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate Offendresse a­
      <lb n="140"/>gainst Nature. Virginitie breedes mites, much like a
      <lb n="141"/>Cheese, consumes it selfe to the very payring, and so
      <lb n="142"/>dies with feeding his owne stomacke. Besides, Virgini­
      <lb n="143"/>tie is peeuish, proud, ydle, made of selfe‑loue, which
      <lb n="144"/>is the most inhibited sinne in the Cannon. Keepe it not,
      <lb n="145"/>you cannot choose but loose by't. Out with't: within
      <lb n="146"/>ten yeare it will make it selfe two, which is a goodly in­
      <lb n="147"/>crease, and the principall it selfe not much the worse.
      <lb n="148"/>Away with't.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="149">How might one do sir, to loose it to her owne
      <lb n="150"/>liking?</p>
   </sp>
   <cb n="2"/>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="151">Let mee see. Marry ill, to like him that ne're
      <lb n="152"/>it likes. 'Tis a commodity wil lose the glosse with lying:
      <lb n="153"/>The longer kept, the lesse worth: Off with't while 'tis
      <lb n="154"/>vendible. Answer the time of request, Virginitie like
      <lb n="155"/>an olde Courtier, weares her cap out of fashion, richly
      <lb n="156"/>suted, but vnsuteable, iust like the brooch &amp; the tooth­
      <lb n="157"/>pick, which were not now: your Date is better in your
      <lb n="158"/>Pye and your Porredge, then in your cheeke: and your
      <lb n="159"/>virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French
      <lb n="160"/>wither'd peares, it lookes ill, it eates drily, marry 'tis a
      <lb n="161"/>wither'd peare: it was formerly better, marry yet 'tis a
      <lb n="162"/>wither'd peare: Will you any thing with it?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <l n="163">Not my virginity yet:</l>
      <l n="164">There shall your Master haue a thousand loues,</l>
      <l n="165">A Mother, and a Mistresse, and a friend,</l>
      <l n="166">A Phenix, Captaine, and an enemy,</l>
      <l n="167">A guide, a Goddesse, and a Soueraigne,</l>
      <l n="168">A Counsellor, a Traitoresse, and a Deare:</l>
      <l n="169">His humble ambition, proud humility:</l>
      <l n="170">His iarring, concord: and his discord, dulcet:</l>
      <l n="171">His faith, his sweet disaster: with a world</l>
      <l n="172">Of pretty fond adoptious christendomes</l>
      <l n="173">That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he:</l>
      <l n="174">I know not what he shall, God send him well,</l>
      <l n="175">The Courts a learning place, and he is one.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="176">What one ifaith?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="177">That I wish well, 'tis pitty.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="178">What's pitty?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <l n="179">That wishing well had not a body in't,</l>
      <l n="180">Which might be felt, that we the poorer borne,</l>
      <l n="181">Whose baser starres do shut vs vp in wishes,</l>
      <l n="182">Might vvith effects of them follow our friends,</l>
      <l n="183">And shew what vve alone must thinke, which neuer</l>
      <l n="184">Returnes vs thankes.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Page.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-aww-pag">
      <speaker rend="italic">Pag.</speaker>
      <p n="185">Monsieur<hi rend="italic">Parrolles</hi>,
      <lb n="186"/>My Lord cals for you.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="187">Little<hi rend="italic">Hellen</hi>farewell, if I can remember thee, I
      <lb n="188"/>will thinke of thee at Court.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="189">Monsieur<hi rend="italic">Parolles</hi>, you were borne vnder a
      <lb n="190"/>charitable starre.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="191">Vnder<hi rend="italic">Mars</hi>I.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="192">I especially thinke, vnder<hi rend="italic">Mars</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="193">Why vnder<hi rend="italic">Mars</hi>?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="194">The warres hath so kept you vnder, that you
      <lb n="195"/>must needes be borne vnder<hi rend="italic">Mars</hi>.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="196">When he was predominant.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="197">When he was retrograde I thinke rather.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="198">Why thinke you so?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="199">You go so much backward when you fight.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Par.</speaker>
      <p n="200">That's for aduantage.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <p n="201">So is running away,</p>
      <p n="202">When feare proposes the safetie:</p>
      <p n="203">But the composition that your valour and feare makes
      <lb n="204"/>in you, is a vertue of a good wing, and I like the
      <lb n="205"/>weare well.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-par">
      <speaker rend="italic">Paroll.</speaker>
      <p n="206">I am so full of businesses, I cannot answere
      <lb n="207"/>thee acutely: I will returne perfect Courtier, in the
      <lb n="208"/>which my instruction shall serue to naturalize thee, so
      <lb n="209"/>thou wilt be capeable of a Courtiers councell, and vn­
      <lb n="210"/>derstand what aduice shall thrust vppon thee, else thou
      <lb n="211"/>diest in thine vnthankfulnes, and thine ignorance makes
      <lb n="212"/>thee away, farewell: When thou hast leysure, say thy
      <lb n="213"/>praiers: when thou hast none, remember thy Friends:</p>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0252-0.jpg" n="232"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <p n="214">Get thee a good husband, and vse him as he vses thee:</p>
      <p n="215">So farewell.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-aww-hel">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
      <l n="216">Our remedies oft in our selues do lye,</l>
      <l n="217">Which we ascribe to heauen: the fated skye</l>
      <l n="218">Giues vs free scope, onely doth backward pull</l>
      <l n="219">Our slow designes, when we our selues are dull.</l>
      <l n="220">What power is it, which mounts my loue so hye,</l>
      <l n="221">That makes me see, and cannot feede mine eye?</l>
      <l n="222">The mightiest space in fortune, Nature brings</l>
      <l n="223">To ioyne like, likes; and kisse like natiue things.</l>
      <l n="224">Impossible be strange attempts to those</l>
      <l n="225">That weigh their paines in sence, and do suppose</l>
      <l n="226">What hath beene, cannot be. Who euer stroue</l>
      <l n="227">To shew her merit, that did misse her loue?</l>
      <l n="228">(The Kings disease) my proiect may deceiue me,</l>
      <l n="229">But my intents are fixt, and will not leaue me.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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