[Act 3, Scene 6]
Enter Count Rossillion and
the Frenchmen,
as at first.
Cap. E.
[1670]
Nay good my Lord put him too't: let him
haue his
way.
Cap. G.
If your Lordshippe finde him not a Hilding,
hold me no more
in your respect.
Cap. E.
On my life my Lord a bubble.
Ber.
[1675]
Do you thinke I am so farre
Deceiued in him.
Cap. E.
Beleeue it my Lord, in mine owne direct
knowledge,
without any malice, but to speake of him
as my kinsman,
hee's a most notable Coward, an infi
[1680]
nite
and endlesse Lyar, an hourely promise‑breaker, the
owner of no one good qualitie, worthy your Lordships
entertainment.
Cap. G.
It were fit you knew him, least reposing too
farre in
his vertue which he hath not, he might at some
[1685]
great and
trustie businesse, in a maine daunger, fayle
you.
Ber.
I would I knew in what particular action to try
him.
Cap. G.
None better then to let him fetch off his
[1690]
drumme,
which you heare him so confidently vnder
take to
do.
C. E.
I with a troop of Florentines wil sodainly sur
prize him; such I will haue
whom I am sure he knowes
not from the enemie: wee will
binde and hoodwinke
[1695]
him so, that he shall suppose no other
but that he is car
ried into the Leager of the
aduersaries, when we bring
him to our owne tents: be but
your Lordship present
at his examination, if he do not for
the promise of his
life, and in the highest
compulsion of base feare, offer to
[1700]
betray you, and
deliuer all the intelligence in his power
against
you, and that with the diuine forfeite of his
soule vpon
oath, neuer trust my iudgement in anie
thing.
Cap. G.
O for the loue of laughter, let him fetch his
[1705]
drumme, he
sayes he has a stratagem for't: when your
Lordship sees the bottome of this successe in't,
and to
what mettle this counterfeyt lump of ours will be
mel
ted if you giue him not Iohn drummes
entertainement,
your inclining cannot be remoued. Heere he
comes.
Enter Parrolles.
Cap. E.
[1710]
O for the loue of laughter hinder not the ho
nor of
his designe, let him fetch off his drumme in any
hand.
Ber.
How now Monsieur? This drumme sticks sore
ly
in your disposition.
Cap. G.
[1715]
A pox on't, let it go, 'tis but a drumme.
Par.
But a drumme: Ist but a drumme? A drum so
lost.
There was excellent command, to charge in with
our horse
vpon our owne wings, and to rend our owne
souldiers.
Cap. G.
[1720]
That was not to be blam'd in the command
of the
seruice: it was a disaster of warre that
Cæsar him
selfe could not haue preuented, if he had
beene there to
command.
Ber.
Well, wee cannot greatly condemne our suc
[1725]
cesse:
some dishonor wee had in the losse of that drum,
but
it is not to be recouered.
Par.
It might haue beene recouered.
Ber.
It might, but it is not now.
Par.
It is to be recouered, but that the merit of ser
[1730]
uice
is sildome attributed to the true and exact
perfor
mer, I would haue that drumme or another, or
hic ia
cet
.
Ber.
Why if you haue a stomacke, too't Monsieur: if
you thinke your mysterie in stratagem, can
bring this
[1735]
instrument of honour againe into his
natiue quarter, be
magnanimious in the enterprize and go
on, I wil grace
the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you
speede well in
it, the Duke shall both speake of it, and
extend to you
what further becomes his greatnesse, euen to
the vtmost
[1740]
syllable of your worthinesse.
Par.
By the hand of a souldier I will vndertake it.
Ber.
But you must not now slumber in it.
Par.
Ile about it this euening, and I will presently
pen downe
my dilemma's, encourage my selfe in my
[1745]
certaintie,
put my selfe into my mortall preparation:
and by midnight
looke to heare further from me.
Ber.
May I bee bold to acquaint his grace you are
gone about
it.
Par.
I know not what the successe wil be my Lord,
[1750]
but the
attempt I vow.
Ber.
I know th'art valiant,
And to the possibility of thy souldiership,
Will subscribe for thee: Farewell.
Par.
I loue not many words.
Exit
Cap. E.
[1755]
No more then a fish loues water. Is not this
a
strange fellow my Lord, that so confidently seemes
to
vndertake this businesse, which he knowes is not to be
done, damnes himselfe to do, & dares better be damnd
then to doo't.
Cap. G.
You do not know him my Lord as we doe,
[1760]
certaine it is that
he will steale himselfe into a mans fa
uour,
and for a weeke escape a great deale of
discoue
ries, but when you finde him out, you haue
him euer af
ter
Ber.
Why do you thinke he will make no deede at
[1765]
all of this that
so seriouslie hee dooes addresse himself
vnto?
Cap. E.
None in the world, but returne with an in
uention,
and clap vpon you two or three probable lies:
but we
haue almost imbost him, you shall see his fall to
[1770]
night; for indeede he is not for your Lordshippes
re
spect.
Cap. G.
Weele make you some sport with the Foxe
ere we case him. He
was first smoak'd by the old Lord
Lafew, when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what
[1775]
a sprat you shall finde him, which you shall see this
ve
rie night.
Cap. E.
I must go looke my twigges,
He shall be caught.
Ber.
Your brother he shall go along with me.
Cap. G.
[1780]
As't please your Lordship, Ile leaue you.
Ber.
Now wil I lead you to the house, and shew you
The Lasse I spoke of.
Cap. E.
But you say she's honest.
Ber.
That's all the fault: I spoke with hir but once,
[1785]
And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her
By this same Coxcombe that we haue i'th winde
Tokens and Letters, which she did resend,
And this is all I haue done: She's a faire creature,
Will you go see her?
Cap. E.
[1790]
With all my heart my Lord.
Exeunt.
