Therefore to th’ war.

BERTRAM

It shall be so. I’ll send her to my house,

Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,

And wherefore I am fled, write to the King

That which I durst not speak. His present gift

Shall furnish me to those Italian fields

Where noble fellows strike. Wars is no strife

To the dark house and the detested wife.

PAROLES

Will this capriccio hold in thee? Art sure?

BERTRAM

Go with me to my chamber and advise me.

I’ll send her straight away. Tomorrow

I’ll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.

PAROLES

Why, these balls bound, there’s noise in it. ‘Tis hard:

A young man married is a man that’s marred.

Therefore away, and leave her bravely. Go.

The King has done you wrong, but hush ’tis so.

Exeunt

2.4 Enter Helen reading a letter, and Lavatch the clown

HELEN

My mother greets me kindly. Is she well?

LAVATCH She is not well, but yet she has her health. She’s very merry, but yet she is not well. But thanks be given she’s very well and wants nothing i’th’ world. But yet she is not well.

HELEN

If she be very well, what does she ail

That she’s not very well?

LAVATCH Truly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things. HELEN What two things?

LAVATCH One, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly. The other, that she’s in earth, from whence God send her quickly.

Enter Paroles

PAROLES Bless you, my fortunate lady.

HELEN

I hope, sir, I have your good will to have

Mine own good fortunes. 15

PAROLES You had my prayers to lead them on, and to keep them on have them stitt.—O my knave, how does my old lady?

LAVATCH So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.

PAROLES Why, I say nothing.

LAVATCH Marry, you are the wiser man, for many a man’s tongue shakes out his master’s undoing. To say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title, which is within a very little of nothing.

PAROLES Away, thou’rt a knave.

LAVATCH You should have said, sir, ‘Before a knave, thou’rt a knave‘—that’s ‘Before me, thou‘rt a knave’. This had been truth, sir.

PAROLES Go to, thou art a witty fool. I have found thee.

LAVATCH Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find me?

⌈PAROLES⌉ In myself, knave.

LAVATCH The search, sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world’s pleasure and the increase of laughter.

PAROLES (to Helen) A good knave, i’faith, and well fed.

Madam, my lord will go away tonight.

A very serious business calls on him.

The great prerogative and rite of love,

Which as your due time claims, he does acknowledge,

But puts it off to a compelled restraint:

Whose want and whose delay is strewed with sweets,

Which they distil now in the curbed time,

To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy,

And pleasure drown the brim.

HELEN

What’s his will else?

PAROLES

That you will take your instant leave o’th’ King,

And make this haste as your own good proceeding,

Strengthened with what apology you think

May make it probable need.

HELEN

What more commands he?

PAROLES

That having this obtained, you presently

Attend his further pleasure.

HELEN

In everything

I wait upon his will.

PAROLES

I shall report it so.

HELEN I pray you.

⌈Exit Paroles at one door]

Come, sirrah.

Exeunt Fat another door]

2.5 Enter Lafeu and Bertram

LAFEU But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.

BERTRAM) Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.

LAFEU You have it from his own deliverance.

BERTRAM And by other warranted testimony.

LAFEU Then my dial goes not true. I took this lark for a bunting.

BERTRAM I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant.

LAFEU I have then sinned against his experience and transgressed against his valour—and my state that way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes. I pray you make us friends. I will pursue the amity.

Enter Paroles

PAROLES (to Bertram) These things shall be done, sir.

LAFEU (to Bertram) Pray you, sir, who’s his tailor? 15

PAROLES Sir!

LAFEU O, I know him well. Ay, ‘Sir’, he; ‘Sir’ ’s a good workman, a very good tailor.

BERTRAM) (aside to Paroles) Is she gone to the King?

PAROLES She is.

BERTRAM) Will she away tonight?

PAROLES As you’ll have her.

BERTRAM

I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,

Given order for our horses, and tonight,

When I should take possession of the bride,

End ere I do begin.

LAFEU (aside) A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner, but one that lies three-thirds and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten. (To Paroles) God save you, captain.

BERTRAM) (to Paroles) Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?

PAROLES I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord’s displeasure. 35

LAFEU You have made shift to run into’t, boots and spurs and all, like him that leaped into the custard, and out of it you’ll run again, rather than suffer question for your residence.

BERTRAM) It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.

LAFEU And shall do so ever, though I took him at’s prayers. Fare you well, my lord, and believe this of me: there can be no kernel in this light nut. The soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence. I have kept of them tame, and know their natures.—Farewell, monsieur. I have spoken better of you than you have wit or will to deserve at my hand, but we must do good against evil.

Exit

PAROLES An idle lord, I swear.

BERTRAM I think not so.

PAROLES Why, do you not know him?

BERTRAM

Yes, I do know him well, and common speech

Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.

Enter Helen, ⌈attended⌉

HELEN

I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,

Spoke with the King, and have procured his leave

For present parting; only he desires

Some private speech with you.

BERTRAM)

I shall obey his will.

You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,

Which holds not colour with the time, nor does