Enter the King, with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war. Bertram and Parolles. Flourish Cornets. F KING. Arewel, young Lords: thefe warlike principles The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd, I Lord. 'Tis our hope, Sir, After well-enter'd foldiers, to return King. No, no, it cannot be; and yet my Will not confefs, it owns the malady heart That doth my life befiege; farewel, young Lords; Of worthy French men; (10) let higher Italy (10) (Thofe Of the laft monarchy ;) fee, &c.] This feems to me one of the very obfcure paffages of Shakespeare, and which therefore may very well demand explanation. Italy, at the time of this scene, was under three very different tenures. The Emperor, as fucceffor of the Roman Em- . perors, had one part; the Pope, by a pretended donation from Conftantine, another; and the third was compos'd of free ftates. Now by the laft monarchy is meant the Roman, the laft of the four general monarchies. Upon the fall of this monarchy, in the scramble, several cities fet up for themselves, and became free ftates: Now these might be faid properly to inherit the fall of the monarchy. But the Emperor could not be faid to inherit the fall of the monarchy, any more than a fon, who inherits an impair'd eftate, could be faid to inherit the fall of his father's eftate: Tho' thofe, who had defrauded the father, might be faid to inherit the fall of his eftate. Much lefs could the Pope, (Thofe bated, that inherit but the fall z Lord. Health at your bidding ferve your Majefty! King. Thofe girls of Italy, take heed of them; They fay, our French lack language to deny, If they demand: beware of being captives, Before you ferve. Both. Our hearts receive your warnings. King. Farewel. Come hither to me. [To Attendants. Too [Exit. 1 Lord. Oh, my fweet Lord, that you will flay behind us! Par. 'Tis not his fault; the fpark 2 Lord. Oh, 'tis brave wars. Par. Most admirable; I have feen those wars. Ber. I am commanded here, and kept a coil with, young, and the next year, and 'tis too early.-Par. An thy mind ftand to it, boy, fteal away bravely. Ber. Shall I ftay here the forehorse to a fmock, Creeking my fhoes on the plain mafonry, 'F'ill honour be bought up, and no fword worn But one to dance with? by heav'n, I'll fteal away. i Lord. There's honour in the theft. Par Commit it, Count. 2 Lord. I am your acceffary, and fo farewel. Ber. I grow to you, and our parting is a tortur'd body. 1 Lord. Farewel, Captain. Pope by a donation in the times of its duration, be faid to do fo. This being premifed, now to the fenfe. The King fays, bigber Italy ;--giving it the rank of preference to France; but he corrects himfelf and fays, I except those from that precedency, who only inherit the fall of the last monarchy; as all the little petty ftates; for instance, Florence to whom these voluntiers were going. As if he had said, I gave the place of honour to the Emperor and the Pope, but not to the free ftates. All here is clear; and 'tis exactly Shakespeare's manner, who lov'd to fhew his reading on fuch occafions. Mr. Warburton. VOL. III. B 2 Lord. 2 Lord. Sweet Monfieur Parolles ! - Par. Noble heroes, my fword and yours are kin; good fparks and luftrous. A word, good metals. (11) You fhall find in the regiment of the Spinii, one Captain Spurio with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his finifter cheek; it was this very fword entrench'd it; say to him, I live, and obferve his reports of me. 1 Lord. We fhall, noble Captain. Par. Mars doat on you for his novices! what will ye do? Ber. Stay; the King [Exeunt Lords. Par. Ufe a moft fpacious ceremory to the noble Lords, you have reftrain'd your felf within the lift of too cold an adieu; be more expreffive to them, for they wear themfelves in the cap of the time; there, do mufter true gate, eat, fpeak, and move under the influence of the most receiv'd ftar; and tho' the devil lead the measure, fuch are to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewel. Ber. And I will do fo. Par. Worthy fellows, and like to prove moft finewy {word-men. [Exeunt. Enter the King, and Lafeu. Laf. Pardon, my Lord, for me and for my tidings. (11) You shall find in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain Spurio, bis cicatrice, with an emblem of war here on bis finifter cheek ;] It is furprizing, none of the editors could fee that a flight tranfpofition was abfolutely neceffary here, when there is not common fenfe in the paffage, as it ftands without such tranfpofition. Parolles only means, you fhall find one Captain Spurio in the camp with a fcar on his “left cheek, a mark of war that my fword gave him." Our poet has employ'd this word, to fignify fcar, in other of his plays: So, before, in As you like it lean but upon a rush, The cicatrice and capable impreffure Thy palm fome moment keeps : And in Hamlet; Laf. Then here's a man ftands, that hath bought his pardon. I would, you had kneel'd, my Lord, to ask me mercy; And that at my bidding you could fo ftand up. King, I would, I had; fo I had broke thy pate, And ask'd thee mercy for't. Laf. Goodfaith, acrofs:-but, my good Lord, 'tis thus; Will you be cur'd of your infirmity? King. No. Laf. O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox? Yes, but you will, my noble grapes; an if My royal fox could reach them; (12) I have feen a med’cin, That's able to breathe life into a stone; Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary With fprightly fire and motion; whofe fimple touch To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand, King. What her is this? Laf. Why, Doctor-fhe: my Lord, there's one arriv'd, In this my light deliverance, I have spoke King. Now, good Lafeu, Bring in the admiration, that we with thee Laf. Nay, I'll fit you, And not be all day neither. [Exit Lafeu. (12) I bave seen a Medecine,] Lafeu does not mean that he has feen a remedy, but a perfon bringing fuch remedy. I therefore imagine, our author ufed the French word, medecin, i. e. a Phyfician; this agrees with what he subjoins immediately in reply to the King. Why, Doctor-She;-and-write to her a love-line. King. Thus he his fpecial nothing ever prologues. Bringing in Helena. This is his Majefty, say your mind to him; [Exit. King. Now, fair one, do's your bufinefs follow us? Hel. Ay, my good Lord. Gerard de Narbon was my father, In what he did profefs, well found. Hel. The rather will I fpare my praise towards him; Knowing him, is enough: on's bed of death Many receipts he gave me, chiefly one, Which as the deareft iffue of his practice, Safer than mine own two: more dear I have fo; King. We thank you, maiden; To empericks; or to diffever fo Our great felf and our credit, to esteem Humbly |