| ACT I SCENE II | Paris. The KING's palace. | |
| [
Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France,
with letters, and divers Attendants
] |
| KING | The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; |
| Have fought with equal fortune and continue |
| A braving war. |
| First Lord | So 'tis reported, sir. |
| KING | Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it | 5 |
| A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, |
| With caution that the Florentine will move us |
| For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend |
| Prejudicates the business and would seem |
| To have us make denial. | 10 |
| First Lord | His love and wisdom, |
| Approved so to your majesty, may plead |
| For amplest credence. |
| KING | He hath arm'd our answer, |
| And Florence is denied before he comes: | 15 |
| Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see |
| The Tuscan service, freely have they leave |
| To stand on either part. |
| Second Lord | It well may serve |
| A nursery to our gentry, who are sick | 20 |
| For breathing and exploit. |
| KING | What's he comes here? |
| [Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES] |
| First Lord | It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord, |
| Young Bertram. |
| KING | Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; | 25 |
| Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, |
| Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts |
| Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris. |
| BERTRAM | My thanks and duty are your majesty's. |
| KING | I would I had that corporal soundness now, | 30 |
| As when thy father and myself in friendship |
| First tried our soldiership! He did look far |
| Into the service of the time and was |
| Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long; |
| But on us both did haggish age steal on | 35 |
| And wore us out of act. It much repairs me |
| To talk of your good father. In his youth |
| He had the wit which I can well observe |
| To-day in our young lords; but they may jest |
| Till their own scorn return to them unnoted | 40 |
| Ere they can hide their levity in honour; |
| So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness |
| Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were, |
| His equal had awaked them, and his honour, |
| Clock to itself, knew the true minute when | 45 |
| Exception bid him speak, and at this time |
| His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him |
| He used as creatures of another place |
| And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks, |
| Making them proud of his humility, | 50 |
| In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man |
| Might be a copy to these younger times; |
| Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now |
| But goers backward. |
| BERTRAM | His good remembrance, sir, | 55 |
| Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb; |
| So in approof lives not his epitaph |
| As in your royal speech. |
| KING | Would I were with him! He would always say-- |
| Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words | 60 |
| He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them, |
| To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'-- |
| This his good melancholy oft began, |
| On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, |
| When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he, | 65 |
| 'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff |
| Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses |
| All but new things disdain; whose judgments are |
| Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies |
| Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd; | 70 |
| I after him do after him wish too, |
| Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, |
| I quickly were dissolved from my hive, |
| To give some labourers room. |
| Second Lord | You are loved, sir: | 75 |
| They that least lend it you shall lack you first. |
| KING | I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count, |
| Since the physician at your father's died? |
| He was much famed. |
| BERTRAM | Some six months since, my lord. | 80 |
| KING | If he were living, I would try him yet. |
| Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out |
| With several applications; nature and sickness |
| Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count; |
| My son's no dearer. | 85 |
| BERTRAM | Thank your majesty. |
| [Exeunt. Flourish] |