Текст книги "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition"

Автор книги: William Shakespeare

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3.6 Enter Bertram and the two Captains Dumaine SECOND LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) Nay, good my lord, put him to’t. Let him have his way.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) On my life, my lord, a bubble.

BERTRAM Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Believe it, my lord. In mine own direct knowledge—without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman—he’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment. 13

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) It were fit you knew him, lest reposing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some great and trusty business, in a main danger, fail you.

BERTRAM I would I knew in what particular action to try him.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him. Such I will have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy; we will bind and hoodwink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the laager of the adversary’s when we bring him to our own 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 fear, offer to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgement in anything. 34

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum. He says he has a stratagem for’t. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

Enter Paroles

SECOND LORD DUMAINE O ⌈aside⌉ for the love of laughter ⌈aloud⌉ hinder not the honour of his design; let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

BERTRAM (to Paroles) How now, monsieur? This drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE A pox on’t, let it go. ’Tis but a drum.

PAROLES But a drum? Is’t but a drum? A drum so lost! There was excellent command: to charge in with our horse upon our own wings and to rend our own soldiers! 51

FIRST LORD DUMAINE That was not to be blamed in the command of the service. It was a disaster of war that Caesar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.

BERTRAM) Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success. Some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum, but it is not to be recovered.

PAROLES It might have been recovered.

BERTRAM It might, but it is not now.

PAROLES It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or ‘hic iacet’.

BERTRAM Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur. If you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on. I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit. If you speed well in it, the Duke shall both speak of it and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

PAROLES By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

BERTRAM) But you must not now slumber in it.

PAROLES I’ll about it this evening, and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.

BERTRAM) May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?

PAROLES I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the attempt I vow.

BERTRAM) I know thou’rt valiant, and to the possibility of thy soldiership will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

PAROLES I love not many words. Exit

SECOND LORD DUMAINE No more than a fish loves water. (To Bertram) Is not this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done? Damns himself to do, and dares better be damned than to do’t.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) You do not know him, my lord, as we do. Certain it is that he will steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries, but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

BERTRAM) Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he does address himself unto?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE None in the world, but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies. But we have almost embosked him. You shall see his fall tonight; for indeed he is not for your lordship’s respect.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (to Bertram) We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu. When his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him, which you shall see this very night. 106

SECOND LORD DUMAINE

I must go look my twigs. He shall be caught.

BERTRAM

Your brother, he shall go along with me.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE As’t please your lordship. I’ll leave you. Exit

BERTRAM

Now will I lead you to the house, and show you 111

The lass I spoke of.

⌈FIRST⌉ LORD DUMAINE But you say she’s honest.

BERTRAM

That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once

And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her

By this same coxcomb that we have i’th’ wind 115

Tokens and letters, which she did re-send,

And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature.

Will you go see her?

⌈FIRST⌉ LORD DUMAINE With all my heart, my lord.

Exeunt

3.7 Enter Helen and the Widow

HELEN

If you misdoubt me that I am not she,

I know not how I shall assure you further

But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.

WIDOW

Though my estate be fall’n, I was well born,

Nothing acquainted with these businesses,

And would not put my reputation now

In any staining act.

HELEN

Nor would I wish you.

First give me trust the Count he is my husband,

And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken

Is so from word to word, and then you cannot,

By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,

Err in bestowing it.

WIDOW

I should believe you,

For you have showed me that which well approves

You’re great in fortune.

HELEN

Take this purse of gold,

And let me buy your friendly help thus far,

Which I will over-pay, and pay again

When I have found it. The Count he woos your

daughter,

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,

Resolved to carry her. Let her in fine consent,

As we’ll direct her how ‘tis best to bear it.

Now his important blood will naught deny

That she’ll demand. A ring the County wears,

That downward hath succeeded in his house

From son to son some four or five descents

Since the first father wore it. This ring he holds

In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire

To buy his will it would not seem too dear,

Howe’er repented after.

WIDOW

Now I see the bottom of your purpose.

HELEN

You see it lawful then. It is no more

But that your daughter ere she seems as won

Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;

In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chastely absent. After,

To marry her I’ll add three thousand crowns

To what is passed already.

WIDOW

I have yielded.

Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,

That time and place with this deceit so lawful

May prove coherent. Every night he comes

With musics of all sorts, and songs composed

To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us

To chide him from our eaves, for he persists

As if his life lay on’t.

HELEN

Why then tonight

Let us essay our plot, which if it speed

Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed

And lawful meaning in a wicked act,

Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact.

But let’s about it. Exeunt

4.1 Enter ⌈Second Lord Dumaine⌉, with five or six other soldiers, in ambush

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE He can come no other way but by this hedge corner. When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will. Though you understand it not yourselves, no matter, for we must not seem to understand him, unless some one among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter. 6

INTERPRETER Good captain, let me be th’interpreter.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE Art not acquainted with him? Knows he not thy voice?

INTERPRETER No, sir, I warrant you.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again?

INTERPRETER E’en such as you speak to me.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE He must think us some band of strangers i’th’ adversary’s entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages, therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy. Not to know what we speak one to another, so we seem to know, is to know straight our purpose: choughs’ language, gabble enough and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch, ho! Here he comes, to beguile two hours in a sleep, and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

They hide. Enter Paroles. ⌈Clock strikes⌉

PAROLES Ten o‘clock. Within these three hours ’twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it. They begin to smoke me, and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door. I find my tongue is too foolhardy, but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue. 31

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) This is the first truth that e’er thine own tongue was guilty of.

PAROLES What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in exploit. Yet slight ones will not carry it. They will say, ‘Came you off with so little?’ And great ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what’s the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman’s mouth, and buy myself another of Bajazet’s mute, if you prattle me into these perils.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is?

PAROLES I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) We cannot afford you so.

PAROLES Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was in stratagem.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) ’Twould not do.

PAROLES Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) Hardly serve.

PAROLES Though I swore I leapt from the window of the citadel? 55 ⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) How deep?

PAROLES Thirty fathom.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed.

PAROLES I would I had any drum of the enemy’s. I would swear I recovered it.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside) You shall hear one anon.

PAROLES A drum now of the enemy’s—Alarum within. ⌈The ambush rushes forth⌉

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

⌈SOLDIERS⌉ (severally) Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo.

⌈They seize and blindfold him⌉

PAROLES

O ransom, ransom, do not hide mine eyes.

INTERPRETER Boskos thromuldo boskos.

PAROLES

I know you are the Moscows regiment,

And I shall lose my life for want of language.

If there be here German or Dane, Low Dutch,

Italian, or French, let him speak to me,

I’ll discover that which shall undo the Florentine.

INTERPRETER Boskos vauvado.—

I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue.—

Kerelybonto.—Sir,

Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards

Are at thy bosom.

PAROLES

O!

INTERPRETER

O pray, pray, pray!—

Manka revania dulche? 80

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE

Oscorbidulchos volivorco.

INTERPRETER

The general is content to spare thee yet,

And, hoodwinked as thou art, will lead thee on

To gather from thee. Haply thou mayst inform

Something to save thy life.

PAROLES

O let me live,

And all the secrets of our camp I’ll show,

Their force, their purposes; nay, I’ll speak that

Which you will wonder at.

INTERPRETER

But wilt thou faithfully?

PAROLES

If I do not, damn me.

INTERPRETER

Acordo linta.—

Come on, thou art granted space. 90

Exeunt all but ⌈Second⌉ Lord Dumaine and a Soldier

A short alarum within

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE

Go tell the Count Roussillon and my brother

We have caught the woodcock, and will keep him

muffled

Till we do hear from them.

SOLDIER

Captain, I will.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE

A will betray us all unto ourselves.

Inform on that.

SOLDIER

So I will, sir.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE

Till then I’ll keep him dark and safely locked.

Exeunt severally

4.2 Enter Bertram and the maid called Diana

BERTRAM

They told me that your name was Fontibel.

DIANA

No, my good lord, Diana.

BERTRAM

Titled goddess,

And worth it, with addition. But, fair soul,

In your fine frame hath love no quality?

If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,

You are no maiden but a monument.

When you are dead you should be such a one

As you are now, for you are cold and stern,

And now you should be as your mother was

When your sweet self was got.

DIANA She then was honest.

BERTRAM So should you be.

DIANA

No.

My mother did but duty; such, my lord,

As you owe to your wife.

BERTRAM)

No more o’ that.

I prithee do not strive against my vows.

I was compelled to her, but I love thee

By love’s own sweet constraint, and will for ever

Do thee all rights of service.

DIANA

Ay, so you serve us

Till we serve you. But when you have our roses,

You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves,

And mock us with our bareness.

BERTRAM)

How have I sworn!

DIANA

‘Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,

But the plain single vow that is vowed true.

What is not holy, that we swear not by,

But take the high’st to witness; then pray you, tell me,

If I should swear by Jove’s great attributes

I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths

When I did love you ill? This has no holding,

To swear by him whom I protest to love

That I will work against him. Therefore your oaths

Are words and poor conditions but unsealed,

At least in my opinion.

BERTRAM)

Change it, change it.

Be not so holy-cruel. Love is holy,

And my integrity ne’er knew the crafts

That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,

But give thyself unto my sick desires,

Who then recovers. Say thou art mine, and ever

My love as it begins shall so persever.

DIANA

I see that men make toys e’en such a surance

That we’ll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.

BERTRAM

I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power

To give it from me.

DIANA

Will you not, my lord?

BERTRAM

It is an honour ‘longing to our house,

Bequeathed down from many ancestors,

Which were the greatest obloquy i’th’ world

In me to lose.

DIANA

Mine honour’s such a ring.

My chastity’s the jewel of our house,

Bequeathed down from many ancestors,

Which were the greatest obloquy i’th’ world

In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom

Brings in the champion Honour on my part

Against your vain assault.

BERTRAM)

Here, take my ring.

My house, mine honour, yea my life be thine,

And I’ll be bid by thee.

DIANA

When midnight comes, knock at my chamber window.

I’ll order take my mother shall not hear.

Now will I charge you in the bond of truth,

When you have conquered my yet maiden bed,

Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me—

My reasons are most strong, and you shall know them

When back again this ring shall be delivered—

And on your finger in the night I’ll put

Another ring that, what in time proceeds,

May token to the future our past deeds.

Adieu till then; then, fail not. You have won

A wife of me, though there my hope be done.

BERTRAM

A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.

DIANA

For which live long to thank both heaven and me.

You may so in the end. ⌈Exit Bertram⌉

My mother told me just how he would woo,

As if she sat in’s heart. She says all men

Have the like oaths. He had sworn to marry me

When his wife’s dead; therefore I’ll lie with him

When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,

Marry that will; I live and die a maid.

Only, in this disguise I think’t no sin

To cozen him that would unjustly win. Exit

4.3 Enter the two Captains Dumaine and some two or three soldiers

FIRST LORD DUMAINE You have not given him his mother’s letter?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE I have delivered it an hour since. There is something in’t that stings his nature, for on the reading it he changed almost into another man.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the King, who had even tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE When you have spoken it ’tis dead, and I am the grave of it.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence of a most chaste renown, and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour. He hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE Now God delay our rebellion! As we are ourselves, what things are we.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all treasons we still see them reveal themselves till they attain to their abhorred ends, so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper stream o’erflows himself.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE Is it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his company tonight?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Not till after midnight, for he is dieted to his hour.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE That approaches apace. I would gladly have him see his company anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own judgements, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE We will not meddle with him till he come, for his presence must be the whip of the other.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE In the mean time, what hear you of these wars?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE I hear there is an overture of peace.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE What will Count Roussillon do then? Will he travel higher, or return again into France?

FIRST LORD DUMAINE I perceive by this demand you are not altogether of his council.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Let it be forbid, sir; so should I be a great deal of his act.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his house. Her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le Grand, which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished, and there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief: in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE How is this justified?

FIRST LORD DUMAINE The stronger part of it by her own letters, which makes her story true even to the point of her death. Her death itself, which could not be her office to say is come, was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Hath the Count all this intelligence?

FIRST LORD DUMAINE Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE I am heartily sorry that he’ll be glad of this.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE And how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears. The great dignity that his valour hath here acquired for him shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. Our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not, and our crimes would despair if they were not cherished by our virtues.

Enter a Servant

How now? Where’s your master?

SERVANT He met the Duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave. His lordship will next morning for France. The Duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the King.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE They shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend.

Enter Bertram

⌈FIRST LORD DUMAINE⌉ They cannot be too sweet for the King’s tartness. Here’s his lordship now. How now, my lord, is’t not after midnight?

BERTRAM I have tonight dispatched sixteen businesses, a month’s length apiece. By an abstract of success: I have congéd with the Duke, done my adieu with his nearest, buried a wife, mourned for her, writ to my lady mother I am returning, entertained my convoy, and between these main parcels of dispatch affected many nicer needs. The last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE If the business be of any difficulty, and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.

BERTRAM I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the Fool and the Soldier? Come, bring forth this counterfeit model, has deceived me like a double-meaning prophesier.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE Bring him forth. Exit one or more He’s sat i’th’ stocks all night, poor gallant knave. 105

BERTRAM No matter, his heels have deserved it in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE I have told your lordship already, the stocks carry him. But to answer you as you would be understood, he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk. He hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of his setting i’th’ stocks. And what think you he hath confessed?

BERTRAM Nothing of me, has a?

SECOND LORD DUMAINE His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face. If your lordship be in’t, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it.

Enter Paroles ⌈guarded and⌉ blindfolded, with the Interpreter

BERTRAM A plague upon him! Muffled! He can say nothing of me.

⌈FIRST LORD DUMAINE⌉ (aside to Bertram) Hush, hush.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE (aside to Bertram) Hoodman comes. (Aloud) Porto tartarossa.

INTERPRETER (to Paroles) He calls for the tortures. What will you say without ’em?

PAROLES I will confess what I know without constraint. If ye pinch me like a pasty I can say no more.

INTERPRETER Bosko chimurcho.

⌈SECOND⌉ LORD DUMAINE Boblibindo chicurmurco.

INTERPRETER You are a merciful general.—Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.

PAROLES And truly, as I hope to live.

INTERPRETER ⌈reads⌉ ‘First demand of him how many horse the Duke is strong.’—What say you to that?

PAROLES Five or six thousand, but very weak and unserviceable. The troops are all scattered and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.

INTERPRETER Shall I set down your answer so? 139

PAROLES Do. I’ll take the sacrament on’t, how and which way you will.

⌈FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) All’s one to him.

BERTRAM (aside) What a past-saving slave is this!

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) You’re deceived, my lord. This is Monsieur Paroles, the ‘gallant militarist’—that was his own phrase—that had the whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE (aside) I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean, nor believe he can have everything in him by wearing his apparel neatly.

INTERPRETER (to Paroles) Well, that’s set down.

PAROLES ‘Five or six thousand horse,’ I said—I will say true—’or thereabouts’ set down, for I’ll speak truth.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) He’s very near the truth in this.

BERTRAM (aside) But I con him no thanks for’t in the nature he delivers it.

PAROLES ‘Poor rogues’, I pray you say.

INTERPRETER Well, that’s set down.

PAROLES I humbly thank you, sir. A truth’s a truth. The rogues are marvellous poor.

INTERPRETER ⌈reads⌉ ‘Demand of him of what strength they are a-foot.’-What say you to that?

PAROLES By my troth, sir, if I were to die this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see, Spurio a hundred and fifty; Sebastian so many; Corambus so many; Jaques so many; Guillaume, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each. So that the muster file, rotten and sound, upon my life amounts not to fifteen thousand poll, half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks lest they shake themselves to pieces.

BERTRAM (aside) What shall be done to him? 175

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) Nothing, but let him have thanks. (To Interpreter) Demand of him my condition, and what credit I have with the Duke.

INTERPRETER (to Paroles) Well, that’s set down. ⌈Reads⌉ ‘You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumaine be i’th’ camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the Duke; what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not possible with well-weighing sums of gold to corrupt him to a revolt.’—What say you to this? What do you know of it? 186

PAROLES I beseech you let me answer to the particular of the inter’gatories. Demand them singly.

INTERPRETER Do you know this Captain Dumaine?

PAROLES I know him. A was a botcher’s prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the sheriff’s fool with child—dumb innocent that could not say him nay. 193

BERTRAM (aside to First Lord Dumaine) Nay, by your leave, hold your hands, though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.

INTERPRETER Well, is this captain in the Duke of Florence’s camp?

PAROLES Upon my knowledge he is, and lousy. 199

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) Nay, look not so upon me: we shall hear of your lordship anon.

INTERPRETER What is his reputation with the Duke?

PAROLES The Duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine, and writ to me this other day to turn him out o’th’ band. I think I have his letter in my pocket. 206 INTERPRETER Marry, we’ll search.

PAROLES In good sadness, I do not know. Either it is there, or it is upon a file with the Duke’s other letters in my tent. 210

INTERPRETER Here ’tis, here’s a paper. Shall I read it to you?

PAROLES I do not know if it be it or no.

BERTRAM (aside) Our interpreter does it well.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) Excellently.

INTERPRETER (reads the letter) ‘Dian, the Count’s a fool, and full of gold.’

PAROLES That is not the Duke’s letter, sir. That is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count Roussillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish. I pray you, sir, put it up again.

INTERPRETER Nay, I’ll read it first, by your favour.

PAROLES My meaning in’t, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid, for I knew the young Count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds. BERTRAM (aside) Damnable both-sides rogue.

INTERPRETER (reads)

‘When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it.

After he scores he never pays the score.

Half-won is match well made; match, and well make it.

He ne’er pays after-debts, take it before.

And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this:

Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss.

For count of this, the Count’s a fool, I know it,

Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.

Thine, as he vowed to thee in thine ear,

Paroles.’

BERTRAM (aside) He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme in’s forehead.

SECOND LORD DUMAINE (aside) This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist and the armipotent soldier.

BERTRAM (aside) I could endure anything before but a cat, and now he’s a cat to me.

INTERPRETER I perceive, sir, by the general’s looks, we shall be fain to hang you.

PAROLES My life, sir, in any case! Not that I am afraid to die, but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i’th’ stocks, or anywhere, so I may live.

INTERPRETER We’ll see what may be done, so you confess freely. Therefore once more to this Captain Dumaine. You have answered to his reputation with the Duke, and to his valour. What is his honesty?

PAROLES He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister. For rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking ’em he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a fool. Drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk, and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bedclothes; but they about him know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty. He has everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) I begin to love him for this.

BERTRAM (aside) For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him! For me, he’s more and more a cat.

INTERPRETER What say you to his expertness in war?

PAROLES Faith, sir, he’s led the drum before the English tragedians. To belie him I will not, and more of his soldiership I know not, except in that country he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile End, to instruct for the doubling of files. I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain.

FIRST LORD DUMAINE (aside) He hath out-villained villainy so far that the rarity redeems him.

BERTRAM (aside) A pox on him! He’s a cat still.

INTERPRETER His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.

PAROLES Sir, for a quart d‘écu he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it, and cut th’entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.

INTERPRETER What’s his brother, the other Captain Dumaine? 285

SECOND LORD DUMAINE (aside) Why does he ask him of me?

INTERPRETER What’s he?

PAROLES E‘en a crow o’th’ same nest. Not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is. In a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

INTERPRETER If your life be saved will you undertake to betray the Florentine? 295