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 receive 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. First Lord. His love and wisdom, 10 Approved so to your majesty, may plead For amplest credence. King. He hath arm'd our answer, And Florence is denied before he comes: Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see The Tuscan service, freely have they leave To stand on either part. 15 Sec. Lord. It well may serve A nursery to our gentry, who are sick 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; 20 Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris. Ber. My thanks and duty are your majesty's. King. I would I had that corporal soundness now, 25 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, 30 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 35 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 40 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, 45 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. Ber. His good remembrance, sir, Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb; 50 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 He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them, 55 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, 'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff 60 Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses All but new things disdain; whose judgements are Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies Expire before their fashions. This he wish'd: I after him do after him wish too, 65 Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, I quickly were dissolved from my hive, To give some labourers room. Sec. Lord. You are loved, sir; They that least lend it you shall lack you first. King. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count, 70 Since the physician at your father's died? He was much famed. Ber. Some six months since, my lord. 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 75 Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count; My son's no dearer. Ber. Thank your majesty. [Exeunt. Flourish.

LINENOTES:

[Scene ii.] Capell. Scene v. Pope.

Flourish of cornets.] Flourish cornets. Ff.

[1] Senoys] Siennois or Siennese Lloyd conj.

the ears] Capell. th' eares Ff.

[3, 9, 18] First Lord.] 1. Lord. Rowe. 1. Lo. G. Ff.

[15, 67] Sec. Lord.] 2. Lord. Rowe. 2. Lo. E. Ff.

[15] well may] may well F3 F4.

[18] It is] F1 F4. It 'tis F2 F3.

Rousillon] Pope. Rosignoll F1. Rosillion F2. Rossillion F3 F4.

[21] Hath well composed thee] Compos'd thee well Pope.

[28] bravest] brav'st Pope.

[32] well] ill Long MS.

[35] hide their levity in honour] vye their levity with his honour Hanmer. hide their levity in humour Long MS.

[35, 36] honour: So like a courtier,] Ff. honour, So like a courtier: Capell (Blackstone conj.). honour: No courtier-like Lloyd conj.

[36] contempt nor] no contempt nor Rowe (ed. 1). no contempt or Rowe (ed. 2).

[37] in his pride or sharpness;] in him; pride or sharpness, Theobald (Warburton). in him, pride or sharpness; Capell.

if they were] if there were Theobald (Warburton).

[39] Clock] Block Rowe (ed. 2).

[40] Exception] Exceptions Theobald.

this] that Rowe.

[41] his hand] the hand Johnson conj. it's hand Capell. his head Long MS.

[42] another place] a brother-race Hanmer.

[44] proud of] proud; and Warburton.

[44, 45] humility, In ... praise he humbled] humility: He in ... praise, humbled Becket conj.

[45] he humbled] be-humbled Staunton conj.

[47] demonstrate them now] now demonstrate them Pope.

[50] So in approof lives not his] Approof so lives not in his Johnson conj. So his approof lives not in Capell.

[56] This] Ff. Thus Pope.

[58] it] wit Staunton conj.

[62] fathers] feathers Tyrwhitt conj. parcels Williams conj.

[67] labourers] labourer Warburton.

You are] Capell. You'r F1 F2. You're F3 F4.

[76] Thank] Thanks to Rowe.

[Exeunt.] Exit. Ff.