Paris. A Room in the King's Palace.
 Flourish of cornets.
 Enter the KING OF FRANCE with letters, the TWO LORDS DUMAINE,
 and divers ATTENDANTS.

King	The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;
	Have fought with equal fortune, and continue
	A braving war.

1st Dumaine					So 'tis reported, sir.

King	Nay, 'tis most credible. We here receive it
	A certainty, vouched 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.

1st Dumaine							His love and wisdom,
	Approved so to your majesty, may plead
	For amplest credence.

King						He hath armed 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.

2nd Dumaine							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.

1st Dumaine	It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,
	Young Bertram.

King	Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;
	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,
	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,
	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
	Today in our young lords; but they may jest
	Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
	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
	Exception bid him speak, and at this time
	His tongue obeyed his hand. Who were below him
	He used as creatures of another place,
	And bowed his eminent top to their low ranks,
	Making them proud of his humility,
	In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
	Might be a copy to these younger times,
	Which, followed well, would demonstrate them now
	But goers backward.

Bertram						His good remembrance, sir,
	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
	He scattered 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,
	'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 wished:
	I, after him, do after him wish too,
	Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
	I quickly were dissolvd from my hive
	To give some labourers room.

2nd Dumaine								You're lovd, sir;
	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.

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.

Bertram						Thank your majesty.
												[Exeunt. Flourish.
