Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace.
 Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU and CLOWN.

Lafeu	No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipped-taffeta 
	fellow there, whose villainous saffron would have made all 
	the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour. 
	Your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and your 
	son here at home, more advanced by the king than by that 
	red-tailed humblebee I speak of.

Countess	I would I had not known him; it was the death of the most 
	virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for 
	creating. If she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the 
	dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a 
	more rooted love.

Lafeu	'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady. We may pick a 
	thousand sallets ere we light on such another herb.

Clown	Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the sallet, or, 
	rather, the herb of grace.

Lafeu	They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.

Clown	I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in 
	grace.

Lafeu	Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?

Clown	A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.

Lafeu	Your distinction?

Clown	I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service.

Lafeu	So you were a knave at his service indeed.

Clown	And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her 
	service.

Lafeu	I will subscribe for thee; thou art both knave and fool.

Clown	At your service.

Lafeu	No, no, no.

Clown	Why, sir, if I cannot serve you I can serve as great a 
	prince as you are.

Lafeu	Who's that? A Frenchman?

Clown	Faith, sir, a' has an English name, but his fisnomie is 
	more hotter in France than there.

Lafeu	What prince is that?

Clown	The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness, alias 
	the devil.

Lafeu	Hold thee, there's my purse. I give thee not this to 
	suggest thee from thy master thou talk'st of; serve him 
	still.

Clown	I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great 
	fire, and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But 
	sure he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain 
	in's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which 
	I take to be too little for pomp to enter; some that humble 
	themselves may, but the many will be too chill and tender, 
	and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad 
	gate and the great fire.

Lafeu	Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I tell thee 
	so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy 
	ways. Let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks.

Clown	If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' 
	tricks, which are their own right by the law of nature.
												[Exit.
Lafeu	A shrewd knave and an unhappy.

Countess	So a' is. My lord that's gone made himself much sport out 
	of him; by his authority he remains here, which he thinks 
	is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, 
	but runs where he will.

Lafeu	I like him well, 'tis not amiss. And I was about to tell 
	you, since I heard of the good lady's death and that my 
	lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my 
	master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the 
	minority of them both, his majesty out of a self-gracious 
	remembrance did first propose. His highness hath promised 
	me to do it; and to stop up the displeasure he hath 
	conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How 
	does your ladyship like it?

Countess	With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily 
	effected.

Lafeu	His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as 
	when he numbered thirty. A' will be here tomorrow, or I am 
	deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom 
	failed.

Countess	It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I 
	have letters that my son will be here tonight. I shall 
	beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet 
	together.

Lafeu	Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be 
	admitted.

Countess	You need but plead your honourable privilege.

Lafeu	Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my 
	God it holds yet.

                             Re-enter CLOWN.

Clown	O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet 
	on's face; whether there be a scar under't or no, the 
	velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet. His left 
	cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right 
	cheek is worn bare.

Lafeu	A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of 
	honour; so belike is that.

Clown	But it is your carbonadoed face.

Lafeu	Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk with the 
	young noble soldier.

Clown	Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats and 
	most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at 
	every man.
												[Exeunt.
