Rousillon. The Inner Court of the Countess's Palace.
 Enter CLOWN and PAROLLES.

Parolles	Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this letter. I 
	have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have 
	held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, 
	muddied in Fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her 
	strong displeasure.

Clown	Truly, Fortune's displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so 
	strongly as thou speak'st of. I will henceforth eat no fish 
	of Fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.

Parolles	Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir, I spake but by a 
	metaphor.

Clown	Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink I will stop my nose, or 
	against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get thee further.

Parolles	Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

Clown	Foh! Prithee stand away. A paper from Fortune's close-stool 
	to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.

                               Enter LAFEU.

	Here is a pur of Fortune's, sir, or of Fortune's cat, but 
	not a musk-cat, that has fallen into the unclean fishpond 
	of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal. 
	Pray you,sir, use the carp as you may, for he looks like a 
	poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do 
	pity his distress in my similes of comfort, and leave him 
	to your lordship.
												[Exit.

Parolles	My lord, I am a man whom Fortune hath cruelly scratched.

Lafeu	And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her 
	nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with Fortune 
	that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, 
	and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a 
	cardecu for you. Let the justices make you and Fortune 
	friends; I am for other business.

Parolles	I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.

Lafeu	You beg a single penny more. Come, you shall ha't; save 
	your word.

Parolles	My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

Lafeu	You beg more than one word then. Cox my passion! Give me 
	your hand. How does your drum?

Parolles	O my good lord, you were the first that found me.

Lafeu	Was I, in sooth? And I was the first that lost thee.

Parolles	It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you 
	did bring me out.

Lafeu	Out upon thee, knave! Dost thou put upon me at once both 
	the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace 
	and the other brings thee out.
												[Trumpets sound.
	The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire 
	further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you 
	are a fool and a knave you shall eat. Go to; follow.

Parolles	I praise God for you.
												[Exeunt.
