Nay, good my lord, put him to 't. Let him 1733have his way.

If your lordship find him not a hilding, 1735hold me no more in your respect.

On my life, my lord, a bubble.

Do you think I am so far 1738deceived in him?

Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct 1740knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him 1741as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an 1742infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the 1743owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's 1744entertainment.

It were fit you knew him, lest reposing too 1746far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some 1747great and trusty business in a main danger fail 1748you.

I would I knew in what particular action to try 1750him.

None better than to let him fetch off his 1752drum, which you hear him so confidently 1753undertake to do.

I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly 1755surprize him. Such I will have whom I am sure he knows 1756not from the enemy. We will bind and hoodwink 1757him so that he shall suppose no other but that he is 1758carried into the leaguer of the adversaries when we bring 1759him to our own tents. Be but your lordship present 1760at his examination. If he do not, for the promise of his 1761life and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to 1762betray you and deliver all the intelligence in his power 1763against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his 1764soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in 1765anything.

Oh, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his 1767drum! He says he has a stratagem for 't. When your 1768lordship sees the bottom of this success in 't, and to 1769what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be 1770melted if you give him not John Drum's entertainment, 1771your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

[Aside to Bertram] Oh, for the love of laughter, hinder not the 1774honor of his design! -- [Aloud] Let him fetch off his drum in any 1775hand.

How now, monsieur? This drum sticks 1777sorely in your disposition.

A pox on 't, let it go! 'Tis but a drum.

But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so 1780lost? There was excellent command, to charge in with 1781our horse upon our own wings and to rend our own 1782soldiers.

That was not to be blamed in the command 1784of the service. It was a disaster of war that Caesar 1785himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to 1786command.

Well, we cannot greatly condemn our 1788success. Some dishonor we had in the loss of that drum, 1789but it is not to be recovered.

It might have been recovered.

It might, but it is not now.

It is to be recovered. But that the merit of 1793service is seldom attributed to the true and exact 1794performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic 1795jacet.

Why, if you have a stomach, to't, monsieur. If 1797you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this 1798instrument of honor again into his native quarter, be 1799magnanimous in the enterprise and go on. I will grace 1800the attempt for a worthy exploit. If you speed well in 1801it, the duke shall both speak of it and extend to you 1802what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost 1803syllable of your worthiness.

By the hand of a soldier I will undertake it.

But you must not now slumber in it.

I'll about it this evening, and I will presently 1807pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my 1808certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation 1809-and by midnight look to hear further from me.

May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are 1811gone about it?

I know not what the success will be, my lord, 1813but the attempt I vow.

I know th'art valiant, 1815and to the possibility of thy soldiership, 1816will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

I love not many words.

No more than a fish loves water. Is not this 1819a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to 1820undertake this business, which he knows is not to be 1821done, damns himself to do, and dares better be damned 1822than to do 't?

You do not know him, my lord, as we do. 1824 Certain it is that he will steal himself into a man's 1825favor, and for a week escape a great deal of 1826discoveries, but when you find him out, you have him ever 1827after.

Why, do you think he will make no deed at 1829all of this that so seriously he does address himself 1830unto?

None in the world, but return with an 1832invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies. 1833But we have almost embossed him. You shall see his fall 1834tonight, for indeed he is not for your lordship's 1835respect.

We'll make you some sport with the fox 1837ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old Lord 1838Lafeu. When his disguise and he is parted, tell me what 1839a sprat you shall find him, which you shall see this 1840very night.

I must go look my twigs. 1842He shall be caught.

[To 1 Lord] Your brother he shall go along with me.

As 't please your lordship. I'll leave you.

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

3.6.371846The lass I spoke of.

The lass I spoke of. But you say she's honest.

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

3.6.391849And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her

3.6.401850By this same coxcomb that we have i'th'wind

3.6.411851Tokens and letters, which she did resend,

3.6.421852And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature.

3.6.431853Will you go see her?

Will you go see her? With all my heart, my lord.