Before the Count’s palace.
[Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following]
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 speakest of.
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 purr of fortune’s, sir, that has fallen into the
unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says,
is muddied withal: 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 quart d’ecu 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 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.
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