Act 2, Scene I

SCENE I. Paris. The KING's palace.

Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING, attended with divers young Lords taking leave for the Florentine war; BERTRAM, and PAROLLES
KING
Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles
Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:
Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all
The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,
And is enough for both.

First Lord
'Tis our hope, sir,
After well enter'd soldiers, to return
And find your grace in health.

KING
No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart
Will not confess he owes the malady
That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;
Whether I live or die, be you the sons
Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,--
Those bated that inherit but the fall
Of the last monarchy,--see that you come
Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when
The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,
That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

Second Lord
Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!

KING
Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:
They say, our French lack language to deny,
If they demand: beware of being captives,
Before you serve.

Both
Our hearts receive your warnings.

KING
Farewell. Come hither to me.

Exit, attended

First Lord
O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!

PAROLLES
'Tis not his fault, the spark.

Second Lord
O, 'tis brave wars!

PAROLLES
Most admirable: I have seen those wars.

BERTRAM
I am commanded here, and kept a coil with
'Too young' and 'the next year' and "tis too early.'

PAROLLES
An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.

BERTRAM
I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,
Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,
Till honour be bought up and no sword worn
But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.

First Lord
There's honour in the theft.

PAROLLES
Commit it, count.

Second Lord
I am your accessary; and so, farewell.

BERTRAM
I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.

First Lord
Farewell, captain.

Second Lord
Sweet Monsieur Parolles!

PAROLLES
Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good
sparks and lustrous, a word, good metals: you shall
find in the regiment of the Spinii one Captain
Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here
on his sinister cheek; it was this very sword
entrenched it: say to him, I live; and observe his
reports for me.

First Lord
We shall, noble captain.

Exeunt Lords

PAROLLES
Mars dote on you for his novices! what will ye do?