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Rousillon. Before the COUNT'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
speakest 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 purr 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?
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 honor to hear me one single word.
LAFEU
You beg a single penny more: come you shall have it, save your word.
PAROLLES
My name my good lord is Parolles.
LAFEU
You beg more than 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. 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]