Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France,] [p]with letters, and divers Attendants]

• King of France. The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; 235
  Have fought with equal fortune and continue
  A braving war.

• First Lord. So 'tis reported, sir.

• King of France. Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it
  A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, 240
  With caution that the Florentine will move us
  For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend
  Prejudicates the business and would seem
  To have us make denial.

• First Lord. His love and wisdom, 245
  Approved so to your majesty, may plead
  For amplest credence.

• King of France. He hath arm'd our answer,
  And Florence is denied before he comes:
  Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see 250
  The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
  To stand on either part.

• Second Lord. It well may serve
  A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
  For breathing and exploit. 255

• King of France. What's he comes here?

[Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES]

• First Lord. It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,
  Young Bertram.

• King of France. Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; 260
  Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
  Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts
  Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

• Bertram. My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

• King of France. I would I had that corporal soundness now, 265
  As when thy father and myself in friendship
  First tried our soldiership! He did look far
  Into the service of the time and was
  Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
  But on us both did haggish age steal on 270
  And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
  To talk of your good father. In his youth
  He had the wit which I can well observe
  To-day in our young lords; but they may jest
  Till their own scorn return to them unnoted 275
  Ere they can hide their levity in honour;
  So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
  Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
  His equal had awaked them, and his honour,
  Clock to itself, knew the true minute when 280
  Exception bid him speak, and at this time
  His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him
  He used as creatures of another place
  And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
  Making them proud of his humility, 285
  In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
  Might be a copy to these younger times;
  Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
  But goers backward.

• Bertram. His good remembrance, sir, 290
  Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;
  So in approof lives not his epitaph
  As in your royal speech.

• King of France. Would I were with him! He would always say—
  Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words 295
  He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
  To grow there and to bear,—'Let me not live,'—
  This his good melancholy oft began,
  On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
  When it was out,—'Let me not live,' quoth he, 300
  'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
  Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
  All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
  Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
  Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd; 305
  I after him do after him wish too,
  Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
  I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
  To give some labourers room.

• Second Lord. You are loved, sir: 310
  They that least lend it you shall lack you first.

• King of France. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,
  Since the physician at your father's died?
  He was much famed.

• Bertram. Some six months since, my lord. 315

• King of France. If he were living, I would try him yet.
  Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out
  With several applications; nature and sickness
  Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;
  My son's no dearer. 320

• Bertram. Thank your majesty.

[Exeunt. Flourish]