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contented to be what they are； there were no fear in marriage； for young
Charbon the puritan and old Poysam the papist； howsome'er their hearts
are sever'd in religion； their heads are both one； they may jowl horns
together like any deer i' th' herd。 COUNTESS。 Wilt thou ever be a foul…
mouth'd and calumnious knave？ CLOWN。 A prophet I； madam； and I
speak the truth the next way：
For I the ballad will repeat； Which men full true shall find： Your
marriage comes by destiny； Your cuckoo sings by kind。
COUNTESS。 Get you gone； sir； I'll talk with you more anon。
STEWARD。 May it please you； madam； that he bid Helen come to you。 Of
her I am to speak。 COUNTESS。 Sirrah； tell my gentlewoman I would
speak with her； Helen I mean。 CLOWN。 ＇Sings＇
'Was this fair face the cause' quoth she 'Why the Grecians sacked
Troy？ Fond done； done fond； Was this King Priam's joy？' With that she
sighed as she stood； With that she sighed as she stood； And gave this
sentence then： 'Among nine bad if one be good； Among nine bad if one be
good； There's yet one good in ten。'
COUNTESS。 What； one good in ten？ You corrupt the song； sirrah。
CLOWN。 One good woman in ten； madam； which is a purifying o' th'
song。 Would God would serve the world so all the year！ We'd find no fault
with the tithe…woman； if I were the parson。 One in ten； quoth 'a！ An we
might have a good woman born before every blazing star； or at an
earthquake； 'twould mend the lottery well： a man may draw his heart out
ere 'a pluck one。 COUNTESS。 You'll be gone； sir knave； and do as I
command you。 CLOWN。 That man should be at woman's command； and
yet no hurt done！ Though honesty be no puritan； yet it will do no hurt； it
will wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart。 I am
going； forsooth。 The business is for Helen to come hither。 Exit
COUNTESS。 Well； now。 STEWARD。 I know； madam； you love your
gentlewoman entirely。 COUNTESS。 Faith I do。 Her father bequeath'd her
to me； and she herself； without other advantage； may lawfully make title to
as much love as she finds。 There is more owing her than is paid； and more
shall be paid her than she'll demand。 STEWARD。 Madam； I was very late
more near her than I think she wish'd me。 Alone she was； and did
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communicate to herself her own words to her own ears； she thought； I dare
vow for her； they touch'd not any stranger sense。 Her matter was； she
loved your son。 Fortune； she said； was no goddess； that had put such
difference betwixt their two estates； Love no god； that would not extend
his might only where qualities were level； Diana no queen of virgins； that
would suffer her poor knight surpris'd without rescue in the first assault； or
ransom afterward。 This she deliver'd in the most bitter touch of sorrow that
e'er I heard virgin exclaim in； which I held my duty speedily to acquaint
you withal； sithence； in the loss that may happen； it concerns you
something to know it。 COUNTESS。 YOU have discharg'd this honestly；
keep it to yourself。 Many likelihoods inform'd me of this before； which
hung so tott'ring in the balance that I could neither believe nor misdoubt。
Pray you leave me。 Stall this in your bosom； and I thank you for your
honest care。 I will speak with you further anon。 Exit STEWARD
Enter HELENA
Even so it was with me when I was young。 If ever we are nature's；
these are ours； this thorn Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong； Our
blood to us； this to our blood is born。 It is the show and seal of nature's
truth； Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth。 By our
remembrances of days foregone； Such were our faults； or then we thought
them none。 Her eye is sick on't； I observe her now。 HELENA。 What is
your pleasure； madam？ COUNTESS。 You know； Helen； I am a mother to
you。 HELENA。 Mine honourable mistress。 COUNTESS。 Nay； a mother。
Why not a mother？ When I said 'a mother；' Methought you saw a serpent。
What's in 'mother' That you start at it？ I say I am your mother； And put
you in the catalogue of those That were enwombed mine。 'Tis often seen
Adoption strives with nature； and choice breeds A native slip to us from
foreign seeds。 You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan； Yet I express
to you a mother's care。 God's mercy； maiden！ does it curd thy blood To say
I am thy mother？ What's the matter； That this distempered messenger of
wet； The many…colour'd Iris； rounds thine eye？ Why； that you are my
daughter？ HELENA。 That I am not。 COUNTESS。 I say I am your mother。
HELENA。 Pardon； madam。 The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother： I
am from humble； he from honoured name； No note upon my parents； his
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all noble。 My master； my dear lord he is； and I His servant live； and will
his vassal die。 He must not be my brother。 COUNTESS。 Nor I your mother？
HELENA。 You are my mother； madam； would you were… So that my lord
your son were not my brother… Indeed my mother！ Or were you both our
mothers； I care no more for than I do for heaven； So I were not his sister。
Can't no other； But； I your daughter； he must be my brother？ COUNTESS。
Yes； Helen； you might be my daughter…in…law。 God shield you mean it not！
'daughter' and 'mother' So strive upon your pulse。 What！ pale again？ My
fear hath catch'd your fondness。 Now I see The myst'ry of your loneliness；
and find Your salt tears' head。 Now to all sense 'tis gross You love my son；
invention is asham'd； Against the proclamation of thy passion； To say thou
dost not。 Therefore tell me true； But tell me then； 'tis so； for； look； thy
cheeks Confess it； th' one to th' other； and thine eyes See it so grossly
shown in thy behaviours That in their kind they speak it； only sin And
hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue； That truth should be suspected。 Speak； is't
so？ If it be so； you have wound a goodly clew； If it be not； forswear't；
howe'er； I charge thee； As heaven shall work in me for thine avail； To tell
me truly。 HELENA。 Good madam； pardon me。 COUNTESS。 Do you