Page 843 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

What is the matter?

CLOWN
Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some [35] comfort: your son will not
be killed so soon as I thought he would.

COUNTESS
Why should he be killed?

CLOWN
So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does. The danger is in standing
to’t; that’s the loss of [40] men, though it be the getting of children. Here

they come will tell you more. For my part, I only hear your son was run away.
Exit.

Enter Helena and the two French Lords.

FIRST LORD
Save you, good madam.

HELENA
Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone. [45]

SECOND LORD
Do not say so.

COUNTESS
Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen −
I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief
That the first face of neither on the start
Can woman me unto’t. Where is my son, I pray you? [50]

SECOND LORD

Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence.
We met him thitherward, for thence we came,
And, after some dispatch in hand at court,
Thither we bend again.