Page 845 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

HELENA

(reading)
Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.
’Tis bitter.

COUNTESS
Find you that there?

HELENA

Ay, madam. [75]

FIRST LORD

’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his heart was not consenting
to.

COUNTESS
Nothing in France until he have no wife!
There’s nothing here that is too good for him
But only she, and she deserves a lord [80]

That twenty such rude boys might tend upon
And call her, hourly, mistress. Who was with him?

FIRST LORD
A servant only, and a gentleman which I have sometime known.

COUNTESS
Parolles, was it not? [85]

FIRST LORD
Ay, my good lady, he.

COUNTESS

A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.
My son corrupts a well-derivèd nature
With his inducement.

FIRST LORD