Page 858 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

PAROLLES

By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

BERTRAM
But you must not now slumber in it.

PAROLLES
I’ll about it this evening, and I will presently pen down my dilemmas,
encourage myself in my certainty, [70] put myself into my mortal

preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.

BERTRAM

May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?

PAROLLES
I know not what the success will be, my lord, [75] but the attempt I vow.

BERTRAM
I know th’ art valiant, and to the possibility of thy soldiership will subscribe for
thee. Farewell.

PAROLLES
I love not many words.
Exit.

FIRST LORD

No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a [80] strange fellow, my lord,
that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not
to be done, damns himself to do, and dares better be damned than to do’t.

SECOND LORD
You do not know him, my lord, as we do [85] Certain it is that he will steal

himself into a man’s favour and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries,
but when you find him out you have him ever after.

BERTRAM
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he