Page 878 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

PAROLLES

I humbly thank you, sir. A truth’s a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor.

FIRST SOLDIER
(reading) ‘Demand of him of what strength they are a-foot’. What say you to
that? [155]

PAROLLES
By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see:

Spurio, a hundred and fifty; Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so many; Jaques,
so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine
own company, Chitopher, [160] Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each; so
that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen
thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their

cassocks lest they shake themselves to pieces. [165]

BERTRAM
What shall be done to him?

FIRST LORD
Nothing but let him have thanks. Demand of him my condition, and what
credit I have with the Duke.

FIRST SOLDIER
Well, that’s set down. (Reading) [170] ‘You shall demand of him whether one

Captain Dumaine be i’th’camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the
Duke, what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks
it were not possible with well-weighing sums of gold to corrupt him to a
revolt.’ What [175] say you to this? What do you know of it?

PAROLLES
I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the inter’ gatories. Demand

them singly.

FIRST SOLDIER
Do you know this Captain Dumaine?