Act IV, Scene 5

Rousillon. The COUNT’s palace.

[Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown]

• Lafeu. No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta 2465
  fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have
  made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in
  his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at
  this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced
  by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of. 2470

• Countess. I would I had not known him; it was the death of the
  most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had
  praise for creating. If she had partaken of my
  flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I
  could not have owed her a more rooted love. 2475

• Lafeu. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a
  thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.

• Clown. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
  salad, or rather, the herb of grace.

• Lafeu. They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs. 2480

• Clown. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much
  skill in grass.

• Lafeu. Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?

• Clown. A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.

• Lafeu. Your distinction? 2485

• Clown. I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.

• Lafeu. So you were a knave at his service, indeed.

• Clown. And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.

• Lafeu. I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.

• Clown. At your service. 2490

• Lafeu. No, no, no.

• Clown. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
  great a prince as you are.

• Lafeu. Who's that? a Frenchman?

• Clown. Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy 2495
  is more hotter in France than there.

• Lafeu. What prince is that?

• Clown. The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of
  darkness; alias, the devil.

• Lafeu. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this 2500
  to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of;
  serve him still.

• Clown. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a
  great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a
  good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the 2505
  world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for
  the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be
  too little for pomp to enter: some that humble
  themselves may; but the many will be too chill and
  tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that 2510
  leads to the broad gate and the great fire.

• Lafeu. Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I
  tell thee so before, because I would not fall out
  with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well
  looked to, without any tricks. 2515

• Clown. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be
  jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.

[Exit]

• Lafeu. A shrewd knave and an unhappy.

• Countess. So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much 2520
  sport out of him: by his authority he remains here,
  which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,
  indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.

• Lafeu. I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to
  tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and 2525
  that my lord your son was upon his return home, I
  moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of
  my daughter; which, in the minority of them both,
  his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did
  first propose: his highness hath promised me to do 2530
  it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath
  conceived against your son, there is no fitter
  matter. How does your ladyship like it?

• Countess. With very much content, my lord; and I wish it
  happily effected. 2535

• Lafeu. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able
  body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here
  to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such
  intelligence hath seldom failed.

• Countess. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I 2540
  die. I have letters that my son will be here
  to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain
  with me till they meet together.

• Lafeu. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might
  safely be admitted. 2545

• Countess. You need but plead your honourable privilege.

• Lafeu. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I
  thank my God it holds yet.

[Re-enter Clown]

• Clown. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of 2550
  velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't
  or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of
  velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a
  half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

• Lafeu. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery 2555
  of honour; so belike is that.

• Clown. But it is your carbonadoed face.

• Lafeu. Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk
  with the young noble soldier.

• Clown. Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine 2560
  hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head
  and nod at every man.

[Exeunt]