two hundred and 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 snow from off their cassocks, lest they shake themselves to pieces. 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. Reads. “You shall demand of him, whether one Captain Dumain be i’ the 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 revolt.” What 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 Dumain? Parolles I know him: a’ was a botcher’s ’prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve’s fool with child⁠—a dumb innocent, that could not say him nay. Bertram Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls. First Soldier Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence’s camp? Parolles Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. First Lord Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon. First Soldier What is his reputation with the duke? Parolles The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day to turn him out o’ the band: I think I have his letter in my pocket. First Soldier Marry, we’ll search. Parolles In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon a file with the duke’s other letters in my tent. First Soldier Here ’tis; here’s a paper: shall I read it to you? Parolles I do not know if it be it or no. Bertram Our interpreter does it well. First Lord Excellently. First Soldier Reads. “Dian, the count’s a fool, and full of gold,”⁠— Parolles That is not the duke’s letter, sir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish: I pray you, sir, put it up again. First Soldier Nay, I’ll read it first, by your favour. Parolles My meaning in’t, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity and devours up all the fry it finds. Bertram Damnable both-sides rogue! First Soldier

Reads. “When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;
After he scores, he never pays the score:
Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;
He ne’er pays after-debts, take it before;
And say a soldier, Dian, told thee this,
Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss:
For count of this, the count’s a fool, I know it,
Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.

Bertram He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme in’s forehead. Second Lord This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist and the armipotent soldier. Bertram I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he’s a cat to me. First Soldier I perceive, sir, by the general’s looks, we shall be fain to hang you. Parolles My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature: let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i’ the stocks, or any where, so I may live. First Soldier We’ll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this Captain Dumain: you have answered to his reputation with the duke and to his valour: what is his honesty? Parolles He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus: he professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking ’em he is stronger than Hercules: he will lie, sir, with such volubility, that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every thing that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing. First Lord I begin to love him for this. Bertram For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him for me, he’s more and more a cat. First Soldier What say you to his expertness in war? Parolles Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the English tragedians; to belie him, I will not, and more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that country he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of files: I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain. First Lord He hath out-villained villany so far, that the rarity redeems him. Bertram A pox on him, he’s a cat still. First Soldier His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Parolles Sir, for a quart d’écu he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually. First Soldier What’s his brother, the other Captain Dumain? Second Lord Why does be ask him of me? First Soldier What’s he? Parolles E’en a crow o’ the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil: he