_Par._ Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
_Clo._ Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's 15 close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.
Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray 20 you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship. [_Exit._
_Par._ My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly 25 scratched.
_Laf._ And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive 30 long under her? There's a quart d'écu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.
_Par._ I beseech your honour to hear me one single word. 35
_Laf._ You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.
_Par._ My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
_Laf._ You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum? 40
_Par._ O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
_Laf._ Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
_Par._ It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, 45 for you did bring me out.
_Laf._ Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out. [_Trumpets sound._] The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire 50 further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow.
SCENE II. Before ... palace.] Edd. Inner-court of the palace. Capell.
following.] Capell. ill-favoured. Collier MS.
[1] _Monsieur_] _Mr_ Ff. _Lavache_] Edd. (Tollet conj.).
[4] _mood_] _moat_ Theobald. See note (XVII).
[10] _spake_] F1. _speake_ F2. _speak_ F3 F4.
_purr_] _purre_ F1 F2 F3. _pur_ F4. _puss_ Mason conj.
[19] _musk-cat_] Theobald. _Muscat_ Ff. _mouse-cat_ Anon. conj.
[22] _ingenious_] _ingenuous_ Anon. conj.
[23] _similes_] Theobald (Warburton). _smiles_ Ff.