_King._ Now, good Lafeu, 85 Bring in the admiration; that we with thee May spend our wonder too, or take off thine By wondering how thou took'st it.
_Laf._ Nay, I'll fit you, And not be all day neither. [_Exit._
_King._ Thus he his special nothing ever prologues. 90
_Laf._ Nay, come your ways; This is his majesty, say your mind to him: A traitor you do look like; but such traitors His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle, 95 That dare leave two together; fare you well. [_Exit._
_King._ Now, fair one, does your business follow us?
_Hel._ Ay, my good lord. Gerard de Narbon was my father; In what he did profess, well found.
_Hel._ The rather will I spare my praises towards him; Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death Many receipts he gave me; chiefly one, Which, as the dearest issue of his practice, And of his old experience the only darling, 105 He bade me store up, as a triple eye, Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so: And, hearing your high majesty is touch'd With that malignant cause, wherein the honour Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power, 110 I come to tender it and my appliance, With all bound humbleness.
_King._ We thank you, maiden; But may not be so credulous of cure, When our most learned doctors leave us, and The congregated college have concluded 115 That labouring art can never ransom nature From her inaidible estate; I say we must not So stain our judgement, or corrupt our hope. To prostitute our past-cure malady To empirics, or to dissever so 120 Our great self and our credit, to esteem A senseless help, when help past sense we deem.
_Hel._ My duty, then, shall pay me for my pains: I will no more enforce mine office on you; Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts 125 A modest one, to bear me back again.
_King._ I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful: Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give As one near death to those that wish him live: But, what at full I know, thou know'st no part; 130 I knowing all my peril, thou no art.
_Hel._ What I can do can do no hurt to try, Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy He that of greatest works is finisher, Oft does them by the weakest minister: 135 So holy writ in babes hath judgement shown, When judges have been babes; great floods have flown From simple sources; and great seas have dried, When miracles have by the greatest been denied. Oft expectation fails, and most oft there 140 Where most it promises; and oft it hits Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits.