ample means and suitable attendants; and Helena set out for Paris with
the blessings of the countess, and her kindest wishes for her success.

Helena arrived at Paris, and by the assistance of her friend the old
lord Lafeu, she obtained an audience of the king. She had still many
difficulties to encounter, for the king was not easily prevailed on to
try the medicine offered him by this fair young doctor. But she told
him she was Gerard de Narbon's daughter (with whose fame the king was
well acquainted), and she offered the precious medicine as the darling
treasure which contained the essence of all her father's long
experience and skill, and she boldly engaged to forfeit her life, if it
failed to restore his majesty to perfect health in the space of two
days. The king at length consented to try it, and in two days' time
Helena was to lose her life if the king did not recover; but if she
succeeded, he promised to give her the choice of any man throughout all
France (the princes only excepted) whom she could like for a husband;
the choice of a husband being the fee Helena demanded if she cured the
king of his disease.

Helena did not deceive herself in the hope she conceived of the
efficacy of her father's medicine. Before two days were at an end, the
king was restored to perfect health, and he assembled all the young
noblemen of his court together, in order to confer the promised reward
of a husband upon his fair physician; and he desired Helena to look
round on this youthful parcel of noble bachelors, and choose her
husband. Helena was not slow to make her choice, for among these young
lords she saw the count Rousillon, and turning to Bertram, she said:
'This is the man. I dare not say, my lord, I take you, but I give me
and my service ever whilst I live into your guiding power.' 'Why,
then,' said the king 'young Bertram, take her; she is your wife.'
Bertram did not hesitate to declare his dislike to this present of the
king's of the self-offered Helena, who, he said, was a poor physician's
daughter, bred at his father's charge, and now living a dependent on
his mother's bounty. Helena heard him speak these words of rejection
and of scorn, and she said to the king: 'That you are well, my lord, I
am glad. Let the rest go.' But the king would not suffer his royal
command to be so slighted; for the power of bestowing their nobles in
marriage was one of the many privileges of the kings of France; and
that same day Bertram