All's Well That Ends Well (1623 First Folio Edition)

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. All's Well That Ends Well (1623 First Folio Edition)
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
| Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |

Act I

1: Actus primus. Scoena Prima.
2: [ Enter yong Bertram Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and
Helena, Lord Lafew, all in blacke]

4:
Mother.

5: In deliuering my sonne from me, I burie a se-cond
6: husband.
7:
Ros.
And I in going Madam, weep ore my
8: fathers death anew; but I must attend his maie-sties
9: command, to whom I am now in Ward, euermore
10: in subiection.
11:
Laf.
You shall find of the King a husband Madame,
12: you sir a father. He that so generally is at all times good,
13: must of necessitie hold his vertue to you, whose worthi-nesse
14: would stirre it vp where it wanted rather then lack
15: it where there is such abundance.
16:
Mo.
What hope is there of his Maiesties amendment?
17:
Laf.
He hath abandon'd his Phisitions Madam, vn-der
18: whose practises he hath persecuted time with hope,
19: and finds no other aduantage in the processe, but onely
20: the loosing of hope by time.
21:
Mo.
This yong Gentlewoman had a father, O that
22: had, how sad a passage tis, whose skill was almost as
23: great as his honestie, had it stretch'd so far, would haue
24: made nature immortall, and death should haue play for
25: lacke of worke. Would for the Kings sake hee were li-uing,
26: I thinke it would be the death of the Kings disease.
27:
Laf.
How call'd you the man you speake of Madam?
28:
Mo.
He was famous sir in his profession, and it was
29: his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.
30:
Laf.
He was excellent indeed Madam, the King very
31: latelie spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly: hee
32: was skilfull enough to haue liu'd stil, if knowledge could
33: be set vp against mortallitie.
34:
Ros.
What is it (my good Lord) the King languishes
35: of?
36:
Laf.
A Fistula my Lord.
37:
Ros.
I heard not of it before.
38:
Laf.
I would it were not notorious. Was this Gen-tlewoman
39: the Daughter of Gerard de Narbon?
40:
Mo.
His sole childe my Lord, and bequeathed to my
41: ouer looking. I haue those hopes of her good, that her
42: education promises her dispositions shee inherits, which
43: makes faire gifts fairer: for where an vncleane mind car-ries
44: vertuous qualities, there commendations go with
45: pitty, they are vertues and traitors too: in her they are
46: the better for their simplenesse; she deriues her honestie,
47: and atcheeues her goodnesse.
48:
Lafew.
Your commendations Madam get from her
49: teares.
50:
Mo.
'Tis the best brine a Maiden can season her praise
51: in. The remembrance of her father neuer approches her
52: heart, but the tirrany of her sorrowes takes all liuelihood
53: from her cheeke. No more of this Helena, go too, no
54: more least it be rather thought you affect a sorrow, then
55: to haue===
56:
Hell.
I doe affect a sorrow indeed, but I haue it too.
57:
Laf.
Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,
58: excessiue greefe the enemie to the liuing.
59:
Mo.
If the liuing be enemie to the greefe, the excesse
60: makes it soone mortall.
61:
Ros.
Maddam I desire your holie wishes.
62:
Laf.
How vnderstand we that?
63:
Mo.
Be thou blest Bertrame, and succeed thy father
64: In manners as in shape: thy blood and vertue
65: Contend for Empire in thee, and thy goodnesse
66: Share with thy birth-right. Loue all, trust a few,
67: Doe wrong to none: be able for thine enemie
68: Rather in power then vse: and keepe thy friend
69: Vnder thy owne lifes key. Be checkt for silence,
70: But neuer tax'd for speech. What heauen more wil,
71: That thee may furnish, and my prayers plucke downe,
72: Fall on thy head. Farwell my Lord,
73: 'Tis an vnseason'd Courtier, good my Lord
74: Aduise him.
75:
Laf.
He cannot want the best
76: That shall attend his loue.
77:
Mo.
Heauen blesse him: Farwell Bertram.
78:
Ro.
The best wishes that can be forg'd in your thoghts
79: be seruants to you: be comfortable to my mother, your
80: Mistris, and make much of her.
81:
Laf.
Farewell prettie Lady, you must hold the cre-dit
82: of your father.
83:
Hell.
O were that all, I thinke not on my father,
84: And these great teares grace his remembrance more
85: Then those I shed for him. What was he like?
86: I haue forgott him. My imagination
87: Carries no fauour in't but Bertrams.
88: I am vndone, there is no liuing, none,
89: If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one,
90: That I should loue a bright particuler starre,
91: And think to wed it, he is so aboue me
92: In his bright radience and colaterall light,
93: Must I be comforted, not in his sphere;
94: Th' ambition in my loue thus plagues it selfe:
95: The hind that would be mated by the Lion
96: Must die for loue. 'Twas prettie, though a plague
97: To see him euerie houre to sit and draw
98: His arched browes, his hawking eie, his curles
99: In our hearts table: heart too capeable
100: Of euerie line and tricke of his sweet fauour.
101: But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancie
102: Must sanctifie his Reliques. Who comes heere?
103: [ Enter Parrolles.]

104: One that goes with him: I loue him for his sake,
105: And yet I know him a notorious Liar,
106: Thinke him a great way foole, solie a coward,
107: Yet these fixt euils sit so fit in him,
108: That they take place, when Vertues steely bones
109: Lookes bleake i'th cold wind: withall, full ofte we see
110: Cold wisedome waighting on superfluous follie.
111:
Par.
Saue you faire Queene.
112:
Hel.
And you Monarch.
113:
Par.
No.
114:
Hel.
And no.
115:
Par.
Are you meditating on virginitie?
116:
Hel.
I: you haue some staine of souldier in you: Let
117: mee aske you a question. Man is enemie to virginitie,
118: how may we barracado it against him?
119:
Par.
Keepe him out.
120:
Hel.
But he assailes, and our virginitie though vali-ant,
121: in the defence yet is weak: vnfold to vs some war-like
122: resistance.
123:
Par.
There is none: Man setting downe before you,
124: will vndermine you, and blow you vp.
125:
Hel.
Blesse our poore Virginity from vnderminers
126: and blowers vp. Is there no Military policy how Vir-gins
127: might blow vp men?
128:
Par.
Virginity beeing blowne downe, Man will
129: quicklier be blowne vp: marry in blowing him downe
130: againe, with the breach your selues made, you lose your
131: Citty. It is not politicke, in the Common-wealth of
132: Nature, to preserue virginity. Losse of Virginitie, is
133: rationall encrease, and there was neuer Virgin goe, till
134: virginitie was first lost. That you were made of, is met-tall
135: to make Virgins. Virginitie, by beeing once lost,
136: may be ten times found: by being euer kept, it is euer
137: lost: 'tis too cold a companion: Away with't.
138:
Hel.
I will stand for't a little, though therefore I die
139: a Virgin.
140:
Par.
There's little can bee saide in't, 'tis against the
141: rule of Nature. To speake on the part of virginitie, is
142: to accuse your Mothers; which is most infallible diso-bedience.
143: He that hangs himselfe is a Virgin: Virgini-tie
144: murthers it selfe, and should be buried in highwayes
145: out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate Offendresse a-gainst
146: Nature. Virginitie breedes mites, much like a
147: Cheese, consumes it selfe to the very payring, and so
148: dies with feeding his owne stomacke. Besides, Virgini-tie
149: is peeuish, proud, ydle, made of selfe-loue, which
150: is the most inhibited sinne in the Cannon. Keepe it not,
151: you cannot choose but loose by't. Out with't: within
152: ten yeare it will make it selfe two, which is a goodly in-crease,
153: and the principall it selfe not much the worse.
154: Away with't.
155:
Hel.
How might one do sir, to loose it to her owne
156: liking?
157:
Par.
Let mee see. Marry ill, to like him that ne're
158: it likes. 'Tis a commodity wil lose the glosse with lying:
159: The longer kept, the lesse worth: Off with't while 'tis
160: vendible. Answer the time of request, Virginitie like
161: an olde Courtier, weares her cap out of fashion, richly
162: suted, but vnsuteable, iust like the brooch & the tooth-pick,
163: which were not now: your Date is better in your
164: Pye and your Porredge, then in your cheeke: and your
165: virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our French
166: wither'd peares, it lookes ill, it eates drily, marry 'tis a
167: wither'd peare: it was formerly better, marry yet 'tis a
168: wither'd peare: Will you any thing with it?
169:
Hel.
Not my virginity yet:
170: There shall your Master haue a thousand loues,
171: A Mother, and a Mistresse, and a friend,
172: A Phenix, Captaine, and an enemy,
173: A guide, a Goddesse, and a Soueraigne,
174: A Counsellor, a Traitoresse, and a Deare:
175: His humble ambition, proud humility:
176: His iarring, concord: and his discord, dulcet:
177: His faith, his sweet disaster: with a world
178: Of pretty fond adoptious christendomes
179: That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he:
180: I know not what he shall, God send him well,
181: The Courts a learning place, and he is one.
182:
Par.
What one ifaith?
183:
Hel.
That I wish well, 'tis pitty.
184:
Par.
What's pitty?
185:
Hel.
That wishing well had not a body in't,
186: Which might be felt, that we the poorer borne,
187: Whose baser starres do shut vs vp in wishes,
188: Might with effects of them follow our friends,
189: And shew what we alone must thinke, which neuer
190: Returnes vs thankes.
191: [ Enter Page.]

192:
Pag.
Monsieur Parrolles,
193: My Lord cals for you.
194:
Par.
Little Hellen farewell, if I can remember thee, I
195: will thinke of thee at Court.
196:
Hel.
Monsieur Parolles, you were borne vnder a
197: charitable starre.
198:
Par.
Vnder Mars I.
199:
Hel.
I especially thinke, vnder Mars.
200:
Par.
Why vnder Mars?
201:
Hel.
The warres hath so kept you vnder, that you
202: must needes be borne vnder Mars.
203:
Par.
When he was predominant.
204:
Hel.
When he was retrograde I thinke rather.
205:
Par.
Why thinke you so?
206:
Hel.
You go so much backward when you fight.
207:
Par.
That's for aduantage.
208:
Hel.
So is running away,
209: When feare proposes the safetie:
210: But the composition that your valour and feare makes
211: in you, is a vertue of a good wing, and I like the
212: weare well.
213:
Paroll.
I am so full of businesses, I cannot answere
214: thee acutely: I will returne perfect Courtier, in the
215: which my instruction shall serue to naturalize thee, so
216: thou wilt be capeable of a Courtiers councell, and vn-derstand
217: what aduice shall thrust vppon thee, else thou
218: diest in thine vnthankfulnes, and thine ignorance makes
219: thee away, farewell: When thou hast leysure, say thy
220: praiers: when thou hast none, remember thy Friends:
221: Get thee a good husband, and vse him as he vses thee:
222: So farewell.
223:
Hel.
Our remedies oft in our selues do lye,
224: Which we ascribe to heauen: the fated skye
225: Giues vs free scope, onely doth backward pull
226: Our slow designes, when we our selues are dull.
227: What power is it, which mounts my loue so hye,
228: That makes me see, and cannot feede mine eye?
229: The mightiest space in fortune, Nature brings
230: To ioyne like, likes; and kisse like natiue things.
231: Impossible be strange attempts to those
232: That weigh their paines in sence, and do suppose
233: What hath beene, cannot be. Who euer stroue
234: To shew her merit, that did misse her loue?
235: (The Kings disease) my proiect may deceiue me,
236: But my intents are fixt, and will not leaue me. [ Exit]

237: [ Flourish Cornets.
Enter the King of France with Letters, and
diuers Attendants]

240:
King.
The Florentines and Senoys are by th' eares,
241: Haue fought with equall fortune, and continue
242: A brauing warre.
243:
1.Lo.G.
So tis reported sir.
244:
King.
Nay tis most credible, we heere receiue it,
245: A certaintie vouch'd from our Cosin Austria,
246: With caution, that the Florentine will moue vs
247: For speedie ayde: wherein our deerest friend
248: Preiudicates the businesse, and would seeme
249: To haue vs make deniall.
250:
1.Lo.G.
His loue and wisedome
251: Approu'd so to your Maiesty, may pleade
252: For amplest credence.
253:
King.
He hath arm'd our answer,
254: And Florence is deni'de before he comes:
255: Yet for our Gentlemen that meane to see
256: The Tuscan seruice, freely haue they leaue
257: To stand on either part.
258:
2.Lo.E.
It well may serue
259: A nursserie to our Gentrie, who are sicke
260: For breathing, and exploit.
261:
King.
What's he comes heere.
262: [ Enter Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles.]

263:
1.Lor.G.
It is the Count Rosignoll my good Lord,
264: Yong Bertram.
265:
King.
Youth, thou bear'st thy Fathers face,
266: Franke Nature rather curious then in hast
267: Hath well compos'd thee: Thy Fathers morall parts
268: Maist thou inherit too: Welcome to Paris.
269:
Ber.
My thankes and dutie are your Maiesties.
270:
Kin.
I would I had that corporall soundnesse now,
271: As when thy father, and my selfe, in friendship
272: First tride our souldiership: he did looke farre
273: Into the seruice of the time, and was
274: Discipled of the brauest. He lasted long,
275: But on vs both did haggish Age steale on,
276: And wore vs out of act: It much repaires me
277: To talke of your good father; in his youth
278: He had the wit, which I can well obserue
279: To day in our yong Lords: but they may iest
280: Till their owne scorne returne to them vnnoted
281: Ere they can hide their leuitie in honour:
282: So like a Courtier, contempt nor bitternesse
283: Were in his pride, or sharpnesse; if they were,
284: His equall had awak'd them, and his honour
285: Clocke to it selfe, knew the true minute when
286: Exception bid him speake: and at this time
287: His tongue obey'd his hand. Who were below him,
288: He vs'd as creatures of another place,
289: And bow'd his eminent top to their low rankes,
290: Making them proud of his humilitie,
291: In their poore praise he humbled: Such a man
292: Might be a copie to these yonger times;
293: Which followed well, would demonstrate them now
294: But goers backward.
295:
Ber.
His good remembrance sir
296: Lies richer in your thoughts, then on his tombe:
297: So in approofe liues not his Epitaph,
298: As in your royall speech.
299:
King.
Would I were with him he would alwaies say,
300: (Me thinkes I heare him now) his plausiue words
301: He scatter'd not in eares, but grafted them
302: To grow there and to beare: Let me not liue,
303: This his good melancholly oft began
304: On the Catastrophe and heele of pastime
305: When it was out: Let me not liue (quoth hee)
306: After my flame lackes oyle, to be the snuffe
307: Of yonger spirits, whose apprehensiue senses
308: All but new things disdaine; whose iudgements are
309: Meere fathers of their garments: whose constancies
310: Expire before their fashions: this he wish'd.
311: I after him, do after him wish too:
312: Since I nor wax nor honie can bring home,
313: I quickly were dissolued from my hiue
314: To giue some Labourers roome.
315:
2.L.E.
You'r loued Sir,
316: They that least lend it you, shall lacke you first.
317:
Kin.
I fill a place I know't: how long ist Count
318: Since the Physitian at your fathers died?
319: He was much fam'd.
320:
Ber.
Some six moneths since my Lord.
321:
Kin.
If he were liuing, I would try him yet.
322: Lend me an arme: the rest haue worne me out
323: With seuerall applications: Nature and sicknesse
324: Debate it at their leisure. Welcome Count,
325: My sonne's no deerer.
326:
Ber
Thanke your Maiesty. [ Exit]

327: [ Flourish.]

328: [ Enter Countesse, Steward, and Clowne.]

329:
Coun.
I will now heare, what say you of this gentle-woman.
330: _
331:
Ste.
Maddam the care I haue had to euen your con-tent,
332: I wish might be found in the Kalender of my past
333: endeuours, for then we wound our Modestie, and make
334: foule the clearnesse of our deseruings, when of our selues
335: we publish them.
336:
Coun.
What doe's this knaue heere? Get you gone
337: sirra: the complaints I haue heard of you I do not all be-leeue,
338: 'tis my slownesse that I doe not: For I know you
339: lacke not folly to commit them, & haue abilitie enough
340: to make such knaueries yours.
341:
Clo.
'Tis not vnknown to you Madam, I am a poore
342: fellow.
343:
Coun.
Well sir.
344:
Clo.
No maddam,
345: 'Tis not so well that I am poore, though manie
346: of the rich are damn'd, but if I may haue your Ladiships
347: good will to goe to the world, Isbell the woman and I
348: will doe as we may.
349:
Coun.
Wilt thou needes be a begger?
350:
Clo.
I doe beg your good will in this case.
351:
Cou.
In what case?
352:
Clo.
In Isbels case and mine owne: seruice is no heri-tage,
353: and I thinke I shall neuer haue the blessing of God,
354: till I haue issue a my bodie: for they say barnes are bles-sings.
355: _
356:
Cou.
Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marrie?
357:
Clo.
My poore bodie Madam requires it, I am driuen
358: on by the flesh, and hee must needes goe that the diuell
359: driues.
360:
Cou.
Is this all your worships reason?
361:
Clo.
Faith Madam I haue other holie reasons, such as
362: they are.
363:
Cou.
May the world know them?
364:
Clo.
I haue beene Madam a wicked creature, as you
365: and all flesh and blood are, and indeede I doe marrie that
366: I may repent.
367:
Cou.
Thy marriage sooner then thy wickednesse.
368:
Clo.
I am out a friends Madam, and I hope to haue
369: friends for my wiues sake.
370:
Cou.
Such friends are thine enemies knaue.
371:
Clo.
Y'are shallow Madam in great friends, for the
372: knaues come to doe that for me which I am a wearie of:
373: he that eres my Land, spares my teame, and giues mee
374: leaue to Inne the crop: if I be his cuckold hee's my
375: drudge; he that comforts my wife, is the cherisher of
376: my flesh and blood; hee that cherishes my flesh and
377: blood, loues my flesh and blood; he that loues my flesh
378: and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wife is my
379: friend: if men could be contented to be what they are,
380: there were no feare in marriage, for yong Charbon the
381: Puritan, and old Poysam the Papist, how somere their
382: hearts are seuer'd in Religion, their heads are both one,
383: they may ioule horns together like any Deare i'th Herd.
384:
Cou.
Wilt thou euer be a foule mouth'd and calum-nious
385: knaue?
386:
Clo.
A Prophet I Madam, and I speake the truth the
387: next waie, for I the Ballad will repeate, which men full
388: true shall finde, your marriage comes by destinie, your
389: Cuckow sings by kinde.
390:
Cou.
Get you gone sir, Ile talke with you more anon.
391:
Stew.
May it please you Madam, that hee bid Hellen
392: come to you, of her I am to speake.
393:
Cou.
Sirra tell my gentlewoman I would speake with
394: her, Hellen I meane.
395:
Clo.
Was this faire face the cause, quoth she,
396: Why the Grecians sacked Troy,
397: Fond done, done, fond was this King Priams ioy,
398: With that she sighed as she stood, [ bis]

399: And gaue this sentence then, among nine bad if one be
400: good, among nine bad if one be good, there's yet one
401: good in ten.
402:
Cou.
What, one good in tenne? you corrupt the song
403: sirra.
404:
Clo.
One good woman in ten Madam, which is a pu-rifying
405: ath' song: would God would serue the world so
406: all the yeere, weed finde no fault with the tithe woman
407: if I were the Parson, one in ten quoth a? and wee might
408: haue a good woman borne but ore euerie blazing starre,
409: or at an earthquake, 'twould mend the Lotterie well, a
410: man may draw his heart out ere a plucke one.
411:
Cou.
Youle begone sir knaue, and doe as I command
412: you?
413:
Clo.
That man should be at womans command, and
414: yet no hurt done, though honestie be no Puritan, yet
415: it will doe no hurt, it will weare the Surplis of humilitie
416: ouer the blacke-Gowne of a bigge heart: I am go-ing
417: forsooth, the businesse is for Helen to come hither.
418: [ Exit.]

419:
Cou.
Well now.
420:
Stew.
I know Madam you loue your Gentlewoman
421: intirely.
422:
Cou.
Faith I doe: her Father bequeath'd her to mee,
423: and she her selfe without other aduantage, may lawful-lie
424: make title to as much loue as shee findes, there is
425: more owing her then is paid, and more shall be paid
426: her then sheele demand.
427:
Stew.
Madam, I was verie late more neere her then
428: I thinke shee wisht mee, alone shee was, and did
429: communicate to her selfe her owne words to her
430: owne eares, shee thought, I dare vowe for her, they
431: toucht not anie stranger sence, her matter was, shee
432: loued your Sonne; Fortune shee said was no god-desse,
433: that had put such difference betwixt their two
434: estates: Loue no god, that would not extend his might
435: onelie, where qualities were leuell, Queene of Vir-gins,
436: that would suffer her poore Knight surpris'd
437: without rescue in the first assault or ransome after-ward:
438: This shee deliuer'd in the most bitter touch of
439: sorrow that ere I heard Virgin exclaime in, which I held
440: my dutie speedily to acquaint you withall, sithence in
441: the losse that may happen, it concernes you something
442: to know it.
443:
Cou.
You haue discharg'd this honestlie, keepe it
444: to your selfe, manie likelihoods inform'd mee of this
445: before, which hung so tottring in the ballance, that
446: I could neither beleeue nor misdoubt: praie you
447: leaue mee, stall this in your bosome, and I thanke
448: you for your honest care: I will speake with you fur-ther
449: anon. [ Exit Steward.]

450: [ Enter Hellen.]

451:
Old.Cou.
Euen so it was with me when I was yong:
452: If euer we are natures, these are ours, this thorne
453: Doth to our Rose of youth rightlie belong
454: Our bloud to vs, this to our blood is borne,
455: It is the show, and seale of natures truth,
456: Where loues strong passion is imprest in youth,
457: By our remembrances of daies forgon,
458: Such were our faults, or then we thought them none,
459: Her eie is sicke on't, I obserue her now.
460:
Hell.
What is your pleasure Madam?
461:
Ol.Cou.
You know Hellen I am a mother to you.
462:
Hell.
Mine honorable Mistris.
463:
Ol.Cou.
Nay a mother, why not a mother? when I
464: sed a mother
465: Me thought you saw a serpent, what's in mother,
466: That you start at it? I say I am your mother,
467: And put you in the Catalogue of those
468: That were enwombed mine, 'tis often seene
469: Adoption striues with nature, and choise breedes
470: A natiue slip to vs from forraine seedes:
471: You nere opprest me with a mothers groane,
472: Yet I expresse to you a mothers care,
473: (Gods mercie maiden) dos it curd thy blood
474: To say I am thy mother? what's the matter,
475: That this distempered messenger of wet?
476: The manie colour'd Iris rounds thine eye?
477: === Why, that you are my daughter?
478:
Hell.
That I am not.
479:
Old.Cou.
I say I am your Mother.
480:
Hell.
Pardon Madam.
481: The Count Rosillion cannot be my brother:
482: I am from humble, he from honored name:
483: No note vpon my Parents, his all noble,
484: My Master, my deere Lord he is, and I
485: His seruant liue, and will his vassall die:
486: He must not be my brother.
487:
Ol.Cou.
Nor I your Mother.
488:
Hell.
You are my mother Madam, would you were
489: So that my Lord your sonne were not my brother,
490: Indeede my mother, or were you both our mothers,
491: I care no more for, then I doe for heauen,
492: So I were not his sister, cant no other,
493: But I your daughter, he must be my brother.
494:
Old.Cou.
Yes Hellen, you might be my daughter in law,
495: God shield you meane it not, daughter and mother
496: So striue vpon your pulse; what pale agen?
497: My feare hath catcht your fondnesse! now I see
498: The mistrie of your louelinesse, and finde
499: Your salt teares head, now to all sence 'tis grosse:
500: You loue my sonne, inuention is asham'd
501: Against the proclamation of thy passion
502: To say thou doost not: therefore tell me true,
503: But tell me then 'tis so, for looke, thy cheekes
504: Confesse it 'ton tooth to th' other, and thine eies
505: See it so grosely showne in thy behauiours,
506: That in their kinde they speake it, onely sinne
507: And hellish obstinacie tye thy tongue
508: That truth should be suspected, speake, ist so?
509: If it be so, you haue wound a goodly clewe:
510: If it be not, forsweare't how ere I charge thee,
511: As heauen shall worke in me for thine auaile
512: To tell me truelie.
513:
Hell.
Good Madam pardon me.
514:
Cou.
Do you loue my Sonne?
515:
Hell.
Your pardon noble Mistris.
516:
Cou.
Loue you my Sonne?
517:
Hell.
Doe not you loue him Madam?
518:
Cou.
Goe not about; my loue hath in't a bond
519: Whereof the world takes note: Come, come, disclose:
520: The state of your affection, for your passions
521: Haue to the full appeach'd.
522:
Hell.
Then I confesse
523: Here on my knee, before high heauen and you,
524: That before you, and next vnto high heauen, I loue your
525: Sonne:
526: My friends were poore but honest, so's my loue:
527: Be not offended, for it hurts not him
528: That he is lou'd of me; I follow him not
529: By any token of presumptuous suite,
530: Nor would I haue him, till I doe deserue him,
531: Yet neuer know how that desert should be:
532: I know I loue in vaine, striue against hope:
533: Yet in this captious, and intemible Siue.
534: I still poure in the waters of my loue
535: And lacke not to loose still; thus Indian like
536: Religious in mine error, I adore
537: The Sunne that lookes vpon his worshipper,
538: But knowes of him no more. My deerest Madam,
539: Let not your hate incounter with my loue,
540: For louing where you doe; but if your selfe,
541: Whose aged honor cites a vertuous youth,
542: Did euer, in so true a flame of liking,
543: Wish chastly, and loue dearely, that your Dian
544: Was both her selfe and loue, O then giue pittie
545: To her whose state is such, that cannot choose
546: But lend and giue where she is sure to loose;
547: That seekes not to finde that, her search implies,
548: But riddle like, liues sweetely where she dies.
549:
Cou.
Had you not lately an intent, speake truely,
550: To goe to Paris?
551:
Hell.
Madam I had.
552:
Cou.
Wherefore? tell true.
553:
Hell.
I will tell truth, by grace it selfe I sweare:
554: You know my Father left me some prescriptions
555: Of rare and prou'd effects, such as his reading
556: And manifest experience, had collected
557: For generall soueraigntie: and that he wil'd me
558: In heedefull'st reseruation to bestow them,
559: As notes, whose faculties inclusiue were,
560: More then they were in note: Amongst the rest,
561: There is a remedie, approu'd, set downe,
562: To cure the desperate languishings whereof
563: The King is render'd lost.
564:
Cou.
This was your motiue for Paris, was it, speake?
565:
Hell.
My Lord, your sonne, made me to think of this;
566: Else Paris, and the medicine, and the King,
567: Had from the conuersation of my thoughts,
568: Happily beene absent then.
569:
Cou.
But thinke you Hellen,
570: If you should tender your supposed aide,
571: He would receiue it? He and his Phisitions
572: Are of a minde, he, that they cannot helpe him:
573: They, that they cannot helpe, how shall they credit
574: A poore vnlearned Virgin, when the Schooles
575: Embowel'd of their doctrine, haue left off
576: The danger to it selfe.
577:
Hell.
There's something in't
578: More then my Fathers skill, which was the great'st
579: Of his profession, that his good receipt,
580: Shall for my legacie be sanctified
581: Byth' luckiest stars in heauen, and would your honor
582: But giue me leaue to trie successe, I'de venture
583: The well lost life of mine, on his Graces cure,
584: By such a day, an houre.
585:
Cou.
Doo'st thou beleeue't?
586:
Hell.
I Madam knowingly.
587:
Cou.
Why Hellen thou shalt haue my leaue and loue,
588: Meanes and attendants, and my louing greetings
589: To those of mine in Court, Ile staie at home
590: And praie Gods blessing into thy attempt:
591: Begon to morrow, and be sure of this,
592: What I can helpe thee to, thou shalt not misse. [ Exeunt.]