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 II

593: Actus Secundus.
594: [ Enter the King with diuers yong Lords, taking leaue for
the Florentine warre: Count, Rosse, and
Parrolles. Florish Cornets]

597:
King.
Farewell yong Lords, these warlike principles
598: Doe not throw from you, and you my Lords farewell:
599: Share the aduice betwixt you, if both gaine, all
600: The guift doth stretch it selfe as 'tis receiu'd,
601: And is enough for both.
602:
Lord.G.
'Tis our hope sir,
603: After well entred souldiers, to returne
604: And finde your grace in health.
605:
King.
No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart
606: Will not confesse he owes the mallady
607: That doth my life besiege: farwell yong Lords,
608: Whether I liue or die, be you the sonnes
609: Of worthy French men: let higher Italy
610: (Those bated that inherit but the fall
611: Of the last Monarchy) see that you come
612: Not to wooe honour, but to wed it, when
613: The brauest questant shrinkes: finde what you seeke,
614: That fame may cry you loud: I say farewell.
615:
L.G.
Health at your bidding serue your Maiesty.
616:
King.
Those girles of Italy, take heed of them,
617: They say our French, lacke language to deny
618: If they demand: beware of being Captiues
619: Before you serue.
620:
Bo.
Our hearts receiue your warnings.
621:
King.
Farewell, come hether to me.
622:
1.Lo.G.
Oh my sweet Lord y you wil stay behind vs.
623:
Parr.
'Tis not his fault the spark.
624:
2.Lo.E.
Oh 'tis braue warres.
625:
Parr.
Most admirable, I haue seene those warres.
626:
Rossill.
I am commanded here, and kept a coyle with,
627: Too young, and the next yeere, and 'tis too early.
628:
Parr.
And thy minde stand too't boy,
629: Steale away brauely.
630:
Rossill.
I shal stay here the for-horse to a smocke,
631: Creeking my shooes on the plaine Masonry,
632: Till honour be bought vp, and no sword worne
633: But one to dance with: by heauen, Ile steale away.
634:
1.Lo.G.
There's honour in the theft.
635:
Parr.
Commit it Count.
636:
2.Lo.E.
I am your accessary, and so farewell.
637:
Ros.
I grow to you, & our parting is a tortur'd body.
638:
1.Lo.G.
Farewell Captaine.
639:
2.Lo.E.
Sweet Mounsier Parolles.
640:
Parr.
Noble Heroes; my sword and yours are kinne,
641: good sparkes and lustrous, a word good mettals. You
642: shall finde in the Regiment of the Spinij, one Captaine
643: Spurio his sicatrice, with an Embleme of warre heere on
644: his sinister cheeke; it was this very sword entrench'd it:
645: say to him I liue, and obserue his reports for me.
646:
Lo.G.
We shall noble Captaine.
647:
Parr.
Mars doate on you for his nouices, what will
648: ye doe?
649:
Ross.
Stay the King.
650:
Parr.
Vse a more spacious ceremonie to the Noble
651: Lords, you haue restrain'd your selfe within the List of
652: too cold an adieu: be more expressiue to them; for they
653: weare themselues in the cap of the time, there do muster
654: true gate; eat, speake, and moue vnder the influence of
655: the most receiu'd starre, and though the deuill leade the
656: measure, such are to be followed: after them, and take a
657: more dilated farewell.
658:
Ross.
And I will doe so.
659:
Parr.
Worthy fellowes, and like to prooue most si-newie
660: sword-men. [ Exeunt.]

661: [ Enter Lafew.]

662:
L.Laf.
Pardon my Lord for mee and for my tidings.
663:
King.
Ile see thee to stand vp.
664:
L.Laf.
Then heres a man stands that has brought his pardon,
665: I would you had kneel'd my Lord to aske me mercy,
666: And that at my bidding you could so stand vp.
667:
King.
I would I had, so I had broke thy pate
668: And askt thee mercy for't.
669:
Laf.
Goodfaith a-crosse, but my good Lord 'tis thus,
670: Will you be cur'd of your infirmitie?
671:
King.
No.
672:
Laf.
O will you eat no grapes my royall foxe?
673: Yes but you will, my noble grapes, and if
674: My royall foxe could reach them: I haue seen a medicine
675: That's able to breath life into a stone,
676: Quicken a rocke, and make you dance Canari
677: With sprightly fire and motion, whose simple touch
678: Is powerfull to arayse King Pippen, nay
679: To giue great Charlemaine a pen in's hand
680: And write to her a loue-line.
681:
King.
What her is this?
682:
Laf.
Why doctor she: my Lord, there's one arriu'd,
683: If you will see her: now by my faith and honour,
684: If seriously I may conuay my thoughts
685: In this my light deliuerance, I haue spoke
686: With one, that in her sexe, her yeeres, profession,
687: Wisedome and constancy, hath amaz'd mee more
688: Then I dare blame my weakenesse: will you see her?
689: For that is her demand, and know her businesse?
690: That done, laugh well at me.
691:
King.
Now good Lafew,
692: Bring in the admiration, that we with thee
693: May spend our wonder too, or take off thine
694: By wondring how thou tookst it.
695:
Laf.
Nay, Ile fit you,
696: And not be all day neither.
697:
King.
Thus he his speciall nothing euer prologues.
698:
Laf.
Nay, come your waies.
699: [ Enter Hellen.]

700:
King.
This haste hath wings indeed.
701:
Laf.
Nay, come your waies,
702: This is his Maiestie, say your minde to him,
703: A Traitor you doe looke like, but such traitors
704: His Maiesty seldome feares, I am Cresseds Vncle,
705: That dare leaue two together, far you well. [ Exit.]

706:
King.
Now faire one, do's your busines follow vs?
707:
Hel.
I my good Lord,
708: Gerard de Narbon was my father,
709: In what he did professe, well found.
710:
King.
I knew him.
711:
Hel.
The rather will I spare my praises towards him,
712: Knowing him is enough: on's bed of death,
713: Many receits he gaue me, chieflie one,
714: Which as the dearest issue of his practice
715: And of his olde experience, th' onlie darling,
716: He bad me store vp, as a triple eye,
717: Safer then mine owne two: more deare I haue so,
718: And hearing your high Maiestie is toucht
719: With that malignant cause, wherein the honour
720: Of my deare fathers gift, stands cheefe in power,
721: I come to tender it, and my appliance,
722: With all bound humblenesse.
723:
King.
We thanke you maiden,
724: But may not be so credulous of cure,
725: When our most learned Doctors leaue vs, and
726: The congregated Colledge haue concluded,
727: That labouring Art can neuer ransome nature
728: From her inaydible estate: I say we must not
729: So staine our iudgement, or corrupt our hope,
730: To prostitute our past-cure malladie
731: To empericks, or to disseuer so
732: Our great selfe and our credit, to esteeme
733: A sencelesse helpe, when helpe past sence we deeme.
734:
Hell.
My dutie then shall pay me for my paines:
735: I will no more enforce mine office on you,
736: Humbly intreating from your royall thoughts,
737: A modest one to beare me backe againe.
738:
King.
I cannot giue thee lesse to be cal'd gratefull:
739: Thou thoughtst to helpe me, and such thankes I giue,
740: As one neere death to those that wish him liue:
741: But what at full I know, thou knowst no part,
742: I knowing all my perill, thou no Art.
743:
Hell.
What I can doe, can doe no hurt to try,
744: Since you set vp your rest 'gainst remedie:
745: He that of greatest workes is finisher,
746: Oft does them by the weakest minister:
747: So holy Writ, in babes hath iudgement showne,
748: When Iudges haue bin babes; great flouds haue flowne
749: From simple sources: and great Seas haue dried
750: When Miracles haue by the great'st beene denied.
751: Oft expectation failes, and most oft there
752: Where most it promises: and oft it hits,
753: Where hope is coldest, and despaire most shifts.
754:
King.
I must not heare thee, fare thee wel kind maide,
755: Thy paines not vs'd, must by thy selfe be paid,
756: Proffers not tooke, reape thanks for their reward.
757:
Hel.
Inspired Merit so by breath is bard,
758: It is not so with him that all things knowes
759: As 'tis with vs, that square our guesse by showes:
760: But most it is presumption in vs, when
761: The help of heauen we count the act of men.
762: Deare sir, to my endeauors giue consent,
763: Of heauen, not me, make an experiment.
764: I am not an Imposture, that proclaime
765: My selfe against the leuill of mine aime,
766: But know I thinke, and thinke I know most sure,
767: My Art is not past power, nor you past cure.
768:
King.
Art thou so confident? Within what space
769: Hop'st thou my cure?
770:
Hel.
The greatest grace lending grace,
771: Ere twice the horses of the sunne shall bring
772: Their fiery torcher his diurnall ring,
773: Ere twice in murke and occidentall dampe
774: Moist Hesperus hath quench'd her sleepy Lampe:
775: Or foure and twenty times the Pylots glasse
776: Hath told the theeuish minutes, how they passe:
777: What is infirme, from your sound parts shall flie,
778: Health shall liue free, and sickenesse freely dye.
779:
King.
Vpon thy certainty and confidence,
780: What dar'st thou venter?
781:
Hell.
Taxe of impudence,
782: A strumpets boldnesse, a divulged shame
783: Traduc'd by odious ballads: my maidens name
784: Seard otherwise, ne worse of worst extended
785: With vildest torture, let my life be ended.
786:
Kin.
Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak
787: His powerfull sound, within an organ weake:
788: And what impossibility would slay
789: In common sence, sence saues another way:
790: Thy life is deere, for all that life can rate
791: Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate:
792: Youth, beauty, wisedome, courage, all
793: That happines and prime, can happy call:
794: Thou this to hazard, needs must intimate
795: Skill infinite, or monstrous desperate,
796: Sweet practiser, thy Physicke I will try,
797: That ministers thine owne death if I die.
798:
Hel.
If I breake time, or flinch in property
799: Of what I spoke, vnpittied let me die,
800: And well deseru'd: not helping, death's my fee,
801: But if I helpe, what doe you promise me.
802:
Kin.
Make thy demand.
803:
Hel.
But will you make it euen?
804:
Kin.
I by my Scepter, and my hopes of helpe.
805:
Hel.
Then shalt thou giue me with thy kingly hand
806: What husband in thy power I will command:
807: Exempted be from me the arrogance
808: To choose from forth the royall bloud of France,
809: My low and humble name to propagate
810: With any branch or image of thy state:
811: But such a one thy vassall, whom I know
812: Is free for me to aske, thee to bestow.
813:
Kin.
Heere is my hand, the premises obseru'd,
814: Thy will by my performance shall be seru'd:
815: So make the choice of thy owne time, for I
816: Thy resolv'd Patient, on thee still relye:
817: More should I question thee, and more I must,
818: Though more to know, could not be more to trust:
819: From whence thou cam'st, how tended on, but rest
820: Vnquestion'd welcome, and vndoubted blest.
821: Giue me some helpe heere hoa, if thou proceed,
822: As high as word, my deed shall match thy deed.
823: [ Florish. Exit.]

824: [ Enter Countesse and Clowne.]

825:
Lady.
Come on sir, I shall now put you to the height
826: of your breeding.
827:
Clown.
I will shew my selfe highly fed, and lowly
828: taught, I know my businesse is but to the Court.
829:
Lady.
To the Court, why what place make you spe-ciall,
830: when you put off that with such contempt, but to
831: the Court?
832:
Clo.
Truly Madam, if God haue lent a man any man-ners,
833: hee may easilie put it off at Court: hee that cannot
834: make a legge, put off's cap, kisse his hand, and say no-thing,
835: has neither legge, hands, lippe, nor cap; and in-deed
836: such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the
837: Court, but for me, I haue an answere will serue all men.
838:
Lady.
Marry that's a bountifull answere that fits all
839: questions.
840:
Clo.
It is like a Barbers chaire that fits all buttockes,
841: the pin buttocke, the quatch-buttocke, the brawn but-tocke,
842: or any buttocke.
843:
Lady.
Will your answere serue fit to all questions?
844:
Clo.
As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an Attur-ney,
845: as your French Crowne for your taffety punke, as
846: Tibs rush for Toms fore-finger, as a pancake for Shroue-tuesday,
847: a Morris for May-day, as the naile to his hole,
848: the Cuckold to his horne, as a scolding queane to a
849: wrangling knaue, as the Nuns lip to the Friers mouth,
850: nay as the pudding to his skin.
851:
Lady.
Haue you, I say, an answere of such fitnesse for
852: all questions?
853:
Clo.
From below your Duke, to beneath your Con-stable,
854: it will fit any question.
855:
Lady.
It must be an answere of most monstrous size,
856: that must fit all demands.
857:
Clo.
But a triflle neither in good faith, if the learned
858: should speake truth of it: heere it is, and all that belongs
859: to't. Aske mee if I am a Courtier, it shall doe you no
860: harme to learne.
861:
Lady.
To be young againe if we could: I will bee a
862: foole in question, hoping to bee the wiser by your an-swer.
863: _
864:
La.
I pray you sir, are you a Courtier?
865:
Clo.
O Lord sir theres a simple putting off: more,
866: more, a hundred of them.
867:
La.
Sir I am a poore freind of yours, that loues you.
868:
Clo.
O Lord sir, thicke, thicke, spare not me.
869:
La.
I thinke sir, you can eate none of this homely
870: meate.
871:
Clo.
O Lord sir; nay put me too't, I warrant you.
872:
La.
You were lately whipt sir as I thinke.
873:
Clo.
O Lord sir, spare not me.
874:
La.
Doe you crie O Lord sir at your whipping, and
875: spare not me? Indeed your O Lord sir, is very sequent
876: to your whipping: you would answere very well to a
877: whipping if you were but bound too't.
878:
Clo.
I nere had worse lucke in my life in my O Lord
879: sir: I see things may serue long, but not serue euer.
880:
La.
I play the noble huswife with the time, to enter-taine
881: it so merrily with a foole.
882:
Clo.
O Lord sir, why there't serues well agen.
883:
La.
And end sir to your businesse: giue Hellen this,
884: And vrge her to a present answer backe,
885: Commend me to my kinsmen, and my sonne,
886: This is not much.
887:
Clo.
Not much commendation to them.
888:
La.
Not much imployement for you, you vnder-stand
889: me.
890:
Clo.
Most fruitfully, I am there, before my legges.
891:
La
Hast you agen. [Exeunt]

892: [ Enter Count, Lafew, and Parolles.]

893:
Ol.Laf.
They say miracles are past, and we haue our
894: Philosophicall persons, to make moderne and familiar
895: things supernaturall and causelesse. Hence is it, that we
896: make trifles of terrours, ensconcing our selues into see-ming
897: knowledge, when we should submit our selues to
898: an vnknowne feare.
899:
Par.
Why 'tis the rarest argument of wonder, that
900: hath shot out in our latter times.
901:
Ros.
And so 'tis.
902:
Ol.Laf.
To be relinquisht of the Artists.
903:
Par.
So I say both of Galen and Paracelsus.
904:
Ol.Laf.
Of all the learned and authenticke fellowes.
905:
Par.
Right so I say.
906:
Ol.Laf.
That gaue him out incureable.
907:
Par.
Why there 'tis, so say I too.
908:
Ol.Laf.
Not to be help'd.
909:
Par.
Right, as 'twere a man assur'd of a===
910:
Ol.Laf.
Vncertaine life, and sure death.
911:
Par.
Iust, you say well: so would I haue said.
912:
Ol.Laf.
I may truly say, it is a noueltie to the world.
913:
Par.
It is indeede if you will haue it in shewing, you
914: shall reade it in what do ye call there.
915:
Ol.Laf.
A shewing of a heauenly effect in an earth-ly
916: Actor.
917:
Par.
That's it, I would haue said, the verie same.
918:
Ol.Laf.
Why your Dolphin is not lustier: fore mee
919: I speake in respect===
920:
Par.
Nay 'tis strange, 'tis very straunge, that is the
921: breefe and the tedious of it, and he's of a most facineri-ous
922: spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the===
923:
Ol.Laf.
Very hand of heauen.
924:
Par.
I, so I say.
925:
Ol.Laf.
In a most weake===
926:
Par.
And debile minister great power, great tran-cendence,
927: which should indeede giue vs a further vse to
928: be made, then alone the recou'ry of the king, as to bee
929:
Old Laf.
Generally thankfull.
930: [ Enter King, Hellen, and attendants.]

931:
Par.
I would haue said it, you say well: heere comes
932: the King.
933:
Ol.Laf.
Lustique, as the Dutchman saies: Ile like a
934: maide the Better whil'st I haue a tooth in my head: why
935: he's able to leade her a Carranto.
936:
Par.
Mor du vinager, is not this Helen?
937:
Ol.Laf.
Fore God I thinke so.
938:
King.
Goe call before mee all the Lords in Court,
939: Sit my preseruer by thy patients side,
940: And with this healthfull hand whose banisht sence
941: Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receyue
942: The confirmation of my promis'd guift,
943: Which but attends thy naming.
944: [ Enter 3 or 4 Lords.]

945: Faire Maide send forth thine eye, this youthfull parcell
946: Of Noble Batchellors, stand at my bestowing,
947: Ore whom both Soueraigne power, and fathers voice
948: I haue to vse; thy franke election make,
949: Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.
950:
Hel.
To each of you, one faire and vertuous Mistris;
951: Fall when loue please, marry to each but one.
952:
Old Laf.
I'de giue bay curtall, and his furniture
953: My mouth no more were broken then these boyes,
954: And writ as little beard.
955:
King.
Peruse them well:
956: Not one of those, but had a Noble father.
957: [ She addresses her to a Lord.]

958:
Hel.
Gentlemen, heauen hath through me, restor'd
959: the king to health.
960:
All.
We vnderstand it, and thanke heauen for you.
961:
Hel.
I am a simple Maide, and therein wealthiest
962: That I protest, I simply am a Maide:
963: Please it your Maiestie, I haue done already:
964: The blushes in my cheekes thus whisper mee,
965: We blush that thou shouldst choose, but be refused;
966: Let the white death sit on thy cheeke for euer,
967: Wee'l nere come there againe.
968:
King.
Make choise and see,
969: Who shuns thy loue, shuns all his loue in mee.
970:
Hel.
Now Dian from thy Altar do I fly,
971: And to imperiall loue, that God most high
972: Do my sighes streame: Sir, wil you heare my suite?
973:
1.Lo.
And grant it.
974:
Hel.
Thankes sir, all the rest is mute.
975:
Ol.Laf.
I had rather be in this choise, then throw
976: Ames-ace for my life.
977:
Hel.
The honor sir that flames in your faire eyes,
978: Before I speake too threatningly replies:
979: Loue make your fortunes twentie times aboue
980: Her that so wishes, and her humble loue.
981:
2.Lo.
No better if you please.
982:
Hel.
My wish receiue,
983: Which great loue grant, and so I take my leaue.
984:
Ol.Laf.
Do all they denie her? And they were sons
985: of mine, I'de haue them whip'd, or I would send them
986: to'th Turke to make Eunuches of.
987:
Hel.
Be not afraid that I your hand should take,
988: Ile neuer do you wrong for your owne sake:
989: Blessing vpon your vowes, and in your bed
990: Finde fairer fortune, if you euer wed.
991:
Old Laf.
These boyes are boyes of Ice, they'le none
992: haue heere: sure they are bastards to the English, the
993: French nere got em.
994:
La.
You are too young, too happie, and too good
995: To make your selfe a sonne out of my blood.
996:
4.Lord.
Faire one, I thinke not so.
997:
Ol.Lord
There's one grape yet, I am sure thy father
998: drunke wine. But if thou be'st not an asse, I am a youth
999: of fourteene: I haue knowne thee already.
1000:
Hel.
I dare not say I take you, but I giue
1001: Me and my seruice, euer whilst I liue
1002: Into your guiding power: This is the man.
1003:
King.
Why then young Bertram take her shee's thy
1004: wife.
1005:
Ber.
My wife my Leige? I shal beseech your highnes
1006: In such a busines, giue me leaue to vse
1007: The helpe of mine owne eies.
1008:
King.
Know'st thou not Bertram what shee ha's
1009: done for mee?
1010:
Ber.
Yes my good Lord, but neuer hope to know
1011: why I should marrie her.
1012:
King.
Thou know'st shee ha's rais'd me from my sick-ly
1013: bed.
1014:
Ber.
But followes it my Lord, to bring me downe
1015: Must answer for your raising? I knowe her well:
1016: Shee had her breeding at my fathers charge:
1017: A poore Physitians daughter my wife? Disdaine
1018: Rather corrupt me euer.
1019:
King.
Tis onely title thou disdainst in her, the which
1020: I can build vp: strange is it that our bloods
1021: Of colour, waight, and heat, pour'd all together,
1022: Would quite confound distinction: yet stands off
1023: In differences so mightie. If she bee
1024: All that is vertuous (saue what thou dislik'st)
1025: A poore Phisitians daughter, thou dislik'st
1026: Of vertue for the name: but doe not so:
1027: From lowest place, whence vertuous things proceed,
1028: The place is dignified by th' doers deede.
1029: Where great additions swell's, and vertue none,
1030: It is a dropsied honour. Good alone,
1031: Is good without a name? Vilenesse is so:
1032: The propertie by what is is, should go,
1033: Not by the title. Shee is young, wise, faire,
1034: In these, to Nature shee's immediate heire:
1035: And these breed honour: that is honours scorne,
1036: Which challenges it selfe as honours borne,
1037: And is not like the sire: Honours thriue,
1038: When rather from our acts we them deriue
1039: Then our fore-goers: the meere words, a slaue
1040: Debosh'd on euerie tombe, on euerie graue:
1041: A lying Trophee, and as oft is dumbe,
1042: Where dust, and damn'd obliuion is the Tombe.
1043: Of honour'd bones indeed, what should be saide?
1044: If thou canst like this creature, as a maide,
1045: I can create the rest: Vertue, and shee
1046: Is her owne dower: Honour and wealth, from mee.
1047:
Ber.
I cannot loue her, nor will striue to doo't.
1048:
King.
Thou wrong'st thy selfe, if thou shold'st striue
1049: to choose.
1050:
Hel.
That you are well restor'd my Lord, I'me glad:
1051: Let the rest go.
1052:
King.
My Honor's at the stake, which to defeate
1053: I must produce my power. Heere, take her hand,
1054: Proud scornfull boy, vnworthie this good gift,
1055: That dost in vile misprision shackle vp
1056: My loue, and her desert: that canst not dreame,
1057: We poizing vs in her defectiue scale,
1058: Shall weigh thee to the beame: That wilt not know,
1059: It is in Vs to plant thine Honour, where
1060: We please to haue it grow. Checke thy contempt:
1061: Obey Our will, which trauailes in thy good:
1062: Beleeue not thy disdaine, but presentlie
1063: Do thine owne fortunes that obedient right
1064: Which both thy dutie owes, and Our power claimes,
1065: Or I will throw thee from my care for euer
1066: Into the staggers, and the carelesse lapse
1067: Of youth and ignorance: both my reuenge and hate
1068: Loosing vpon thee, in the name of iustice,
1069: Without all termes of pittie. Speake, thine answer.
1070:
Ber.
Pardon my gracious Lord: for I submit
1071: My fancie to your eies, when I consider
1072: What great creation, and what dole of honour
1073: Flies where you bid it: I finde that she which late
1074: Was in my Nobler thoughts, most base: is now
1075: The praised of the King, who so ennobled,
1076: Is as 'twere borne so.
1077:
King.
Take her by the hand,
1078: And tell her she is thine: to whom I promise
1079: A counterpoize: If not to thy estate,
1080: A ballance more repleat.
1081:
Ber.
I take her hand.
1082:
Kin.
Good fortune, and the fauour of the King
1083: Smile vpon this Contract: whose Ceremonie
1084: Shall seeme expedient on the now borne briefe,
1085: And be perform'd to night: the solemne Feast
1086: Shall more attend vpon the coming space,
1087: Expecting absent friends. As thou lou'st her,
1088: Thy loue's to me Religious: else, do's erre. [ Exeunt]

1089: [ Parolles and Lafew stay behind, commen-ting
of this wedding]

1091:
Laf.
Do you heare Monsieur? A word with you.
1092:
Par.
Your pleasure sir.
1093:
Laf.
Your Lord and Master did well to make his re-cantation.
1094: _
1095:
Par.
Recantation? My Lord? my Master?
1096:
Laf.
I: Is it not a Language I speake?
1097:
Par.
A most harsh one, and not to bee vnderstoode
1098: without bloudie succeeding. My Master?
1099:
Laf.
Are you Companion to the Count Rosillion?
1100:
Par.
To any Count, to all Counts: to what is man.
1101:
Laf.
To what is Counts man: Counts maister is of
1102: another stile.
1103:
Par.
You are too old sir: Let it satisfie you, you are
1104: too old.
1105:
Laf.
I must tell thee sirrah, I write Man: to which
1106: title age cannot bring thee.
1107:
Par.
What I dare too well do, I dare not do.
1108:
Laf.
I did thinke thee for two ordinaries: to bee a
1109: prettie wise fellow, thou didst make tollerable vent of
1110: thy trauell, it might passe: yet the scarffes and the ban-nerets
1111: about thee, did manifoldlie disswade me from be-leeuing
1112: thee a vessell of too great a burthen. I haue now
1113: found thee, when I loose thee againe, I care not: yet art
1114: thou good for nothing but taking vp, and that th'ourt
1115: scarce worth.
1116:
Par.
Hadst thou not the priuiledge of Antiquity vp-on
1117: thee.
1118:
Laf.
Do not plundge thy selfe to farre in anger, least
1119: thou hasten thy triall: which if, Lord haue mercie on
1120: thee for a hen, so my good window of Lettice fare thee
1121: well, thy casement I neede not open, for I look through
1122: thee. Giue me thy hand.
1123:
Par.
My Lord, you giue me most egregious indignity.
1124:
Laf.
I with all my heart, and thou art worthy of it.
1125:
Par.
I haue not my Lord deseru'd it.
1126:
Laf.
Yes good faith, eu'ry dramme of it, and I will
1127: not bate thee a scruple.
1128:
Par.
Well, I shall be wiser.
1129:
Laf.
Eu'n as soone as thou can'st, for thou hast to pull
1130: at a smacke a'th contrarie. If euer thou bee'st bound
1131: in thy skarfe and beaten, thou shall finde what it is to be
1132: proud of thy bondage, I haue a desire to holde my ac-quaintance
1133: with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I
1134: may say in the default, he is a man I know.
1135:
Par.
My Lord you do me most insupportable vexati-on.
1136: _
1137:
Laf.
I would it were hell paines for thy sake, and my
1138: poore doing eternall: for doing I am past, as I will by
1139: thee, in what motion age will giue me leaue. [ Exit.]

1140:
Par.
Well, thou hast a sonne shall take this disgrace
1141: off me; scuruy, old, filthy, scuruy Lord: Well, I must
1142: be patient, there is no fettering of authority. Ile beate
1143: him (by my life) if I can meete him with any conueni-ence,
1144: and he were double and double a Lord. Ile haue
1145: no more pittie of his age then I would haue of=== Ile
1146: beate him, and if I could but meet him agen.
1147: [ Enter Lafew.]

1148:
Laf.
Sirra, your Lord and masters married, there's
1149: newes for you: you haue a new Mistris.
1150:
Par.
I most vnfainedly beseech your Lordshippe to
1151: make some reseruation of your wrongs. He is my good
1152: Lord, whom I serue aboue is my master.
1153:
Laf.
Who? God.
1154:
Par.
I sir.
1155:
Laf.
The deuill it is, that's thy master. Why dooest
1156: thou garter vp thy armes a this fashion? Dost make hose
1157: of thy sleeues? Do other seruants so? Thou wert best set
1158: thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine Honor,
1159: if I were but two houres yonger, I'de beate thee: mee-think'st
1160: thou art a generall offence, and euery man shold
1161: beate thee: I thinke thou wast created for men to breath
1162: themselues vpon thee.
1163:
Par.
This is hard and vndeserued measure my Lord.
1164:
Laf.
Go too sir, you were beaten in Italy for picking
1165: a kernell out of a Pomgranat, you are a vagabond, and
1166: no true traueller: you are more sawcie with Lordes and
1167: honourable personages, then the Commission of your
1168: birth and vertue giues you Heraldry. You are not worth
1169: another word, else I'de call you knaue. I leaue you.
1170: [ Exit]

1171: [ Enter Count Rossillion.]

1172:
Par.
Good, very good, it is so then: good, very
1173: good, let it be conceal'd awhile.
1174:
Ros.
Vndone, and forfeited to cares for euer.
1175:
Par.
What's the matter sweet-heart?
1176:
Rossill.
Although before the solemne Priest I haue
1177: sworne, I will not bed her.
1178:
Par.
What? what sweet heart?
1179:
Ros.
O my Parrolles, they haue married me:
1180: Ile to the Tuscan warres, and neuer bed her.
1181:
Par.
France is a dog-hole, and it no more merits,
1182: The tread of a mans foot: too'th warres.
1183:
Ros.
There's letters from my mother: What th' im-port
1184: is, I know not yet.
1185:
Par.
I that would be knowne: too'th warrs my boy,
1186: too'th warres:
1187: He weares his honor in a boxe vnseene,
1188: That hugges his kickie wickie heare at home,
1189: Spending his manlie marrow in her armes
1190: Which should sustaine the bound and high curuet
1191: Of Marses fierie steed: to other Regions,
1192: France is a stable, wee that dwell in't Iades,
1193: Therefore too'th warre.
1194:
Ros.
It shall be so, Ile send her to my house,
1195: Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
1196: And wherefore I am fled: Write to the King
1197: That which I durst not speake. His present gift
1198: Shall furnish me to those Italian fields
1199: Where noble fellowes strike: Warres is no strife
1200: To the darke house, and the detected wife.
1201:
Par.
Will this Caprichio hold in thee, art sure?
1202:
Ros.
Go with me to my chamber, and aduice me.
1203: Ile send her straight away: To morrow,
1204: Ile to the warres, she to her single sorrow.
1205:
Par.
Why these bals bound, ther's noise in it. Tis hard
1206: A yong man maried, is a man that's mard:
1207: Therefore away, and leaue her brauely: go,
1208: The King ha's done you wrong: but hush 'tis so. [ Exit]

1209: [ Enter Helena and Clowne.]

1210:
Hel.
My mother greets me kindly, is she well?
1211:
Clo.
She is not well, but yet she has her health, she's
1212: very merrie, but yet she is not well: but thankes be gi-uen
1213: she's very well, and wants nothing i'th world: but
1214: yet she is not well.
1215:
Hel.
If she be verie wel, what do's she ayle, that she's
1216: not verie well?
1217:
Clo.
Truly she's very well indeed, but for two things
1218:
Hel.
What two things?
1219:
Clo.
One, that she's not in heauen, whether God send
1220: her quickly: the other, that she's in earth, from whence
1221: God send her quickly.
1222: [ Enter Parolles.]

1223:
Par.
Blesse you my fortunate Ladie.
1224:
Hel.
I hope sir I haue your good will to haue mine
1225: owne good fortune.
1226:
Par.
You had my prayers to leade them on, and to
1227: keepe them on, haue them still. O my knaue, how do's
1228: my old Ladie?
1229:
Clo.
So that you had her wrinkles, and I her money,
1230: I would she did as you say.
1231:
Par.
Why I say nothing.
1232:
Clo.
Marry you are the wiser man: for many a mans
1233: tongue shakes out his masters vndoing: to say nothing,
1234: to do nothing, to know nothing, and to haue nothing,
1235: is to be a great part of your title, which is within a verie
1236: little of nothing.
1237:
Par.
Away, th'art a knaue.
1238:
Clo.
You should haue said sir before a knaue, th'art a
1239: knaue, that's before me th'art a knaue: this had beene
1240: truth sir.
1241:
Par.
Go too, thou art a wittie foole, I haue found
1242: thee.
1243:
Clo.
Did you finde me in your selfe sir, or were you
1244: taught to finde me?
1245:
Clo.
The search sir was profitable, and much Foole
1246: may you find in you, euen to the worlds pleasure, and the
1247: encrease of laughter.
1248:
Par.
A good knaue ifaith, and well fed.
1249: Madam, my Lord will go awaie to night,
1250: A verie serrious businesse call's on him:
1251: The great prerogatiue and rite of loue,
1252: Which as your due time claimes, he do's acknowledge,
1253: But puts it off to a compell'd restraint:
1254: Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets
1255: Which they distill now in the curbed time,
1256: To make the comming houre oreflow with ioy,
1257: And pleasure drowne the brim.
1258:
Hel.
What's his will else?
1259:
Par.
That you will take your instant leaue a'th king,
1260: And make this hast as your owne good proceeding,
1261: Strengthned with what Apologie you thinke
1262: May make it probable neede.
1263:
Hel.
What more commands hee?
1264:
Par.
That hauing this obtain'd, you presentlie
1265: Attend his further pleasure.
1266:
Hel.
In euery thing I waite vpon his will.
1267:
Par
I shall report it so. [ Exit Par.]

1268:
Hell
I pray you come sirrah. [ Exit]

1269: [ Enter Lafew and Bertram.]

1270:
Laf.
But I hope your Lordshippe thinkes not him a
1271: souldier.
1272:
Ber.
Yes my Lord and of verie valiant approofe.
1273:
Laf.
You haue it from his owne deliuerance.
1274:
Ber.
And by other warranted testimonie.
1275:
Laf.
Then my Diall goes not true, I tooke this Larke
1276: for a bunting.
1277:
Ber.
I do assure you my Lord he is very great in know-ledge,
1278: and accordinglie valiant.
1279:
Laf.
I haue then sinn'd against his experience, and
1280: transgrest against his valour, and my state that way is
1281: dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent:
1282: Heere he comes, I pray you make vs freinds, I will pur-sue
1283: the amitie.
1284: [ Enter Parolles.]

1285:
Par.
These things shall be done sir.
1286:
Laf.
Pray you sir whose his Tailor?
1287:
Par.
Sir?
1288:
Laf.
O I know him well, I sir, hee sirs a good worke-man,
1289: a verie good Tailor.
1290:
Ber.
Is shee gone to the king?
1291:
Par.
Shee is.
1292:
Ber.
Will shee away to night?
1293:
Par.
As you'le haue her.
1294:
Ber.
I haue writ my letters, casketted my treasure,
1295: Giuen order for our horses, and to night,
1296: When I should take possession of the Bride,
1297: And ere I doe begin.
1298:
Laf.
A good Trauailer is something at the latter end
1299: of a dinner, but on that lies three thirds, and vses a
1300: known truth to passe a thousand nothings with, should
1301: bee once hard, and thrice beaten. God saue you Cap-taine.
1302: _
1303:
Ber.
Is there any vnkindnes betweene my Lord and
1304: you Monsieur?
1305:
Par.
I know not how I haue deserued to run into my
1306: Lords displeasure.
1307:
Laf.
You haue made shift to run into't, bootes and
1308: spurres and all: like him that leapt into the Custard, and
1309: out of it you'le runne againe, rather then suffer question
1310: for your residence.
1311:
Ber.
It may bee you haue mistaken him my Lord.
1312:
Laf.
And shall doe so euer, though I tooke him at's
1313: prayers. Fare you well my Lord, and beleeue this of
1314: me, there can be no kernell in this light Nut: the soule
1315: of this man is his cloathes: Trust him not in matter of
1316: heauie consequence: I haue kept of them tame, & know
1317: their natures. Farewell Monsieur, I haue spoken better
1318: of you, then you haue or will to deserue at my hand, but
1319: we must do good against euill.
1320:
Par.
An idle Lord, I sweare.
1321:
Ber.
I thinke so.
1322:
Par.
Why do you not know him?
1323:
Ber.
Yes, I do know him well, and common speech
1324: Giues him a worthy passe. Heere comes my clog.
1325: [ Enter Helena.]

1326:
Hel.
I haue sir as I was commanded from you
1327: Spoke with the King, and haue procur'd his leaue
1328: For present parting, onely he desires
1329: Some priuate speech with you.
1330:
Ber.
I shall obey his will.
1331: You must not meruaile Helen at my course,
1332: Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
1333: The ministration, and required office
1334: On my particular. Prepar'd I was not
1335: For such a businesse, therefore am I found
1336: So much vnsetled: This driues me to intreate you,
1337: That presently you take your way for home,
1338: And rather muse then aske why I intreate you,
1339: For my respects are better then they seeme,
1340: And my appointments haue in them a neede
1341: Greater then shewes it selfe at the first view,
1342: To you that know them not. This to my mother,
1343: 'Twill be two daies ere I shall see you, so
1344: I leaue you to your wisedome.
1345:
Hel.
Sir, I can nothing say,
1346: But that I am your most obedient seruant.
1347:
Ber.
Come, come, no more of that.
1348:
Hel.
And euer shall
1349: With true obseruance seeke to eeke out that
1350: Wherein toward me my homely starres haue faild
1351: To equall my great fortune.
1352:
Ber.
Let that goe: my hast is verie great. Farwell:
1353: Hie home.
1354:
Hel.
Pray sir your pardon.
1355:
Ber.
Well, what would you say?
1356:
Hel.
I am not worthie of the wealth I owe,
1357: Nor dare I say 'tis mine: and yet it is,
1358: But like a timorous theefe, most faine would steale
1359: What law does vouch mine owne.
1360:
Ber.
What would you haue?
1361:
Hel.
Something, and scarse so much: nothing indeed,
1362: I would not tell you what I would my Lord: Faith yes,
1363: Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kisse.
1364:
Ber.
I pray you stay not, but in hast to horse.
1365:
Hel.
I shall not breake your bidding, good my Lord:
1366: Where are my other men? Monsieur, farwell. [ Exit]

1367:
Ber.
Go thou toward home, where I wil neuer come,
1368: Whilst I can shake my sword, or heare the drumme:
1369: Away, and for our flight.
1370:
Par.
Brauely, Coragio.