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• All’s Well That Ends Well: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Scene II.—: Paris. a Room In Theking’spalace.
• Scene III.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Paris. a Room In Theking’spalace.
• Scene II.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Scene III.—: Paris. a Room In Theking’spalace.
• Scene IV.—: Same. Another Room In the Palace.
• Scene V.—: Another Room In the Same.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: Florence. a Room In Theduke’spalace.
• Scene II.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Scene III.—: Florence. Before Theduke’spalace.
• Scene IV.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Scene V.—: Without the Walls of Florence.
• Scene VI.—: Camp Before Florence.
• Scene VII.—: Florence. a Room In the Widow’s House.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Without the Florentine Camp.
• Scene II.—: Florence. a Room In the Widow’s House.
• Scene III.—: The Florentine Camp.
• Scene IV.—: Florence. a Room In the Widow’s House.
• Scene V.—: Rousillon. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Marseilles. a Street.
• Scene II.—: Rousillon. the Inner Court of Thecountess’spalace.
• Scene III.—: The Same. a Room In Thecountess’spalace.

ACT III.

Scene I.—

Florence. A Room in theDuke’sPalace.

Flourish. Enter theDuke,attended; two French Lords, and Soldiers.

Duke.

So that from point to point now have you heard

The fundamental reasons of this war,

Whose great decision hath much blood let forth,

And more thirsts after.

First Lord.

Holy seems the quarrel

Upon your Grace’s part; black and fearful

On the opposer.

Duke.

Therefore we marvel much our cousin France

Would in so just a business shut his bosom

Against our borrowing prayers.

First Lord.

Good my lord,

The reasons of our state I cannot yield,

But like a common and an outward man,

That the great figure of a council frames

By self-unable motion: therefore dare not

Say what I think of it, since I have found

Myself in my incertain grounds to fail

As often as I guess’d.

Duke.

Be it his pleasure.

Sec. Lord.

But I am sure the younger of our nature,

That surfeit on their ease, will day by day

Come here for physic.

Duke.

Welcome shall they be,

And all the honours that can fly from us

Shall on them settle. You know your places well;

When better fall, for your avails they fell.

To-morrow to the field.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

Scene II.—

Rousillon. A Room in theCountess’sPalace.

EnterCountessand Clown.

Count.

It hath happened all as I would have had it, save that he comes not along with her.

Clo.

By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man.

Count.

By what observance, I pray you?

Clo.

Why, he will look upon his boot and sing; mend the ruff and sing; ask questions and sing; pick his teeth and sing. I know a man that had this trick of melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.

Count.

[Opening a letter.] Let me see what he writes, and when he means to come.

Clo.

I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our old ling and our Isbels o’ the country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o’ the court: the brains of my Cupid’s knocked out, and I begin to love, as an old man loves money, with no stomach.

Count.

What have we here?

Clo.

E’en that you have there.

[Exit.

Count.

I have sent you a daughter-in-law: she hath recovered the king, and undone me. I have wedded her, not bedded her; and sworn to make the ‘not’ eternal. You shall hear I am ran away: know it before the report come. If there be breadth enough in the world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you.

Your unfortunate son,

Bertram.

This is not well: rash and unbridled boy,

To fly the favours of so good a king!

To pluck his indignation on thy head

By the misprising of a maid too virtuous

For the contempt of empire!

Re-enter Clown.

Clo.

O madam! yonder is heavy news within between two soldiers and my young lady.

Count.

What is the matter?

Clo.

Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some comfort; your son will not be killed so soon as I thought he would.

Count.

Why should he be killed?

Clo.

So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he does: the danger is in standing to’t; that’s the loss of men, though it be the getting of children. Here they come will tell you more; for my part, I only hear your son was run away.

[Exit.

EnterHelenaand Gentlemen.

First Gen.

Save you, good madam.

Hel.

Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone.

Sec. Gen.

Do not say so.

Count.

Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen,

I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief,

That the first face of neither, on the start,

Can woman me unto ’t: where is my son, I pray you?

Sec. Gen.

Madam, he’s gone to serve the Duke of Florence:

We met him thitherward; for thence we came,

And, after some dispatch in hand at court,

Thither we bend again.

Hel.

Look on his letter, madam; here’s my passport.

When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then call me husband: but in such a ‘then’ I write a ‘never.’

This is a dreadful sentence.

Count.

Brought you this letter, gentlemen?

First Gen.

Ay, madam;

And for the contents’ sake are sorry for our pains.

Count.

I prithee, lady, have a better cheer;

If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine,

Thou robb’st me of a moiety: he was my son,

But I do wash his name out of my blood,

And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he?

Sec. Gen.

Ay, madam.

Count.

And to be a soldier?

Sec. Gen.

Such is his noble purpose; and, believe’t,

The duke will lay upon him all the honour

That good convenience claims.

Count.

Return you thither?

First Gen.

Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed.

Hel.

Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.

’Tis bitter.

Count.

Find you that there?

Hel.

Ay, madam.

First Gen.

’Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, which his heart was not consenting to.

Count.

Nothing in France until he have no wife!

There’s nothing here that is too good for him

But only she; and she deserves a lord

That twenty such rude boys might tend upon,

And call her hourly mistress. Who was with him?

First Gen.

A servant only, and a gentleman

Which I have some time known.

Count.

Parolles, was it not?

First Gen.

Ay, my good lady, he.

Count.

A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness.

My son corrupts a well-derived nature

With his inducement.

First Gen.

Indeed, good lady,

The fellow has a deal of that too much,

Which holds him much to have.

Count.

Y’are welcome, gentlemen.

I will entreat you, when you see my son,

To tell him that his sword can never win

The honour that he loses: more I’ll entreat you

Written to bear along.

Sec. Gen.

We serve you, madam,

In that and all your worthiest affairs.

Count.

Not so, but as we change our courtesies.

Will you draw near?

[ExeuntCountessand Gentlemen.

Hel.

‘Till I have no wife, I have nothing in France.’

Nothing in France until he has no wife!

Thou shalt have none, Rousillon, none in France;

Then hast thou all again. Poor lord! is’t I

That chase thee from thy country, and expose

Those tender limbs of thine to the event

Of the non-sparing war? and is it I

That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou

Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark

Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers,

That ride upon the violent speed of fire,

Fly with false aim; move the still-piecing air,

That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord!

Whoever shoots at him, I set him there;

Whoever charges on his forward breast,

I am the caitiff that do hold him to’t;

And, though I kill him not, I am the cause

His death was so effected: better ’twere

I met the ravin lion when he roar’d

With sharp constraint of hunger; better ’twere

That all the miseries which nature owes

Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rousillon,

Whence honour but of danger wins a scar,

As oft it loses all: I will be gone;

My being here it is that holds thee hence:

Shall I stay here to do’t? no, no, although

The air of paradise did fan the house,

And angels offic’d all: I will be gone,

That pitiful rumour may report my flight,

To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day!

For with the dark, poor thief, I’ll steal away.

[Exit.

Scene III.—

Florence. Before theDuke’sPalace.

Flourish. EnterDuke, Bertram, Parolles, Soldiers. Drum and Trumpets.

Duke.

The general of our horse thou art; and we,

Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence

Upon thy promising fortune.

Ber.

Sir, it is

A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet

We’ll strive to bear it for your worthy sake

To the extreme edge of hazard.

Duke.

Then go thou forth,

And fortune play upon thy prosp’rous helm

As thy auspicious mistress!

Ber.

This very day,

Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:

Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove

A lover of thy drum, hater of love.

[Exeunt.

Scene IV.—

Rousillon. A Room in theCountess’sPalace.

EnterCountessand Steward.

Count.

Alas! and would you take the letter of her?

Might you not know she would do as she has done,

By sending me a letter? Read it again.

Stew.

I am Saint Jaques’ pilgrim, thither gone:

• Ambitious love hath so in me offended
• That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon
• With sainted vow my faults to have amended.
• Write, write, that from the bloody course of war,
• My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
• Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far
• His name with zealous fervour sanctify:
• His taken labours bid him me forgive;
• I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth
• From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,
• Where death and danger dog the heels of worth:
• He is too good and fair for Death and me;
• Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.

Count.

Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!

Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,

As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,

I could have well diverted her intents,

Which thus she hath prevented.

Stew.

Pardon me, madam:

If I had given you this at over-night

She might have been o’erta’en; and yet she writes,

Pursuit would be but vain.

Count.

What angel shall

Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,

Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear,

And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath

Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,

To this unworthy husband of his wife;

Let every word weigh heavy of her worth

That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,

Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.

Dispatch the most convenient messenger:

When haply he shall hear that she is gone,

He will return; and hope I may that she,

Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,

Led hither by pure love. Which of them both

Is dearest to me I have no skill in sense

To make distinction. Provide this messenger.

My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;

Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.

[Exeunt.

Scene V.—

Without the Walls of Florence.

A tucket afar off. Enter a Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, Mariana,and other Citizens.

Wid.

Nay, come; for if they do approach the city we shall lose all the sight.

Dia.

They say the French Count has done most honourable service.

Wid.

It is reported that he has taken their greatest commander, and that with his own hand he slew the duke’s brother. We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.

Mar.

Come; let’s return again, and suffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is her name, and no legacy is so rich as honesty.

Wid.

I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar.

I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is, example, that so terrible shows in the wrack of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but I hope your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known but the modesty which is so lost.

Dia.

You shall not need to fear me.

Wid.

I hope so. Look, here comes a pilgrim:

I know she will lie at my house; thither they send one another. I’ll question her.

EnterHelenain the dress of a Pilgrim.

God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?

Hel.

To Saint Jaques le Grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?

Wid.

At the Saint Francis, here beside the port.

Hel.

Is this the way?

Wid.

Ay, marry, is’t. Hark you!

[A marck afar off.

They come this way. If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,

But till the troops come by,

I will conduct you where you shall be lodg’d:

The rather, for I think I know your hostess

As ample as myself.

Hel.

Is it yourself?

Wid.

If you shall please so, pilgrim.

Hel.

I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.

Wid.

You came, I think, from France?

Hel.

I did so.

Wid.

Here you shall see a countryman of yours

That has done worthy service.

Hel.

His name, I pray you.

Dia.

The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?

Hel.

But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him;

His face I know not.

Dia.

Whatsoe’er he is,

He’s bravely taken here. He stole from France,

As ’tis reported, for the king had married him

Against his liking. Think you it is so?

Hel.

Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.

Dia.

There is a gentleman that serves the count

Reports but coarsely of her.

Hel.

What’s his name?

Dia.

Monsieur Parolles.

Hel.

O! I believe with him,

In argument of praise, or to the worth

Of the great count himself, she is too mean

To have her name repeated: all her deserving

Is a reserved honesty, and that

I have not heard examin’d.

Dia.

Alas, poor lady!

’Tis a hard bondage to become the wife

Of a detesting lord.

Wid.

Ay, right; good creature, wheresoe’er she is,

Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do her

A shrewd turn if she pleas’d.

Hel.

How do you mean?

May be the amorous count solicits her

In the unlawful purpose.

Wid.

He does, indeed;

And brokes with all that can in such a suit

Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:

But she is arm’d for him and keeps her guard

In honestest defence.

Mar.

The gods forbid else!

Enter, with drum and colours, a party of the Florentine army,BertramandParolles.

Wid.

So, now they come.

That is Antonio, the duke’s eldest son;

That, Escalus.

Hel.

Which is the Frenchman?

Dia.

He;

That with the plume: ’tis a most gallant fellow;

I would he lov’d his wife. If he were honester,

He were much goodlier; is’t not a handsome gentleman?

Hel.

I like him well.

Dia.

’Tis pity he is not honest. Yond’s that same knave

That leads him to these places: were I his lady

I would poison that vile rascal.

Hel.

Which is he?

Dia.

That jack-an-apes with scarfs. Why is he melancholy?

Hel.

Perchance he’s hurt i’ the battle.

Par.

Lose our drum! well.

Mar.

He’s shrewdly vexed at something.

Look, he has spied us.

Wid.

Marry, hang you!

Mar.

And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!

[ExeuntBertram, Parolles, Officers, and Soldiers.

Wid.

The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

Where you shall host: of enjoin’d penitents

There’s four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,

Already at my house.

Hel.

I humbly thank you.

Please it this matron and this gentle maid

To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking

Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,

I will bestow some precepts of this virgin

Worthy the note.

Both.

We’ll take your offer kindly.

[Exeunt.

Scene VI.—

Camp before Florence.

EnterBertramand the two French Lords.

First Lord.

Nay, good my lord, put him to’t: let him have his way.

Sec. Lord.

If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

First Lord.

On my life, my lord, a bubble.

Ber.

Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

First Lord.

Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment.

Sec. Lord.

It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might at some great and trusty business in a main danger fail you.

Ber.

I would I knew in what particular action to try him.

Sec. Lord.

None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

First Lord.

I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him: such I will have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy. We will bind and hood wink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination: if he do not, for the promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in anything.

Sec. Lord.

O! for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum: he says he has a stratagem for’t. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.

First Lord.

O! for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his drum in any hand.

EnterParolles.

Ber.

How now, monsieur! this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

Sec. Lord.

A pox on’t! let it go: ’tis but a drum.

Par.

‘But a drum!’ Is’t ‘but a drum?’ A drum so lost! There was excellent command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers!

Sec. Lord.

That was not to be blamed in the command of the service: it was a disaster of war that Cæsar himself could not have prevented if he had been there to command.

Ber.

Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum; but it is not to be recovered.

Par.

It might have been recovered.

Ber.

It might; but it is not now.

Par.

It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or hic jacet.

Ber.

Why, if you have a stomach to’t, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into its native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

Par.

By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

Ber.

But you must not now slumber in it.

Par.

I’ll about it this evening: and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation, and by midnight look to hear further from me.

Ber.

May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are gone about it?

Par.

I know not what the success will be, my lord; but the attempt I vow.

Ber.

I know thou’rt valiant; and, to the possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewell.

Par.

I love not many words.

[Exit.

First Lord.

No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damned than to do’t?

Sec. Lord.

You do not know him, my lord, as we do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out you have him ever after.

Ber

Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he does address himself unto?

First Lord.

None in the world; but return with an invention and clap upon you two or three probable lies. But we have almost embossed him, you shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship’s respect.

Sec. Lord.

We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu: when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.

First Lord.

I must go look my twigs: he shall be caught.

Ber.

Your brother he shall go along with me.

First Lord.

As’t please your lordship: I’ll leave you.

[Exit.

Ber.

Now will I lead you to the house, and show you

The lass I spoke of.

Sec. Lord.

But you say she’s honest.

Ber.

That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once,

And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her,

By this same coxcomb that we have i’ the wind,

Tokens and letters which she did re-send;

And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature;

Will you go see her?

Sec. Lord.

With all my heart, my lord.

[Exeunt.

Scene VII.—

Florence. A Room in the Widow’s House.

EnterHelenaand Widow.

Hel.

If you misdoubt me that I am not she,

I know not how I shall assure you further,

But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.

Wid.

Though my estate be fall’n, I was well born,

Nothing acquainted with these businesses;

And would not put my reputation now

In any staining act.

Hel.

Nor would I wish you.

First, give me trust, the county is my husband,

And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken

Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,

By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,

Err in bestowing it.

Wid.

I should believe you:

For you have show’d me that which well approves

You’re great in fortune.

Hel.

Take this purse of gold,

And let me buy your friendly help thus far,

Which I will over-pay and pay again

When I have found it. The county woos your daughter,

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,

Resolv’d to carry her: let her in fine consent,

As we’ll direct her how ’tis best to bear it.

Now, his important blood will nought deny

That she’ll demand: a ring the county wears,

That down ward hath succeeded in his house

From son to son, some four or five descents

Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds

In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,

To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,

Howe’er repented after.

Wid.

Now I see

The bottom of your purpose.

Hel.

You see it lawful then. It is no more,

But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,

Desires this ring, appoints him an encounter,

In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chastely absent. After this,

To marry her, I’ll add three thousand crowns

To what is past already.

Wid.

I have yielded.

Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,

That time and place with this deceit so lawful

May prove coherent. Every night he comes

With musics of all sorts and songs compos’d

To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us

To chide him from our eaves, for he persists

As if his life lay on’t.

Hel.

Why then to-night

Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,

Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,

And lawful meaning in a lawful act,

Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact.

But let’s about it.

[Exeunt.