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1 William Shakespeare |
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2 |
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3 All's Well That Ends Well |
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4 __________________________________________________________________ |
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5 |
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6 ACT I |
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7 |
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8 SCENE I. Rousillon. The Count's palace. |
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9 |
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10 Enter Bertram, the Countess of Rousillon, Helena, and Lafeu, all in |
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11 black |
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12 |
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13 Countess |
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14 |
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15 In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband. |
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16 |
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17 Bertram |
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18 |
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19 And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's death anew: but I must |
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20 attend his majesty's command, to whom I am now in ward, evermore in |
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21 subjection. |
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22 |
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23 Lafeu |
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24 |
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25 You shall find of the king a husband, madam; you, sir, a father: he |
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26 that so generally is at all times good must of necessity hold his |
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27 virtue to you; whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather |
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28 than lack it where there is such abundance. |
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29 |
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30 Countess |
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31 |
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32 What hope is there of his majesty's amendment? |
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33 |
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34 Lafeu |
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35 |
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36 He hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whose practises he hath |
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37 persecuted time with hope, and finds no other advantage in the process |
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38 but only the losing of hope by time. |
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39 |
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40 Countess |
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41 |
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42 This young gentlewoman had a father,--O, that `had'! how sad a passage |
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43 'tis!--whose skill was almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched |
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44 so far, would have made nature immortal, and death should have play for |
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45 lack of work. Would, for the king's sake, he were living! I think it |
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46 would be the death of the king's disease. |
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47 |
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48 Lafeu |
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49 |
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50 How called you the man you speak of, madam? |
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51 |
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52 Countess |
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53 |
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54 He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it was his great right to be |
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55 so: Gerard de Narbon. |
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56 |
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57 Lafeu |
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58 |
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59 He was excellent indeed, madam: the king very lately spoke of him |
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60 admiringly and mourningly: he was skilful enough to have lived still, |
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61 if knowledge could be set up against mortality. |
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62 |
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63 Bertram |
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64 |
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65 What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of? |
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66 |
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67 Lafeu |
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68 |
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69 A fistula, my lord. |
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70 |
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71 Bertram |
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72 |
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73 I heard not of it before. |
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74 |
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75 Lafeu |
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76 |
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77 I would it were not notorious. Was this gentlewoman the daughter of |
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78 Gerard de Narbon? |
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79 |
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80 Countess |
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81 |
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82 His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to my overlooking. I have those |
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83 hopes of her good that her education promises; her dispositions she |
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84 inherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for where an unclean mind |
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85 carries virtuous qualities, there commendations go with pity; they are |
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86 virtues and traitors too; in her they are the better for their |
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87 simpleness; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness. |
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88 |
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89 Lafeu |
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90 |
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91 Your commendations, madam, get from her tears. |
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92 |
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93 Countess |
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94 |
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95 'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praise in. The remembrance |
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96 of her father never approaches her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows |
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97 takes all livelihood from her cheek. No more of this, Helena; go to, no |
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98 more; lest it be rather thought you affect a sorrow than have it. |
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99 |
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100 Helena |
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101 |
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102 I do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too. |
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103 |
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104 Lafeu |
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105 |
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106 Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead, excessive grief the |
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107 enemy to the living. |
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108 |
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109 Countess |
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110 |
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111 If the living be enemy to the grief, the excess makes it soon mortal. |
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112 |
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113 Bertram |
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114 |
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115 Madam, I desire your holy wishes. |
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116 |
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117 Lafeu |
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118 |
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119 How understand we that? |
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120 |
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121 Countess |
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122 |
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123 Be thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy father |
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124 In manners, as in shape! thy blood and virtue |
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125 Contend for empire in thee, and thy goodness |
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126 Share with thy birthright! Love all, trust a few, |
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127 Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy |
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128 Rather in power than use, and keep thy friend |
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129 Under thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence, |
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130 But never tax'd for speech. What heaven more will, |
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131 That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down, |
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132 Fall on thy head! Farewell, my lord; |
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133 'Tis an unseason'd courtier; good my lord, |
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134 Advise him. |
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135 |
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136 Lafeu |
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137 |
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138 He cannot want the best |
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139 That shall attend his love. |
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140 |
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141 Countess |
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142 |
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143 Heaven bless him! Farewell, Bertram. |
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144 |
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145 Exit |
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146 |
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147 Bertram |
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148 |
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149 [To Helena] The best wishes that can be forged in your thoughts be |
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150 servants to you! Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make |
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151 much of her. |
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152 |
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153 Lafeu |
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154 |
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155 Farewell, pretty lady: you must hold the credit of your father. |
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156 |
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157 Exeunt Bertram and Lafeu |
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158 |
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159 Helena |
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160 |
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161 O, were that all! I think not on my father; |
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162 And these great tears grace his remembrance more |
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163 Than those I shed for him. What was he like? |
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164 I have forgot him: my imagination |
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165 Carries no favour in't but Bertram's. |
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166 I am undone: there is no living, none, |
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167 If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one |
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168 That I should love a bright particular star |
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169 And think to wed it, he is so above me: |
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170 In his bright radiance and collateral light |
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171 Must I be comforted, not in his sphere. |
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172 The ambition in my love thus plagues itself: |
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173 The hind that would be mated by the lion |
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174 Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though plague, |
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175 To see him every hour; to sit and draw |
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176 His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls, |
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177 In our heart's table; heart too capable |
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178 Of every line and trick of his sweet favour: |
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179 But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy |
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180 Must sanctify his reliques. Who comes here? |
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181 |
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182 Enter Parolles |
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183 |
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184 [Aside] One that goes with him: I love him for his sake; |
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185 And yet I know him a notorious liar, |
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186 Think him a great way fool, solely a coward; |
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187 Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him, |
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188 That they take place, when virtue's steely bones |
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189 Look bleak i' the cold wind: withal, full oft we see |
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190 Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly. |
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191 |
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192 Parolles |
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193 |
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194 Save you, fair queen! |
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195 |
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196 Helena |
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197 |
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198 And you, monarch! |
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199 |
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200 Parolles |
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201 |
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202 No. |
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203 |
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204 Helena |
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205 |
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206 And no. |
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207 |
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208 Parolles |
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209 |
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210 Are you meditating on virginity? |
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211 |
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212 Helena |
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213 |
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214 Ay. You have some stain of soldier in you: let me ask you a question. |
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215 Man is enemy to virginity; how may we barricado it against him? |
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216 |
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217 Parolles |
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218 |
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219 Keep him out. |
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220 |
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221 Helena |
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222 |
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223 But he assails; and our virginity, though valiant, in the defence yet |
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224 is weak: unfold to us some warlike resistance. |
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225 |
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226 Parolles |
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227 |
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228 There is none: man, sitting down before you, will undermine you and |
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229 blow you up. |
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230 |
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231 Helena |
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232 |
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233 Bless our poor virginity from underminers and blowers up! Is there no |
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234 military policy, how virgins might blow up men? |
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235 |
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236 Parolles |
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237 |
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238 Virginity being blown down, man will quicklier be blown up: marry, in |
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239 blowing him down again, with the breach yourselves made, you lose your |
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240 city. It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preserve |
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241 virginity. Loss of virginity is rational increase and there was never |
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242 virgin got till virginity was first lost. That you were made of is |
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243 metal to make virgins. Virginity by being once lost may be ten times |
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244 found; by being ever kept, it is ever lost: 'tis too cold a companion; |
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245 away with 't! |
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246 |
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247 Helena |
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248 |
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249 I will stand for 't a little, though therefore I die a virgin. |
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250 |
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251 Parolles |
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252 |
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253 There's little can be said in 't; 'tis against the rule of nature. To |
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254 speak on the part of virginity, is to accuse your mothers; which is |
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255 most infallible disobedience. He that hangs himself is a virgin: |
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256 virginity murders itself and should be buried in highways out of all |
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257 sanctified limit, as a desperate offendress against nature. Virginity |
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258 breeds mites, much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very paring, |
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259 and so dies with feeding his own stomach. Besides, virginity is |
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260 peevish, proud, idle, made of self-love, which is the most inhibited |
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261 sin in the canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but loose by't: out |
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262 with 't! within ten year it will make itself ten, which is a goodly |
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263 increase; and the principal itself not much the worse: away with 't! |
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264 |
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265 Helena |
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266 |
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267 How might one do, sir, to lose it to her own liking? |
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268 |
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269 Parolles |
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270 |
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271 Let me see: marry, ill, to like him that ne'er it likes. 'Tis a |
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272 commodity will lose the gloss with lying; the longer kept, the less |
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273 worth: off with 't while 'tis vendible; answer the time of request. |
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274 Virginity, like an old courtier, wears her cap out of fashion: richly |
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275 suited, but unsuitable: just like the brooch and the tooth-pick, which |
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276 wear not now. Your date is better in your pie and your porridge than in |
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277 your cheek; and your virginity, your old virginity, is like one of our |
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278 French withered pears, it looks ill, it eats drily; marry, 'tis a |
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279 withered pear; it was formerly better; marry, yet 'tis a withered pear: |
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280 will you anything with it? |
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281 |
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282 Helena |
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283 |
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284 Not my virginity yet. |
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285 There shall your master have a thousand loves, |
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286 A mother and a mistress and a friend, |
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287 A phoenix, captain and an enemy, |
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288 A guide, a goddess, and a sovereign, |
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289 A counsellor, a traitress, and a dear; |
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290 His humble ambition, proud humility, |
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291 His jarring concord, and his discord dulcet, |
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292 His faith, his sweet disaster; with a world |
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293 Of pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms, |
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294 That blinking Cupid gossips. Now shall he-- |
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295 I know not what he shall. God send him well! |
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296 The court's a learning place, and he is one-- |
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297 |
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298 Parolles |
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299 |
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300 What one, i' faith? |
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301 |
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302 Helena |
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303 |
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304 That I wish well. 'Tis pity-- |
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305 |
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306 Parolles |
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307 |
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308 What's pity? |
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309 |
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310 Helena |
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311 |
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312 That wishing well had not a body in't, |
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313 Which might be felt; that we, the poorer born, |
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314 Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes, |
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315 Might with effects of them follow our friends, |
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316 And show what we alone must think, which never |
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317 Return us thanks. |
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318 |
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319 Enter Page |
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320 |
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321 Page |
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322 |
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323 Monsieur Parolles, my lord calls for you. |
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324 |
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325 Exit |
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326 |
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327 Parolles |
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328 |
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329 Little Helen, farewell; if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at |
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330 court. |
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331 |
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332 Helena |
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333 |
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334 Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star. |
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335 |
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336 Parolles |
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337 |
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338 Under Mars, I. |
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339 |
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340 Helena |
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341 |
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342 I especially think, under Mars. |
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343 |
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344 Parolles |
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345 |
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346 Why under Mars? |
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347 |
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348 Helena |
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349 |
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350 The wars have so kept you under that you must needs be born under Mars. |
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351 |
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352 Parolles |
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353 |
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354 When he was predominant. |
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355 |
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356 Helena |
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357 |
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358 When he was retrograde, I think, rather. |
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359 |
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360 Parolles |
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361 |
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362 Why think you so? |
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363 |
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364 Helena |
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365 |
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366 You go so much backward when you fight. |
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367 |
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368 Parolles |
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369 |
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370 That's for advantage. |
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371 |
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372 Helena |
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373 |
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374 So is running away, when fear proposes the safety; but the composition |
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375 that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and |
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376 I like the wear well. |
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377 |
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378 Parolles |
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379 |
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380 I am so full of businesses, I cannot answer thee acutely. I will return |
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381 perfect courtier; in the which, my instruction shall serve to |
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382 naturalize thee, so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's counsel and |
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383 understand what advice shall thrust upon thee; else thou diest in thine |
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384 unthankfulness, and thine ignorance makes thee away: farewell. When |
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385 thou hast leisure, say thy prayers; when thou hast none, remember thy |
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386 friends; get thee a good husband, and use him as he uses thee; so, |
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387 farewell. |
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388 |
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389 Exit |
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390 |
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391 Helena |
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392 |
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393 Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, |
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394 Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky |
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395 Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull |
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396 Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull. |
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397 What power is it which mounts my love so high, |
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398 That makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye? |
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399 The mightiest space in fortune nature brings |
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400 To join like likes and kiss like native things. |
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401 Impossible be strange attempts to those |
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402 That weigh their pains in sense and do suppose |
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403 What hath been cannot be: who ever strove |
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404 So show her merit, that did miss her love? |
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405 The king's disease--my project may deceive me, |
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406 But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me. |
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407 |
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408 Exit |
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409 |
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410 SCENE II. Paris. The King's palace. |
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411 |
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412 Flourish of cornets. Enter the King of France, with letters, and divers |
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413 Attendants |
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414 |
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415 King |
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416 |
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417 The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; |
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418 Have fought with equal fortune and continue |
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419 A braving war. |
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420 |
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421 First Lord |
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422 |
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423 So 'tis reported, sir. |
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424 |
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425 King |
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426 |
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427 Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it |
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428 A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, |
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429 With caution that the Florentine will move us |
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430 For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend |
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431 Prejudicates the business and would seem |
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432 To have us make denial. |
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433 |
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434 First Lord |
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435 |
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436 His love and wisdom, |
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437 Approved so to your majesty, may plead |
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438 For amplest credence. |
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439 |
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440 King |
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441 |
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442 He hath arm'd our answer, |
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443 And Florence is denied before he comes: |
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444 Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see |
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445 The Tuscan service, freely have they leave |
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446 To stand on either part. |
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447 |
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448 Second Lord |
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449 |
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450 It well may serve |
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451 A nursery to our gentry, who are sick |
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452 For breathing and exploit. |
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453 |
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454 King |
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455 |
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456 What's he comes here? |
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457 |
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458 Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles |
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459 |
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460 First Lord |
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461 |
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462 It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord, |
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463 Young Bertram. |
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464 |
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465 King |
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466 |
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467 Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; |
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468 Frank nature, rather curious than in haste, |
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469 Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts |
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470 Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris. |
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471 |
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472 Bertram |
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473 |
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474 My thanks and duty are your majesty's. |
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475 |
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476 King |
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477 |
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478 I would I had that corporal soundness now, |
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479 As when thy father and myself in friendship |
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480 First tried our soldiership! He did look far |
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481 Into the service of the time and was |
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482 Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long; |
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483 But on us both did haggish age steal on |
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484 And wore us out of act. It much repairs me |
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485 To talk of your good father. In his youth |
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486 He had the wit which I can well observe |
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487 To-day in our young lords; but they may jest |
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488 Till their own scorn return to them unnoted |
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489 Ere they can hide their levity in honour; |
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490 So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness |
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491 Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were, |
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492 His equal had awaked them, and his honour, |
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493 Clock to itself, knew the true minute when |
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494 Exception bid him speak, and at this time |
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495 His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him |
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496 He used as creatures of another place |
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497 And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks, |
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498 Making them proud of his humility, |
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499 In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man |
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500 Might be a copy to these younger times; |
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501 Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now |
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502 But goers backward. |
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503 |
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504 Bertram |
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505 |
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506 His good remembrance, sir, |
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507 Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb; |
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508 So in approof lives not his epitaph |
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509 As in your royal speech. |
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510 |
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511 King |
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512 |
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513 Would I were with him! He would always say-- |
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514 Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words |
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515 He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them, |
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516 To grow there and to bear,--`Let me not live,'-- |
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517 This his good melancholy oft began, |
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518 On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, |
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519 When it was out,--`Let me not live,' quoth he, |
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520 `After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff |
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521 Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses |
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522 All but new things disdain; whose judgments are |
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523 Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies |
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524 Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd; |
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525 I after him do after him wish too, |
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526 Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, |
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527 I quickly were dissolved from my hive, |
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528 To give some labourers room. |
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529 |
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530 Second Lord |
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531 |
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532 You are loved, sir: |
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533 They that least lend it you shall lack you first. |
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534 |
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535 King |
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536 |
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537 I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count, |
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538 Since the physician at your father's died? |
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539 He was much famed. |
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540 |
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541 Bertram |
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542 |
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543 Some six months since, my lord. |
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544 |
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545 King |
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546 |
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547 If he were living, I would try him yet. |
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548 Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out |
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549 With several applications; nature and sickness |
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550 Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count; |
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551 My son's no dearer. |
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552 |
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553 Bertram |
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554 |
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555 Thank your majesty. |
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556 |
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557 Exeunt. Flourish |
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558 |
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559 SCENE III. Rousillon. The Count's palace. |
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560 |
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561 Enter Countess, Steward, and Clown |
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562 |
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563 Countess |
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564 |
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565 I will now hear; what say you of this gentlewoman? |
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566 |
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567 Steward |
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568 |
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569 Madam, the care I have had to even your content, I wish might be found |
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570 in the calendar of my past endeavours; for then we wound our modesty |
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571 and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we |
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572 publish them. |
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573 |
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574 Countess |
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575 |
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576 What does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: the complaints I have |
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577 heard of you I do not all believe: 'tis my slowness that I do not; for |
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578 I know you lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to |
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579 make such knaveries yours. |
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580 |
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581 Clown |
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582 |
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583 'Tis not unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow. |
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584 |
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585 Countess |
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586 |
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587 Well, sir. |
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588 |
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589 Clown |
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590 |
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591 No, madam, 'tis not so well that I am poor, though many of the rich are |
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592 damned: but, if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the |
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593 world, Isbel the woman and I will do as we may. |
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594 |
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595 Countess |
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596 |
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597 Wilt thou needs be a beggar? |
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598 |
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599 Clown |
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600 |
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601 I do beg your good will in this case. |
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602 |
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603 Countess |
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604 |
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605 In what case? |
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606 |
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607 Clown |
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608 |
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609 In Isbel's case and mine own. Service is no heritage: and I think I |
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610 shall never have the blessing of God till I have issue o' my body; for |
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611 they say barnes are blessings. |
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612 |
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613 Countess |
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614 |
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615 Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry. |
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616 |
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617 Clown |
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618 |
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619 My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he |
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620 must needs go that the devil drives. |
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621 |
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622 Countess |
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623 |
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624 Is this all your worship's reason? |
|
625 |
|
626 Clown |
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627 |
|
628 Faith, madam, I have other holy reasons such as they are. |
|
629 |
|
630 Countess |
|
631 |
|
632 May the world know them? |
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633 |
|
634 Clown |
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635 |
|
636 I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood |
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637 are; and, indeed, I do marry that I may repent. |
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638 |
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639 Countess |
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640 |
|
641 Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness. |
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642 |
|
643 Clown |
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644 |
|
645 I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's |
|
646 sake. |
|
647 |
|
648 Countess |
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649 |
|
650 Such friends are thine enemies, knave. |
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651 |
|
652 Clown |
|
653 |
|
654 You're shallow, madam, in great friends; for the knaves come to do that |
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655 for me which I am aweary of. He that ears my land spares my team and |
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656 gives me leave to in the crop; if I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: he |
|
657 that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he that |
|
658 cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my |
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659 flesh and blood is my friend: ergo, he that kisses my wife is my |
|
660 friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no |
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661 fear in marriage; for young Charbon the Puritan and old Poysam the |
|
662 Papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed in religion, their heads |
|
663 are both one; they may jowl horns together, like any deer i' the herd. |
|
664 |
|
665 Countess |
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666 |
|
667 Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave? |
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668 |
|
669 Clown |
|
670 |
|
671 A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next way: |
|
672 For I the ballad will repeat, |
|
673 Which men full true shall find; |
|
674 Your marriage comes by destiny, |
|
675 Your cuckoo sings by kind. |
|
676 |
|
677 Countess |
|
678 |
|
679 Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon. |
|
680 |
|
681 Steward |
|
682 |
|
683 May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you: of her I am to |
|
684 speak. |
|
685 |
|
686 Countess |
|
687 |
|
688 Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her; Helen, I mean. |
|
689 |
|
690 Clown |
|
691 |
|
692 Was this fair face the cause, quoth she, |
|
693 Why the Grecians sacked Troy? |
|
694 Fond done, done fond, |
|
695 Was this King Priam's joy? |
|
696 With that she sighed as she stood, |
|
697 With that she sighed as she stood, |
|
698 And gave this sentence then; |
|
699 Among nine bad if one be good, |
|
700 Among nine bad if one be good, |
|
701 There's yet one good in ten. |
|
702 |
|
703 Countess |
|
704 |
|
705 What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah. |
|
706 |
|
707 Clown |
|
708 |
|
709 One good woman in ten, madam; which is a purifying o' the song: would |
|
710 God would serve the world so all the year! we'ld find no fault with the |
|
711 tithe-woman, if I were the parson. One in ten, quoth a'! An we might |
|
712 have a good woman born but one every blazing star, or at an earthquake, |
|
713 'twould mend the lottery well: a man may draw his heart out, ere a' |
|
714 pluck one. |
|
715 |
|
716 Countess |
|
717 |
|
718 You'll be gone, sir knave, and do as I command you. |
|
719 |
|
720 Clown |
|
721 |
|
722 That man should be at woman's command, and yet no hurt done! Though |
|
723 honesty be no puritan, yet it will do no hurt; it will wear the |
|
724 surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart. I am going, |
|
725 forsooth: the business is for Helen to come hither. |
|
726 |
|
727 Exit |
|
728 |
|
729 Countess |
|
730 |
|
731 Well, now. |
|
732 |
|
733 Steward |
|
734 |
|
735 I know, madam, you love your gentlewoman entirely. |
|
736 |
|
737 Countess |
|
738 |
|
739 Faith, I do: her father bequeathed her to me; and she herself, without |
|
740 other advantage, may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds: |
|
741 there is more owing her than is paid; and more shall be paid her than |
|
742 she'll demand. |
|
743 |
|
744 Steward |
|
745 |
|
746 Madam, I was very late more near her than I think she wished me: alone |
|
747 she was, and did communicate to herself her own words to her own ears; |
|
748 she thought, I dare vow for her, they touched not any stranger sense. |
|
749 Her matter was, she loved your son: Fortune, she said, was no goddess, |
|
750 that had put such difference betwixt their two estates; Love no god, |
|
751 that would not extend his might, only where qualities were level; Dian |
|
752 no queen of virgins, that would suffer her poor knight surprised, |
|
753 without rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward. This she |
|
754 delivered in the most bitter touch of sorrow that e'er I heard virgin |
|
755 exclaim in: which I held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal; |
|
756 sithence, in the loss that may happen, it concerns you something to |
|
757 know it. |
|
758 |
|
759 Countess |
|
760 |
|
761 You have discharged this honestly; keep it to yourself: many |
|
762 likelihoods informed me of this before, which hung so tottering in the |
|
763 balance that I could neither believe nor misdoubt. Pray you, leave me: |
|
764 stall this in your bosom; and I thank you for your honest care: I will |
|
765 speak with you further anon. |
|
766 |
|
767 Exit Steward |
|
768 |
|
769 Enter Helena |
|
770 |
|
771 Even so it was with me when I was young: |
|
772 If ever we are nature's, these are ours; this thorn |
|
773 Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong; |
|
774 Our blood to us, this to our blood is born; |
|
775 It is the show and seal of nature's truth, |
|
776 Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth: |
|
777 By our remembrances of days foregone, |
|
778 Such were our faults, or then we thought them none. |
|
779 Her eye is sick on't: I observe her now. |
|
780 |
|
781 Helena |
|
782 |
|
783 What is your pleasure, madam? |
|
784 |
|
785 Countess |
|
786 |
|
787 You know, Helen, I am a mother to you. |
|
788 |
|
789 Helena |
|
790 |
|
791 Mine honourable mistress. |
|
792 |
|
793 Countess |
|
794 |
|
795 Nay, a mother: |
|
796 Why not a mother? When I said `a mother,' |
|
797 Methought you saw a serpent: what's in 'mother,' |
|
798 That you start at it? I say, I am your mother; |
|
799 And put you in the catalogue of those |
|
800 That were enwombed mine: 'tis often seen |
|
801 Adoption strives with nature and choice breeds |
|
802 A native slip to us from foreign seeds: |
|
803 You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan, |
|
804 Yet I express to you a mother's care: |
|
805 God's mercy, maiden! does it curd thy blood |
|
806 To say I am thy mother? What's the matter, |
|
807 That this distemper'd messenger of wet, |
|
808 The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye? |
|
809 Why? that you are my daughter? |
|
810 |
|
811 Helena |
|
812 |
|
813 That I am not. |
|
814 |
|
815 Countess |
|
816 |
|
817 I say, I am your mother. |
|
818 |
|
819 Helena |
|
820 |
|
821 Pardon, madam; |
|
822 The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother: |
|
823 I am from humble, he from honour'd name; |
|
824 No note upon my parents, his all noble: |
|
825 My master, my dear lord he is; and I |
|
826 His servant live, and will his vassal die: |
|
827 He must not be my brother. |
|
828 |
|
829 Countess |
|
830 |
|
831 Nor I your mother? |
|
832 |
|
833 Helena |
|
834 |
|
835 You are my mother, madam; would you were,-- |
|
836 So that my lord your son were not my brother,-- |
|
837 Indeed my mother! or were you both our mothers, |
|
838 I care no more for than I do for heaven, |
|
839 So I were not his sister. Can't no other, |
|
840 But, I your daughter, he must be my brother? |
|
841 |
|
842 Countess |
|
843 |
|
844 Yes, Helen, you might be my daughter-in-law: |
|
845 God shield you mean it not! daughter and mother |
|
846 So strive upon your pulse. What, pale again? |
|
847 My fear hath catch'd your fondness: now I see |
|
848 The mystery of your loneliness, and find |
|
849 Your salt tears' head: now to all sense 'tis gross |
|
850 You love my son; invention is ashamed, |
|
851 Against the proclamation of thy passion, |
|
852 To say thou dost not: therefore tell me true; |
|
853 But tell me then, 'tis so; for, look thy cheeks |
|
854 Confess it, th' one to th' other; and thine eyes |
|
855 See it so grossly shown in thy behaviors |
|
856 That in their kind they speak it: only sin |
|
857 And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue, |
|
858 That truth should be suspected. Speak, is't so? |
|
859 If it be so, you have wound a goodly clew; |
|
860 If it be not, forswear't: howe'er, I charge thee, |
|
861 As heaven shall work in me for thine avail, |
|
862 Tell me truly. |
|
863 |
|
864 Helena |
|
865 |
|
866 Good madam, pardon me! |
|
867 |
|
868 Countess |
|
869 |
|
870 Do you love my son? |
|
871 |
|
872 Helena |
|
873 |
|
874 Your pardon, noble mistress! |
|
875 |
|
876 Countess |
|
877 |
|
878 Love you my son? |
|
879 |
|
880 Helena |
|
881 |
|
882 Do not you love him, madam? |
|
883 |
|
884 Countess |
|
885 |
|
886 Go not about; my love hath in't a bond, |
|
887 Whereof the world takes note: come, come, disclose |
|
888 The state of your affection; for your passions |
|
889 Have to the full appeach'd. |
|
890 |
|
891 Helena |
|
892 |
|
893 Then, I confess, |
|
894 Here on my knee, before high heaven and you, |
|
895 That before you, and next unto high heaven, |
|
896 I love your son. |
|
897 My friends were poor, but honest; so's my love: |
|
898 Be not offended; for it hurts not him |
|
899 That he is loved of me: I follow him not |
|
900 By any token of presumptuous suit; |
|
901 Nor would I have him till I do deserve him; |
|
902 Yet never know how that desert should be. |
|
903 I know I love in vain, strive against hope; |
|
904 Yet in this captious and intenible sieve |
|
905 I still pour in the waters of my love |
|
906 And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like, |
|
907 Religious in mine error, I adore |
|
908 The sun, that looks upon his worshipper, |
|
909 But knows of him no more. My dearest madam, |
|
910 Let not your hate encounter with my love |
|
911 For loving where you do: but if yourself, |
|
912 Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth, |
|
913 Did ever in so true a flame of liking |
|
914 Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian |
|
915 Was both herself and love: O, then, give pity |
|
916 To her, whose state is such that cannot choose |
|
917 But lend and give where she is sure to lose; |
|
918 That seeks not to find that her search implies, |
|
919 But riddle-like lives sweetly where she dies! |
|
920 |
|
921 Countess |
|
922 |
|
923 Had you not lately an intent,--speak truly,-- |
|
924 To go to Paris? |
|
925 |
|
926 Helena |
|
927 |
|
928 Madam, I had. |
|
929 |
|
930 Countess |
|
931 |
|
932 Wherefore? tell true. |
|
933 |
|
934 Helena |
|
935 |
|
936 I will tell truth; by grace itself I swear. |
|
937 You know my father left me some prescriptions |
|
938 Of rare and proved effects, such as his reading |
|
939 And manifest experience had collected |
|
940 For general sovereignty; and that he will'd me |
|
941 In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them, |
|
942 As notes whose faculties inclusive were |
|
943 More than they were in note: amongst the rest, |
|
944 There is a remedy, approved, set down, |
|
945 To cure the desperate languishings whereof |
|
946 The king is render'd lost. |
|
947 |
|
948 Countess |
|
949 |
|
950 This was your motive |
|
951 For Paris, was it? speak. |
|
952 |
|
953 Helena |
|
954 |
|
955 My lord your son made me to think of this; |
|
956 Else Paris and the medicine and the king |
|
957 Had from the conversation of my thoughts |
|
958 Haply been absent then. |
|
959 |
|
960 Countess |
|
961 |
|
962 But think you, Helen, |
|
963 If you should tender your supposed aid, |
|
964 He would receive it? he and his physicians |
|
965 Are of a mind; he, that they cannot help him, |
|
966 They, that they cannot help: how shall they credit |
|
967 A poor unlearned virgin, when the schools, |
|
968 Embowell'd of their doctrine, have left off |
|
969 The danger to itself? |
|
970 |
|
971 Helena |
|
972 |
|
973 There's something in't, |
|
974 More than my father's skill, which was the greatest |
|
975 Of his profession, that his good receipt |
|
976 Shall for my legacy be sanctified |
|
977 By the luckiest stars in heaven: and, would your honour |
|
978 But give me leave to try success, I'ld venture |
|
979 The well-lost life of mine on his grace's cure |
|
980 By such a day and hour. |
|
981 |
|
982 Countess |
|
983 |
|
984 Dost thou believe't? |
|
985 |
|
986 Helena |
|
987 |
|
988 Ay, madam, knowingly. |
|
989 |
|
990 Countess |
|
991 |
|
992 Why, Helen, thou shalt have my leave and love, |
|
993 Means and attendants and my loving greetings |
|
994 To those of mine in court: I'll stay at home |
|
995 And pray God's blessing into thy attempt: |
|
996 Be gone to-morrow; and be sure of this, |
|
997 What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss. |
|
998 |
|
999 Exeunt |
|
1000 |
|
1001 | [1]Table of Contents | [2]Next | |
|
1002 |
|
1003 Last updated on Wed Sep 29 20:06:20 2004 for [3]eBooks@Adelaide. |
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1004 |
|
1005 References |
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1006 |
|
1007 1. file://localhost/home/arau/shakespeare/allswell/index.html |
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1008 2. file://localhost/home/arau/shakespeare/allswell/act2.html |
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1009 3. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/ |