1 William Shakespeare

     2 

     3 All's Well That Ends Well

     4      __________________________________________________________________

     5 

     6 ACT II

     7 

     8 SCENE I. Paris. The King's palace.

     9 

    10    Flourish of cornets. Enter the King, attended with divers young Lords

    11    taking leave for the Florentine war; Bertram, and Parolles

    12 

    13    King

    14 

    15    Farewell, young lords; these warlike principles

    16    Do not throw from you: and you, my lords, farewell:

    17    Share the advice betwixt you; if both gain, all

    18    The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis received,

    19    And is enough for both.

    20 

    21    First Lord

    22 

    23    'Tis our hope, sir,

    24    After well enter'd soldiers, to return

    25    And find your grace in health.

    26 

    27    King

    28 

    29    No, no, it cannot be; and yet my heart

    30    Will not confess he owes the malady

    31    That doth my life besiege. Farewell, young lords;

    32    Whether I live or die, be you the sons

    33    Of worthy Frenchmen: let higher Italy,--

    34    Those bated that inherit but the fall

    35    Of the last monarchy,--see that you come

    36    Not to woo honour, but to wed it; when

    37    The bravest questant shrinks, find what you seek,

    38    That fame may cry you loud: I say, farewell.

    39 

    40    Second Lord

    41 

    42    Health, at your bidding, serve your majesty!

    43 

    44    King

    45 

    46    Those girls of Italy, take heed of them:

    47    They say, our French lack language to deny,

    48    If they demand: beware of being captives,

    49    Before you serve.

    50 

    51    Both

    52 

    53      Our hearts receive your warnings.

    54 

    55    King

    56 

    57    Farewell. Come hither to me.

    58 

    59    Exit, attended

    60 

    61    First Lord

    62 

    63    O, my sweet lord, that you will stay behind us!

    64 

    65    Parolles

    66 

    67    'Tis not his fault, the spark.

    68 

    69    Second Lord

    70 

    71    O, 'tis brave wars!

    72 

    73    Parolles

    74 

    75    Most admirable: I have seen those wars.

    76 

    77    Bertram

    78 

    79    I am commanded here, and kept a coil with

    80    `Too young' and 'the next year' and ''tis too early.'

    81 

    82    Parolles

    83 

    84    An thy mind stand to't, boy, steal away bravely.

    85 

    86    Bertram

    87 

    88    I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock,

    89    Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry,

    90    Till honour be bought up and no sword worn

    91    But one to dance with! By heaven, I'll steal away.

    92 

    93    First Lord

    94 

    95    There's honour in the theft.

    96 

    97    Parolles

    98 

    99    Commit it, count.

   100 

   101    Second Lord

   102 

   103    I am your accessary; and so, farewell.

   104 

   105    Bertram

   106 

   107    I grow to you, and our parting is a tortured body.

   108 

   109    First Lord

   110 

   111    Farewell, captain.

   112 

   113    Second Lord

   114 

   115    Sweet Monsieur Parolles!

   116 

   117    Parolles

   118 

   119    Noble heroes, my sword and yours are kin. Good sparks and lustrous, a

   120    word, good metals: you shall find in the regiment of the Spinii one

   121    Captain Spurio, with his cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his

   122    sinister cheek; it was this very sword entrenched it: say to him, I

   123    live; and observe his reports for me.

   124 

   125    First Lord

   126 

   127    We shall, noble captain.

   128 

   129    Exeunt Lords

   130 

   131    Parolles

   132 

   133    Mars dote on you for his novices! what will ye do?

   134 

   135    Bertram

   136 

   137    Stay: the king.

   138 

   139    Re-enter King. Bertram and Parolles retire

   140 

   141    Parolles

   142 

   143    [To Bertram] Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords; you have

   144    restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu: be more

   145    expressive to them: for they wear themselves in the cap of the time,

   146    there do muster true gait, eat, speak, and move under the influence of

   147    the most received star; and though the devil lead the measure, such are

   148    to be followed: after them, and take a more dilated farewell.

   149 

   150    Bertram

   151 

   152    And I will do so.

   153 

   154    Parolles

   155 

   156    Worthy fellows; and like to prove most sinewy sword-men.

   157 

   158    Exeunt Bertram and Parolles

   159 

   160    Enter Lafeu

   161 

   162    Lafeu

   163 

   164    [Kneeling] Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings.

   165 

   166    King

   167 

   168    I'll fee thee to stand up.

   169 

   170    Lafeu

   171 

   172    Then here's a man stands, that has brought his pardon.

   173    I would you had kneel'd, my lord, to ask me mercy,

   174    And that at my bidding you could so stand up.

   175 

   176    King

   177 

   178    I would I had; so I had broke thy pate,

   179    And ask'd thee mercy for't.

   180 

   181    Lafeu

   182 

   183    Good faith, across: but, my good lord 'tis thus;

   184    Will you be cured of your infirmity?

   185 

   186    King

   187 

   188    No.

   189 

   190    Lafeu

   191 

   192    O, will you eat no grapes, my royal fox?

   193    Yes, but you will my noble grapes, an if

   194    My royal fox could reach them: I have seen a medicine

   195    That's able to breathe life into a stone,

   196    Quicken a rock, and make you dance canary

   197    With spritely fire and motion; whose simple touch,

   198    Is powerful to araise King Pepin, nay,

   199    To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand,

   200    And write to her a love-line.

   201 

   202    King

   203 

   204    What `her' is this?

   205 

   206    Lafeu

   207 

   208    Why, Doctor She: my lord, there's one arrived,

   209    If you will see her: now, by my faith and honour,

   210    If seriously I may convey my thoughts

   211    In this my light deliverance, I have spoke

   212    With one that, in her sex, her years, profession,

   213    Wisdom and constancy, hath amazed me more

   214    Than I dare blame my weakness: will you see her

   215    For that is her demand, and know her business?

   216    That done, laugh well at me.

   217 

   218    King

   219 

   220    Now, good Lafeu,

   221    Bring in the admiration; that we with thee

   222    May spend our wonder too, or take off thine

   223    By wondering how thou took'st it.

   224 

   225    Lafeu

   226 

   227    Nay, I'll fit you,

   228    And not be all day neither.

   229 

   230    Exit

   231 

   232    King

   233 

   234    Thus he his special nothing ever prologues.

   235 

   236    Re-enter Lafeu, with Helena

   237 

   238    Lafeu

   239 

   240    Nay, come your ways.

   241 

   242    King

   243 

   244    This haste hath wings indeed.

   245 

   246    Lafeu

   247 

   248    Nay, come your ways:

   249    This is his majesty; say your mind to him:

   250    A traitor you do look like; but such traitors

   251    His majesty seldom fears: I am Cressid's uncle,

   252    That dare leave two together; fare you well.

   253 

   254    Exit

   255 

   256    King

   257 

   258    Now, fair one, does your business follow us?

   259 

   260    Helena

   261 

   262    Ay, my good lord.

   263    Gerard de Narbon was my father;

   264    In what he did profess, well found.

   265 

   266    King

   267 

   268    I knew him.

   269 

   270    Helena

   271 

   272    The rather will I spare my praises towards him:

   273    Knowing him is enough. On's bed of death

   274    Many receipts he gave me: chiefly one.

   275    Which, as the dearest issue of his practise,

   276    And of his old experience the oily darling,

   277    He bade me store up, as a triple eye,

   278    Safer than mine own two, more dear; I have so;

   279    And hearing your high majesty is touch'd

   280    With that malignant cause wherein the honour

   281    Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power,

   282    I come to tender it and my appliance

   283    With all bound humbleness.

   284 

   285    King

   286 

   287    We thank you, maiden;

   288    But may not be so credulous of cure,

   289    When our most learned doctors leave us and

   290    The congregated college have concluded

   291    That labouring art can never ransom nature

   292    From her inaidible estate; I say we must not

   293    So stain our judgment, or corrupt our hope,

   294    To prostitute our past-cure malady

   295    To empirics, or to dissever so

   296    Our great self and our credit, to esteem

   297    A senseless help when help past sense we deem.

   298 

   299    Helena

   300 

   301    My duty then shall pay me for my pains:

   302    I will no more enforce mine office on you.

   303    Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts

   304    A modest one, to bear me back a again.

   305 

   306    King

   307 

   308    I cannot give thee less, to be call'd grateful:

   309    Thou thought'st to help me; and such thanks I give

   310    As one near death to those that wish him live:

   311    But what at full I know, thou know'st no part,

   312    I knowing all my peril, thou no art.

   313 

   314    Helena

   315 

   316    What I can do can do no hurt to try,

   317    Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy.

   318    He that of greatest works is finisher

   319    Oft does them by the weakest minister:

   320    So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown,

   321    When judges have been babes; great floods have flown

   322    From simple sources, and great seas have dried

   323    When miracles have by the greatest been denied.

   324    Oft expectation fails and most oft there

   325    Where most it promises, and oft it hits

   326    Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.

   327 

   328    King

   329 

   330    I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid;

   331    Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid:

   332    Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward.

   333 

   334    Helena

   335 

   336    Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd:

   337    It is not so with Him that all things knows

   338    As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows;

   339    But most it is presumption in us when

   340    The help of heaven we count the act of men.

   341    Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent;

   342    Of heaven, not me, make an experiment.

   343    I am not an impostor that proclaim

   344    Myself against the level of mine aim;

   345    But know I think and think I know most sure

   346    My art is not past power nor you past cure.

   347 

   348    King

   349 

   350    Are thou so confident? within what space

   351    Hopest thou my cure?

   352 

   353    Helena

   354 

   355    The great'st grace lending grace

   356    Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring

   357    Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring,

   358    Ere twice in murk and occidental damp

   359    Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp,

   360    Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass

   361    Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass,

   362    What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly,

   363    Health shall live free and sickness freely die.

   364 

   365    King

   366 

   367    Upon thy certainty and confidence

   368    What darest thou venture?

   369 

   370    Helena

   371 

   372    Tax of impudence,

   373    A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame

   374    Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name

   375    Sear'd otherwise; nay, worse--if worse--extended

   376    With vilest torture let my life be ended.

   377 

   378    King

   379 

   380    Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak

   381    His powerful sound within an organ weak:

   382    And what impossibility would slay

   383    In common sense, sense saves another way.

   384    Thy life is dear; for all that life can rate

   385    Worth name of life in thee hath estimate,

   386    Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all

   387    That happiness and prime can happy call:

   388    Thou this to hazard needs must intimate

   389    Skill infinite or monstrous desperate.

   390    Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try,

   391    That ministers thine own death if I die.

   392 

   393    Helena

   394 

   395    If I break time, or flinch in property

   396    Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die,

   397    And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee;

   398    But, if I help, what do you promise me?

   399 

   400    King

   401 

   402    Make thy demand.

   403 

   404    Helena

   405 

   406      But will you make it even?

   407 

   408    King

   409 

   410    Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven.

   411 

   412    Helena

   413 

   414    Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand

   415    What husband in thy power I will command:

   416    Exempted be from me the arrogance

   417    To choose from forth the royal blood of France,

   418    My low and humble name to propagate

   419    With any branch or image of thy state;

   420    But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know

   421    Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.

   422 

   423    King

   424 

   425    Here is my hand; the premises observed,

   426    Thy will by my performance shall be served:

   427    So make the choice of thy own time, for I,

   428    Thy resolved patient, on thee still rely.

   429    More should I question thee, and more I must,

   430    Though more to know could not be more to trust,

   431    From whence thou camest, how tended on: but rest

   432    Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest.

   433    Give me some help here, ho! If thou proceed

   434    As high as word, my deed shall match thy meed.

   435 

   436    Flourish. Exeunt

   437 

   438 SCENE II. Rousillon. The Count's palace.

   439 

   440    Enter Countess and Clown

   441 

   442    Countess

   443 

   444    Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding.

   445 

   446    Clown

   447 

   448    I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught: I know my business is

   449    but to the court.

   450 

   451    Countess

   452 

   453    To the court! why, what place make you special, when you put off that

   454    with such contempt? But to the court!

   455 

   456    Clown

   457 

   458    Truly, madam, if God have lent a man any manners, he may easily put it

   459    off at court: he that cannot make a leg, put off's cap, kiss his hand

   460    and say nothing, has neither leg, hands, lip, nor cap; and indeed such

   461    a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the court; but for me, I have

   462    an answer will serve all men.

   463 

   464    Countess

   465 

   466    Marry, that's a bountiful answer that fits all questions.

   467 

   468    Clown

   469 

   470    It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks, the pin-buttock,

   471    the quatch-buttock, the brawn buttock, or any buttock.

   472 

   473    Countess

   474 

   475    Will your answer serve fit to all questions?

   476 

   477    Clown

   478 

   479    As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney, as your French

   480    crown for your taffeta punk, as Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger, as a

   481    pancake for Shrove Tuesday, a morris for May-day, as the nail to his

   482    hole, the cuckold to his horn, as a scolding queen to a wrangling

   483    knave, as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth, nay, as the pudding to

   484    his skin.

   485 

   486    Countess

   487 

   488    Have you, I say, an answer of such fitness for all questions?

   489 

   490    Clown

   491 

   492    From below your duke to beneath your constable, it will fit any

   493    question.

   494 

   495    Countess

   496 

   497    It must be an answer of most monstrous size that must fit all demands.

   498 

   499    Clown

   500 

   501    But a trifle neither, in good faith, if the learned should speak truth

   502    of it: here it is, and all that belongs to't. Ask me if I am a

   503    courtier: it shall do you no harm to learn.

   504 

   505    Countess

   506 

   507    To be young again, if we could: I will be a fool in question, hoping to

   508    be the wiser by your answer. I pray you, sir, are you a courtier?

   509 

   510    Clown

   511 

   512    O Lord, sir! There's a simple putting off. More, more, a hundred of

   513    them.

   514 

   515    Countess

   516 

   517    Sir, I am a poor friend of yours, that loves you.

   518 

   519    Clown

   520 

   521    O Lord, sir! Thick, thick, spare not me.

   522 

   523    Countess

   524 

   525    I think, sir, you can eat none of this homely meat.

   526 

   527    Clown

   528 

   529    O Lord, sir! Nay, put me to't, I warrant you.

   530 

   531    Countess

   532 

   533    You were lately whipped, sir, as I think.

   534 

   535    Clown

   536 

   537    O Lord, sir! spare not me.

   538 

   539    Countess

   540 

   541    Do you cry, `O Lord, sir!' at your whipping, and `spare not me?' Indeed

   542    your `O Lord, sir!' is very sequent to your whipping: you would answer

   543    very well to a whipping, if you were but bound to't.

   544 

   545    Clown

   546 

   547    I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my `O Lord, sir!' I see things may

   548    serve long, but not serve ever.

   549 

   550    Countess

   551 

   552    I play the noble housewife with the time

   553    To entertain't so merrily with a fool.

   554 

   555    Clown

   556 

   557    O Lord, sir! why, there't serves well again.

   558 

   559    Countess

   560 

   561    An end, sir; to your business. Give Helen this,

   562    And urge her to a present answer back:

   563    Commend me to my kinsmen and my son:

   564    This is not much.

   565 

   566    Clown

   567 

   568    Not much commendation to them.

   569 

   570    Countess

   571 

   572    Not much employment for you: you understand me?

   573 

   574    Clown

   575 

   576    Most fruitfully: I am there before my legs.

   577 

   578    Countess

   579 

   580    Haste you again.

   581 

   582    Exeunt severally

   583 

   584 SCENE III. Paris. The King's palace.

   585 

   586    Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Parolles

   587 

   588    Lafeu

   589 

   590    They say miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons, to

   591    make modern and familiar, things supernatural and causeless. Hence is

   592    it that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming

   593    knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.

   594 

   595    Parolles

   596 

   597    Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our

   598    latter times.

   599 

   600    Bertram

   601 

   602    And so 'tis.

   603 

   604    Lafeu

   605 

   606    To be relinquish'd of the artists,--

   607 

   608    Parolles

   609 

   610    So I say.

   611 

   612    Lafeu

   613 

   614    Both of Galen and Paracelsus.

   615 

   616    Parolles

   617 

   618    So I say.

   619 

   620    Lafeu

   621 

   622    Of all the learned and authentic fellows,--

   623 

   624    Parolles

   625 

   626    Right; so I say.

   627 

   628    Lafeu

   629 

   630    That gave him out incurable,--

   631 

   632    Parolles

   633 

   634    Why, there 'tis; so say I too.

   635 

   636    Lafeu

   637 

   638    Not to be helped,--

   639 

   640    Parolles

   641 

   642    Right; as 'twere, a man assured of a--

   643 

   644    Lafeu

   645 

   646    Uncertain life, and sure death.

   647 

   648    Parolles

   649 

   650    Just, you say well; so would I have said.

   651 

   652    Lafeu

   653 

   654    I may truly say, it is a novelty to the world.

   655 

   656    Parolles

   657 

   658    It is, indeed: if you will have it in showing, you shall read it

   659    in--what do you call there?

   660 

   661    Lafeu

   662 

   663    A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor.

   664 

   665    Parolles

   666 

   667    That's it; I would have said the very same.

   668 

   669    Lafeu

   670 

   671    Why, your dolphin is not lustier: 'fore me, I speak in respect--

   672 

   673    Parolles

   674 

   675    Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious

   676    of it; and he's of a most facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge

   677    it to be the--

   678 

   679    Lafeu

   680 

   681    Very hand of heaven.

   682 

   683    Parolles

   684 

   685    Ay, so I say.

   686 

   687    Lafeu

   688 

   689    In a most weak--

   690 

   691    pausing

   692 

   693    and debile minister, great power, great transcendence: which should,

   694    indeed, give us a further use to be made than alone the recovery of the

   695    king, as to be--

   696 

   697    pausing

   698 

   699    generally thankful.

   700 

   701    Parolles

   702 

   703    I would have said it; you say well. Here comes the king.

   704 

   705    Enter King, Helena, and Attendants. Lafeu and Parolles retire

   706 

   707    Lafeu

   708 

   709    Lustig, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better, whilst I

   710    have a tooth in my head: why, he's able to lead her a coranto.

   711 

   712    Parolles

   713 

   714    Mort du vinaigre! is not this Helen?

   715 

   716    Lafeu

   717 

   718    'Fore God, I think so.

   719 

   720    King

   721 

   722    Go, call before me all the lords in court.

   723    Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side;

   724    And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense

   725    Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive

   726    The confirmation of my promised gift,

   727    Which but attends thy naming.

   728 

   729    Enter three or four Lords

   730 

   731    Fair maid, send forth thine eye: this youthful parcel

   732    Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,

   733    O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice

   734    I have to use: thy frank election make;

   735    Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.

   736 

   737    Helena

   738 

   739    To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress

   740    Fall, when Love please! marry, to each, but one!

   741 

   742    Lafeu

   743 

   744    I'ld give bay Curtal and his furniture,

   745    My mouth no more were broken than these boys',

   746    And writ as little beard.

   747 

   748    King

   749 

   750    Peruse them well:

   751    Not one of those but had a noble father.

   752 

   753    Helena

   754 

   755    Gentlemen,

   756    Heaven hath through me restored the king to health.

   757 

   758    All

   759 

   760    We understand it, and thank heaven for you.

   761 

   762    Helena

   763 

   764    I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest,

   765    That I protest I simply am a maid.

   766    Please it your majesty, I have done already:

   767    The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,

   768    `We blush that thou shouldst choose; but, be refused,

   769    Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever;

   770    We'll ne'er come there again.'

   771 

   772    King

   773 

   774    Make choice; and, see,

   775    Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.

   776 

   777    Helena

   778 

   779    Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,

   780    And to imperial Love, that god most high,

   781    Do my sighs stream. Sir, will you hear my suit?

   782 

   783    First Lord

   784 

   785    And grant it.

   786 

   787    Helena

   788 

   789      Thanks, sir; all the rest is mute.

   790 

   791    Lafeu

   792 

   793    I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace for my life.

   794 

   795    Helena

   796 

   797    The honour, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,

   798    Before I speak, too threateningly replies:

   799    Love make your fortunes twenty times above

   800    Her that so wishes and her humble love!

   801 

   802    Second Lord

   803 

   804    No better, if you please.

   805 

   806    Helena

   807 

   808    My wish receive,

   809    Which great Love grant! and so, I take my leave.

   810 

   811    Lafeu

   812 

   813    Do all they deny her? An they were sons of mine,

   814    I'd have them whipped; or I would send them to the

   815    Turk, to make eunuchs of.

   816 

   817    Helena

   818 

   819    Be not afraid that I your hand should take;

   820    I'll never do you wrong for your own sake:

   821    Blessing upon your vows! and in your bed

   822    Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed!

   823 

   824    Lafeu

   825 

   826    These boys are boys of ice, they'll none have her: sure, they are

   827    bastards to the English; the French ne'er got 'em.

   828 

   829    Helena

   830 

   831    You are too young, too happy, and too good,

   832    To make yourself a son out of my blood.

   833 

   834    Fourth Lord

   835 

   836    Fair one, I think not so.

   837 

   838    Lafeu

   839 

   840    There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father drunk wine: but if thou

   841    be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen; I have known thee already.

   842 

   843    Helena

   844 

   845    [To Bertram] I dare not say I take you; but I give

   846    Me and my service, ever whilst I live,

   847    Into your guiding power. This is the man.

   848 

   849    King

   850 

   851    Why, then, young Bertram, take her; she's thy wife.

   852 

   853    Bertram

   854 

   855    My wife, my liege! I shall beseech your highness,

   856    In such a business give me leave to use

   857    The help of mine own eyes.

   858 

   859    King

   860 

   861    Know'st thou not, Bertram,

   862    What she has done for me?

   863 

   864    Bertram

   865 

   866    Yes, my good lord;

   867    But never hope to know why I should marry her.

   868 

   869    King

   870 

   871    Thou know'st she has raised me from my sickly bed.

   872 

   873    Bertram

   874 

   875    But follows it, my lord, to bring me down

   876    Must answer for your raising? I know her well:

   877    She had her breeding at my father's charge.

   878    A poor physician's daughter my wife! Disdain

   879    Rather corrupt me ever!

   880 

   881    King

   882 

   883    'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which

   884    I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,

   885    Of colour, weight, and heat, pour'd all together,

   886    Would quite confound distinction, yet stand off

   887    In differences so mighty. If she be

   888    All that is virtuous, save what thou dislikest,

   889    A poor physician's daughter, thou dislikest

   890    Of virtue for the name: but do not so:

   891    From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,

   892    The place is dignified by the doer's deed:

   893    Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,

   894    It is a dropsied honour. Good alone

   895    Is good without a name. Vileness is so:

   896    The property by what it is should go,

   897    Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair;

   898    In these to nature she's immediate heir,

   899    And these breed honour: that is honour's scorn,

   900    Which challenges itself as honour's born

   901    And is not like the sire: honours thrive,

   902    When rather from our acts we them derive

   903    Than our foregoers: the mere word's a slave

   904    Debosh'd on every tomb, on every grave

   905    A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb

   906    Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb

   907    Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be said?

   908    If thou canst like this creature as a maid,

   909    I can create the rest: virtue and she

   910    Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.

   911 

   912    Bertram

   913 

   914    I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.

   915 

   916    King

   917 

   918    Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou shouldst strive to choose.

   919 

   920    Helena

   921 

   922    That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad:

   923    Let the rest go.

   924 

   925    King

   926 

   927    My honour's at the stake; which to defeat,

   928    I must produce my power. Here, take her hand,

   929    Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift;

   930    That dost in vile misprision shackle up

   931    My love and her desert; that canst not dream,

   932    We, poising us in her defective scale,

   933    Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,

   934    It is in us to plant thine honour where

   935    We please to have it grow. Cheque thy contempt:

   936    Obey our will, which travails in thy good:

   937    Believe not thy disdain, but presently

   938    Do thine own fortunes that obedient right

   939    Which both thy duty owes and our power claims;

   940    Or I will throw thee from my care for ever

   941    Into the staggers and the careless lapse

   942    Of youth and ignorance; both my revenge and hate

   943    Loosing upon thee, in the name of justice,

   944    Without all terms of pity. Speak; thine answer.

   945 

   946    Bertram

   947 

   948    Pardon, my gracious lord; for I submit

   949    My fancy to your eyes: when I consider

   950    What great creation and what dole of honour

   951    Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late

   952    Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now

   953    The praised of the king; who, so ennobled,

   954    Is as 'twere born so.

   955 

   956    King

   957 

   958    Take her by the hand,

   959    And tell her she is thine: to whom I promise

   960    A counterpoise, if not to thy estate

   961    A balance more replete.

   962 

   963    Bertram

   964 

   965    I take her hand.

   966 

   967    King

   968 

   969    Good fortune and the favour of the king

   970    Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony

   971    Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief,

   972    And be perform'd to-night: the solemn feast

   973    Shall more attend upon the coming space,

   974    Expecting absent friends. As thou lovest her,

   975    Thy love's to me religious; else, does err.

   976 

   977    Exeunt all but Lafeu and Parolles

   978 

   979    Lafeu

   980 

   981    [Advancing] Do you hear, monsieur? a word with you.

   982 

   983    Parolles

   984 

   985    Your pleasure, sir?

   986 

   987    Lafeu

   988 

   989    Your lord and master did well to make his recantation.

   990 

   991    Parolles

   992 

   993    Recantation! My lord! my master!

   994 

   995    Lafeu

   996 

   997    Ay; is it not a language I speak?

   998 

   999    Parolles

  1000 

  1001    A most harsh one, and not to be understood without bloody succeeding.

  1002    My master!

  1003 

  1004    Lafeu

  1005 

  1006    Are you companion to the Count Rousillon?

  1007 

  1008    Parolles

  1009 

  1010    To any count, to all counts, to what is man.

  1011 

  1012    Lafeu

  1013 

  1014    To what is count's man: count's master is of another style.

  1015 

  1016    Parolles

  1017 

  1018    You are too old, sir; let it satisfy you, you are too old.

  1019 

  1020    Lafeu

  1021 

  1022    I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man; to which title age cannot bring

  1023    thee.

  1024 

  1025    Parolles

  1026 

  1027    What I dare too well do, I dare not do.

  1028 

  1029    Lafeu

  1030 

  1031    I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise fellow; thou

  1032    didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might pass: yet the scarfs

  1033    and the bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from believing

  1034    thee a vessel of too great a burthen. I have now found thee; when I

  1035    lose thee again, I care not: yet art thou good for nothing but taking

  1036    up; and that thou't scarce worth.

  1037 

  1038    Parolles

  1039 

  1040    Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee,--

  1041 

  1042    Lafeu

  1043 

  1044    Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest thou hasten thy trial;

  1045    which if--Lord have mercy on thee for a hen! So, my good window of

  1046    lattice, fare thee well: thy casement I need not open, for I look

  1047    through thee. Give me thy hand.

  1048 

  1049    Parolles

  1050 

  1051    My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.

  1052 

  1053    Lafeu

  1054 

  1055    Ay, with all my heart; and thou art worthy of it.

  1056 

  1057    Parolles

  1058 

  1059    I have not, my lord, deserved it.

  1060 

  1061    Lafeu

  1062 

  1063    Yes, good faith, every dram of it; and I will not bate thee a scruple.

  1064 

  1065    Parolles

  1066 

  1067    Well, I shall be wiser.

  1068 

  1069    Lafeu

  1070 

  1071    Even as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull at a smack o' the

  1072    contrary. If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf and beaten, thou shalt

  1073    find what it is to be proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my

  1074    acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I may say in the

  1075    default, he is a man I know.

  1076 

  1077    Parolles

  1078 

  1079    My lord, you do me most insupportable vexation.

  1080 

  1081    Lafeu

  1082 

  1083    I would it were hell-pains for thy sake, and my poor doing eternal: for

  1084    doing I am past: as I will by thee, in what motion age will give me

  1085    leave.

  1086 

  1087    Exit

  1088 

  1089    Parolles

  1090 

  1091    Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off me; scurvy, old,

  1092    filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must be patient; there is no fettering of

  1093    authority. I'll beat him, by my life, if I can meet him with any

  1094    convenience, an he were double and double a lord. I'll have no more

  1095    pity of his age than I would of--I'll beat him, an if I could but meet

  1096    him again.

  1097 

  1098    Re-enter Lafeu

  1099 

  1100    Lafeu

  1101 

  1102    Sirrah, your lord and master's married; there's news for you: you have

  1103    a new mistress.

  1104 

  1105    Parolles

  1106 

  1107    I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make some reservation of

  1108    your wrongs: he is my good lord: whom I serve above is my master.

  1109 

  1110    Lafeu

  1111 

  1112    Who? God?

  1113 

  1114    Parolles

  1115 

  1116    Ay, sir.

  1117 

  1118    Lafeu

  1119 

  1120    The devil it is that's thy master. Why dost thou garter up thy arms o'

  1121    this fashion? dost make hose of sleeves? do other servants so? Thou

  1122    wert best set thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine honour, if

  1123    I were but two hours younger, I'ld beat thee: methinks, thou art a

  1124    general offence, and every man should beat thee: I think thou wast

  1125    created for men to breathe themselves upon thee.

  1126 

  1127    Parolles

  1128 

  1129    This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.

  1130 

  1131    Lafeu

  1132 

  1133    Go to, sir; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a

  1134    pomegranate; you are a vagabond and no true traveller: you are more

  1135    saucy with lords and honourable personages than the commission of your