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SCENE

IV.

The Widow's House at Florence.

Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana.

home, more advanc'd by the king, than by that red-tail'd humble-bee Ispeak of.

Count. I would, I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous genticwoman, that

Hel. That you may well perceive I have not 5 ever nature had praise for creating: if she had

wrong'd you,

One of the greatest in the christian world

[ful,

Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne, 'tis need-
Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel:
Time was, I did him a desired office,
Dear almost as his life; which gratitude
Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth,
And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd,'
His grace is at Marseilles; to which place
We have convenient convoy. You must know,
I am supposed dead: the army breaking,
My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding,
And by the leave of my good lord the king,
We'll be, before our welcome.

Wid. Gentle madam,

You never had a servant, to whose trust
Your business was more welcome.

Hel. Nor you, mistress,

partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.

Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: 10 we may pick a thousand sallads, ere we light on such another herb.

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Ever a friend, whose thoughts more truly labour
To recompense your love; doubt not, but heaven 25
Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower.
As it bath fated her to be my motive'

And helper to a husband. But O strange men!
"That can such sweet use make of what they hate,
When saucy' trusting of the cozen'd thoughts
Defiles the pitchy night! so lust doth play
With what it loaths, for that which is away:
But more of this hereafter:-You, Diana,
Under my poor instructions yet must suffer
Something in my behalf.

Dia. Let death and honesty

Go with your impositions, I am yours
Upon your will to suffer.

Hel. Yet, I pray you,

But with the word, the times will bring on summer,
When briars shall have leaves as well as thorns,
And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;
Our waggon is prepar'd, and time revives us :
Al's well that ends well: still the fine's the crown:

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Clo. At your service.

Laf. No, no, no.

Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.

Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman?

Clo. Faith, sir, he has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there. Laf. What prince is that?

Clo. The black prince, sir, alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.

40 Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to suggest' thee from thy master thou talk'st of; serve him still.

Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the master I speak of, ever

Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. [Exeunt. 45 keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the

SCENE V.
Rousillon.

world, let his nobility remain in his court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some, that humble themselves, may; but the many will be 50 too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flowery way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire. Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well look'd to, without any tricks.

Enter Countess, Lafeu, and Clown. Laf. No, no, no, your son was mis-led with a snipt-taffata fellow there; whose villainous saffron' would have made all the unbak'd and doughy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour; and your son here at 55

'Motive for assistant. 2 Saucy may here imply luxurious, and by consequence lascivious. i. e. in an instant of time. i. e. rouses us. Here some particulars of fashionable dress are ridiculed. Snipt-taffata needs no explanation; but villainous saffron is more obscure. This alludes to a fantastick fashion, then much followed, of using yellow starch for their bands and uffs. Sir John Hawkins gives the following explanation of this passage: " Part of the furniture of a fool was a bauble, which, though it be generally taken to signify any thing of small value, has a precise and determinable meaning. It is, in short, a kind of truncheon with a head carved on it, which the fool anciently carried in his hand. i, e. seduce. Clo.

Act 5. Scene 2.]

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the [Exit.

law of nature.

Laf. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy'. Count. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made 5 himselt much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.

10

Laf. I like him well: 'tis not amiss: and was about to tell you, Since I heard of the good lady's death, and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I mov'd the king my master, to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a 15 self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness has promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceiv'd against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?

Count. With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected.

Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able a body as when he numbered thirty; he

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Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain with me till they meet together.

Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might safely be admitted.

Count. You need but plead your honourable
privilege.

Luf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter;
Re-enter Clown.
but, I thank my God, it holds yet.

Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a scar under't, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Count. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour: so, belike, is that. Clo. But it is your carbonado'd face. Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you; I long to talk with the young noble soldier.

Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow

will be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him 25 the head, and nod at every man. that in such intelligence hath seldom fail'd.

[Exeunt.

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[35]To come into his presence.

Hel. BUT
UT this exceeding posting, day and night, 40
Must wear your spirits low: we cannot
help it;

[one,

But, since you have made the days and nights as
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold, you do so grow in my requital,

As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;-
Enter a gentle Astringer.

45

This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power.-God save you, sir.
Gent. And you.

Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Gent. I have been sometimes there.

50

Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, 55
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

Gent. What's your will?

Gent. The king's not here.
Hel. Not here, sir?

Gent. Not, indeed:

He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste
Than is his use.

Wid. Lord, how we lose our pains!

Hel. All's well that ends well, yet;

Though time seem so adverse, and means unfit.

I do beseech you, whither is be gone?
Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.

Hel. I do beseech you, sir,

Since you are like to see the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand;
Which, I presume, shall render you no blame,
But rather make you thank your pains for it:

I will come after you with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

[thank'd,
Gent. This I'll do for you.
He. And you shall find yourself to be well
What-e'er falls more.-We must go horse again;-
[Exeunt.
Go, go, provide.

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Hel. That it will please you

60

To give this poor petition to the king;

And aid me with that store of power you have,

That is, unlucky.

Mr. Steevens says, that a gentle astringer, means a gentleman falconer.

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to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes: but I am now, sir, muddy'd in fortune's moat, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, 5 if it smell so strongly as thou speak'st of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Pr'ythee, allow the wind'.

Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir; 1 spake but by a metaphor.

Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Pr'ythee, get thee further.

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Enter King, Countess, Lafeu, Lords,
Attendants, &c.

King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem*
10 Was made much poorer by it: but your son,
As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know
Her estimation home".

Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Clo. Foh! pr'ythee, stand away; A paper from 15 fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.

Enter Lafeu.

Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, (but not a musk-cat) that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddy'd withal: Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decay'd, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit Clown.

Pur. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratch'd.

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Count. 'Tis past, my liege :

And I beseech your majesty to make it
Natural rebellion, done i' the blade' of youth;
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it, and burns on.

King. My honour'd lady,

I have forgiven and forgotten all:

Though my revenges were high bent upon him, And watch'd the time to shoot.

Laf. This I must say,

But first I beg my pardon.-The young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady,
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife,
Whose beauty did astonish the survey

Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive; Whose dear perfection, hearts that scorn'd to serve, 30Humbly call'd mistress.

Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you play'd the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her: 35 There's a quart d'ecu for you: Let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business.

Par. I beseech your honour, to hear me one single word.

Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.

Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
Laf. You beg more than one word then'.-

140

King. Praising what is lost, [hither;Makes the remembrance dear.-Well, call hin We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill All repetition:-Let him not ask our pardon; The nature of his great offence is dead, And deeper than oblivion we do bury The incensing relicks of it: let him approach, A stranger, no offender; and inform him, So 'tis our will he should.

Gent. I shall, my liege. [spoke? King. What says he to your daughter? have you Loy. All that he is hath reference to your high[ters sent me, King. Then shall we have a match. I have let

ness.

Cox'my passion; give me your hand:- How does 45 That set him high in fame. your drum?

Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me.

Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.

Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.

Enter Bertram.
Laf. He looks well on't.

King. I am not a day of season,

For thou may'st see a sun-shine and a hail

50 In me at once: But to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth, The time is fair again.

Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil: one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee 55 [Sound trumpets.] The king's coming, I know by his trumpets-Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though

out.

1

That is, stand to the windward of me.

4

Ber. My high-repented blames, Dear sovereign, pardon to me.

King. All is whole;

Not one word more of the consumed time. Let's take the instant by the forward top; For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees

The meaning is, I testify my pity for hi distress, by encouraging him with a gracious smile. A quibble is intended on the word Paroles, which in French is plural, and signifies words. Esteem here means reckoning or estimate. i. e. completely, in its full extent.i. e. in the spring of early life, when the man is yet green. Oil and fire suit but ill with blade, and therefore Dr. Warburton reads, blaze of youth.

11

The

Act 5. Scene 3.]

The inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals, ere we can effect them: You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Ber. Admiringly, my liege: At first
I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue:
Where the impression of mine eye entixing,
Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favour;
Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stol'n;
Extended or contracted all proportions,
To a most hideous object: Thence it came,
That she, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself,
Since I have lost, have lov'd, was in mine eye
The dust that did offend it.

King. Well excus'd:

That thou dost love her, strikes some scores away
From the great 'compt: But love, that comes too
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, [late,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, That's good that's gone; our rash faults
Make trivial price of serious things we have,
Not knowing them, until we know their grave:
Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,
Destroy our friends, and after weep their dust:
Our own love waking cries to see what's done,
While shameful bate sleeps out the afternoon.
Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:
The main consents are had; and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage-day. [bless!
Count. Which better than the first, Odear heaven
Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease!

As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,
In heavy satisfaction, and would never
Receive the ring again.

King. Plutus himself,

5 That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,
Hath not in nature's mystery more science,
Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,
know
you
Whoever gave it you: Then, if

That you are well acquainted with yourself,
10 Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement
You got it from her : she call'd the saints to surety,
That she would never put it from her tinger,
Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,
(Where you have never come) or sent it us
15 Upon her great disaster.

Ber. She never saw it.

[honour;
King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine
And niak'st conjectural fears to come unto me,
Which I would fain shut out: If it should prove
20 That thou art so inhuman,-'twill not prove so;-
And yet I know not thou didst hate her deadly,
And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring.-Take him away.
[Guards seize Bertram.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little.-Awaywith him ;-
We'll sift this matter further.

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30

Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's
Must be digested, give a favour from you, [name 35
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,
That she may quickly come.-By my old beard,
And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,
Was a sweet creature; such a ring as this,
The last that e'er she took her leave at court,
I saw upon her finger.

Ber. Her's it was not.

Ber. If you shall prove

This ring was ever her's, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she neverwas. [Exit Bertram guarded.
Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
Gent. Gracious sovereign,

Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;
Here's a petition from a Florentine,

Who hath for four or five removes', come short 40 To tender it herself. I undertook it,

[eye,
King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine
While I was speaking, ott was fastened to't.-
This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, 45
I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood
Necessity'd to help, that by this token

[her]

I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave
Of what should stead her most?

Ber. My gracious sovereign,

Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,

The ring was never her's.

Count. Son, on my life,

I have seen her wear it; and she reckoned it

At her life's rate.

Laf. I am sure, I saw her wear it.

[it:

Ber. You are deceived, my lord, she never saw
In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,
Wrapp'd in a paper which contain'd the name
Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought
I stood engag'd: but when I had subscrib'd
To mine own fortune, and inform'd her tully,
of honour
that
I could not answer in course

'Removes are journies or post-stages.
to prove they were honestly come by.

2

Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know,
is here attending: her business looks in her
With an importing visagé; and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your highness with herself.

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The King reads.

Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, Now is the count Rousillon a "he won me. "widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and He stole from my honour's paid to him. Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to "his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in vou it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, "and a poor maid is undone.

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"DIANA CAPULET."

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King. The heavens have thought well on thee, To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors: Go, speedily, and bring again the count.—

Alluding to buying horses in fairs, and paying toll for them

Enter

Enter Bertrum, guarded.

I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch'd.

Count. Now, justice on the doers! [you,
King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that?
Enter Widow and Diana.

Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capulet;
My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour,
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease', without your remedy.
King. Come hither, count: Do you know these

women?

5

10

Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
king. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,

With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd';
Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth:
Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,
That wil: speak any thing?

King. She hath that ring of yours.

Ber. I think, she has: certain it is, I lik'd her,
And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all pediments in fancy's course
15Are motives of more fancy; and in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that, which any interior might
at market-price have bought.

Ber. My lord, I neither can nor will deny
But that I know thein: Do they charge me further? 20
Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your wife?
Ber. She's none of mine, my lord.

Dia. If you shall marry,

You give away this hand, and that is mine;

Dia. I must be patient ;

You, that turn'd off a first so noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet,

Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband)
Send for your ring, I will return it home,

You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; 25 And give me mine again.

You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embody'd yours,
That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both, or none.

Laf. Your reputation comes too short for my 30|
daughter, you are no husband for her. [ToBertram.
Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,
Whom sometime I have laugh'd with; let your

highness

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'Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your hoThan in my thought it lies!

Dia. Good my lord,

Ask him upon his oath, if he does think

He had not my virginity.

King. What say'st thou to her?

Ber. She's impudent, my lord;

And was a common gamester to the camp.
Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,
He might have bought me at a common price:
Do not believe him: O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect and rich validity2,
Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it:

Of six preceding ancestors, that gem

Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,

Hath it been ow'd, and worn. This is his wife;

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought you said,

You saw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an instrument; his name's Paroiles.

3

35

40

Ber. I have it not.

King. What ring was yours, I pray you?
Dia. Sir, much like
The same upon your finger.

[late.
King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of
Dia. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed,
King. The story then goes false, you threw it
Out of a casement,

Dia. I have spoke the truth.
Enter Paroles.

[hinz

Ber. My lord, I do contess the ring was hers.
King. Youboggle shrewdly, every feather starts
Is this the man you speak of?
[you.-
Dia. It is, my lord.

King. Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge
Not fearing the displeasure of your master, [you,
(Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off)
By him, and by this woman here, what know you?
Par. So please your majesty, my master hath
45 been an honourable gentleman; tricks he hath
ned in him, which gentlemen have.

King. Come, come, to the purpose; Did he love this woman?

Par. 'Faith, sir, he did love her: But how? 50 King. How, I pray you?

55

Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves

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60 orator.

Dia. Do you know, he promis'd me marriage?
Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

That is, decease, die. i. e. value. Quoted has the same sense as noted. See note 3, p. 13. Le. only to speak a truth.

King

T

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