All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 5
Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.
Widow : Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we
[p]shall lose all the
sight.
Diana : They say the French count has done most honourable service.
Widow : It is reported that he has taken their greatest
[p]commander; and that
with his own hand he slew the
[p]duke's brother.
[p][Tucket]
[p]We
have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary
[p]way: hark! you may
know by their trumpets.
Mariana : Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with
[p]the report of
it. Well, Diana, take heed of this
[p]French earl: the honour of a
maid is her name; and
[p]no legacy is so rich as honesty.
Widow : I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited
[p]by a gentleman
his companion.
Mariana : I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a
[p]filthy officer he is
in those suggestions for the
[p]young earl. Beware of them, Diana;
their promises,
[p]enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines
of
[p]lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid
[p]hath been
seduced by them; and the misery is,
[p]example, that so terrible shows
in the wreck of
[p]maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade
succession,
[p]but that they are limed with the twigs that
threaten
[p]them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but
[p]I
hope your own grace will keep you where you are,
[p]though there were
no further danger known but the
[p]modesty which is so lost.
Diana : You shall not need to fear me.
Widow : I hope so.
[p][Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim]
[p]Look, here
comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at
[p]my house; thither they send
one another: I'll
[p]question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are
you bound?
Helena : To Saint Jaques le Grand.
[p]Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech
you?
Widow : At the Saint Francis here beside the port.
Helena : Is this the way?
Widow : Ay, marry, is't.
[p][A march afar]
[p]Hark you! they come this
way.
[p]If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,
[p]But till the troops come
by,
[p]I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;
[p]The rather,
for I think I know your hostess
[p]As ample as myself.
Helena : Is it yourself?
Widow : If you shall please so, pilgrim.
Helena : I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.
Widow : You came, I think, from France?
Helena : I did so.
Widow : Here you shall see a countryman of yours
[p]That has done worthy
service.
Helena : His name, I pray you.
Diana : The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?
Helena : But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
[p]His face I know not.
Diana : Whatsome'er he is,
[p]He's bravely taken here. He stole from
France,
[p]As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
[p]Against
his liking: think you it is so?
Helena : Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.
Diana : There is a gentleman that serves the count
[p]Reports but coarsely of
her.
Helena : What's his name?
Diana : Monsieur Parolles.
Helena : O, I believe with him,
[p]In argument of praise, or to the worth
[p]Of
the great count himself, she is too mean
[p]To have her name repeated:
all her deserving
[p]Is a reserved honesty, and that
[p]I have not
heard examined.
Diana : Alas, poor lady!
[p]'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
[p]Of a
detesting lord.
Widow : I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is,
[p]Her heart weighs
sadly: this young maid might do her
[p]A shrewd turn, if she pleased.
Helena : How do you mean?
[p]May be the amorous count solicits her
[p]In the
unlawful purpose.
Widow : He does indeed;
[p]And brokes with all that can in such a
suit
[p]Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
[p]But she is arm'd for
him and keeps her guard
[p]In honestest defence.
Mariana : The gods forbid else!
Widow : So, now they come:
[p][Drum and Colours]
[p][Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES,
and the whole army]
[p]That is Antonio, the duke's eldest
son;
[p]That, Escalus.
Helena : Which is the Frenchman?
Diana : He;
[p]That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.
[p]I would he
loved his wife: if he were honester
[p]He were much goodlier: is't not
a handsome gentleman?
Helena : I like him well.
Diana : 'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave
[p]That leads him
to these places: were I his lady,
[p]I would Poison that vile rascal.
Helena : Which is he?
Diana : That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?
Helena : Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.
Parolles : Lose our drum! well.
Mariana : He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.
Widow : Marry, hang you!
Mariana : And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
Widow : The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you
[p]Where you shall
host: of enjoin'd penitents
[p]There's four or five, to great Saint
Jaques bound,
[p]Already at my house.
Helena : I humbly thank you:
[p]Please it this matron and this gentle
maid
[p]To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking
[p]Shall be
for me; and, to requite you further,
[p]I will bestow some precepts of
this virgin
[p]Worthy the note.
Both : We'll take your offer kindly.
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Next: Act 3 - Scene 6
