All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 7
Florence. The Widow’s house.
Helena : If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
[p]I know not how I shall assure
you further,
[p]But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.
Widow : Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,
[p]Nothing acquainted
with these businesses;
[p]And would not put my reputation now
[p]In
any staining act.
Helena : Nor would I wish you.
[p]First, give me trust, the count he is my
husband,
[p]And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
[p]Is so from
word to word; and then you cannot,
[p]By the good aid that I of you
shall borrow,
[p]Err in bestowing it.
Widow : I should believe you:
[p]For you have show'd me that which well
approves
[p]You're great in fortune.
Helena : Take this purse of gold,
[p]And let me buy your friendly help thus
far,
[p]Which I will over-pay and pay again
[p]When I have found it.
The count he wooes your daughter,
[p]Lays down his wanton siege before
her beauty,
[p]Resolved to carry her: let her in fine consent,
[p]As
we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it.
[p]Now his important blood
will nought deny
[p]That she'll demand: a ring the county
wears,
[p]That downward hath succeeded in his house
[p]From son to
son, some four or five descents
[p]Since the first father wore it:
this ring he holds
[p]In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire,
[p]To
buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
[p]Howe'er repented after.
Widow : Now I see
[p]The bottom of your purpose.
Helena : You see it lawful, then: it is no more,
[p]But that your daughter, ere
she seems as won,
[p]Desires this ring; appoints him an
encounter;
[p]In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
[p]Herself most
chastely absent: after this,
[p]To marry her, I'll add three thousand
crowns
[p]To what is passed already.
Widow : I have yielded:
[p]Instruct my daughter how she shall
persever,
[p]That time and place with this deceit so lawful
[p]May
prove coherent. Every night he comes
[p]With musics of all sorts and
songs composed
[p]To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us
[p]To
chide him from our eaves; for he persists
[p]As if his life lay on't.
Helena : Why then to-night
[p]Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
[p]Is
wicked meaning in a lawful deed
[p]And lawful meaning in a lawful
act,
[p]Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
[p]But let's about
it.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 6
Next: Act 4 - Scene 1
