All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 4
Florence. The Widow’s house.
Helena : That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you,
[p]One of the
greatest in the Christian world
[p]Shall be my surety; 'fore whose
throne 'tis needful,
[p]Ere I can perfect mine intents, to
kneel:
[p]Time was, I did him a desired office,
[p]Dear almost as his
life; which gratitude
[p]Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep
forth,
[p]And answer, thanks: I duly am inform'd
[p]His grace is at
Marseilles; to which place
[p]We have convenient convoy. You must
know
[p]I am supposed dead: the army breaking,
[p]My husband hies him
home; where, heaven aiding,
[p]And by the leave of my good lord the
king,
[p]We'll be before our welcome.
Widow : Gentle madam,
[p]You never had a servant to whose trust
[p]Your
business was more welcome.
Helena : Nor you, mistress,
[p]Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly
labour
[p]To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven
[p]Hath
brought me up to be your daughter's dower,
[p]As it hath fated her to
be my motive
[p]And helper to a husband. But, O strange men!
[p]That
can such sweet use make of what they hate,
[p]When saucy trusting of
the cozen'd thoughts
[p]Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth
play
[p]With what it loathes for that which is away.
[p]But more of
this hereafter. You, Diana,
[p]Under my poor instructions yet must
suffer
[p]Something in my behalf.
Diana : Let death and honesty
[p]Go with your impositions, I am yours
[p]Upon
your will to suffer.
Helena : Yet, I pray you:
[p]But with the word the time will bring on
summer,
[p]When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,
[p]And be
as sweet as sharp. We must away;
[p]Our wagon is prepared, and time
revives us:
[p]All's well that ends well; still the fine's the
crown;
[p]Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.
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Next: Act 4 - Scene 5
