All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare

Act 5 - Scene 3

Rousillon. The COUNT’s palace.

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

Countess : 'Tis past, my liege; [p]And I beseech your majesty to make
it [p]Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth; [p]When oil and
fire, too strong for reason's force, [p]O'erbears it and burns on.

King of France : My honour'd lady, [p]I have forgiven and forgotten all; [p]Though my
revenges were high bent upon him, [p]And watch'd the time to shoot.

Lafeu : This I must say, [p]But first I beg my pardon, the young lord [p]Did
to his majesty, his mother and his lady [p]Offence of mighty note; but
to himself [p]The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife [p]Whose
beauty did astonish the survey [p]Of richest eyes, whose words all
ears took captive, [p]Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to
serve [p]Humbly call'd mistress.

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

Gentleman : I shall, my liege.

King of France : What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?

Lafeu : All that he is hath reference to your highness.

King of France : Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me [p]That set him
high in fame.

King of France : I am not a day of season, [p]For thou mayst see a sunshine and a
hail [p]In me at once: but to the brightest beams [p]Distracted clouds
give way; so stand thou forth; [p]The time is fair again.

Bertram : My high-repented blames, [p]Dear sovereign, pardon to me.

King of France : All is whole; [p]Not one word more of the consumed time. [p]Let's take
the instant by the forward top; [p]For we are old, and on our quick'st
decrees [p]The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time [p]Steals ere we
can effect them. You remember [p]The daughter of this lord?

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

King of France : Well excused: [p]That thou didst love her, strikes some scores
away [p]From the great compt: but love that comes too late, [p]Like a
remorseful pardon slowly carried, [p]To the great sender turns a sour
offence, [p]Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults [p]Make
trivial price of serious things we have, [p]Not knowing them until we
know their grave: [p]Oft our displeasures, to ourselves
unjust, [p]Destroy our friends and after weep their dust [p]Our own
love waking cries to see what's done, [p]While shame full late sleeps
out the afternoon. [p]Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget
her. [p]Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: [p]The main
consents are had; and here we'll stay [p]To see our widower's second
marriage-day.

Countess : Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless! [p]Or, ere they
meet, in me, O nature, cesse!

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

Bertram : Hers it was not.

King of France : Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, [p]While I was speaking,
oft was fasten'd to't. [p]This ring was mine; and, when I gave it
Helen, [p]I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood [p]Necessitied to
help, that by this token [p]I would relieve her. Had you that craft,
to reave [p]her [p]Of what should stead her most?

Bertram : My gracious sovereign, [p]Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, [p]The
ring was never hers.

Countess : Son, on my life, [p]I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it [p]At
her life's rate.

Lafeu : I am sure I saw her wear it.

Bertram : You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it: [p]In Florence was it
from a casement thrown me, [p]Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the
name [p]Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought [p]I stood
engaged: but when I had subscribed [p]To mine own fortune and inform'd
her fully [p]I could not answer in that course of honour [p]As she had
made the overture, she ceased [p]In heavy satisfaction and would
never [p]Receive the ring again.

King of France : Plutus himself, [p]That knows the tinct and multiplying
medicine, [p]Hath not in nature's mystery more science [p]Than I have
in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, [p]Whoever gave it you. Then,
if you know [p]That you are well acquainted with yourself, [p]Confess
'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement [p]You got it from her: she
call'd the saints to surety [p]That she would never put it from her
finger, [p]Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, [p]Where you have
never come, or sent it us [p]Upon her great disaster.

Bertram : She never saw it.

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

Bertram : If you shall prove [p]This ring was ever hers, you shall as
easy [p]Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, [p]Where yet she
never was.

King of France : I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

Gentleman : Gracious sovereign, [p]Whether I have been to blame or no, I know
not: [p]Here's a petition from a Florentine, [p]Who hath for four or
five removes come short [p]To tender it herself. I undertook
it, [p]Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech [p]Of the poor
suppliant, who by this I know [p]Is here attending: her business looks
in her [p]With an importing visage; and she told me, [p]In a sweet
verbal brief, it did concern [p]Your highness with herself.

King of France : [Reads] Upon his many protestations to marry me [p]when his wife was
dead, I blush to say it, he won [p]me. Now is the Count Rousillon a
widower: his vows [p]are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him.
He [p]stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow [p]him to his
country for justice: grant it me, O [p]king! in you it best lies;
otherwise a seducer [p]flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. [p]DIANA
CAPILET.

Lafeu : I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for [p]this: I'll none
of him.

King of France : The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu, [p]To bring forth this
discovery. Seek these suitors: [p]Go speedily and bring again the
count. [p]I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, [p]Was foully
snatch'd.

Countess : Now, justice on the doers!

King of France : I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you, [p]And that you fly
them as you swear them lordship, [p]Yet you desire to marry. [p][Enter
Widow and DIANA] [p]What woman's that?

Diana : I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, [p]Derived from the ancient
Capilet: [p]My suit, as I do understand, you know, [p]And therefore
know how far I may be pitied.

Widow : I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour [p]Both suffer under this
complaint we bring, [p]And both shall cease, without your remedy.

King of France : Come hither, count; do you know these women?

Bertram : My lord, I neither can nor will deny [p]But that I know them: do they
charge me further?

Diana : Why do you look so strange upon your wife?

Bertram : She's none of mine, my lord.

Diana : If you shall marry, [p]You give away this hand, and that is
mine; [p]You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; [p]You give
away myself, which is known mine; [p]For I by vow am so embodied
yours, [p]That she which marries you must marry me, [p]Either both or
none.

Lafeu : Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you [p]are no husband
for her.

Bertram : My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, [p]Whom sometime I
have laugh'd with: let your highness [p]Lay a more noble thought upon
mine honour [p]Than for to think that I would sink it here.

King of France : Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend [p]Till your deeds
gain them: fairer prove your honour [p]Than in my thought it lies.

Diana : Good my lord, [p]Ask him upon his oath, if he does think [p]He had not
my virginity.

King of France : What say'st thou to her?

Bertram : She's impudent, my lord, [p]And was a common gamester to the camp.

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

Countess : He blushes, and 'tis it: [p]Of six preceding ancestors, that
gem, [p]Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, [p]Hath it been
owed and worn. This is his wife; [p]That ring's a thousand proofs.

King of France : Methought you said [p]You saw one here in court could witness it.

Diana : I did, my lord, but loath am to produce [p]So bad an instrument: his
name's Parolles.

Lafeu : I saw the man to-day, if man he be.

King of France : Find him, and bring him hither.

Bertram : What of him? [p]He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, [p]With all
the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd; [p]Whose nature sickens but
to speak a truth. [p]Am I or that or this for what he'll
utter, [p]That will speak any thing?

King of France : She hath that ring of yours.

Bertram : I think she has: certain it is I liked her, [p]And boarded her i' the
wanton way of youth: [p]She knew her distance and did angle for
me, [p]Madding my eagerness with her restraint, [p]As all impediments
in fancy's course [p]Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, [p]Her
infinite cunning, with her modern grace, [p]Subdued me to her rate:
she got the ring; [p]And I had that which any inferior might [p]At
market-price have bought.

Diana : I must be patient: [p]You, that have turn'd off a first so noble
wife, [p]May justly diet me. I pray you yet; [p]Since you lack virtue,
I will lose a husband; [p]Send for your ring, I will return it
home, [p]And give me mine again.

Bertram : I have it not.

King of France : What ring was yours, I pray you?

Diana : Sir, much like [p]The same upon your finger.

King of France : Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.

Diana : And this was it I gave him, being abed.

King of France : The story then goes false, you threw it him [p]Out of a casement.

Diana : I have spoke the truth.

Bertram : My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.

King of France : You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you. [p]Is this the man you
speak of?

Diana : Ay, my lord.

King of France : Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you, [p]Not fearing the
displeasure of your master, [p]Which on your just proceeding I'll keep
off, [p]By him and by this woman here what know you?

Parolles : So please your majesty, my master hath been an [p]honourable
gentleman: tricks he hath had in him, [p]which gentlemen have.

King of France : Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?

Parolles : Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?

King of France : How, I pray you?

Parolles : He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.

King of France : How is that?

Parolles : He loved her, sir, and loved her not.

King of France : As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an [p]equivocal companion is
this!

Parolles : I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.

Lafeu : He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.

Diana : Do you know he promised me marriage?

Parolles : Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

King of France : But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?

Parolles : Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, [p]as I said; but
more than that, he loved her: for [p]indeed he was mad for her, and
talked of Satan and [p]of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet
I [p]was in that credit with them at that time that I [p]knew of their
going to bed, and of other motions, [p]as promising her marriage, and
things which would [p]derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will
not [p]speak what I know.

King of France : Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say [p]they are
married: but thou art too fine in thy [p]evidence; therefore stand
aside. [p]This ring, you say, was yours?

Diana : Ay, my good lord.

King of France : Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?

Diana : It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.

King of France : Who lent it you?

Diana : It was not lent me neither.

King of France : Where did you find it, then?

Diana : I found it not.

King of France : If it were yours by none of all these ways, [p]How could you give it
him?

Diana : I never gave it him.

Lafeu : This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off [p]and on at
pleasure.

King of France : This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.

Diana : It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.

King of France : Take her away; I do not like her now; [p]To prison with her: and away
with him. [p]Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this
ring, [p]Thou diest within this hour.

Diana : I'll never tell you.

King of France : Take her away.

Diana : I'll put in bail, my liege.

King of France : I think thee now some common customer.

Diana : By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.

King of France : Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?

Diana : Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: [p]He knows I am no maid,
and he'll swear to't; [p]I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows
not. [p]Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; [p]I am either maid,
or else this old man's wife.

King of France : She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.

Diana : Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir: [p][Exit Widow] [p]The
jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, [p]And he shall surety me.
But for this lord, [p]Who hath abused me, as he knows
himself, [p]Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: [p]He
knows himself my bed he hath defiled; [p]And at that time he got his
wife with child: [p]Dead though she be, she feels her young one
kick: [p]So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick: [p]And now
behold the meaning.

King of France : Is there no exorcist [p]Beguiles the truer office of mine
eyes? [p]Is't real that I see?

Helena : No, my good lord; [p]'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, [p]The
name and not the thing.

Bertram : Both, both. O, pardon!

Helena : O my good lord, when I was like this maid, [p]I found you wondrous
kind. There is your ring; [p]And, look you, here's your letter; this
it says: [p]'When from my finger you can get this ring [p]And are by
me with child,' &c. This is done: [p]Will you be mine, now you are
doubly won?

Bertram : If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, [p]I'll love her
dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Helena : If it appear not plain and prove untrue, [p]Deadly divorce step
between me and you! [p]O my dear mother, do I see you living?

Lafeu : Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon: [p][To PAROLLES] [p]Good
Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so, [p]I thank thee: wait on me home,
I'll make sport with thee: [p]Let thy courtesies alone, they are
scurvy ones.

King of France : Let us from point to point this story know, [p]To make the even truth
in pleasure flow. [p][To DIANA] [p]If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped
flower, [p]Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; [p]For I
can guess that by thy honest aid [p]Thou keep'st a wife herself,
thyself a maid. [p]Of that and all the progress, more or
less, [p]Resolvedly more leisure shall express: [p]All yet seems well;
and if it end so meet, [p]The bitter past, more welcome is the
sweet. [p][Flourish] [p]EPILOGUE

King of France : The king's a beggar, now the play is done: [p]All is well ended, if
this suit be won, [p]That you express content; which we will
pay, [p]With strife to please you, day exceeding day: [p]Ours be your
patience then, and yours our parts; [p]Your gentle hands lend us, and
take our hearts.

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Next: Act 5 - Scene 3

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