directory
home contact

All's Well That Ends Well

ACT II SCENE V Paris. The KING's palace. 
[Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM]
LAFEUBut I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
BERTRAMYes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
LAFEUYou have it from his own deliverance.
BERTRAMAnd by other warranted testimony.
LAFEUThen my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.5
BERTRAMI do assure you, my lord, he is very great in
knowledge and accordingly valiant.
LAFEUI have then sinned against his experience and
transgressed against his valour; and my state that
way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my10
heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make
us friends; I will pursue the amity.
[Enter PAROLLES]
PAROLLES[To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.
LAFEUPray you, sir, who's his tailor?
PAROLLESSir?15
LAFEUO, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good
workman, a very good tailor.
BERTRAM[Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?
PAROLLESShe is.
BERTRAMWill she away to-night?20
PAROLLESAs you'll have her.
BERTRAMI have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
Given order for our horses; and to-night,
When I should take possession of the bride,
End ere I do begin.25
LAFEUA good traveller is something at the latter end of a
dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a
known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should
be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.
BERTRAMIs there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?30
PAROLLESI know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's
displeasure.
LAFEUYou have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs
and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and
out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer35
question for your residence.
BERTRAMIt may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
LAFEUAnd shall do so ever, though I took him at 's
prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this
of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the40
soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in
matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them
tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:
I have spoken better of you than you have or will to
deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.45
[Exit]
PAROLLESAn idle lord. I swear.
BERTRAMI think so.
PAROLLESWhy, do you not know him?
BERTRAMYes, I do know him well, and common speech
Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.50
[Enter HELENA]
HELENAI have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
Spoke with the king and have procured his leave
For present parting; only he desires
Some private speech with you.
BERTRAMI shall obey his will.55
You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
The ministration and required office
On my particular. Prepared I was not
For such a business; therefore am I found60
So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you
That presently you take our way for home;
And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
For my respects are better than they seem
And my appointments have in them a need65
Greater than shows itself at the first view
To you that know them not. This to my mother:
[Giving a letter]
'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
I leave you to your wisdom.
HELENASir, I can nothing say,70
But that I am your most obedient servant.
BERTRAMCome, come, no more of that.
HELENAAnd ever shall
With true observance seek to eke out that
Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd75
To equal my great fortune.
BERTRAMLet that go:
My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
HELENAPray, sir, your pardon.
BERTRAMWell, what would you say?80
HELENAI am not worthy of the wealth I owe,
Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;
But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.
BERTRAMWhat would you have?85
HELENASomething; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.
I would not tell you what I would, my lord:
Faith yes;
Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
BERTRAMI pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.90
HELENAI shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
BERTRAMWhere are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.
[Exit HELENA]
Go thou toward home; where I will never come
Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.
Away, and for our flight.95
PAROLLESBravely, coragio!
[Exeunt]

Next: All's Well That Ends Well, Act 3, Scene 1