| ACT VSCENE III | Rousillon. The COUNT's palace. | |
| | Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the twoFrench Lords, with Attendants | |
| KING | We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem | |
| | Was made much poorer by it: but your son, | |
| | As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know | |
| | Her estimation home. | 5 |
| COUNTESS | 'Tis past, my liege; | |
| | And I beseech your majesty to make it | |
| | Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth; | |
| | When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, | |
| | O'erbears it and burns on. | 10 |
| KING | My honour'd lady, | |
| | I have forgiven and forgotten all; | |
| | Though my revenges were high bent upon him, | |
| | And watch'd the time to shoot. | |
| LAFEU | This I must say, | 15 |
| | But first I beg my pardon, the young lord | |
| | Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady | |
| | Offence of mighty note; but to himself | |
| | The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife | |
| | Whose beauty did astonish the survey | 20 |
| | Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, | |
| | Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve | |
| | Humbly call'd mistress. | |
| KING | Praising what is lost | |
| | Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither; | 25 |
| | We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill | |
| | All repetition: let him not ask our pardon; | |
| | The nature of his great offence is dead, | |
| | And deeper than oblivion we do bury | |
| | The incensing relics of it: let him approach, | 30 |
| | A stranger, no offender; and inform him | |
| | So 'tis our will he should. | |
| Gentleman | I shall, my liege. | |
| | Exit | |
| KING | What says he to your daughter? have you spoke? | |
| LAFEU | All that he is hath reference to your highness. | 35 |
| KING | Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me | |
| | That set him high in fame. | |
| | Enter BERTRAM | |
| LAFEU | He looks well on't. | |
| KING | I am not a day of season, | |
| | For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail | 40 |
| | In me at once: but to the brightest beams | |
| | Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth; | |
| | The time is fair again. | |
| BERTRAM | My high-repented blames, | |
| | Dear sovereign, pardon to me. | 45 |
| KING | All is whole; | |
| | Not one word more of the consumed time. | |
| | Let's take the instant by the forward top; | |
| | For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees | |
| | The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time | 50 |
| | Steals ere we can effect them. You remember | |
| | The daughter of this lord? | |
| BERTRAM | Admiringly, my liege, at first | |
| | I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart | |
| | Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue | 55 |
| | Where the impression of mine eye infixing, | |
| | Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, | |
| | Which warp'd the line of every other favour; | |
| | Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen; | |
| | Extended or contracted all proportions | 60 |
| | To a most hideous object: thence it came | |
| | That she whom all men praised and whom myself, | |
| | Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye | |
| | The dust that did offend it. | |
| KING | Well excused: | 65 |
| | That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away | |
| | From the great compt: but love that comes too late, | |
| | Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, | |
| | To the great sender turns a sour offence, | |
| | Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults | 70 |
| | Make trivial price of serious things we have, | |
| | Not knowing them until we know their grave: | |
| | Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, | |
| | Destroy our friends and after weep their dust | |
| | Our own love waking cries to see what's done, | 75 |
| | While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon. | |
| | Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. | |
| | Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: | |
| | The main consents are had; and here we'll stay | |
| | To see our widower's second marriage-day. | 80 |
| COUNTESS | Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless! | |
| | Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse! | |
| LAFEU | Come on, my son, in whom my house's name | |
| | Must be digested, give a favour from you | |
| | To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, | 85 |
| | That she may quickly come. | |
| | BERTRAM gives a ring | |
| | By my old beard, | |
| | And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, | |
| | Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this, | |
| | The last that e'er I took her at court, | 90 |
| | I saw upon her finger. | |
| BERTRAM | Hers it was not. | |
| KING | Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, | |
| | While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. | |
| | This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, | 95 |
| | I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood | |
| | Necessitied to help, that by this token | |
| | I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave | |
| | her | |
| | Of what should stead her most? | 100 |
| BERTRAM | My gracious sovereign, | |
| | Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, | |
| | The ring was never hers. | |
| COUNTESS | Son, on my life, | |
| | I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it | 105 |
| | At her life's rate. | |
| LAFEU | I am sure I saw her wear it. | |
| BERTRAM | You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it: | |
| | In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, | |
| | Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name | 110 |
| | Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought | |
| | I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed | |
| | To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully | |
| | I could not answer in that course of honour | |
| | As she had made the overture, she ceased | 115 |
| | In heavy satisfaction and would never | |
| | Receive the ring again. | |
| KING | Plutus himself, | |
| | That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, | |
| | Hath not in nature's mystery more science | 120 |
| | Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, | |
| | Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know | |
| | That you are well acquainted with yourself, | |
| | Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement | |
| | You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety | 125 |
| | That she would never put it from her finger, | |
| | Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, | |
| | Where you have never come, or sent it us | |
| | Upon her great disaster. | |
| BERTRAM | She never saw it. | 130 |
| KING | Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; | |
| | And makest conjectural fears to come into me | |
| | Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove | |
| | That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;-- | |
| | And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly, | 135 |
| | And she is dead; which nothing, but to close | |
| | Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, | |
| | More than to see this ring. Take him away. | |
| | Guards seize BERTRAM | |
| | My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, | |
| | Shall tax my fears of little vanity, | 140 |
| | Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him! | |
| | We'll sift this matter further. | |
| BERTRAM | If you shall prove | |
| | This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy | |
| | Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, | 145 |
| | Where yet she never was. | |
| | Exit, guarded | |
| KING | I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. | |
| | Enter a Gentleman | |
| Gentleman | Gracious sovereign, | |
| | Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not: | |
| | Here's a petition from a Florentine, | 150 |
| | Who hath for four or five removes come short | |
| | To tender it herself. I undertook it, | |
| | Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech | |
| | Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know | |
| | Is here attending: her business looks in her | 155 |
| | With an importing visage; and she told me, | |
| | In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern | |
| | Your highness with herself. | |
| KING | Reads | |
| | when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won | |
| | me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows | 160 |
| | are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He | |
| | stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow | |
| | him to his country for justice: grant it me, O | |
| | king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer | |
| | flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. | 165 |
| | DIANA CAPILET. | |
| LAFEU | I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for | |
| | this: I'll none of him. | |
| KING | The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu, | |
| | To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors: | 170 |
| | Go speedily and bring again the count. | |
| | I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, | |
| | Was foully snatch'd. | |
| COUNTESS | Now, justice on the doers! | |
| | Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded | |
| KING | I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you, | 175 |
| | And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, | |
| | Yet you desire to marry. | |
| | Enter Widow and DIANA | |
| | What woman's that? | |
| DIANA | I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, | |
| | Derived from the ancient Capilet: | 180 |
| | My suit, as I do understand, you know, | |
| | And therefore know how far I may be pitied. | |
| Widow | I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour | |
| | Both suffer under this complaint we bring, | |
| | And both shall cease, without your remedy. | 185 |
| KING | Come hither, count; do you know these women? | |
| BERTRAM | My lord, I neither can nor will deny | |
| | 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. | 190 |
| DIANA | If you shall marry, | |
| | You give away this hand, and that is mine; | |
| | You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; | |
| | You give away myself, which is known mine; | |
| | For I by vow am so embodied yours, | 195 |
| | That she which marries you must marry me, | |
| | Either both or none. | |
| LAFEU | Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you | |
| | are no husband for her. | |
| BERTRAM | My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, | 200 |
| | Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness | |
| | Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour | |
| | Than for to think that I would sink it here. | |
| KING | Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend | |
| | Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour | 205 |
| | Than in my thought it lies. | |
| DIANA | Good my lord, | |
| | Ask him upon his oath, if he does think | |
| | He had not my virginity. | |
| KING | What say'st thou to her? | 210 |
| BERTRAM | She's impudent, my lord, | |
| | And was a common gamester to the camp. | |
| DIANA | He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, | |
| | He might have bought me at a common price: | |
| | Do not believe him. O, behold this ring, | 215 |
| | Whose high respect and rich validity | |
| | Did lack a parallel; yet for all that | |
| | He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, | |
| | If I be one. | |
| COUNTESS | He blushes, and 'tis it: | 220 |
| | Of six preceding ancestors, that gem, | |
| | Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, | |
| | Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife; | |
| | That ring's a thousand proofs. | |
| KING | Methought you said | 225 |
| | You saw one here in court could witness it. | |
| DIANA | I did, my lord, but loath am to produce | |
| | So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles. | |
| LAFEU | I saw the man to-day, if man he be. | |
| KING | Find him, and bring him hither. | 230 |
| | Exit an Attendant | |
| BERTRAM | What of him? | |
| | He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, | |
| | With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd; | |
| | Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth. | |
| | Am I or that or this for what he'll utter, | 235 |
| | That will speak any thing? | |
| KING | She hath that ring of yours. | |
| BERTRAM | I think she has: certain it is I liked her, | |
| | And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth: | |
| | She knew her distance and did angle for me, | 240 |
| | Madding my eagerness with her restraint, | |
| | As all impediments in fancy's course | |
| | Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, | |
| | Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace, | |
| | Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring; | 245 |
| | And I had that which any inferior might | |
| | At market-price have bought. | |
| DIANA | I must be patient: | |
| | You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife, | |
| | May justly diet me. I pray you yet; | 250 |
| | Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband; | |
| | Send for your ring, I will return it home, | |
| | And give me mine again. | |
| BERTRAM | I have it not. | |
| KING | What ring was yours, I pray you? | 255 |
| DIANA | Sir, much like | |
| | The same upon your finger. | |
| KING | Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. | |
| DIANA | And this was it I gave him, being abed. | |
| KING | The story then goes false, you threw it him | 260 |
| | Out of a casement. | |
| DIANA | I have spoke the truth. | |
| | Enter PAROLLES | |
| BERTRAM | My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. | |
| KING | You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you. | |
| | Is this the man you speak of? | 265 |
| DIANA | Ay, my lord. | |
| KING | Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you, | |
| | Not fearing the displeasure of your master, | |
| | Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off, | |
| | By him and by this woman here what know you? | 270 |
| PAROLLES | So please your majesty, my master hath been an | |
| | honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him, | |
| | which gentlemen have. | |
| KING | Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman? | |
| PAROLLES | Faith, sir, he did love her; but how? | 275 |
| KING | How, I pray you? | |
| PAROLLES | He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. | |
| KING | How is that? | |
| PAROLLES | He loved her, sir, and loved her not. | |
| KING | As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an | 280 |
| | 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. | 285 |
| KING | But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest? | |
| PAROLLES | Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, | |
| | as I said; but more than that, he loved her: for | |
| | indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and | |
| | of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet I | 290 |
| | was in that credit with them at that time that I | |
| | knew of their going to bed, and of other motions, | |
| | as promising her marriage, and things which would | |
| | derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not | |
| | speak what I know. | 295 |
| KING | Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say | |
| | they are married: but thou art too fine in thy | |
| | evidence; therefore stand aside. | |
| | This ring, you say, was yours? | |
| DIANA | Ay, my good lord. | 300 |
| KING | Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? | |
| DIANA | It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. | |
| KING | Who lent it you? | |
| DIANA | It was not lent me neither. | |
| KING | Where did you find it, then? | 305 |
| DIANA | I found it not. | |
| KING | If it were yours by none of all these ways, | |
| | How could you give it him? | |
| DIANA | I never gave it him. | |
| LAFEU | This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off | 310 |
| | and on at pleasure. | |
| KING | This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife. | |
| DIANA | It might be yours or hers, for aught I know. | |
| KING | Take her away; I do not like her now; | |
| | To prison with her: and away with him. | 315 |
| | Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, | |
| | Thou diest within this hour. | |
| DIANA | I'll never tell you. | |
| KING | Take her away. | |
| DIANA | I'll put in bail, my liege. | 320 |
| KING | I think thee now some common customer. | |
| DIANA | By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. | |
| KING | Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while? | |
| DIANA | Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: | |
| | He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't; | 325 |
| | I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not. | |
| | Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; | |
| | I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. | |
| KING | She does abuse our ears: to prison with her. | |
| DIANA | Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir: | 330 |
| | Exit Widow | |
| | The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, | |
| | And he shall surety me. But for this lord, | |
| | Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, | |
| | Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: | |
| | He knows himself my bed he hath defiled; | 335 |
| | And at that time he got his wife with child: | |
| | Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick: | |
| | So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick: | |
| | And now behold the meaning. | |
| | Re-enter Widow, with HELENA | |
| KING | Is there no exorcist | 340 |
| | Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? | |
| | Is't real that I see? | |
| HELENA | No, my good lord; | |
| | 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, | |
| | The name and not the thing. | 345 |
| BERTRAM | Both, both. O, pardon! | |
| HELENA | O my good lord, when I was like this maid, | |
| | I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring; | |
| | And, look you, here's your letter; this it says: | |
| | 'When from my finger you can get this ring | 350 |
| | And are by me with child,' &c. This is done: | |
| | Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? | |
| BERTRAM | If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, | |
| | I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. | |
| HELENA | If it appear not plain and prove untrue, | 355 |
| | Deadly divorce step between me and you! | |
| | O my dear mother, do I see you living? | |
| LAFEU | Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon: | |
| | To PAROLLES | |
| | Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so, | |
| | I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: | 360 |
| | Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones. | |
| KING | Let us from point to point this story know, | |
| | To make the even truth in pleasure flow. | |
| | To DIANA | |
| | If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower, | |
| | Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; | 365 |
| | For I can guess that by thy honest aid | |
| | Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid. | |
| | Of that and all the progress, more or less, | |
| | Resolvedly more leisure shall express: | |
| | All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, | 370 |
| | The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. | |
| | Flourish | |
| | ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL | |
| | EPILOGUE | |
| KING | The king's a beggar, now the play is done: | |
| | All is well ended, if this suit be won, | 375 |
| | That you express content; which we will pay, | |
| | With strife to please you, day exceeding day: | |
| | Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; | |
| | Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. | |
| | Exeunt | |
