Laf. Twas a good Lady, 'twas a good Lady. Wee may picke a thousand sallets ere wee light on such another hearbe
Clo. Indeed sir she was the sweete Margerom of the sallet, or rather the hearbe of grace
Laf. They are not hearbes you knaue, they are nose-hearbes
Clowne. I am no great Nabuchadnezar sir, I haue notmuch skill in grace
Laf. Whether doest thou professe thy selfe, a knaueor a foole?Clo. A foole sir at a womans seruice, and a knaue at amans
Laf. Your distinction
Clo. I would cousen the man of his wife, and do his seruice
Laf. So you were a knaue at his seruice indeed
Clo. And I would giue his wife my bauble sir to doeher seruice
Laf. I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knaueand foole
Clo. At your seruice
Laf. No, no, no
Clo. Why sir, if I cannot serue you, I can serue asgreat a prince as you are
Laf. Whose that, a Frenchman?Clo. Faith sir a has an English maine, but his fisnomieis more hotter in France then there
Laf. What prince is that?Clo. The blacke prince sir, alias the prince of darkenesse,alias the diuell
Laf. Hold thee there's my purse, I giue thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talk'st off, serue him still
Clo. I am a woodland fellow sir, that alwaies loued a great fire, and the master I speak of euer keeps a good fire, but sure he is the Prince of the world, let his Nobilitie remaine in's Court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pompe to enter: some that humble themselues may, but the manie will be too chill and tender, and theyle bee for the flowrie way that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire
Laf. Go thy waies, I begin to bee a wearie of thee, and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy wayes, let my horses be wel look'd too, without any trickes
Clo. If I put any trickes vpon em sir, they shall beeIades trickes, which are their owne right by the law ofNature.
Exit
Laf. A shrewd knaue and an vnhappie
Lady. So a is. My Lord that's gone made himselfe much sport out of him, by his authoritie hee remaines heere, which he thinkes is a pattent for his sawcinesse, and indeede he has no pace, but runnes where he will
Laf. I like him well, 'tis not amisse: and I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good Ladies death, and that my Lord your sonne was vpon his returne home. I moued the King my master to speake in the behalfe of my daughter, which in the minoritie of them both, his Maiestie out of a selfe gracious remembrance did first propose, his Highnesse hath promis'd me to doe it, and to stoppe vp the displeasure he hath conceiued against your sonne, there is no fitter matter. How do's your Ladyship like it? La. With verie much content my Lord, and I wish it happily effected
Laf. His Highnesse comes post from Marcellus, of as able bodie as when he number'd thirty, a will be heere to morrow, or I am deceiu'd by him that in such intelligence hath seldome fail'd
La. It reioyces me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I haue letters that my sonne will be heere to night: I shall beseech your Lordship to remaine with mee, till they meete together
Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted
Lad. You neede but pleade your honourable priuiledge
Laf. Ladie, of that I haue made a bold charter, butI thanke my God, it holds yet.Enter Clowne.
Clo. O Madam, yonders my Lord your sonne with a patch of veluet on's face, whether there bee a scar vnder't or no, the Veluet knowes, but 'tis a goodly patch of Veluet, his left cheeke is a cheeke of two pile and a halfe, but his right cheeke is worne bare
Laf. A scarre nobly got,Or a noble scarre, is a good liu'rie of honor,So belike is that
Clo. But it is your carbinado'd face
Laf. Let vs go see your sonne I pray you, I long to talke With the yong noble souldier
Clowne. 'Faith there's a dozen of em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at euerie man.
Exeunt.
Actus Quintus.
Enter Hellen, Widdow, and Diana, with two Attendants.
Hel. But this exceeding posting day and night,Must wear your spirits low, we cannot helpe it:But since you haue made the daies and nights as one,To weare your gentle limbes in my affayres,Be bold you do so grow in my requitall,As nothing can vnroote you. In happie time,Enter a gentle Astringer.
This man may helpe me to his Maiesties eare,If he would spend his power. God saue you sir
Gent. And you
Hel. Sir, I haue seene you in the Court of France
Gent. I haue beene sometimes there
Hel. I do presume sir, that you are not falneFrom the report that goes vpon your goodnesse,And therefore goaded with most sharpe occasions,Which lay nice manners by, I put you toThe vse of your owne vertues, for the whichI shall continue thankefull
Gent. What's your will?Hel. That it will please youTo giue this poore petition to the King,And ayde me with that store of power you haueTo come into his presence
Gen. The Kings not heere
Hel. Not heere sir?Gen. Not indeed,He hence remou'd last night, and with more hastThen is his vse
Wid. Lord how we loose our paines
Hel. All's well that ends well yet,Though time seeme so aduerse, and meanes vnfit:I do beseech you, whither is he gone?Gent. Marrie as I take it to Rossillion,Whither I am going
Hel. I do beseech you sir,Since you are like to see the King before me,Commend the paper to his gracious hand,Which I presume shall render you no blame,But rather make you thanke your paines for it,I will come after you with what good speedeOur meanes will make vs meanes
Gent. This Ile do for you
Hel. And you shall finde your selfe to be well thanktwhat e're falles more. We must to horse againe, Go, go,prouide.Enter Clowne and Parrolles.
Par. Good Mr Lauatch giue my Lord Lafew this letter, I haue ere now sir beene better knowne to you, when I haue held familiaritie with fresher cloathes: but I am now sir muddied in fortunes mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure
Clo. Truely, Fortunes displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speak'st of: I will hencefoorth eate no Fish of Fortunes butt'ring. Prethee alow the winde
Par. Nay you neede not to stop your nose sir: I spake but by a Metaphor
Clo. Indeed sir, if your Metaphor stinke, I will stop my nose, or against any mans Metaphor. Prethe get thee further
Par. Pray you sir deliuer me this paper
Clo. Foh, prethee stand away: a paper from fortunesclose-stoole, to giue to a Nobleman. Looke heere hecomes himselfe.Enter Lafew.
Clo. Heere is a purre of Fortunes sir, or of Fortunes Cat, but not a Muscat, that ha's falne into the vncleane fish-pond of her displeasure, and as he sayes is muddied withall. Pray you sir, vse the Carpe as you may, for he lookes like a poore decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knaue. I doe pittie his distresse in my smiles of comfort, and leaue him to your Lordship
Par. My Lord I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratch'd
Laf. And what would you haue me to doe? 'Tis too late to paire her nailes now. Wherein haue you played the knaue with fortune that she should scratch you, who of her selfe is a good Lady, and would not haue knaues thriue long vnder? There's a Cardecue for you: Let the Iustices make you and fortune friends; I am for other businesse
Par. I beseech your honour to heare mee one singleword,Laf. you begge a single peny more: Come you shallha't, saue your word
Par. My name my good Lord is Parrolles
Laf. You begge more then word then. Cox my passion,giue me your hand: How does your drumme?Par. O my good Lord, you were the first that foundmee
Laf. Was I insooth? And I was the first that lost thee
Par. It lies in you my Lord to bring me in some grace for you did bring me out
Laf. Out vpon thee knaue, doest thou put vpon mee at once both the office of God and the diuel: one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. The Kings comming I know by his Trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me, I had talke of you last night, though you are a foole and a knaue, you shall eate, go too, follow
Par. I praise God for you.
Flourish. Enter King, old Lady, Lafew, the two French Lords, with attendants.
Kin. We lost a Iewell of her, and our esteemeWas made much poorer by it: but your sonne,As mad in folly, lack'd the sence to knowHer estimation home
Old La. 'Tis past my Liege,And I beseech your Maiestie to make itNaturall rebellion, done i'th blade of youth,When oyle and fire, too strong for reasons force,Ore-beares it, and burnes on
Kin. My honour'd Lady,I haue forgiuen and forgotten all,Though my reuenges were high bent vpon him,And watch'd the time to shoote
Laf. This I must say,But first I begge my pardon: the yong LordDid to his Maiesty, his Mother, and his Ladie,Offence of mighty note; but to himselfeThe greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife,Whose beauty did astonish the surueyOf richest eies: whose words all eares tooke captiue,Whose deere perfection, hearts that scorn'd to serue,Humbly call'd Mistris
Kin. Praising what is lost,Makes the remembrance deere. Well, call him hither,We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall killAll repetition: Let him not aske our pardon,The nature of his great offence is dead,And deeper then obliuion, we do burieTh' incensing reliques of it. Let him approachA stranger, no offender; and informe himSo 'tis our will he should
Gent. I shall my Liege
Kin. What sayes he to your daughter,Haue you spoke?Laf. All that he is, hath reference to your Highnes
Kin. Then shall we haue a match. I haue letters sent me, that sets him high in fame. Enter Count Bertram.
Laf. He lookes well on't
Kin. I am not a day of season,For thou maist see a sun-shine, and a haileIn me at once: But to the brightest beamesDistracted clouds giue way, so stand thou forth,The time is faire againe
Ber. My high repented blamesDeere Soueraigne pardon to me
Kin. 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 decreesTh' inaudible, and noiselesse foot of timeSteales, ere we can effect them. You rememberThe daughter of this Lord?Ber. Admiringly my Liege, at firstI stucke my choice vpon her, ere my heartDurst make too bold a herauld of my tongue:Where the impression of mine eye enfixing,Contempt his scornfull Perspectiue did lend me,Which warpt the line, of euerie other fauour,Scorn'd a faire colour, or exprest it stolne,Extended or contracted all proportionsTo a most hideous obiect. Thence it came,That she whom all men prais'd, and whom my selfe,Since I haue lost, haue lou'd; was in mine eyeThe dust that did offend it
Kin. Well excus'd:That thou didst loue her, strikes some scores awayFrom the great compt: but loue that comes too late,Like a remorsefull pardon slowly carriedTo the great sender, turnes a sowre offence,Crying, that's good that's gone: Our rash faults,Make triuiall price of serious things we haue,Not knowing them, vntill we know their graue.Oft our displeasures to our selues vniust,Destroy our friends, and after weepe their dust:Our owne loue waking, cries to see what's done,While shamefull hate sleepes out the afternoone.Be this sweet Helens knell, and now forget her.Send forth your amorous token for faire Maudlin,The maine consents are had, and heere wee'l stayTo see our widdowers second marriage day:Which better then the first, O deere heauen blesse,Or, ere they meete in me, O Nature cesse
Laf. Come on my sonne, in whom my houses nameMust be digested: giue a fauour from youTo sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,That she may quickly come. By my old beard,And eu'rie haire that's on't, Helen that's deadWas a sweet creature: such a ring as this,The last that ere I tooke her leaue at Court,I saw vpon her finger
Ber. Hers it was not
King. Now pray you let me see it. For mine eye,While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd too't:This Ring was mine, and when I gaue it Hellen,I bad her if her fortunes euer stoodeNecessitied to helpe, that by this tokenI would releeue her. Had you that craft to reaue herOf what should stead her most?Ber. My gracious Soueraigne,How ere it pleases you to take it so,The ring was neuer hers
Old La. Sonne, on my lifeI haue seene her weare it, and she reckon'd itAt her liues rate
Laf. I am sure I saw her weare it
Ber. You are deceiu'd my Lord, she neuer saw it:In Florence was it from a casement throwne mee,Wrap'd in a paper, which contain'd the nameOf her that threw it: Noble she was, and thoughtI stood ingag'd, but when I had subscrib'dTo mine owne fortune, and inform'd her fully,I could not answer in that course of HonourAs she had made the ouerture, she ceastIn heauie satisfaction, and would neuerReceiue the Ring againe
Kin. Platus himselfe,That knowes the tinct and multiplying med'cine,Hath not in natures mysterie more science,Then I haue in this Ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helens,Who euer gaue it you: then if you knowThat you are well acquainted with your selfe,Confesse 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcementYou got it from her. She call'd the Saints to suretie,That she would neuer put it from her finger,Vnlesse she gaue it to your selfe in bed,Where you haue neuer come: or sent it vsVpon her great disaster
Ber. She neuer saw it
Kin. Thou speak'st it falsely: as I loue mine Honor,And mak'st connecturall feares to come into me,Which I would faine shut out, if it should proueThat thou art so inhumane, 'twill not proue so:And yet I know not, thou didst hate her deadly,And she is dead, which nothing but to closeHer eyes my selfe, could win me to beleeue,More then to see this Ring. Take him away,My fore-past proofes, how ere the matter fallShall taze my feares of little vanitie,Hauing vainly fear'd too little. Away with him,Wee'l sift this matter further
Ber. If you shall proueThis Ring was euer hers, you shall as easieProue that I husbanded her bed in Florence,Where yet she neuer was.Enter a Gentleman.
King. I am wrap'd in dismall thinkings
Gen. Gracious Soueraigne.Whether I haue beene too blame or no, I know not,Here's a petition from a Florentine,Who hath for foure or fiue remoues come short,To tender it her selfe. I vndertooke it,Vanquish'd thereto by the faire grace and speechOf the poore suppliant, who by this I knowIs heere attending: her businesse lookes in herWith an importing visage, and she told meIn a sweet verball breefe, it did concerneYour Highnesse with her selfe.
A Letter.
Vpon his many protestations to marrie mee when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he wonne me. Now is the Count Rossillion a Widdower, his vowes are forfeited to mee, and my honors payed to him. Hee stole from Florence, taking no leaue, and I follow him to his Countrey for Iustice: Grant it me, O King, in you it best lies, otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poore Maid is vndone. Diana Capilet
Laf. I will buy me a sonne in Law in a faire, and toulefor this. Ile none of him
Kin. The heauens haue thought well on thee Lafew,To bring forth this discou'rie, seeke these sutors:Go speedily, and bring againe the Count.Enter Bertram.
I am a-feard the life of Hellen (Ladie)Was fowly snatcht
Old La. Now iustice on the doers
King. I wonder sir, sir, wiues are monsters to you,And that you flye them as you sweare them Lordship,Yet you desire to marry. What woman's that?Enter Widdow, Diana, and Parrolles.
Dia. I am my Lord a wretched Florentine,Deriued from the ancient Capilet,My suite as I do vnderstand you know,And therefore know how farre I may be pittied
Wid. I am her Mother sir, whose age and honourBoth suffer vnder this complaint we bring,And both shall cease, without your remedie
King. Come hether Count, do you know these Women?Ber. My Lord, I neither can nor will denie,But that I know them, do they charge me further?Dia. Why do you looke so strange vpon your wife?Ber. She's none of mine my Lord
Dia. If you shall marrieYou giue away this hand, and that is mine,You giue away heauens vowes, and those are mine:You giue away my selfe, which is knowne mine:For I by vow am so embodied yours,That she which marries you, must marrie me,Either both or none
Laf. Your reputation comes too short for my daughter,you are no husband for her
Ber. My Lord, this is a fond and desp'rate creature,Whom sometime I haue laugh'd with: Let your highnesLay a more noble thought vpon mine honour,Then for to thinke that I would sinke it heere
Kin. Sir for my thoughts, you haue them il to friend,Till your deeds gaine them fairer: proue your honor,Then in my thought it lies
Dian. Good my Lord,Aske him vpon his oath, if hee do's thinkeHe had not my virginity
Kin. What saist thou to her?Ber. She's impudent my Lord,And was a common gamester to the Campe
Dia. He do's me wrong my Lord: If I were so,He might haue bought me at a common price.Do not beleeue him. O behold this Ring,Whose high respect and rich validitieDid lacke a Paralell: yet for all thatHe gaue it to a Commoner a'th CampeIf I be one
Coun. He blushes, and 'tis hit:Of sixe preceding Ancestors that IemmeConfer'd by testament to'th sequent issueHath it beene owed and worne. This is his wife,That Ring's a thousand proofes
King. Me thought you saideYou saw one heere in Court could witnesse it
Dia. I did my Lord, but loath am to produceSo bad an instrument, his names Parrolles
Laf. I saw the man to day, if man he bee
Kin. Finde him, and bring him hether
Ros. What of him:He's quoted for a most perfidious slaueWith all the spots a'th world, taxt and debosh'd,Whose nature sickens: but to speake a truth,Am I, or that or this for what he'l vtter,That will speake any thing
Kin. She hath that Ring of yours
Ros. I thinke she has; certaine it is I lyk'd her,And boorded her i'th wanton way of youth:She knew her distance, and did angle for mee,Madding my eagernesse with her restraint,As all impediments in fancies courseAre motiues of more fancie, and in fine,Her insuite comming with her moderne grace,Subdu'd me to her rate, she got the Ring,And I had that which any inferiour mightAt Market price haue bought
Dia. I must be patient:You that haue turn'd off a first so noble wife,May iustly dyet me. I pray you yet,(Since you lacke vertue, I will loose a husband)Send for your Ring, I will returne it home,And giue me mine againe
Ros. I haue it not
Kin. What Ring was yours I pray you?Dian. Sir much like the same vpon your finger
Kin. Know you this Ring, this Ring was his of late
Dia. And this was it I gaue him being a bed
Kin. The story then goes false, you threw it himOut of a Casement
Dia. I haue spoke the truth.Enter Parolles.
Ros. My Lord, I do confesse the ring was hers
Kin. You boggle shrewdly, euery feather starts you:Is this the man you speake of?Dia. I, my Lord
Kin. Tell me sirrah, but tell me true I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master: Which on your iust proceeding, Ile keepe off, By him and by this woman heere, what know you? Par. So please your Maiesty, my master hath bin an honourable Gentleman. Trickes hee hath had in him, which Gentlemen haue
Kin. Come, come, to'th' purpose: Did hee loue thiswoman?Par. Faith sir he did loue her, but how
Kin. How I pray you?Par. He did loue her sir, as a Gent. loues a Woman
Kin. How is that?Par. He lou'd her sir, and lou'd her not
Kin. As thou art a knaue and no knaue, what an equiuocallCompanion is this?Par. I am a poore man, and at your Maiesties command
Laf. Hee's a good drumme my Lord, but a naughtieOrator
Dian. Do you know he promist me marriage?Par. Faith I know more then Ile speake
Kin. But wilt thou not speake all thou know'st? Par. Yes so please your Maiesty: I did goe betweene them as I said, but more then that he loued her, for indeede he was madde for her, and talkt of Sathan, and of Limbo, and of Furies, and I know not what: yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knewe of their going to bed, and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things which would deriue mee ill will to speake of, therefore I will not speake what I know
Kin. Thou hast spoken all alreadie, vnlesse thou canst say they are maried, but thou art too fine in thy euidence, therefore stand aside. This Ring you say was yours
Dia. I my good Lord
Kin. Where did you buy it? Or who gaue it you?Dia. It was not giuen me, nor I did not buy it
Kin. Who lent it you?Dia. It was not lent me neither
Kin. Where did you finde it then?Dia. I found it not
Kin. If it were yours by none of all these wayes,How could you giue it him?Dia. I neuer gaue it him
Laf. This womans an easie gloue my Lord, she goesoff and on at pleasure
Kin. This Ring was mine, I gaue it his first wife
Dia. It might be yours or hers for ought I know
Kin. Take her away, I do not like her now,To prison with her: and away with him,Vnlesse thou telst me where thou hadst this Ring,Thou diest within this houre
Dia. Ile neuer tell you
Kin. Take her away
Dia. Ile put in baile my liedge
Kin. I thinke thee now some common Customer
Dia. By Ioue if euer I knew man 'twas you
King. Wherefore hast thou accusde him al this while
Dia. Because he's guiltie, and he is not guilty:He knowes I am no Maid, and hee'l sweare too't:Ile sweare I am a Maid, and he knowes not.Great King I am no strumpet, by my life,I am either Maid, or else this old mans wife
Kin. She does abuse our eares, to prison with her
Dia. Good mother fetch my bayle. Stay Royall sir,The Ieweller that owes the Ring is sent for,And he shall surety me. But for this Lord,Who hath abus'd me as he knowes himselfe,Though yet he neuer harm'd me, heere I quit him.He knowes himselfe my bed he hath defil'd,And at that time he got his wife with childe:Dead though she be, she feeles her yong one kicke:So there's my riddle, one that's dead is quicke,And now behold the meaning.Enter Hellen and Widdow.
Kin. Is there no exorcistBeguiles the truer Office of mine eyes?Is't reall that I see?Hel. No my good Lord,'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,The name, and not the thing
Ros. Both, both, O pardon
Hel. Oh my good Lord, when I was like this Maid,I found you wondrous kinde, there is your Ring,And looke you, heeres your letter: this it sayes,When from my finger you can get this Ring,And is by me with childe, &c. This is done,Will you be mine now you are doubly wonne?Ros. If she my Liege can make me know this clearly,Ile loue her dearely, euer, euer dearly
Hel. If it appeare not plaine, and proue vntrue,Deadly diuorce step betweene me and you.O my deere mother do I see you liuing?Laf. Mine eyes smell Onions, I shall weepe anon:Good Tom Drumme lend me a handkercher.So I thanke thee, waite on me home, Ile make sport withthee: Let thy curtsies alone, they are scuruy ones
King. Let vs from point to point this storie know,To make the euen truth in pleasure flow:If thou beest yet a fresh vncropped flower,Choose thou thy husband, and Ile pay thy dower.For I can guesse, that by thy honest ayde,Thou keptst a wife her selfe, thy selfe a Maide.Of that and all the progresse more and lesse,Resoluedly more leasure shall expresse:All yet seemes well, and if it end so meete,The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
Flourish.
The Kings a Begger, now the Play is done,All is well ended, if this suite be wonne,That you expresse 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 vs, and take our hearts.
Exeunt. omn.
FINIS. ALL'S Well, that Ends Well.