Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
Original Shakespeare Company, A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Midsummer Midsommer). To Jun. 21, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, Comedie of Errors. To Jun. 22, 2013.
SIP Editors, Measure for Measure. To Aug. 4, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, All's Well That Ends Well. To Nov. 29, 2013.
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

All's Well That Ends Well (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Andrew Griffin, Helen Ostovich
Not Peer Reviewed
All's Well, that Ends Well
245
From sonne to sonne, some foure or fiue discents,
Since the first father wore it. This Ring he holds
1885In most rich choice: yet in his idle fire,
To buy his will, it would not seeme too deere,
How ere repented after.
Wid Now I see the bottome of your purpose.
Hel You see it lawfull then, it is no more,
1890But that your daughter ere she seemes as wonne,
Desires this Ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, deliuers me to fill the time,
Her selfe most chastly absent: after
To marry her, Ile adde three thousand Crownes
1895To what is past already.
Wid I haue yeelded:
Instruct my daughter how she shall perseuer,
That time and place with this deceite so lawfull
May proue coherent. Euery night he comes
1900With Musickes of all sorts, and songs compos'd
To her vnworthinesse: It nothing steeds vs
To chide him from our eeues, for he persists
As if his life lay on't.
Hel Why then to night
1905Let vs assay our plot, which if it speed,
Is wicked meaning in a lawfull deede;
And lawfull meaning in a lawfull act,
Where both not sinne, and yet a sinfull fact.
But let's about it.


1910
Actus Quartus


Enter one of the Frenchmen, with fiue or sixe other
souldiers in ambush

1. LordE He can come no other way but by this hedge
corner: when you sallie vpon him, speake what terrible
1915Language you will: though you vnderstand it not your
selues, no matter: for we must not seeme to vnderstand
him, vnlesse some one among vs, whom wee must pro-
duce for an Interpreter.
1. Sol Good Captaine, let me be th' Interpreter.
1920Lor. . Art not acquainted with him? knowes he not
thy voice?
1. Sol No sir I warrant you.
Lo.E. But what linsie wolsy hast thou to speake to vs
againe.
19251. Sol E'n such as you speake to me.
Lo. . He must thinke vs some band of strangers, i'th
aduersaries entertainment. Now he hath a smacke of all
neighbouring Languages: therefore we must euery one
be a man of his owne fancie, not to know what we speak
1930one to another: so we seeme to know, is to know straight
our purpose: Choughs language, gabble enough, and
good enough. As for you interpreter, you must seeme
very politicke. But couch hoa, heere hee comes, to be-
guile two houres in a sleepe, and then to returne & swear
1935the lies he forges.

Enter Parrolles
Par Ten a clocke: Within these three houres 'twill
be time enough to goe home. What shall I say I haue
done? It must bee a very plausiue inuention that carries
1940it. They beginne to smoake mee, and disgraces haue of
late, knock'd too often at my doore: I finde my tongue
is too foole-hardie, but my heart hath the feare of Mars
before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of
my tongue.
1945Lo. . This is the first truth that ere thine own tongue
was guiltie of.
Par What the diuell should moue mee to vndertake
the recouerie of this drumme, being not ignorant of the
impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I
1950must giue my selfe some hurts, and say I got them in ex-
ploit: yet slight ones will not carrie it. They will say,
came you off with so little? And great ones I dare not
giue, wherefore what's the instance. Tongue, I must put
you into a Butter-womans mouth, and buy my selfe ano-
1955ther of BaiazethsMule, if you prattle mee into these
perilles.
Lo. . Is it possible he should know what hee is, and
be that he is.
Par I would the cutting of my garments wold serue
1960the turne, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.
Lo. . We cannot affoord you so.
Par Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was in
stratagem.
Lo. . 'Twould not do.
1965Par Or to drowne my cloathes, and say I was stript.
Lo. . Hardly serue.
Par Though I swore I leapt from the window of the
Citadell.
Lo.E. How deepe?
1970Par Thirty fadome.
Lo.E. Three great oathes would scarse make that be
beleeued.
Par I would I had any drumme of the enemies, I
would sweare I recouer'd it.
1975Lo.E. You shall heare one anon.
Par A drumme now of the enemies.

Alarum within
Lo.E. Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo
All Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo
1980Par O ransome, ransome,
Do not hide mine eyes.
Inter Boskos thromuldo boskos
Par I know you are the MuskosRegiment,
And I shall loose my life for want of language.
1985If there be heere German or Dane, Low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speake to me,
Ile discouer that, which shal vndo the Florentine.
Int Boskos vauvado I vnderstand thee, & can speake
thy tongue: Kerelybontosir, betake thee to thy faith, for
1990seuenteene ponyards are at thy bosome.
Par Oh.
Inter Oh pray, pray, pray,
Manka reuania dulche
Lo. E Oscorbidulchos voliuorco
1995Int The Generall is content to spare thee yet,
And hoodwinkt as thou art, will leade thee on
To gather from thee. Haply thou mayst informe
Something to saue thy life.
Par O let me liue,
2000And all the secrets of our campe Ile shew,
Their force, their purposes: Nay, Ile speake that,
Which you will wonder at.
Inter But wilt thou faithfully?
Par If I do not, damne me.
2005Inter Acordo linta
Come on, thou are granted space.
Exit
A short Alarum within
X 3
Lo E
246
All's Well that Ends Well