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

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Andrew Griffin, Helen Ostovich
Not Peer Reviewed
A Tucket afarre off
Enter old Widdow of Florence, her daughter Violenta
and Mariana, with other
1605Citizens
Widdow Nay come,
For if they do approach the Citty,
We shall loose all the sight.
Diana They say, the French Count has done
1610Most honourable seruice.
Wid It is reported,
That he has taken their great'st Commander,
And that with his owne hand he slew
The Dukes brother: we haue lost our labour,
1615They are gone a contrarie way: harke,
you may know by their Trumpets.
Maria Come lets returne againe,
And suffice our selues with the report of it.
Well Diana take heed of this French Earle,
1620The honor of a Maide is her name,
And no Legacie is so rich
As honestie.
Widdow I haue told my neighbour
How you haue beene solicited by a Gentleman
1625His Companion.
Maria I know that knaue, hang him, one Parolles
a filthy Officer he is in those suggestions for the young
Earle, beware of them Diana their promises, entise-
ments, oathes, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are
1630not the things they go vnder: many a maide hath beene
seduced by them, and the miserie is example, that so
terrible shewes in the wracke of maiden-hood, cannot
for all that disswade succession, but that they are limed
with the twigges that threatens them. I hope I neede
1635not to aduise you further, but I hope your owne grace
will keepe you where you are, though there were no
further danger knowne, but the modestie which is so
lost.
Dia You shall not neede to feare me.
1640
Enter Hellen
Wid I hope so: looke here comes a pilgrim, I know
she will lye at my house, thither they send one another,
Ile question her. God saue you pilgrim, whether are
bound?
1645Hel To S. Iaques la grand
Where do the Palmers lodge, I do beseech you?
Wid At the S[aint]. Francisheere beside the Port.
Hel Is this the way?
A march afarre
Wid I marrie ist. Harke you, they come this way:
1650If you will tarrie holy Pilgrime
But till the troopes come by,
I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd,
The rather for I thinke I know your hostesse
As ample as my selfe.
1655Hel Is it your selfe?
Wid If you shall please so Pilgrime.
Hel I thanke you, and will stay vpon your leisure.
Wid You came I thinke from France
Hel I did so.
1660Wid Heere you shall see a Countriman of yours
That has done worthy seruice.
Hel His name I pray you?
Dia The Count Rossillion know you such a one?
Hel But by the eare that heares most nobly of him:
1665His face I know not.
Dia What somere he is
He's brauely taken heere. He stole from France
As 'tis reported: for the King had married him
Against his liking. Thinke you it is so?
1670Hel I surely meere the truth, I know his Lady.
Dia There is a Gentleman that serues the Count,
Reports but coursely of her.
Hel What's his name?
Dia Monsieur Parrolles
1675Hel Oh I beleeue with him,
In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great Count himselfe, she is too meane
To haue her name repeated, all her deseruing
Is a reserued honestie, and that
1680I haue not heard examin'd.
Dian Alas poore Ladie,
'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
Of a detesting Lord.
Wid I write good creature, wheresoere she is,
1685Her hart waighes sadly: this yong maid might do her
A shrewd turne if she pleas'd.
Hel How do you meane?
May be the amorous Count solicites her
In the vnlawfull purpose.
1690Wid He does indeede,
And brokes with all that can in such a suite
Corrupt the tender honour of a Maide:
But she is arm'd for him, and keepes her guard
In honestest defence.
1695
Drumme and Colours
Enter Count Rossillion, Parrolles, and the whole Armie
Mar The goddes forbid else.
Wid So, now they come:
That is Anthoniothe Dukes eldest sonne,
1700That Escalus
Hel Which is the Frenchman?
Dia Hee,
That with the plume, 'tis a most gallant fellow,
I would he lou'd his wife: if he were honester
1705He were much goodlier. Is't not a handsom Gentleman
Hel I like him well.
Di 'Tis pitty he is not honest: yonds that same knaue
That leades him to these places: were I his Ladie,
I would poison that vile Rascall.
1710Hel Which is he?
Dia That Iacke-an-apes with scarfes. Why is hee
melancholly?
Hel Perchance he's hurt i'th battaile.
Par Loose our drum? Well.
1715Mar He's shrewdly vext at something. Looke he
has spyed vs.
Wid Marrie hang you.
Mar And your curtesie, for a ring-carrier.
Exit
Wid The troope is past: Come pilgrim, I wil bring
1720you, Where you shall host: Of inioyn'd penitents
There's foure or fiue, to great S. Iaquesbound,
Alreadie at my house.
Hel I humbly thanke you:
Please it this Matron, and this gentle Maide
1725To eate with vs to night, the charge and thanking
Shall be for me, and to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts of this Virgin,
Worthy the note.
Both Wee'l take your offer kindly.
Exeunt