All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
[1.2]
¶
Flourish cornets.
¶Have fought with equal fortune, and continue
| ¶A braving war. | |
| ¶1 Lord | |
| So 'tis reported, sir. | |
¶King Nay, 'tis most credible. We here receive it
245A certainty vouched from our cousin Austria,
¶With caution that the Florentine will move us
¶For speedy aid, wherein our dearest friend
¶Prejudicates the business and would seem
| ¶To have us make denial. | |
| 2501 Lord | |
| His love and wisdom, | |
¶Approved so to your majesty, may plead
| ¶For amplest credence. | |
| ¶King | |
| He hath armed our answer, | |
¶And Florence is denied before he comes.
255Yet for our gentlemen that mean to see
¶The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
| ¶To stand on either part. | |
| ¶2 Lord | |
| It well may serve | |
¶A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
| 260For breathing and exploit. | |
| ¶King | |
| What's he comes here. | |
¶
Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Paroles.
¶1 Lord It is the Count Roussillon, my good lord,
| ¶Young Bertram. | |
| 265King | |
| Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; | |
¶Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
¶Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts
¶Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.
¶Bertram My thanks and duty are your majesty's.
270King I would I had that corporal soundness now
¶As when thy father and myself in friendship
¶First tried our soldiership. He did look far
¶Into the service of the time, and was
¶Discipled of the bravest. He lasted long,
275But on us both did haggish age steal on
¶And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
¶To talk of your good father. In his youth
¶He had the wit which I can well observe
¶Today in our young lords, but they may jest
280Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
¶Ere they can hide their levity in honor.
¶So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
¶Were in his pride, or sharpness; if they were,
¶His equal had awaked them, and his honor,
285Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
¶Exception bid him speak, and at this time
¶His tongue obeyed his hand. Who were below him,
¶He used as creatures of another place
¶And bowed his eminent top to their low ranks,
290Making them proud of his humility,
¶In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
¶Might be a copy to these younger times,
¶Which, followed well, would demonstrate them now
| ¶But goers backward. | |
| 295Bertram | |
| His good remembrance, sir, | |
¶Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb.
¶So in approof lives not his epitaph
¶As in your royal speech.
¶King Would I were with him! He would always say --
300Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words
¶He scattered not in ears, but grafted them
¶To grow there and to bear -- "Let me not live" --
¶This his good melancholy oft began
¶On the catastrophe and heel of pastime
305When it was out: "Let me not live," quoth he,
¶"After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
¶Of younger spirits whose apprehensive senses
¶All but new things disdain; whose judgements are
¶Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
310Expire before their fashions." This he wished.
¶I, after him, do after him wish too,
¶Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
¶I quickly were dissolvèd from my hive
| ¶To give some laborers room. | |
| 3152 Lord | |
| You're loved, sir. | |
¶They that least lend it you shall lack you first.
¶King I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, Count,
¶Since the physician at your father's died?
| ¶He was much famed. | |
| 320Bertram | |
| Some six months since, my lord. | |
¶King If he were living, I would try him yet.
¶Lend me an arm. The rest have worn me out
¶With several applications. Nature and sickness
¶Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, Count,
| 325My son's no dearer. | |
| ¶Bertram | |
| Thank your majesty. | |
Exeunt.
¶
Flourish