Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)
  • Editors: Andrew Griffin, Helen Ostovich
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-432-5

    Copyright Helen Ostovich and Andrew Griffin. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editors: Andrew Griffin, Helen Ostovich
    Not Peer Reviewed

    All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)

    3.1
    Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, the two French Lords, with a troop of soldiers.
    So that from point to point, now have you heard
    1375The fundamental reasons of this war,
    Whose great decision hath much blood let forth
    And more thirsts after.
    1 Lord
    Holy seems the quarrel
    Upon your grace's part; black and fearful
    1380On the opposer.
    Therefore we marvel much our cousin France
    Would in so just a business shut his bosom
    Against our borrowing prayers.
    1 Lord
    Good my lord,
    1385The reasons of our state I cannot yield
    But like a common and an outward man
    That the great figure of a council frames
    By self-unable motion; therefore dare not
    Say what I think of it, since I have found
    1390Myself in my incertain grounds to fail
    As often as I guessed.
    Duke
    Be it his pleasure.
    2 Lord
    But I am sure the younger of our nature,
    That surfeit on their ease, will day by day
    1395Come here for physic.
    Duke
    Welcome shall they be,
    And all the honors that can fly from us
    Shall on them settle. You know your places well;
    When better fall, for your avails they fell.
    1400Tomorrow to th' field.
    Flourish. [Exeunt.]