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  • Title: All's Well That Ends Well (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editors: Andrew Griffin, Helen Ostovich

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-432-5

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    Not Peer Reviewed

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

    248All's Well that Ends Well
    fiftie, Sebastianso many, Corambusso many, Iaquesso
    many: Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowicke and Gratij two hun-
    2270dred fiftie each: Mine owne Company, Chitopher, Vau-
    mond, Bentij, two hundred fiftie each: so that the muster
    file, rotten and sound, vppon my life amounts not to fif-
    teene thousand pole, halfe of the which, dare not shake
    the snow from off their Cassockes, least they shake them-
    2275selues to peeces.
    Ber What shall be done to him?
    Cap. G Nothing, but let him haue thankes. Demand
    of him my condition: and what credite I haue with the
    Duke.
    2280Int Well that's set downe: you shall demaund of
    him, whether one Captaine Dumainebee i'th Campe, a
    Frenchman: what his reputation is with the Duke, what
    his valour, honestie, and expertnesse in warres: or whe-
    ther he thinkes it were not possible with well-waighing
    2285summes of gold to corrupt him to a reuolt. What say you
    to this? What do you know of it?
    Par I beseech you let me answer to the particular of
    the intergatories. Demand them singly.
    Int Do you know this Captaine Dumaine
    2290Par I know him, a was a Botchers Prentize in Paris
    from whence he was whipt for getting the Shrieues fool
    with childe, a dumbe innocent that could not say him
    nay.
    Ber Nay, by your leaue hold your hands, though I
    2295know his braines are forfeite to the next tile that fals.
    Int Well, is this Captaine in the Duke of Florences
    campe?
    Par Vpon my knowledge he is, and lowsie.
    Cay. G Nay looke not so vpon me: we shall heare of
    2300your Lord anon.
    Int What is his reputation with the Duke?
    Par The Duke knowes him for no other, but a poore
    Officer of mine, and writ to mee this other day, to turne
    him out a'th band. I thinke I haue his Letter in my poc-
    2305ket.
    Int Marry we'll search.
    Par In good sadnesse I do not know, either it is there,
    or it is vpon a file with the Dukes other Letters, in my
    Tent.
    2310Int Heere 'tis, heere's a paper, shall I reade it to you?
    Par I do not know if it be it or no.
    Ber Our Interpreter do's it well.
    Cap. G Excellently.
    Int Dian, the Counts a foole, and full of gold
    2315Par That is not the Dukes letter sir: that is an ad-
    uertisement to a proper maide in Florence, one Diana to
    take heede of the allurement of one Count Rossillion a
    foolish idle boy: but for all that very ruttish. I pray you
    sir put it vp againe.
    2320Int Nay, Ile reade it first by your fauour.
    Par My meaning in't I protest was very honest in the
    behalfe of the maid: for I knew the young Count to be a
    dangerous and lasciuious boy, who is a whale to Virgi-
    nity, and deuours vp all the fry it finds.
    2325Ber Damnable both-sides rogue.

    Int Let When he sweares oathes, bid him drop gold, and
    take it
    After he scores, he neuer payes the score
    Halfe won is match well made, match and well make it
    2330He nere payes after-debts, take it before
    And say a souldier (Dian) told thee this
    Men are to mell with, boyes are not to kis
    For count of this, the Counts a Foole I know it
    Who payes before, but not when he does owe it
    2335 Thine as he vow'd to thee in thine eare,
    Parolles
    Ber He shall be whipt through the Armie with this
    rime in's forehead.
    Cap. E This is your deuoted friend sir, the manifold
    2340Linguist, and the army-potent souldier.
    Ber I could endure any thing before but a Cat, and
    now he's a Cat to me.
    Int I perceiue sir by your Generals lookes, wee shall
    be faine to hang you.
    2345Par My life sir in any case: Not that I am afraide to
    dye, but that my offences beeing many, I would repent
    out the remainder of Nature. Let me liue sir in a dunge-
    on, i'th stockes, or any where, so I may liue.
    Int Wee'le see what may bee done, so you confesse
    2350freely: therefore once more to this Captaine Dumaine
    you haue answer'd to his reputation with the Duke, and
    to his valour. What is his honestie?
    Par He will steale sir an Egge out of a Cloister: for
    rapes and rauishments he paralels Nessus Hee professes
    2355not keeping of oaths, in breaking em he is stronger then
    Hercules He will lye sir, with such volubilitie, that you
    would thinke truth were a foole: drunkennesse is his best
    vertue, for he will be swine-drunke, and in his sleepe he
    does little harme, saue to his bed-cloathes about him:
    2360but they know his conditions, and lay him in straw. I
    haue but little more to say sir of his honesty, he ha's eue-
    rie thing that an honest man should not haue; what an
    honest man should haue, he has nothing.
    Cap. G I begin to loue him for this.
    2365Ber For this description of thine honestie? A pox
    vpon him for me, he's more and more a Cat.
    Int What say you to his expertnesse in warre?
    Par Faith sir, ha's led the drumme before the Eng-
    lish Tragedians: to belye him I will not, and more of his
    2370souldiership I know not, except in that Country, he had
    the honour to be the Officer at a place there called Mile-
    end, to instruct for the doubling of files. I would doe the
    man what honour I can, but of this I am not certaine.
    Cap. G He hath out-villain'd villanie so farre, that the
    2375raritie redeemes him.
    Ber A pox on him, he's a Cat still.
    Int His qualities being at this poore price, I neede
    not to aske you, if Gold will corrupt him to reuolt.
    Par Sir, for a Cardceue he will sell the fee-simple of
    2380his saluation, the inheritance of it, and cut th' intaile from
    all remainders, and a perpetuall succession for it perpe-
    tually.
    Int What's his Brother, the other Captain Dumain
    Cap. E Why do's he aske him of me?
    2385Int What's he?
    Par E'ne a Crow a'th same nest: not altogether so
    great as the first in goodnesse, but greater a great deale in
    euill. He excels his Brother for a coward, yet his Brother
    is reputed one of the best that is. In a retreate hee out-
    2390runnes any Lackey; marrie in comming on, hee ha's the
    Crampe.
    Int If your life be saued, will you vndertake to betray
    the Florentine.
    Par I, and the Captaine of his horse, Count Rossillion
    2395Int Ile whisper with the Generall, and knowe his
    pleasure.
    Par Ile no more drumming, a plague of all drummes,
    onely to seeme to deserue well, and to beguile the suppo-
    sition
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