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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Flourish Cornets
    Enter the King of France with Letters, and
    diuers Attendants
    240King The Florentinesand Senoysare by th' eares,
    Haue fought with equall fortune, and continue
    A brauing warre.
    1.Lo.G So tis reported sir.
    King Nay tis most credible, we heere receiue it,
    245A certaintie vouch'd from our Cosin Austria
    With caution, that the Florentinewill moue vs
    For speedie ayde: wherein our deerest friend
    Preiudicates the businesse, and would seeme
    To haue vs make deniall.
    2501.Lo.G His loue and wisedome
    Approu'd so to your Maiesty, may pleade
    For amplest credence.
    King He hath arm'd our answer,
    And Florenceis deni'de before he comes:
    255Yet for our Gentlemen that meane to see
    The Tuscanseruice, freely haue they leaue
    To stand on either part.
    2.Lo.E It well may serue
    A nursserie to our Gentrie, who are sicke
    260For breathing, and exploit.
    King What's he comes heere.
    Enter Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles
    1.Lor.G It is the Count Rosignollmy good Lord,
    Yong Bertram
    265King Youth, thou bear'st thy Fathers face,
    Franke Nature rather curious then in hast
    Hath well compos'd thee: Thy Fathers morall parts
    Maist thou inherit too: Welcome to Paris
    Ber My thankes and dutie are your Maiesties.
    270Kin I would I had that corporall soundnesse now,
    As when thy father, and my selfe, in friendship
    First tride our souldiership: he did looke farre
    Into the seruice of the time, and was
    Discipled of the brauest. He lasted long,
    275But on vs both did haggish Age steale on,
    And wore vs out of act: It much repaires me
    To talke of your good father; in his youth
    He had the wit, which I can well obserue
    To day in our yong Lords: but they may iest
    280Till their owne scorne returne to them vnnoted
    Ere they can hide their leuitie in honour:
    So like a Courtier, contempt nor bitternesse
    Were in his pride, or sharpnesse; if they were,
    His equall had awak'd them, and his honour
    285Clocke to it selfe, knew the true minute when
    Exception bid him speake: and at this time
    His tongue obey'd his hand. Who were below him,
    He vs'd as creatures of another place,
    And bow'd his eminent top to their low rankes,
    290Making them proud of his humilitie,
    In their poore praise he humbled: Such a man
    Might be a copie to these yonger times;
    Which followed well, would demonstrate them now
    But goers backward.
    295Ber His good remembrance sir
    Lies richer in your thoughts, then on his tombe:
    So in approofe liues not his Epitaph,
    As in your royall speech.
    King Would I were with him he would alwaies say,
    300(Me thinkes I heare him now) his plausiue words
    He scatter'd not in eares, but grafted them
    To grow there and to beare: Let me not liue,
    This his good melancholly oft began
    On the Catastrophe and heele of pastime
    305When it was out: Let me not liue (quoth hee)
    After my flame lackes oyle, to be the snuffe
    Of yonger spirits, whose apprehensiue senses
    All but new things disdaine; whose iudgements are
    Meere fathers of their garments: whose constancies
    310Expire before their fashions: this he wish'd.
    I after him, do after him wish too:
    Since I nor wax nor honie can bring home,
    I quickly were dissolued from my hiue
    To giue some Labourers roome.
    315L2.E You'r loued Sir,
    They that least lend it you, shall lacke you first.
    Kin I fill a place I know't: how long ist Count
    Since the Physitian at your fathers died?
    He was much fam'd.
    320Ber Some six moneths since my Lord.
    Kin If he were liuing, I would try him yet.
    Lend me an arme: the rest haue worne me out
    With seuerall applications: Nature and sicknesse
    Debate it at their leisure. Welcome Count,
    325My sonne's no deerer.
    Ber Thanke your Maiesty. Exit
    Flourish
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