All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)

 892[2.3]
 2.3.0.1Enter Bertram, Lafeu, and Paroles.
 2.3.1893Lafeu
 They say miracles are past, and we have our 894philosophical persons to make modern and familiar 895things supernatural and causeless. Hence is it that we 896make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into 897seeming knowledge when we should submit ourselves to 898an unknown fear.
 2.3.2899Paroles
 Why, 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that 900hath shot out in our latter times.
 2.3.3901Bertram
 And so 'tis.
 2.3.4902Lafeu
 To be relinquished of the artists --
 2.3.5903Paroles
 So I say, both of Galen and Paracelsus.
 2.3.6904Lafeu
 Of all the learned and authentic fellows --
 2.3.7905Paroles
 Right, so I say.
 2.3.8906Lafeu
 That gave him out incurable --
 2.3.9907Paroles
 Why, there 'tis; so say I too.
 2.3.10908Lafeu
 Not to be helped. 
 2.3.11909Paroles
 Right, as 'twere a man assured of a -- 
 2.3.12910Lafeu
 Uncertain life, and sure death.
 2.3.13911Paroles
 Just. You say well; so would I have said.
 2.3.14912Lafeu
 I may truly say it is a novelty to the world.
 2.3.15913Paroles
 It is indeed. If you will have it in showing, you 914shall read it in what-do-ye-call there.
 2.3.15.1[Pointing to a paper in LAFEU's possession.]
 2.3.16915Lafeu
 A Showing of a Heavenly Effect in an 916Earthly Actor.
 2.3.17917Paroles
 That's it; I would have said the very same.
 2.3.18918Lafeu
 Why, your dolphin is not lustier. 'Fore me, 919I speak in respect -- 
 2.3.19920Paroles
 Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange; that is the 921brief and the tedious of it. And he's of a most 922facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge it to be the -- 
 2.3.20923Lafeu
 Very hand of heaven.
 2.3.21924Paroles
 Ay, so I say.
 2.3.22925Lafeu
 In a most weak --
 2.3.23926Paroles
 And debile minister, great power, great 927transcendence, which should indeed give us a further use to 928be made than alone the recovery of the king, as to be --
 2.3.24929Lafeu
 Generally thankful.
 2.3.24.1930Enter King, Helen, and Attendants.
 2.3.25931Paroles
 I would have said it; you say well. -- Here comes 932the king.
 2.3.26933Lafeu
 Lustig, as the Dutchman says! I'll like a 934maid the better whilst I have a tooth in my head. Why, 935he's able to lead her a coranto.
 2.3.27936Paroles
 Mort du vinaigre! Is not this Helen?
 2.3.28937Lafeu
 'Fore God, I think so.
 2.3.29938King
 [To Attendant] Go, call before me all the lords in court. --
 2.3.29.1[Exit an Attendant.]
 2.3.30939[To Helen] Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's side,
 2.3.31940And with this healthful hand, whose banished sense
 2.3.32941Thou hast repealed, a second time receive
 2.3.33942The confirmation of my promised gift,
 2.3.34943Which but attends thy naming.
 2.3.34.1944Enter four [young] Lords.
 2.3.35945Fair maid, send forth thine eye; this youthful parcel
 2.3.36946Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing,
 2.3.37947O'er whom both sovereign power and father's voice
 2.3.38948I have to use. Thy frank election make;
 2.3.39949Thou hast power to choose, and they none to forsake.
 2.3.40950Helen
 To each of you, one fair and virtuous mistress
 2.3.41951Fall when love please; marry, to each but one.
 2.3.42952Lafeu
 I'd give bay curtal and his furniture,
 2.3.43953My mouth no more were broken than these boys,
 2.3.44954And writ as little beard.
 955King
 And writ as little beard.  Peruse them well:
 2.3.45956Not one of those but had a noble father.
 2.3.46958Helen
 Gentlemen, heaven hath through me restored
 2.3.47959The king to health.
 2.3.48960All
 We understand it, and thank heaven for you.
 2.3.48.1957She addresses her to a Lord.
 2.3.49961Helen
 I am a simple maid, and therein wealthiest
 2.3.50962That I protest I simply am a maid. --
 2.3.51963[To the King] Please it your majesty, I have done already.
 2.3.52964The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,
 2.3.53965"We blush that thou shouldst choose; but be refused,
 2.3.54966Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever,
 2.3.55967We'll ne'er come there again."
 968King
 We'll ne'er come there again."  Make choice and see.
 2.3.56969Who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me.
 2.3.57970Helen
 Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,
 2.3.58971And to Imperial Love, that god most high,
 2.3.59972Do my sighs stream. [To 1 Young Lord] Sir, will you hear my suit?
 2.3.609731 Young Lord
 And grant it.
 974Helen
 And grant it.  Thanks, sir, all the rest is mute.
 2.3.61975Lafeu
 I had rather be in this choice than throw 976ames-ace for my life.
 2.3.62977Helen
 [To 2 Young Lord.]The honor, sir, that flames in your fair eyes,
 2.3.63978Before I speak, too threat'ningly replies.
 2.3.64979Love make your fortunes twenty times above
 2.3.65980Her that so wishes, and her humble love.
 2.3.669812 Young Lord
 No better, if you please.
 982Helen
 No better, if you please.  My wish receive,
 2.3.67983Which great love grant. And so I take my leave.
 2.3.68984Lafeu
 Do all they deny her? An they were sons 985of mine, I'd have them whipped, or I would send them 986to th' Turk to make eunuchs of.
 2.3.69987Helen
 [To 3 Young Lord] Be not afraid that I your hand should take:
 2.3.70988I'll never do you wrong for your own sake.
 2.3.71989Blessing upon your vows, and in your bed
 2.3.72990Find fairer fortune if you ever wed.
 2.3.73991Lafeu
 These boys are boys of ice, they'll none 992have her. Sure they are bastards to the English: the 993French ne'er got 'em.
 2.3.74994Helen
 [To 4 Young Lord] You are too young, too happy, and too good
 2.3.75995To make yourself a son out of my blood.
 2.3.769964 Young Lord
 Fair one, I think not so.
 2.3.77997Lafeu
 There's one grape yet; I am sure thy father 998drunk wine. But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth 999of fourteen: I have known thee already.
 2.3.781000Helen
 [To Bertram] I dare not say I take you, but I give
 2.3.791001Me and my service, ever whilst I live,
 2.3.801002Into your guiding power. -- [To the King] This is the man.
 2.3.811003King
 Why, then, young Bertram, take her: she's thy 1004wife.
 2.3.821005Bertram
 My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your highness:
 2.3.831006In such a business, give me leave to use
 2.3.841007The help of mine own eyes.
 1008King
 The help of mine own eyes.  Know'st thou not, Bertram,
 2.3.85 What she has 1009done for me?
 1010Bertram
  What she has done for me?  Yes, my good lord,
 2.3.86But never hope to know 1011why I should marry her.
 2.3.871012King
 Thou know'st she has raised me from my 1013sickly bed.
 2.3.881014Bertram
 But follows it, my lord, to bring me down
 2.3.891015Must answer for your raising? I know her well:
 2.3.901016She had her breeding at my father's charge --
 2.3.911017A poor physician's daughter my wife? Disdain
 2.3.921018Rather corrupt me ever!
 2.3.931019King
 'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her, the which
 2.3.941020I can build up. Strange is it that our bloods,
 2.3.951021Of color, weight, and heat, poured all together,
 2.3.961022Would quite confound distinction, yet stands off
 2.3.971023In differences so mighty. If she be
 2.3.981024All that is virtuous -- save what thou dislik'st,
 2.3.991025"A poor physician's daughter" -- thou dislik'st
 2.3.1001026Of virtue for the name. But do not so.
 2.3.1011027From lowest place, whence virtuous things proceed,
 2.3.1021028The place is dignified by th' doer's deed.
 2.3.1031029Where great additions swell's, and virtue none,
 2.3.1041030It is a dropsied honor. Good alone
 2.3.1051031Is good without a name! Vileness is so.
 2.3.1061032The property by what it is should go,
 2.3.1071033Not by the title. She is young, wise, fair:
 2.3.1081034In these to nature she's immediate heir,
 2.3.1091035And these breed honor. That is honor's scorn
 2.3.1101036Which challenges itself as honor's born
 2.3.1111037And is not like the sire. Honors thrive
 2.3.1121038When rather from our acts we them derive
 2.3.1131039Than our foregoers. The mere word's a slave,
 2.3.1141040Debauched on every tomb: on every grave,
 2.3.1151041A lying trophy, and as oft is dumb
 2.3.1161042Where dust and damned oblivion is the tomb
 2.3.1171043Of honored bones indeed. What should be said?
 2.3.1181044If thou canst like this creature as a maid,
 2.3.1191045I can create the rest: virtue and she
 2.3.1201046Is her own dower; honor and wealth, from me.
 2.3.1211047Bertram
 I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.
 2.3.1221048King
 Thou wrong'st thyself if thou shouldst strive 1049to choose.
 2.3.1231050Helen
 That you are well restored, my lord, I'm glad;
 2.3.1241051Let the rest go.
 2.3.1251052King
 My honor's at the stake, which to defeat
 2.3.1261053I must produce my power. --  [To Bertram] Here, take her hand.
 2.3.1271054Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift,
 2.3.1281055That dost in vile misprision shackle up
 2.3.1291056My love and her desert; that canst not dream
 2.3.1301057We, poising us in her defective scale,
 2.3.1311058Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know
 2.3.1321059It is in us to plant thine honor where
 2.3.1331060We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt.
 2.3.1341061Obey our will which travails in thy good.
 2.3.1351062Believe not thy disdain, but presently
 2.3.1361063Do thine own fortunes that obedient right,
 2.3.1371064Which both thy duty owes and our power claims,
 2.3.1381065Or I will throw thee from my care forever
 2.3.1391066Into the staggers and the careless lapse
 2.3.1401067Of youth and ignorance, both my revenge and hate,
 2.3.1411068Loosing upon thee in the name of justice,
 2.3.1421069Without all terms of pity. Speak, thine answer.
 2.3.1431070Bertram
 Pardon, my gracious lord, for I submit
 2.3.1441071My fancy to your eyes. When I consider
 2.3.1451072What great creation and what dole of honor
 2.3.1461073Flies where you bid it, I find that she, which late
 2.3.1471074Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now
 2.3.1481075The praised of the king; who so ennobled
 2.3.1491076Is as 'twere born so.
 1077King
 Is as 'twere born so.  Take her by the hand
 2.3.1501078And tell her she is thine, to whom I promise
 2.3.1511079A counterpoise; if not to thy estate,
 2.3.1521080A balance more replete.
 1081Bertram
 A balance more replete.  I take her hand.
 2.3.1531082King
 Good fortune and the favor of the king
 2.3.1541083Smile upon this contract, whose ceremony
 2.3.1551084Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief
 2.3.1561085And be performed tonight; the solemn feast
 2.3.1571086Shall more attend upon the coming space,
 2.3.1581087Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her,
 2.3.1591088Thy love's to me religious; else, does err. 
 2.3.159.1Exeunt [King, Helen, and court.]
 2.3.159.2Paroles and Lafeu stay behind, 1090commenting of this wedding.
 2.3.1601091Lafeu
 Do you hear, monsieur? A word with you.
 2.3.1611092Paroles
 Your pleasure, sir.
 2.3.1621093Lafeu
 Your lord and master did well to make his 1094recantation. 
 2.3.1631095Paroles
 Recantation? My lord? My master?
 2.3.1641096Lafeu
 Ay; is it not a language I speak?
 2.3.1651097Paroles
 A most harsh one, and not to be understood 1098without bloody succeeding. My master?
 2.3.1661099Lafeu
 Are you companion to the Count Roussillon?
 2.3.1671100Paroles
 To any count, to all counts: to what is man.
 2.3.1681101Lafeu
 To what is count's man. Count's master is of 1102another style.
 2.3.1691103Paroles
 You are too old, sir. Let it satisfy you, you are 1104too old.
 2.3.1701105Lafeu
 I must tell thee, sirrah, I write man -- to which 1106title age cannot bring thee.
 2.3.1711107Paroles
 What I dare too well do, I dare not do.
 2.3.1721108Lafeu
 I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a 1109pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of 1110thy travel, it might pass. Yet the scarfs and the 1111bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from 1112believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now 1113found thee; when I lose thee again, I care not. Yet art 1114thou good for nothing but taking up, and that thou'rt  1115scarce worth.
 2.3.1731116Paroles
 Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity 1117upon thee -- 
 2.3.1741118Lafeu
 Do not plunge thyself too far in anger, lest 1119thou hasten thy trial; which if -- Lord have mercy on 1120thee for a hen! So, my good window of lattice, fare thee 1121well. Thy casement I need not open, for I look through 1122thee. Give me thy hand.
 2.3.1751123Paroles
 My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.
 2.3.1761124Lafeu
 Ay, with all my heart, and thou art worthy of it.
 2.3.1771125Paroles
 I have not, my lord, deserved it.
 2.3.1781126Lafeu
 Yes, good faith, ev'ry dram of it, and I will 1127not bate thee a scruple.
 2.3.1791128Paroles
 Well, I shall be wiser.
 2.3.1801129Lafeu
 Ev'n as soon as thou canst, for thou hast to pull 1130at a smack o' th' contrary. If ever thou be'st bound 1131in thy scarf and beaten, thou shall find what it is to be 1132proud of thy bondage. I have a desire to hold my 1133acquaintance with thee, or rather my knowledge, that I 1134may say in the default, 'He is a man I know.'
 2.3.1811135Paroles
 My lord, you do me most insupportable 1136vexation. 
 2.3.1821137Lafeu
 I would it were hell-pains for thy sake and my 1138poor doing eternal; for doing I am past, as I will by 1139thee in what motion age will give me leave. 
 2.3.182.1Exit.
 2.3.1831140Paroles
 Well, thou hast a son shall take this disgrace 1141off me --  scurvy, old, filthy, scurvy lord! Well, I must 1142be patient: there is no fettering of authority. I'll beat 1143him, by my life, if I can meet him with any 1144convenience, an he were double and double a lord. I'll have 1145no more pity of his age than I would have of -- I'll 1146beat him, an if I could but meet him again.
 2.3.183.11147Enter Lafeu.
 2.3.1841148Lafeu
 Sirrah, your lord and master's married. There's 1149news for you. You have a new mistress.
 2.3.1851150Paroles
 I most unfainedly beseech your lordship to 1151make some reservation of your wrongs. He is my good 1152lord; whom I serve above is my master.
 2.3.1861153Lafeu
 Who? God.
 2.3.1871154Paroles
 Ay, sir.
 2.3.1881155Lafeu
 The devil it is, that's thy master. Why dost 1156thou garter up thy arms a' this fashion? Dost make hose 1157of thy sleeves? Do other servants so? Thou wert best set 1158thy lower part where thy nose stands. By mine honor, 1159if I were but two hours younger I'd beat thee. 1160Methink'st thou art a general offence, and every man should 1161beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to breathe 1162themselves upon thee.
 2.3.1891163Paroles
 This is hard and undeserved measure, my lord.
 2.3.1901164Lafeu
 Go to, sir. You were beaten in Italy for picking 1165a kernel out of a pomegranate. You are a vagabond and 1166no true traveler. You are more saucy with lords and 1167honorable personages than the commission of your 1168birth and virtue gives you heraldry. You are not worth 1169another word, else I'd call you knave. I leave you.
 2.3.190.11170Exit.
 2.3.1911172Paroles
 Good, very good, it is so then. Good, very 1173good, let it be concealed awhile.
 2.3.191.11171Enter [Bertram,] Count Roussillon.
 2.3.1921174Bertram
 Undone, and forfeited to cares forever!
 2.3.1931175Paroles
 What's the matter, sweetheart?
 2.3.1941176Bertram
 Although before the solemn priest I have 1177sworn,
 2.3.195 I will not bed her.
 2.3.1961178Paroles
  I will not bed her.  What? What, sweetheart?
 2.3.1971179Bertram
 Oh, my Paroles, they have married me.
 2.3.1981180I'll to the Tuscan war, and never bed her.
 2.3.1991181Paroles
 France is a doghole, and it no more merits
 2.3.2001182The tread of a man's foot. To th'war!
 2.3.2011183Bertram
 There's letters from my mother; what 1184th'import is,
 2.3.202I know not yet.
 1185Paroles
 I know not yet.  Ay, that would be known.
 2.3.203To th'wars, my boy, 1186to th'wars!
 2.3.2041187He wears his honor in a box unseen
 2.3.2051188That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,
 2.3.2061189Spending his manly marrow in her arms
 2.3.2071190Which should sustain the bound and high curvet
 2.3.2081191Of Mars's fiery steed. To other regions!
 2.3.2091192France is a stable, we that dwell in't, jades;
 2.3.2101193Therefore, to th'war.
 2.3.2111194Bertram
 It shall be so. I'll send her to my house,
 2.3.2121195Acquaint my mother with my hate to her
 2.3.2131196And wherefore I am fled, write to the king
 2.3.2141197That which I durst not speak. His present gift
 2.3.2151198Shall furnish me to those Italian fields
 2.3.2161199Where noble fellows strike. Wars is no strife
 2.3.2171200To the dark house and the detested wife.
 2.3.2181201Paroles
 Will this capriccio hold in thee, art sure?
 2.3.2191202Bertram
 Go with me to my chamber and advise me.
 2.3.2201203I'll send her straight away. Tomorrow,
 2.3.2211204I'll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.
 2.3.221.1[Exit Bertram(?)]
 2.3.2221205Paroles
 Why, these balls bound, there's noise in it! 'Tis hard,
 2.3.2231206A young man married is a man that's marred.
 2.3.2241207Therefore, away, and leave her bravely, go:
 2.3.2251208The king has done you wrong, but hush 'tis so. 
 2.3.225.1Exit. 
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All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)
