Internet Shakespeare Editions

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Not Peer Reviewed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.]