Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    All's Well That Ends Well

    Page 8
    Prev Next


      HELEN To Saint Jaques le Grand.

      Where do the palmers32 lodge, I do beseech you?

      WIDOW At the Saint Francis here beside the port.33

      A march afar

      HELEN Is this the way?

      WIDOW Ay, marry, is't. Hark you!

      They come this way. If you will tarry36,

      Holy pilgrim, but till the troops come by,

      I will conduct you where you shall be lodged,

      The rather for39 I think I know your hostess

      As ample40 as myself.

      HELEN Is it yourself?

      WIDOW If you shall please so, pilgrim.

      HELEN I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.43

      WIDOW You came, I think, from France?

      HELEN I did so.

      WIDOW Here you shall see a countryman of yours

      That has done worthy service.

      HELEN His name, I pray you.

      DIANA The Count Rossillion. Know you such a one?

      HELEN But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:

      His face I know not.

      DIANA Whatsome'er52 he is,

      He's bravely taken53 here. He stole from France,

      As 'tis reported, for54 the king had married him

      Against his liking. Think you it is so?

      HELEN Ay, surely, mere56 the truth. I know his lady.

      DIANA There is a gentleman that serves the count

      Reports but coarsely of her.

      HELEN What's his name?

      DIANA Monsieur Parolles.

      HELEN O, I believe61 with him,

      In argument of praise, or to62 the worth

      Of the great count himself, she is too mean63

      To have her name repeated. All her deserving64

      Is a reserved honesty65, and that

      I have not heard examined.66

      DIANA Alas, poor lady!

      'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife

      Of a detesting lord.

      WIDOW I write70 good creature: wheresoe'er she is,

      Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do her

      A shrewd72 turn if she pleased.

      HELEN How do you mean?

      Maybe the amorous count solicits her

      In the unlawful purpose?

      WIDOW He does indeed,

      And brokes with all that can in such a suit77

      Corrupt the tender honour of a maid.

      But she is armed for him and keeps her guard

      In honestest80 defence.

      Drum and colours. Enter Count Rossillion [Bertram], Parolles and the whole army

      MARIANA The gods forbid else!81

      WIDOW So, now they come:

      That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son.

      That, Escalus.

      HELEN Which is the Frenchman?

      DIANA He,

      That with the plume. 'Tis a most gallant fellow.

      I would he loved his wife: if he were honester88

      He were much goodlier. Is't not a handsome gentleman?

      HELEN I like him well.

      DIANA 'Tis pity he is not honest. Yond's that same knave

      That leads him to these places. Were I his lady,

      I would poison that vile rascal.

      HELEN Which is he?

      DIANA That jackanapes95 with scarves. Why is he melancholy?

      HELEN Perchance he's hurt i'th'battle.

      PAROLLES Lose our drum! Well.

      MARIANA He's shrewdly98 vexed at something. Look, he has

      spied us.

      WIDOW Marry, hang you!

      MARIANA And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!101

      Exeunt [Bertram, Parolles and army]

      WIDOW The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

      Where you shall host. Of enjoined penitents103

      There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,

      Already at my house.

      HELEN I humbly thank you:

      Please it107 this matron and this gentle maid

      To eat with us tonight, the charge108 and thanking

      Shall be for me.109 And, to requite you further,

      I will bestow some precepts of110 this virgin

      Worthy the note.

      BOTH We'll take your offer kindly.112

      Exeunt

      [Act 3 Scene 6]

      running scene 12

      Enter Count Rossillion [Bertram] and the [two] Frenchmen, as at first

      SECOND LORD Nay, good my lord, put him to't1, let him have his

      way.

      FIRST LORD If your lordship find him not a hilding3, hold me no

      more in your respect.

      SECOND LORD On my life, my lord, a bubble.5

      BERTRAM Do you think I am so far deceived in him?

      SECOND LORD Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge,

      without any malice, but to speak of him as8 my kinsman, he's

      a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly

      promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy

      your lordship's entertainment.11

      FIRST LORD It were fit you knew him, lest reposing12 too far in his

      virtue, which he hath not, he might at some great and trusty13

      business in a main danger fail you.

      BERTRAM I would I knew in what particular action to try15 him.

      FIRST LORD None better than to let him fetch off16 his drum,

      which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.

      SECOND LORD I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly

      surprise him; such I will have whom I am sure he knows not19

      from the enemy: we will bind and hoodwink20 him so, that he

      shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer21

      of the adversaries, when we bring him to our own tents. Be

      but your lordship present at his examination. If he do not,

      for the promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of

      base fear, offer to betray you and deliver all the intelligence25 in

      his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his

      soul upon oath27, never trust my judgement in anything.

      FIRST LORD O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum.

      He says he has a stratagem for't. When your lordship sees

      the bottom30 of his success in't, and to what metal this

      counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not31

      John Drum's entertainment, your inclining32 cannot be

      removed. Here he comes.

      Enter Parolles

      Aside to Bertram

      SECOND LORD O, for the love of laughter, hinder not

      the honour of his design. Let him fetch off his drum

      in any hand.36

      BERTRAM How now, monsieur? This drum sticks sorely in37

      your disposition.

      FIRST LORD A pox39 on't! Let it go, 'tis but a drum.

      PAROLLES 'But a drum'? Is't 'but a drum'? A drum so lost?

      There was excellent command: to charge in with our horse

      upon our own wings, and to rend42 our own soldiers!

      FIRST LORD That was not to be blamed in the command of the43

      service: it was a disaster of war that Caesar himself could

      not have prevented if he had been there to command.

      BERTRAM Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success.

      Some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum, but it is not

      to be recovered.

      PAROLLES It might have been recovered.

      BERTRAM It might, but it is not now.

      PAROLLES It is to be recovered. But51 that the merit of service is

      seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would

      have that drum or another, or hic jacet53.

      BERTRAM Why, if you have a stomach54, to't, monsieur: if you

      think your mystery55 in stratagem can bring this instrument

      of honour again int
    o his56 native quarter, be magnanimous in

      the enterprise and go on. I will grace57 the attempt for a

      worthy exploit. If you speed58 well in it, the duke shall both

      speak of it and extend to you what further becomes59 his

      greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

      PAROLLES By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.

      BERTRAM But you must not now slumber in it.62

      PAROLLES I'll about it this evening, and I will presently pen63

      down my dilemmas64, encourage myself in my certainty, put

      myself into my mortal preparation65, and by midnight look to

      hear further from me.

      BERTRAM May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone

      about it?

      PAROLLES I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the

      attempt I vow.

      BERTRAM I know thou'rt valiant, and to the possibility71 of thy

      soldiership will subscribe72 for thee. Farewell.

      PAROLLES I love not many words.

      Exit

      SECOND LORD No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a

      strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake

      this business, which he knows is not to be done, damns76

      himself to do and dares better be damned than to do't?

      FIRST LORD You do not know him, my lord, as we do. Certain it

      is that he will steal himself into a man's favour and for a

      week escape a great deal of discoveries, but when you find

      him out, you have81 him ever after.

      BERTRAM Why, do you think he will make no deed82 at all of this

      that so seriously he does address himself unto?

      SECOND LORD None in the world. But return with an invention

      and clap upon you two or three probable85 lies. But we have

      almost embossed86 him. You shall see his fall tonight; for

      indeed he is not for87 your lordship's respect.

      FIRST LORD We'll make you some sport with the fox ere we case88

      him. He was first smoked89 by the old lord Lafew. When his

      disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat90 you shall find

      him, which you shall see this very night.

      SECOND LORD I must go look my twigs.92 He shall be caught.

      To First Lord

      BERTRAM Your brother he shall go along with me.93

      FIRST LORD As't please your lordship. I'll leave you.

      [Exit]

      BERTRAM Now will I lead you to the house, and show you

      The lass I spoke of.

      SECOND LORD But you say she's honest.

      BERTRAM That's all the fault. I spoke with her but once

      And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her

      By this same coxcomb that we have i'th'wind100

      Tokens and letters which she did re-send.

      And this is all I have done. She's a fair creature.

      Will you go see her?

      SECOND LORD With all my heart, my lord.

      Exeunt

      [Act 3 Scene 7]

      running scene 13

      Enter Helen and Widow

      HELEN If you misdoubt1 me that I am not she,

      I know not how I shall assure you further,

      But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.3

      WIDOW Though my estate4 be fall'n, I was well born,

      Nothing acquainted with these businesses,

      And would not put my reputation now

      In any staining act.

      HELEN Nor would I wish you.

      First, give me trust, the count he is my husband,

      And what to your sworn counsel10 I have spoken

      Is so from word to word.11 And then you cannot,

      By12 the good aid that I of you shall borrow,

      Err in bestowing it.

      WIDOW I should believe you,

      For you have showed me that which well approves15

      You're great in fortune.

      Gives a purse

      HELEN Take this purse of gold,

      And let me buy your friendly help thus far,

      Which I will over-pay and pay again

      When I have found it.20 The count he woos your daughter,

      Lays down his wanton21 siege before her beauty,

      Resolves to carry her: let her in fine22 consent,

      As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear23 it.

      Now his important blood24 will naught deny

      That she'll demand: a ring the county25 wears,

      That downward hath succeeded in his house

      From son to son, some four or five descents

      Since the first father wore it. This ring he holds

      In most rich choice, yet in his idle fire29,

      To buy his will30, it would not seem too dear,

      Howe'er repented after.

      WIDOW Now I see

      The bottom33 of your purpose.

      HELEN You see it lawful34, then: it is no more,

      But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,

      Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter36;

      In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

      Herself most chastely absent. After,

      To marry her39, I'll add three thousand crowns

      To what is passed40 already.

      WIDOW I have yielded:

      Instruct my daughter how she shall persever42,

      That time and place with this deceit so lawful

      May prove coherent.44 Every night he comes

      With musics45 of all sorts and songs composed

      To her unworthiness. It nothing steads46 us

      To chide47 him from our eaves, for he persists

      As if his life lay48 on't.

      HELEN Why then tonight

      Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed50,

      Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed51,

      And lawful meaning in a lawful act,

      Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact.53

      But let's about it.

      [Exeunt]

      Act 4 [Scene 1]

      running scene 14

      Enter one of the Frenchmen [the First Lord Dumaine], with five or six other Soldiers in ambush

      FIRST LORD He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner.

      When you sally upon him, speak what terrible2 language you

      will: though you understand it not yourselves, no matter, for

      we must not seem to understand him, unless4 some one

      among us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

      FIRST SOLDIER Good captain, let me be th'interpreter.

      FIRST LORD Art not acquainted with him? Knows he not thy

      voice?

      FIRST SOLDIER No, sir, I warrant you.

      FIRST LORD But what linsey-woolsey10 hast thou to speak to us

      again?11

      FIRST SOLDIER E'en such as you speak to me.

      FIRST LORD He must think us some band of strangers13

      i'th'adversary's entertainment. Now he hath a smack14 of all

      neighbouring languages: therefore we must every one be a

      man of his own fancy, not to know16 what we speak one to

      another, so we seem to know, is to know straight17 our purpose:

      choughs18' language, gabble enough and good enough. As for

      you, interpreter, you must seem very politic. But couch19, ho!

      Here he comes, to beguile20 two hours in a sleep, and then to

      return and swear the lies he forges.

      They hide

      Enter Parolles

      PAROLLES Ten o'clock. Within these three hours 'twill be time

      enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be

      a very plausive invention that carries it. They begin to smoke24

      me, and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door.

      I find my tongue is too foolhardy, but my heart hath the fear

      of Mar
    s before it and of his creatures, not daring the reports27

      of my tongue.

      Speaks aside to the others throughout

      FIRST LORD This is the first truth that e'er

      thine own tongue was guilty of.

      PAROLLES What the devil should move me to undertake the

      recovery of this drum, being not ignorant of the

      impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I must

      give myself some hurts34, and say I got them in exploit: yet

      slight ones will not carry it. They will say, 'Came you off with

      so little?' And great ones I dare not give. Wherefore, what's

      the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman's37

      mouth and buy myself another of Bajazet's mule38, if you

      prattle me into these perils.

      FIRST LORD Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that

      he is?

      PAROLLES I would the cutting of my garments would serve the42

      turn, or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

      FIRST LORD We cannot afford44 you so.

      PAROLLES Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was in45

      stratagem.

      FIRST LORD 'Twould not do.

      PAROLLES Or to drown my clothes, and say I was stripped.

      FIRST LORD Hardly serve.

      PAROLLES Though I swore I leaped from the window of the

      citadel.51

      FIRST LORD How deep?

      PAROLLES Thirty fathom.53

      FIRST LORD Three great oaths would scarce make that be

      believed.

      PAROLLES I would I had any drum of the enemy's. I would

      swear I recovered it.

      FIRST LORD You shall hear one anon.

      PAROLLES A drum now of the enemy's--

      Alarum within

      The Lord and Soldiers come out of hiding

      First Soldier will act as Interpreter

      FIRST LORD Throca movousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.

      ALL Cargo, cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo.

      They seize and blindfold Parolles

      PAROLLES O, ransom, ransom! Do not hide mine eyes.

      INTERPRETER Boskos thromuldo boskos.

      PAROLLES I know you are the Muskos64' regiment,

      And I shall lose my life for want of language.

      If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch66,

      Italian, or French, let him speak to me,

      I'll discover68 that which shall undo the Florentine.

      INTERPRETER Boskos vauvado. I understand thee, and can speak

      thy tongue. Kerelybonto. Sir, betake thee70 to thy faith, for

      seventeen poniards71 are at thy bosom.

      PAROLLES O!

      INTERPRETER O, pray, pray, pray! Manka revania dulche.

      FIRST LORD Oscorbidulchos volivorco.

      INTERPRETER The general is content to spare thee yet,

      And, hoodwinked as thou art, will lead thee on76

      To gather77 from thee. Haply thou mayst inform

      Something to save thy life.

      PAROLLES O, let me live,

      And all the secrets of our camp I'll show,

      Their force, their purposes. Nay, I'll speak that

      Which you will wonder at.

      INTERPRETER But wilt thou faithfully?

      PAROLLES If I do not, damn me.

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2025