All's Well That Ends Well
Page 11
PAROLLES My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
LAFEW You beg more than 'word' then. Cox my passion!36
Give me your hand. How does your drum?
PAROLLES O my good lord, you were the first that found me.38
LAFEW Was I, in sooth? And I was the first that lost39 thee.
PAROLLES It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace40, for
you did bring me out.41
LAFEW Out upon thee42, knave! Dost thou put upon me at
once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee
Trumpets sound
in grace and the other brings thee out. The
King's coming. I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire45
further after me. I had talk of you last night. Though you are
a fool and a knave, you shall eat. Go to, follow.
PAROLLES I praise God for you.
[Exeunt]
[Act 5 Scene 3]
running scene 20 continues
Flourish. Enter King, Old Lady [Countess], Lafew, the two French Lords, with Attendants
KING We lost a jewel of her, and our esteem1
Was made much poorer by it: but your son,
As mad in folly, lacked the sense to know
Her estimation home.4
COUNTESS 'Tis past, my liege,
And I beseech your majesty to make6 it
Natural rebellion, done i'th'blade7 of youth,
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it and burns on.
KING My honoured lady,
I have forgiven and forgotten all,
Though my revenges were high bent12 upon him,
And watched13 the time to shoot.
LAFEW This I must say,
But first I beg my pardon15, the young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife
Whose beauty did astonish the survey19
Of richest20 eyes, whose words all ears took captive,
Whose dear perfection hearts that scorned to serve
Humbly called mistress.
KING Praising what is lost
Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither.
We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill25
All repetition. Let him not ask our pardon.
The nature of his great offence is dead27,
And deeper than oblivion we do bury
Th'incensing relics29 of it. Let him approach
A stranger30, no offender; and inform him
So 'tis our will he should.
GENTLEMAN32 I shall, my liege.
[Exit]
To Lafew
KING What says he to your daughter? Have you
spoke?
LAFEW All that he is hath reference to35 your highness.
KING Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me
That sets him high in fame.
Enter Count Bertram
With a patch of velvet on his left cheek
LAFEW He looks well on't.
KING I am not a day of season39,
For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail
In me at once. But to the brightest beams
Distracted42 clouds give way, so stand thou forth.
The time is fair again.
BERTRAM My high-repented blames44,
Dear sovereign, pardon to45 me.
KING All is whole.46
Not one word more of the consumed47 time.
Let's take the instant by the forward top48,
For we are old, and on our quick'st49 decrees
Th'inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals ere we can effect them. You remember
The daughter of this lord?
BERTRAM Admiringly, my liege. At first
I stuck54 my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald55 of my tongue,
Where the impression of mine eye infixing56,
Contempt his scornful perspective57 did lend me,
Which warped the line of every other favour58,
Scorned a fair colour, or expressed it stol'n59,
Extended or contracted60 all proportions
To a most hideous object.61 Thence it came
That she62 whom all men praised and whom myself,
Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye
The dust that did offend it.
KING Well excused.
That thou didst love her, strikes some scores66 away
From the great count.67 But love that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried68,
To the great sender turns69 a sour offence,
Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults
Make trivial price71 of serious things we have,
Not knowing them until we know their grave.72
Oft our displeasures73, to ourselves unjust,
Destroy our friends and after weep their dust.74
Our own love waking cries to see what's done,
While shameful hate sleeps out76 the afternoon.
Be this sweet Helen's knell77, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin.78
The main consents79 are had, and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage day,
Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!
Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!82
LAFEW Come on, my son, in whom my house's name
Must be digested, give a favour84 from you
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,
That she may quickly come.86
Bertram gives Lafew a ring
By my old beard,
And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,
Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,
The last that e'er I took her leave90 at court,
I saw upon her finger.
BERTRAM Hers it was not.
Lafew gives it to him
KING Now, pray you let me see it. For mine eye,
While I was speaking, oft was fastened to't.
This ring was mine, and when I gave it Helen,
I bade96 her, if her fortunes ever stood
Necessitied to97 help, that by this token
I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave98 her
Of what should stead99 her most?
BERTRAM My gracious sovereign,
Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,
The ring was never hers.
COUNTESS Son, on my life,
I have seen her wear it, and she reckoned104 it
At her life's rate.105
LAFEW I am sure I saw her wear it.
BERTRAM You are deceived, my lord. She never saw it.
In Florence was it from a casement108 thrown me,
Wrapped in a paper, which contained the name
Of her that threw it. Noble she was, and thought
I stood engaged, but when I had subscribed111
To mine own fortune and informed her fully
I could not answer in that course of honour113
As she had made the overture, she ceased
In heavy satisfaction115 and would never
Receive the ring again.
KING Plutus117 himself,
That knows the tinct and multiplying med'cine118,
Hath not in nature's mystery more science119
Than I have in this ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helen's,
Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know
That you are well acquainted with yourself,
Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement
You got it from her. She called the saints to surety124
That she would never put it from her finger,
Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,
Where you have
never come, or sent it us
Upon her great disaster.128
BERTRAM She never saw it.
KING Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour,
And mak'st conjectural131 fears to come into me
Which I would fain132 shut out. If it should prove
That thou art so inhuman -- 'twill not prove so --
And yet I know not. Thou didst hate her deadly,
And she is dead, which nothing but to close
Her eyes myself could win me to believe,
||Puts ring on his own finger||
More than to see this ring. Take him away.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall138,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity139,
Having vainly140 feared too little. Away with him.
We'll sift141 this matter further.
BERTRAM If you shall prove
This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she never was.
[Exit, guarded]
Enter a Gentleman [the Astringer]
KING I am wrapped in dismal thinkings.
GENTLEMAN Gracious sovereign,
Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:
Here's a petition from a Florentine,
Who hath for four or five removes come short150
To tender151 it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquished152 thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this153 I know
Is here attending. Her business looks154 in her
With an importing visage155, and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief156, it did concern
Your highness with herself.
KING
[Reads a] letter
'Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife
was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count
Rossillion a widower. His vows are forfeited to me, and my
honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no161
leave, and I follow him to his country for justice. Grant it me,
O king! In you it best lies, otherwise a seducer flourishes and
a poor maid is undone. Diana Capilet.'
LAFEW I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for this.165
I'll none of him.
KING The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafew,
To bring forth this discov'ry. Seek these suitors.168
Go speedily and bring again the count.
Enter Bertram [guarded]
I am afeard170 the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatched.171
COUNTESS Now, justice on the doers!
KING I wonder, sir, sith173 wives are monsters to you,
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship174,
Yet you desire to marry.-- What woman's that?
Enter Widow [and] Diana
DIANA I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived177 from the ancient Capilet.
My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
WIDOW I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease182, without your remedy.
KING Come hither, count. Do you know these women?
BERTRAM My lord, I neither can nor will deny
But that I know them. Do they charge me further?
DIANA Why do you look so strange186 upon your wife?
BERTRAM She's none of mine, my lord.
DIANA If you shall marry,
You give away this hand189, and that is mine,
You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine,
You give away myself, which is known mine,
For I by vow am so embodied yours192,
That she which marries you must marry me,
Either both or none.
To Bertram
LAFEW Your reputation comes too short for my
daughter. You are no husband for her.
BERTRAM My lord, this is a fond197 and desp'rate creature,
Whom sometime I have laughed with. Let your highness
Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour
Than for to think that I would sink it here.
KING Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend201
Till your deeds gain them202: fairer prove your honour
Than in my thought it lies.
DIANA Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.
KING What say'st thou to her?
BERTRAM She's impudent208, my lord,
And was a common gamester209 to the camp.
DIANA He does me wrong, my lord. If I were so,
He might have bought me at a common price.
Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,
Shows a ring
Whose high respect and rich validity213
Did lack a parallel.214 Yet for all that
He gave it to a commoner215 o'th'camp,
If I be one.
COUNTESS He blushes, and 'tis hit.217
Of218 six preceding ancestors, that gem,
Conferred by testament to th'sequent issue219,
Hath it been owed220 and worn. This is his wife,
That ring's a thousand proofs.
KING Methought you said
You saw one here in court could witness it.
DIANA I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument225: his name's Parolles.
LAFEW I saw the man today, if man he be.
KING Find him, and bring him hither.
[Exit an Attendant]
BERTRAM What of him?
He's quoted for a most perfidious229 slave
With all the spots o'th'world taxed and deboshed230,
Whose nature sickens but231 to speak a truth.
Am I or that or this for232 what he'll utter,
That will speak anything?
KING She hath that ring of yours.
BERTRAM I think she has; certain it is I liked her,
And boarded her i'th'wanton236 way of youth.
She knew her distance237 and did angle for me,
Madding238 my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's239 course
Are motives of more fancy. And in fine,
Her insuite cunning, with her modern241 grace,
Subdued me to her rate242: she got the ring,
And I had that which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.
DIANA I must be patient.
You, that have turned246 off a first so noble wife,
May justly diet247 me. I pray you yet --
Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband --
Send for your ring, I will return it home,
And give me mine again.
BERTRAM I have it not.
KING What ring was yours, I pray you?
DIANA Sir, much like the same upon your finger.
KING Know you this ring? This ring was his of late.
DIANA And this was it I gave him, being abed.
KING The story then goes256 false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.
DIANA I have spoke the truth.
Enter Parolles
BERTRAM My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.
KING You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts260 you.
Is this the man you speak of?
DIANA Ay, my lord.
To Parolles
KING Tell me, sirrah -- but tell me true, I charge you,
Not fearing the displeasure of your master,
Which on your just proceeding265 I'll keep off --
By266 him and by this woman here what know you?
PAROLLES So plea
se your majesty, my master hath been an
honourable gentleman. Tricks268 he hath had in him, which
gentlemen have.
KING Come, come, to th'purpose: did he love this woman?
PAROLLES Faith, sir, he did love her, but how?
KING How, I pray you?
PAROLLES He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.
KING How is that?
PAROLLES He loved her, sir, and loved her not.275
KING As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an
equivocal companion277 is this!
PAROLLES I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.
LAFEW He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty279 orator.
DIANA Do you know he promised me marriage?
PAROLLES Faith, I know more than I'll speak.
KING But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?
PAROLLES Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them,
as I said. But more than that, he loved her, for indeed he was
mad for her and talked of Satan and of Limbo and of Furies285
and I know not what. Yet I was in that credit with them286 at
that time that I knew of their going to bed, and of other
motions288, as promising her marriage, and things which
would derive289 me ill will to speak of: therefore I will not speak
what I know.
KING Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say
they are married. But thou art too fine292 in thy evidence:
therefore stand aside. This ring, you say, was yours?
DIANA Ay, my good lord.
KING Where did you buy it? Or who gave it you?
DIANA It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.
KING Who lent it you?
DIANA It was not lent me neither.
KING Where did you find it, then?
DIANA I found it not.
KING If it were yours by none of all these ways,
How could you give it him?
DIANA I never gave it him.
LAFEW This woman's an easy glove, my lord: she goes off304
and on at pleasure.305
KING This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife.
DIANA It might be yours or hers, for aught307 I know.
KING Take her away. I do not like her now.
To prison with her, and away with him.
Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,
Thou diest within this hour.
DIANA I'll never tell you.
KING Take her away.
DIANA I'll put in314 bail, my liege.
KING I think thee now some common customer.315
DIANA By Jove, if ever I knew316 man, 'twas you.
KING Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?
DIANA Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty.
He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't.
I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life.
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.
Points to Lafew
KING She does abuse our ears. To prison with her.
DIANA Good mother, fetch my bail.-- Stay, royal sir.
[Exit Widow]
The jeweller that owes325 the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for326 this lord
Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,