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ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL  5.3

Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.

[Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two
French Lords, with Attendants]

KING We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem
Was made much poorer by it: but your son,
As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know
Her estimation home.

COUNTESS 'Tis past, my liege;5
And I beseech your majesty to make it
Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it and burns on.

KING My honour'd lady,10
I have forgiven and forgotten all;
Though my revenges were high bent upon him,
And watch'd the time to shoot.

LAFEU This I must say,
But first I beg my pardon, the young lord15
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 survey
Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,20
Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve
Humbly call'd 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 dead,
And deeper than oblivion we do bury
The incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him30
So 'tis our will he should.

Gentleman I shall, my liege.
[Exit]

KING What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?

LAFEU All that he is hath reference to your highness.

KING Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me35
That set him high in fame.
[Enter BERTRAM]

LAFEU He looks well on't.

KING I am not a day of season,
For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail
In me at once: but to the brightest beams40
Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth;
The time is fair again.

BERTRAM My high-repented blames,
Dear sovereign, pardon to me.

KING All is whole;45
Not one word more of the consumed time.
Let's take the instant by the forward top;
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals ere we can effect them. You remember50
The daughter of this lord?

BERTRAM Admiringly, my liege, at first
I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue
Where the impression of mine eye infixing,55
Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favour;
Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen;
Extended or contracted all proportions
To a most hideous object: thence it came60
That she 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 scores away65
From the great compt: but love that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults
Make trivial price of serious things we have,70
Not knowing them until we know their grave:
Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,
Destroy our friends and after weep their dust
Our own love waking cries to see what's done,
While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon.75
Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:
The main consents are had; and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage-day.

COUNTESS Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!80
Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!

LAFEU Come on, my son, in whom my house's name
Must be digested, give a favour from you
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,
That she may quickly come.85
[BERTRAM gives 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 at court,
I saw upon her finger.90

BERTRAM Hers it was not.

KING Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,
While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.
This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen,
I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood95
Necessitied to help, that by this token
I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave
her
Of what should stead her most?

BERTRAM My gracious sovereign,100
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 reckon'd it
At her life's rate.105

LAFEU I am sure I saw her wear it.

BERTRAM You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it:
In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,
Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name
Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought110
I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed
To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully
I could not answer in that course of honour
As she had made the overture, she ceased
In heavy satisfaction and would never115
Receive the ring again.

KING Plutus himself,
That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,
Hath not in nature's mystery more science
Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,120
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 call'd the saints to surety
That she would never put it from her finger,125
Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,
Where you have never come, or sent it us
Upon her great disaster.

BERTRAM She never saw it.

KING Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour;130
And makest conjectural fears to come into me
Which I would fain 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 close135
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring. Take him away.
[Guards seize BERTRAM]
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him!140
We'll sift 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.145
[Exit, guarded]

KING I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
[Enter a Gentleman]

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 tender it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know
Is here attending: her business looks in her
With an importing visage; and she told me,155
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your highness with herself.

KING [Reads] Upon his many protestations to marry me
when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won
me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows160
are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He
stole from Florence, taking no 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.165
                     DIANA CAPILET.

LAFEU I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for
this: I'll none of him.

KING The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu,
To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors:170
Go speedily and bring again the count.
I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch'd.

COUNTESS Now, justice on the doers!
[Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded]

KING I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,175
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.
[Enter Widow and DIANA]
                     What woman's that?

DIANA I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capilet:180
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 cease, without your remedy.185

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 strange upon your wife?

BERTRAM She's none of mine, my lord.190

DIANA If you shall marry,
You give away this hand, 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 yours,195
That she which marries you must marry me,
Either both or none.

LAFEU Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you
are no husband for her.

BERTRAM My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,200
Whom sometime I have laugh'd 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 friend
Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour205
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?210

BERTRAM She's impudent, my lord,
And was a common gamester 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,215
Whose high respect and rich validity
Did lack a parallel; yet for all that
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.

COUNTESS           He blushes, and 'tis it:
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,220
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been owed 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.225

DIANA I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.

LAFEU I saw the man to-day, if man he be.

KING Find him, and bring him hither.
[Exit an Attendant]

BERTRAM What of him?230
He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;
Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.
Am I or that or this for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?235

KING She hath that ring of yours.

BERTRAM I think she has: certain it is I liked her,
And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,240
As all impediments in fancy's course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that which any inferior might245
At market-price have bought.

DIANA I must be patient:
You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet;
Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband;250
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 like255
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 goes false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.260

DIANA        I have spoke the truth.
[Enter PAROLLES]

BERTRAM My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.

KING You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.
Is this the man you speak of?

DIANA Ay, my lord.

KING Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you,265
Not fearing the displeasure of your master,
Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off,
By him and by this woman here what know you?

PAROLLES So please your majesty, my master hath been an
honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him,270
which gentlemen have.

KING Come, come, to the 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.275

KING How is that?

PAROLLES He loved her, sir, and loved her not.

KING As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an
equivocal companion is this!

PAROLLES I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.280

LAFEU He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty 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,285
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 Furies and I know not what: yet I
was in that credit with them at that time that I
knew of their going to bed, and of other motions,290
as promising her marriage, and things which would
derive 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 fine in thy295
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.300

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?305

DIANA I never gave it him.

LAFEU This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off
and on at pleasure.

KING This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.

DIANA It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.310

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.315

KING Take her away.

DIANA        I'll put in bail, my liege.

KING I think thee now some common customer.

DIANA By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.

KING Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?

DIANA Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:320
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.

KING She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.325

DIANA Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:
[Exit Widow]
The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:330
He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;
And at that time he got his wife with child:
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:
So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick:
And now behold the meaning.335
[Re-enter Widow, with HELENA]

KING Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real that I see?

HELENA No, my good lord;
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,340
The name and not the thing.

BERTRAM Both, both. O, pardon!

HELENA O my good lord, when I was like this maid,
I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;
And, look you, here's your letter; this it says:345
'When from my finger you can get this ring
And are by me with child,' &c. This is done:
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?

BERTRAM If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,
I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.350

HELENA If it appear not plain and prove untrue,
Deadly divorce step between me and you!
O my dear mother, do I see you living?

LAFEU Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:
[To PAROLLES]
Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,355
I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee:
Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.

KING Let us from point to point this story know,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow.
[To DIANA]
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,360
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess that by thy honest aid
Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.
Of that and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:365
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish]

 

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