All's Well That Ends Well: ACT I , SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.

All's Well That Ends Well: ACT I


	Introduction

	ACT I

		SCENE I. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.

		SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.

		SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.

	ACT II

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

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SCENE II. Paris. The KING's palace.

Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France, with letters, and divers Attendants

KING

      The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears;
      Have fought with equal fortune and continue
      A braving war.

First Lord

So 'tis reported, sir.

KING

5     Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it
      A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria,
      With caution that the Florentine will move us
      For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend
      Prejudicates the business and would seem
10    To have us make denial.

First Lord

      His love and wisdom,
      Approved so to your majesty, may plead
      For amplest credence.

KING

      He hath arm'd our answer,
15    And Florence is denied before he comes:
      Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see
      The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
      To stand on either part.

Second Lord

      It well may serve
20    A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
      For breathing and exploit.

KING

What's he comes here?

Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES

First Lord

It is the Count Rousillon, my good lord,
Young Bertram.

KING

25    Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face;
      Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
      Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts
      Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

BERTRAM

My thanks and duty are your majesty's.

KING

30    I would I had that corporal soundness now,
      As when thy father and myself in friendship
      First tried our soldiership! He did look far
      Into the service of the time and was
      Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
35    But on us both did haggish age steal on
      And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
      To talk of your good father. In his youth
      He had the wit which I can well observe
      To-day in our young lords; but they may jest
40    Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
      Ere they can hide their levity in honour;
      So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
      Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
      His equal had awaked them, and his honour,
45    Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
      Exception bid him speak, and at this time
      His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him
      He used as creatures of another place
      And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
50    Making them proud of his humility,
      In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
      Might be a copy to these younger times;
      Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
      But goers backward.

BERTRAM

55    His good remembrance, sir,
      Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;
      So in approof lives not his epitaph
      As in your royal speech.

KING

      Would I were with him! He would always say--
60    Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words
      He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
      To grow there and to bear,--'Let me not live,'--
      This his good melancholy oft began,
      On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
65    When it was out,--'Let me not live,' quoth he,
      'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
      Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
      All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
      Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
70    Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd;
      I after him do after him wish too,
      Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
      I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
      To give some labourers room.

Second Lord

75 You are loved, sir:
They that least lend it you shall lack you first.

KING

      I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,
      Since the physician at your father's died?
      He was much famed.

BERTRAM

80 Some six months since, my lord.

KING

      If he were living, I would try him yet.
      Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out
      With several applications; nature and sickness
      Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;
85    My son's no dearer.

BERTRAM

Thank your majesty.

Exeunt. Flourish

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