TPTT All's Well That Ends Well: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. Without the Florentine camp.
SCENE II. Florence. The Widow's house.
SCENE III. The Florentine camp.
SCENE IV. Florence. The Widow's house.
SCENE V. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.
ACT V
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SCENE V. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.
Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown
LAFEU
      No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta
      fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have
      made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in
      his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at
5     this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced
      by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.
COUNTESS
      I would I had not known him; it was the death of the
      most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had
      praise for creating. If she had partaken of my
10    flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I
      could not have owed her a more rooted love.
LAFEU
      'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a
      thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.
Clown
      Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
15    salad, or rather, the herb of grace.
LAFEU
      They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.
Clown
      I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much
      skill in grass.
LAFEU
      Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?
Clown
20    A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.
LAFEU
      Your distinction?
Clown
      I would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.
LAFEU
      So you were a knave at his service, indeed.
Clown
      And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.
LAFEU
25    I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.
Clown
      At your service.
LAFEU
      No, no, no.
Clown
      Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
      great a prince as you are.
LAFEU
30    Who's that? a Frenchman?
Clown
      Faith, sir, a' has an English name; but his fisnomy
      is more hotter in France than there.
LAFEU
      What prince is that?
Clown
      The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of
35    darkness; alias, the devil.
LAFEU
      Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this
      to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of;
      serve him still.
Clown
      I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a
40    great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a
      good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the
      world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for
      the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be
      too little for pomp to enter: some that humble
45    themselves may; but the many will be too chill and
      tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that
      leads to the broad gate and the great fire.
LAFEU
      Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I
      tell thee so before, because I would not fall out
50    with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well
      looked to, without any tricks.
Clown
      If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be
      jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.
Exit
LAFEU
      A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
COUNTESS
55    So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much
      sport out of him: by his authority he remains here,
      which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,
      indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.
LAFEU
      I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to
60    tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and
      that my lord your son was upon his return home, I
      moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of
      my daughter; which, in the minority of them both,
      his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did
65    first propose: his highness hath promised me to do
      it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath
      conceived against your son, there is no fitter
      matter. How does your ladyship like it?
COUNTESS
      With very much content, my lord; and I wish it
70    happily effected.
LAFEU
      His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able
      body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here
      to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such
      intelligence hath seldom failed.
COUNTESS
75    It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I
      die. I have letters that my son will be here
      to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain
      with me till they meet together.
LAFEU
      Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might
80    safely be admitted.
COUNTESS
      You need but plead your honourable privilege.
LAFEU
      Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I
      thank my God it holds yet.
Re-enter Clown
Clown
      O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of
85    velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't
      or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of
      velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a
      half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
LAFEU
      A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery
90    of honour; so belike is that.
Clown
      But it is your carbonadoed face.
LAFEU
      Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk
      with the young noble soldier.
Clown
      Faith there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine
95    hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head
      and nod at every man.
Exeunt
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