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Dramatis Personae
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/ Home / Library / Complete Shakespeare / All's Well That Ends Well / Act II Scene V
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All's Well That Ends Well: Act 2 Scene 5
Scene V Paris. The KING's palace.
- [Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM]
- LAFEU
- But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
- BERTRAM
- Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
- LAFEU
- You have it from his own deliverance.
- BERTRAM
- And by other warranted testimony.
- LAFEU
- Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.
- BERTRAM
- I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in
- knowledge and accordingly valiant.
- LAFEU
- I have then sinned against his experience and
- transgressed against his valour; and my state that
- way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my
- heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make
- us friends; I will pursue the amity.
- [Enter PAROLLES]
- PAROLLES
- [To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.
- LAFEU
- Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?
- PAROLLES
- Sir?
- LAFEU
- O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good
- workman, a very good tailor.
- BERTRAM
- [Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?
- PAROLLES
- She is.
- BERTRAM
- Will she away to-night?
- PAROLLES
- As you'll have her.
- BERTRAM
- I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
- Given order for our horses; and to-night,
- When I should take possession of the bride,
- End ere I do begin.
- LAFEU
- A good traveller is something at the latter end of a
- dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a
- known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should
- be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.
- BERTRAM
- Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?
- PAROLLES
- I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's
- displeasure.
- LAFEU
- You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs
- and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and
- out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer
- question for your residence.
- BERTRAM
- It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
- LAFEU
- And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's
- prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this
- of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the
- soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in
- matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them
- tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:
- I have spoken better of you than you have or will to
- deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.
- [Exit]
- PAROLLES
- An idle lord. I swear.
- BERTRAM
- I think so.
- PAROLLES
- Why, do you not know him?
- BERTRAM
- Yes, I do know him well, and common speech
- Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.
- [Enter HELENA]
- HELENA
- I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
- Spoke with the king and have procured his leave
- For present parting; only he desires
- Some private speech with you.
- BERTRAM
- I shall obey his will.
- You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
- Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
- The ministration and required office
- On my particular. Prepared I was not
- For such a business; therefore am I found
- So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you
- That presently you take our way for home;
- And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
- For my respects are better than they seem
- And my appointments have in them a need
- Greater than shows itself at the first view
- To you that know them not. This to my mother:
- [Giving a letter]
- 'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
- I leave you to your wisdom.
- HELENA
- Sir, I can nothing say,
- But that I am your most obedient servant.
- BERTRAM
- Come, come, no more of that.
- HELENA
- And ever shall
- With true observance seek to eke out that
- Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd
- To equal my great fortune.
- BERTRAM
- Let that go:
- My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
- HELENA
- Pray, sir, your pardon.
- BERTRAM
- Well, what would you say?
- HELENA
- I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,
- Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;
- But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
- What law does vouch mine own.
- BERTRAM
- What would you have?
- HELENA
- Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.
- I would not tell you what I would, my lord:
- Faith yes;
- Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
- BERTRAM
- I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.
- HELENA
- I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
- BERTRAM
- Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.
- [Exit HELENA]
- Go thou toward home; where I will never come
- Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.
- Away, and for our flight.
- PAROLLES
- Bravely, coragio!
- [Exeunt]
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