All’s Well That Ends Well
Act II, Scene 5
Another room in the King’s palace .
Byam Shaw, 1901
- Enter Lafew and Bertram .
Lafew
1- But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier .
Bertram
2- Yes , my lord , and of very valiant approof .
Lafew
3- You have it from his own deliverance .
Bertram
4- And by other warranted testimony .
Lafew
5- Then my dial goes not true . I took this lark for a bunting .
Bertram
6 - 7- I do assure you , my lord , he is very great in knowledge , and
- accordingly valiant .
Lafew
8 - 11- I have then sinn’d against his experience , and transgress’d
- against his valor , 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
12- To Bertram .
- These things shall be done , sir .
Lafew
13- Pray you , sir , who’s his tailor ?
Parolles
14- Sir !
Lafew
15 - 16- O , I know him well , I , sir , he , sir , ’s a good workman , a
- very good tailor .
Bertram
17- Aside to Parolles .
- Is she gone to the King ?
Parolles
18- She is .
Bertram
19- Will she away tonight ?
Parolles
20- As you’ll have her .
Bertram
21 - 24- I have writ my letters , casketed my treasure ,
- Given order for our horses , and tonight ,
- When I should take possession of the bride ,
- End ere I do begin .
Lafew
25 - 28- A good traveler 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
29- Is there any unkindness between my lord and you , monsieur ?
Parolles
30 - 31- I know not how I have deserv’d to run into my lord’s
- displeasure .
Lafew
32 - 34- You have made shift to run into’t , boots and spurs and all ,
- like him that leapt into the custard ; and out of it you’ll
- run again , rather than suffer question for your residence .
Bertram
35- It may be you have mistaken him , my lord .
Lafew
36 - 42- 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
43- An idle lord , I swear .
Bertram
44- I think so .
Parolles
45- Why , do you not know him ?
Bertram
46 - 47- Yes , I do know him well , and common speech
- Gives him a worthy pass . Here comes my clog .
- Enter Helena .
Helena
48 - 51- I have , sir , as I was commanded from you ,
- Spoke with the King , and have procur’d his leave
- For present parting ; only he desires
- Some private speech with you .
’Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
I leave you to your wisdom.
From: Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare
Mary Cowden Clarke, Charles Cowden Clarke, 1870
Bertram
52 - 66- I shall obey his will .
- You must not marvel , Helen , at my course ,
- Which holds not color with the time , nor does
- The ministration and required office
- On my particular . Prepar’d I was not
- For such a business ; therefore am I found
- So much unsettled . This drives me to entreat you
- That presently you take your 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
67 - 68- Sir , I can nothing say ,
- But that I am your most obedient servant .
Bertram
69- Come , come , no more of that .
Helena
70 - 73- 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
74 - 75- Let that go .
- My haste is very great . Farewell ; hie home .
Helena
76- Pray , sir , your pardon .
Bertram
77- Well , what would you say ?
Helena
78 - 81- 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
82- What would you have ?
Helena
83 - 86- 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
87- I pray you stay not , but in haste to horse .
Helena
88- I shall not break your bidding , good my lord .
Bertram
89 - 92- 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 .
- Exeunt .
Count of Rossillion: Let that go. My haste is very great. Farewell; hie home. - Helena: Pray, sir, your pardon.
Bertram and Helena
Charles William Sharpe, printmaker; Petter & Galpin Cassell; Francis Bernard Dicksee; circa mid-19th century