All’s Well That Ends Well

what the import is, I know not yet. Parolles

Ay, that would be known. To the wars, my boy, to the wars!
He wears his honour in a box unseen,
That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home,
Spending his manly marrow in her arms,
Which should sustain the bound and high curvet
Of Mars’s fiery steed. To other regions
France is a stable; we that dwell in’t jades;
Therefore, to the war!

Bertram

It shall be so: I’ll send her to my house,
Acquaint my mother with my hate to her,
And wherefore I am fled; write to the king
That which I durst not speak; his present gift
Shall furnish me to those Italian fields,
Where noble fellows strike: war is no strife
To the dark house and the detested wife.

Parolles Will this capriccio hold in thee? art sure? Bertram

Go with me to my chamber, and advise me.
I’ll send her straight away: to-morrow
I’ll to the wars, she to her single sorrow.

Parolles

Why, these balls bound; there’s noise in it. ’Tis hard:
A young man married is a man that’s marr’d:
Therefore away, and leave her bravely; go:
The king has done you wrong: but, hush, ’tis so. Exeunt.

Scene IV

Paris. The King’s palace.

	Enter Helena and Clown.
Helena	My mother greets me kindly: is she well?
Clown	She is not well; but yet she has her health: she’s very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be given, she’s very well and wants nothing i’ the world; but yet she is not well.
Helena	If she be very well, what does she ail, that she’s not very well?
Clown	Truly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things.
Helena	What two things?
Clown	One, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other that she’s in earth, from whence God send her quickly!
	Enter Parolles.
Parolles	Bless you, my fortunate lady!
Helena	I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes.
Parolles	You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
Clown	So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.
Parolles	Why, I say nothing.
Clown	Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man’s tongue shakes out his master’s undoing: to say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which is within a very little of nothing.
Parolles	Away! thou’rt a knave.
Clown	You should have said, sir, before a knave thou’rt a knave; that’s, before me thou’rt a knave: this had been truth, sir.
Parolles	Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
Clown	Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable; and much fool may you find in you, even to the world’s pleasure and the increase of laughter.
Parolles	A good knave, i’ faith, and well fed. Madam, my lord will go away to-night; A very serious business calls on him. The great prerogative and rite of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off to a compell’d restraint; Whose want, and whose delay, is strew’d with sweets, Which they distil now in the curbed time, To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.
Helena	What’s his will else?
Parolles	That you will take your instant leave o’ the king And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Strengthen’d with what apology you think May make it probable need.
Helena	What more commands he?
Parolles	That, having this obtain’d, you presently Attend his further pleasure.
Helena	In every thing I wait upon his will.
Parolles	I shall report it so.
Helena	I pray you. Exit Parolles. Come, sirrah. Exeunt.

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