All's Well that Ends Well

All's Well that Ends Well

ACT III SCENE V	Florence. Without the walls. A tucket afar off.
	Enter an old Widow of Florence, DIANA, VIOLENTA,and MARIANA, with other Citizens
Widow	Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we
	shall lose all the sight.
DIANA	They say the French count has done most honourable service.
Widow	It is reported that he has taken their greatest	5
	commander; and that with his own hand he slew the
	duke's brother.
	Tucket
	We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary
	way: hark! you may know by their trumpets.
MARIANA	Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with	10
	the report of it. Well, Diana, take heed of this
	French earl: the honour of a maid is her name; and
	no legacy is so rich as honesty.
Widow	I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited
	by a gentleman his companion.	15
MARIANA	I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a
	filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the
	young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,
	enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of
	lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid	20
	hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,
	example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of
	maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,
	but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten
	them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but	25
	I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,
	though there were no further danger known but the
	modesty which is so lost.
DIANA	You shall not need to fear me.
Widow	I hope so.	30
	Enter HELENA, disguised like a Pilgrim
	Look, here comes a pilgrim: I know she will lie at
	my house; thither they send one another: I'll
	question her. God save you, pilgrim! whither are you bound?
HELENA	To Saint Jaques le Grand.
	Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?	35
Widow	At the Saint Francis here beside the port.
HELENA	Is this the way?
Widow	Ay, marry, is't.
	A march afar
	Hark you! they come this way.
	If you will tarry, holy pilgrim,	40
	But till the troops come by,
	I will conduct you where you shall be lodged;
	The rather, for I think I know your hostess
	As ample as myself.
HELENA	Is it yourself?	45
Widow	If you shall please so, pilgrim.
HELENA	I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.
Widow	You came, I think, from France?
HELENA	I did so.
Widow	Here you shall see a countryman of yours	50
	That has done worthy service.
HELENA	His name, I pray you.
DIANA	The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?
HELENA	But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
	His face I know not.	55
DIANA	Whatsome'er he is,
	He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
	As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
	Against his liking: think you it is so?
HELENA	Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.	60
DIANA	There is a gentleman that serves the count
	Reports but coarsely of her.
HELENA	What's his name?
DIANA	Monsieur Parolles.
HELENA	O, I believe with him,	65
	In argument of praise, or to the worth
	Of the great count himself, she is too mean
	To have her name repeated: all her deserving
	Is a reserved honesty, and that
	I have not heard examined.	70
DIANA	Alas, poor lady!
	'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
	Of a detesting lord.
Widow	I warrant, good creature, wheresoe'er she is,
	Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might do her	75
	A shrewd turn, if she pleased.
HELENA	How do you mean?
	May be the amorous count solicits her
	In the unlawful purpose.
Widow	He does indeed;	80
	And brokes with all that can in such a suit
	Corrupt the tender honour of a maid:
	But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard
	In honestest defence.
MARIANA	The gods forbid else!	85
Widow	So, now they come:
	Drum and Colours
	Enter BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the whole army
	That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;
	That, Escalus.
HELENA	Which is the Frenchman?
DIANA	He;	90
	That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.
	I would he loved his wife: if he were honester
	He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?
HELENA	I like him well.
DIANA	'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave	95
	That leads him to these places: were I his lady,
	I would Poison that vile rascal.
HELENA	Which is he?
DIANA	That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?
HELENA	Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.	100
PAROLLES	Lose our drum! well.
MARIANA	He's shrewdly vexed at something: look, he has spied us.
Widow	Marry, hang you!
MARIANA	And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier!
	Exeunt BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and army
Widow	The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you	105
	Where you shall host: of enjoin'd penitents
	There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
	Already at my house.
HELENA	I humbly thank you:
	Please it this matron and this gentle maid	110
	To eat with us to-night, the charge and thanking
	Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
	I will bestow some precepts of this virgin
	Worthy the note.
BOTH	We'll take your offer kindly.	115
	Exeunt