All's Well That Ends Well Translation Act 2, Scene 4
Enter HELENA and Clown
HELENA
My mother greets me kindly; is she well?
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.
CLOWN
She is not well, but she still has her health. She's very cheerful. But yet she is not well. But, thankfully, she's very well and doesn't need anything in the world. But still she's not well.
HELENA
If she be very well, what does she ail, that she'snot very well?
HELENA
If she is so well, what pains her, that she's still not very well?
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Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.
CLOWN
Truly, she's very well indeed, except for two things.
HELENA
What two things?
HELENA
What two things?
CLOWN
One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send herquickly! the other that she's in earth, from whenceGod send her quickly!
CLOWN
One, that she's not in heaven, where God will send her quickly! The other, that she's on the earth, from where God will send her quickly!
Enter PAROLLES
PAROLLES
Bless you, my fortunate lady!
PAROLLES
God bless you, my fortunate lady!
HELENA
I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine owngood fortunes.
HELENA
I hope, sir, I have your blessing to celebrate my own good fortune.
PAROLLES
You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep themon, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
PAROLLES
I prayed for you to pursue your good fortune. And so you can keep them, have them still. Oh, my rogue, how is my old lady doing?
CLOWN
So that you had her wrinkles and I her money,I would she did as you say.
CLOWN
If you could have her wrinkles and I could have her money, I wish she would do as you say.
PAROLLES
Why, I say nothing.
PAROLLES
But I have said 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.
CLOWN
Ah, you are the wiser man. Many a man's tongue causes his master's downfall. To say nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing, is going to be a big part of your position, which is pretty close to nothing itself.
PAROLLES
Away! thou'rt a knave.
PAROLLES
Get away! You're a rogue.
CLOWN
You should have said, sir, before a knave thou'rt aknave; that's, before me thou'rt a knave: this hadbeen truth, sir.
CLOWN
You should have said, sir, in front of a rascal that you are a rascal. That is, in front of me, you are a rascal. This would have been a true statement, sir.
PAROLLES
Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
PAROLLES
Get out, you're a witty fool. I've found you out.
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.
CLOWN
Did you find me in yourself, sir? Or were you taught to find me? The search was successful, sir. And you may find a big fool inside yourself, even one who can please the world and make many people laugh.
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.
PAROLLES
You're a good rascal, I swear, and well fed. Madam, my lord will go away tonight. A very serious business summons him. He acknowledges the great needs and ceremonies of love, which you're entitled to, but he has no choice but to put them off. The absence of those love ceremonies, and their delay, will make them all the sweeter, now that they're distilled in the meantime, so that when you finally consummate your love, that hour will overflow with joy and pleasure will run over the brim.
HELENA
What's his will else?
HELENA
What else does he want me to do?
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.
PAROLLES
That you will immediately leave the king and tell him that your urgency is your own idea. Use whatever excuse you think makes your story sound stronger and more probable.
HELENA
What more commands he?
HELENA
What else does he command?
PAROLLES
That, having this obtain'd, you presentlyAttend his further pleasure.
PAROLLES
That, once you've done this, you wait to hear more from him.
HELENA
In every thing I wait upon his will.
HELENA
In everything, I serve him.
PAROLLES
I shall report it so.
PAROLLES
I shall report that to him.
HELENA
I pray you.
HELENA
I pray you do so.
Exit PAROLLES
HELENA
Come, sirrah.
HELENA
[To the CLOWN] Come, sir.
Exeunt
