All's Well That Ends Well Translation Act 5, Scene 3
Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two French Lords, with Attendants
KING
We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know Her estimation home.
KING
In losing her, we lost a jewel, and I'm worth much less from losing her. But your son, as if he was mad, didn't have the sense to know how worthy she was.
COUNTESS
'Tis past, my liege; And I beseech your majesty to make it Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth; When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, O'erbears it and burns on.
COUNTESS
It's over, my lord. I beg your majesty to think of it as natural, youthful rebellion, like when oil and fire refuse to listen to reason, and burn in spite of what they're told.
KING
My honour'd lady, I have forgiven and forgotten all; Though my revenges were high bent upon him, And watch'd the time to shoot.
KING
My honored lady, I have forgiven and forgotten everything, though I was ready to revenge her death on him and was just waiting for the right time.
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This I must say, But first I beg my pardon, the young lord Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady Offence of mighty note; but to himself The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife Whose beauty did astonish the survey Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve Humbly call'd mistress.
LAFEU
I have to say this, but first I beg pardon. The young lord mightily affronted his king, his mother, and his wife, but he did the greatest wrong of all to himself. He lost a wife whose beauty astonished all the richest eyes in the land, whose words took all ears as their captives, and whose perfection made previously scornful men humbly serve her.
KING
Praising what is lost Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither; We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill All repetition: let him not ask our pardon; The nature of his great offence is dead, And deeper than oblivion we do bury The incensing relics of it: let him approach, A stranger, no offender; and inform him So 'tis our will he should.
KING
When we praise what we've lost, it makes remembering even more dear to us. Well, call him in. We're friends again, and once we're reunited, we won't need to repeat this first reunion. Don't let him ask for my forgiveness. The woman he wronged is dead, and now I bury the memory of his offenses deeper than you can imagine. Let him approach as a stranger, not as an enemy. Inform him it's my will that he should do so.
GENTLEMAN
I shall, my liege.
GENTLEMAN
I will, my lord.
Exit
KING
What says he to your daughter? have you spoke?
KING
What does he say to your daughter? Have you spoken with him?
LAFEU
All that he is hath reference to your highness.
LAFEU
All that he has said has focused on your highness.
KING
Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent meThat set him high in fame.
KING
Then we shall have a match made. I've had letters sent to me that put him among the most famous.
Enter BERTRAM
LAFEU
He looks well on't.
LAFEU
He looks well considering.
KING
I am not a day of season, For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail In me at once: but to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth; The time is fair again.
KING
My moods aren't like just one season. You might see sunshine and hail in me at the same time. Clouds eventually part and give way to bright sunbeams, though. So come forward, the sun is shining on you again.
BERTRAM
My high-repented blames,Dear sovereign, pardon to me.
BERTRAM
Dear king, pardon me for my wrongs that I greatly repent.
KING
All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Let's take the instant by the forward top; For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time Steals ere we can effect them . You remember The daughter of this lord?
KING
You're fully pardoned. Don't speak one word more about the time that's passed. Let's seize the day. I'm old, and the silent foot of Father Time appears before I can get anything done. You remember this lord's daughter?
BERTRAM
Admiringly, my liege, at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue Where the impression of mine eye infixing, Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, Which warp'd the line of every other favour; Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen; Extended or contracted all proportions To a most hideous object: thence it came That she whom all men praised and whom myself, Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye The dust that did offend it.
BERTRAM
I admired her, my lord, and I originally wanted to marry her. Before I could express my love for her, I started to scorn the faces of all other women. I'd say that fair faces were ugly or just looked nice because of makeup. I thought of all other women's forms except this lord's daughter as hideous. That's why, when my wife, praised by all men and loved by me myself since I lost her, looked to me like dust in my eye.
KING
Well excused: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away From the great compt: but love that comes too late, Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, To the great sender turns a sour offence, Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults Make trivial price of serious things we have, Not knowing them until we know their grave: Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, Destroy our friends and after weep their dust Our own love waking cries to see what's done, While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon. Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: The main consents are had; and here we'll stay To see our widower's second marriage-day.
KING
That's a good excuse. Knowing that you did love her frees you from some of your debt. But love that comes too late, like a pardon delivered too late to the gallows, is an offense to God. What good does it do to cry, "What's gone was good!" Our unthinking faults make us undervalue the worthy things we have. Doesn't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? Often our scornfulness is unjust to ourselves. It destroys our friends and then, after we've mourned them, our love for them finally surfaces and makes us cry when we realize what we've done. We don't feel shame until it's too late. Memorialize sweet Helena and now forget her. Send your tokens of love to fair Maudlin, Lafeu's daughter. Consent has been given for the union and so here today we'll see this widower's second marriage.
COUNTESS
Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!
COUNTESS
Which I hope will go better than the first, oh dear heaven, bless! If not, I hope I die before they meet!
LAFEU
Come on, my son, in whom my house's name Must be digested, give a favour from you To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, That she may quickly come.
LAFEU
Come on, my son-in-law-to-be, you'll soon take hold of my estate. Give a present to ignite my daughter's love so she will quickly come to you.
BERTRAM gives a ring
LAFEU
By my old beard, And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this, The last that e'er I took her at court, I saw upon her finger.
LAFEU
By my old beard and every hair in it, the late Helena was a sweet creature. The last time I saw her at court, I saw a ring just like this on her finger.
BERTRAM
Hers it was not.
BERTRAM
It wasn't hers.
KING
Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood Necessitied to help, that by this token I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most?
KING
Hold on, let me see it. While I was speaking just now, I couldn't stop staring at it. This ring was mine. When I gave it to Helena, I instructed her that if she ever needed my help, to send me the ring and I would help her. Have you been so crafty as to steal the thing from her that would have been her greatest help?
BERTRAM
My gracious sovereign,Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,The ring was never hers.
BERTRAM
My gracious king, whatever you think you know, the ring was never hers.
COUNTESS
Son, on my life,I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd itAt her life's rate.
COUNTESS
Son, on my life, I've seen her wear it. She priced it as highly as her life.
LAFEU
I am sure I saw her wear it.
LAFEU
I am sure I saw her wear it.
BERTRAM
You are deceived, my lord; she never saw it: In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully I could not answer in that course of honour As she had made the overture, she ceased In heavy satisfaction and would never Receive the ring again.
BERTRAM
You are wrong, my lord. She never saw it. It was thrown to me out of a window in Florence. It was wrapped in a paper with the name of the lady who threw it written on it. She was noble and thought we were engaged, but when I had explained the situation and told her that I couldn't marry her, since she had brought that up, she refused to to interact with me and wouldn't take back the ring.
KING
Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Hath not in nature's mystery more science Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know That you are well acquainted with yourself, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety That she would never put it from her finger, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, Where you have never come, or sent it us Upon her great disaster.
KING
Plutus himself, the god of riches who knows how to turn metals into gold, doesn't know more about the science of nature than I know about this ring. It was mine and it was Helena's, regardless of who gave it to you. Then, if you know what's required of you, confess that it was hers, and how you took it from her by force. She swore to the saints that she would never take it off her finger unless she gave it to you in bed, where you've never been with her, or unless she sent it to me if there was some great catastrophe.
BERTRAM
She never saw it.
BERTRAM
She never saw it.
KING
Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; And makest conjectural fears to come into me Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove That thou art so inhuman,—'twill not prove so;— And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly, And she is dead; which nothing, but to close Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, More than to see this ring. Take him away.
KING
That's a lie, by my honor. You're making me fear terrible things which I wish I'd never thought of. If it is proven that you could be so inhuman—it won't prove to be so—and yet I can't be sure. You hated her and now she's dead. Nothing could make me believe that she's dead more than seeing this ring unless I had been present at her deathbed myself. Take him away.
Guards seize BERTRAM
KING
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him! We'll sift this matter further.
KING
Given the evidence I already have, whatever the truth turns out to be, I won't be thought to have overreacted, given that I already trusted you too much. Away with him! We'll investigate this matter further.
BERTRAM
If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was.
BERTRAM
If you can prove that the ring was ever hers, you can prove as easily that I slept with her in bed in Florence, where she's never been.
Exit, guarded
KING
I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
KING
I am overwhelmed by terrible thoughts.
Enter a Gentleman
GENTLEMAN
Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not: Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath for four or five removes come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know Is here attending: her business looks in her With an importing visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself.
GENTLEMAN
Gracious king, I don't know if this is a bad time. Here's a petition from a Florentine who's followed you but has arrived too late four or five times to give it to you herself. I took on the task, persuaded by the fair words and behaviors of the poor woman, who is waiting outside. She looks like she means business. She told me in person that it has something to do with your highness and herself.
KING
[Reads] Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower: his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: grant it me, O king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPILET.
KING
[Reading] "After he told me many times that he would marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say that I gave myself to him. Now the Count Rousillon is a widower. He broke his vows to me and I've already given my honor away to him. He fled from Florence without saying goodbye, and I've followed him to his country for justice. Grant me justice, oh king! You're the only one who can. Otherwise, a seducer will live happily and a poor maid will be ruined. Diana Capilet."
LAFEU
I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll forthis: I'll none of him.
LAFEU
I will buy myself a son-in-law at a fair and sell this one. I don't want anything to do with him.
KING
The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu, To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors: Go speedily and bring again the count. I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd.
KING
The heavens have been kind to you, Lafeu, to reveal this information. Find these people who want to speak to me. Go quickly and bring the count back in. Lady, I am afraid that Helena was the victim of foul play.
COUNTESS
Now, justice on the doers!
COUNTESS
Now, may the perpetrators be brought to justice!
Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded
KING
I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,Yet you desire to marry.
KING
I'm surprised, sir, since wives are like monsters to you and you flee from them as soon as you make your vows to them, that you would want to marry again.
Enter Widow and DIANA
KING
What woman's that?
KING
What woman is that?
DIANA
I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capilet: My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
DIANA
I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine of the ancient Capilet family. You know why I'm here, I've been told, and therefore you know how much I deserve to be pitied.
WIDOW
I am her mother, sir, whose age and honourBoth suffer under this complaint we bring,And both shall cease, without your remedy.
WIDOW
I am her mother, sir. I'm too old for this shock and my honor has taken a hit because of this. I'll lose both my life and honor if you don't help us.
KING
Come hither, count; do you know these women?
KING
Come here, count. Do you know these women?
BERTRAM
My lord, I neither can nor will denyBut that I know them: do they charge me further?
BERTRAM
My lord, I can't and won't deny that I know them. Do you they accuse me of anything else?
DIANA
Why do you look so strange upon your wife?
DIANA
Why do you look upon your wife like you're a stranger?
BERTRAM
She's none of mine, my lord.
BERTRAM
She's not my wife, my lord.
DIANA
If you shall marry, You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; You give away myself, which is known mine; For I by vow am so embodied yours, That she which marries you must marry me, Either both or none.
DIANA
If you marry someone, you'll give away your hand that belongs to me. You'll give away heaven's vows and those belong to me. You'll give yourself away and you are known to belong to me. For, by your vow, I am part of your body. A woman who marries you must also then marry me. It's both of us or neither of us.
LAFEU
Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; youare no husband for her.
LAFEU
Your reputation is much too bad to marry my daughter. You won't be marrying her.
BERTRAM
My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour Than for to think that I would sink it here.
BERTRAM
My lord, this is a foolish and desperate creature who I laughed with occasionally. I hope your highness would more nobly trust that I've been honorable than to think that I'd give my honor away to this woman.
KING
Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friendTill your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honourThan in my thought it lies.
KING
Sir, don't look for my thoughts to be friendly to you until your actions have earned it. Prove yourself to be more honorable than I think you are.
DIANA
Good my lord,Ask him upon his oath, if he does thinkHe had not my virginity.
DIANA
My good lord, ask him to swear that he didn't take my virginity.
KING
What say'st thou to her?
KING
What do you say to her?
BERTRAM
She's impudent, my lord,And was a common gamester to the camp.
BERTRAM
She's shameless, my lord, and was a common whore for the soldiers.
DIANA
He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, He might have bought me at a common price: Do not believe him. O, behold this ring, Whose high respect and rich validity Did lack a parallel; yet for all that He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, If I be one.
DIANA
He wrongs me, my lord. If I were what he says, he might have bought my love cheaply. Don't believe him. Oh, look at this ring, that has no equal in respect and richness. For all that value, you think he gave it to a common army whore, if that's what you think I am?
COUNTESS
He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem, Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife; That ring's a thousand proofs.
COUNTESS
He blushes and that seals the deal. For six generations, that gem, required by the wills and testaments to be passed down to the next heir, has been worn by our family. This is his wife. That ring gives the proof a thousand times.
KING
Methought you saidYou saw one here in court could witness it.
KING
I thought you said you saw someone in the court who could be a witness.
DIANA
I did, my lord, but loath am to produceSo bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.
DIANA
I did, my lord, but I hate to produce such a bad man. His name's Parolles.
LAFEU
I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
LAFEU
I saw the man today, if he is a man.
KING
Find him, and bring him hither.
KING
Find him, and bring him here.
Exit an Attendant
BERTRAM
What of him? He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd; Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth. Am I or that or this for what he'll utter, That will speak any thing?
BERTRAM
You'll believe Parolles? He's known to be a lying rascal as disgraced and horrible as the worst blemishes in human history. It would make him ill to tell the truth just once. Are you going to make up your mind about me based on what he says when he'll say anything?
KING
She hath that ring of yours.
KING
She has your ring.
BERTRAM
I think she has: certain it is I liked her, And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth: She knew her distance and did angle for me, Madding my eagerness with her restraint, As all impediments in fancy's course Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace, Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring; And I had that which any inferior might At market-price have bought.
BERTRAM
I thinks he does. It's true that I liked her, and I made advances towards her like youths always do. She knew how far apart we were socially and tried to win me, making me more eager by playing hard-to-get, as all obstacles to desire tend to make the desire greater. In short, her endless cunning, with her common charm, made me give her what she wanted: she got the ring. And I had something from her that any lower-class man could buy from her more cheaply.
DIANA
I must be patient: You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife, May justly diet me. I pray you yet; Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband; Send for your ring, I will return it home, And give me mine again.
DIANA
I must be patient. If you've gotten rid of your first noble wife so easily, you'll obviously try to get rid of me too. I plead with you still. Since you have no virtue at all, I will lose a husband. Call for your ring, I'll put it back on and get out of here.
BERTRAM
I have it not.
BERTRAM
I don't have it.
KING
What ring was yours, I pray you?
KING
What ring belonged to you, can I ask?
DIANA
Sir, much likeThe same upon your finger.
DIANA
Sir, a ring very similar to the one on your finger.
KING
Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.
KING
You know this ring? This ring belonged to him recently.
DIANA
And this was it I gave him, being abed.
DIANA
And this was the ring I gave him when we were in bed.
KING
The story then goes false, you threw it himOut of a casement.
KING
This story must be false. You threw it to him out of a window.
DIANA
I have spoke the truth.
DIANA
I have spoken the truth.
Enter PAROLLES
BERTRAM
My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.
BERTRAM
My lord, I confess that the ring was hers.
KING
You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.Is this the man you speak of?
KING
You tell lies manically, every change in the story startles you. Is this the man you mean?
DIANA
Ay, my lord.
DIANA
Yes, my lord.
KING
Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master, Which on your just proceeding I'll keep off, By him and by this woman here what know you?
KING
Tell me, sir, but tell me the truth, I command you. Don't be afraid of making your master mad. I'll deal with that if you answer honestly. What do you know about him and this woman here?
PAROLLES
So please your majesty, my master hath been anhonourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him,which gentlemen have.
PAROLLES
If it please your majesty, my master has been an honorable gentleman. He's only done things that gentlemen do.
KING
Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman?
KING
Come, come, answer my question: did he love this woman?
PAROLLES
Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?
PAROLLES
Well, sir, he did love her. But how did he love her?
KING
How, I pray you?
KING
How, will you tell us?
PAROLLES
He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.
PAROLLES
Sir, he loved her as a gentleman loves a woman.
KING
How is that?
KING
How is that?
PAROLLES
He loved her, sir, and loved her not.
PAROLLES
Sir, he loved her and loved her not.
KING
As thou art a knave, and no knave. What anequivocal companion is this!
KING
Just like you're a rogue and not a rogue. What a rambling companion this man is!
PAROLLES
I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.
PAROLLES
I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.
LAFEU
He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.
LAFEU
He beats the drum, well, my lord, but he speaks naughtily.
DIANA
Do you know he promised me marriage?
DIANA
Do you know he promised me marriage?
PAROLLES
Faith, I know more than I'll speak.
PAROLLES
Well, I know more than I'll say.
KING
But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?
KING
You won't say all you know?
PAROLLES
Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved her: for indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan and of Limbo and of Furies and I know not what: yet I was in that credit with them at that time that I knew of their going to bed, and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things which would derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not speak what I know.
PAROLLES
Yes, if it please your majesty. I did go between them as I said. Beyond that, he loved her. He was crazy for her and he talked in his passion about Satan and Limbo and the Furies and I don't know what else. I was still friends with them when I knew that they had gone to bed together, and that other things had happened, like him promising her marriage, and things which would make you angry to hear from me. Therefore I won't say what I know.
KING
Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside. This ring, you say, was yours?
KING
You've said everything I need to know already unless you can say that they are married. But you are clear enough in your evidence. Therefore, stand aside.
[To DIANA] This ring was yours, you say?
DIANA
Ay, my good lord.
DIANA
Yes, my good lord.
KING
Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?
KING
Where did you buy it? Or who gave it to you?
DIANA
It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.
DIANA
It was not given to me and I did not buy it.
KING
Who lent it you?
KING
Who lent it to you?
DIANA
It was not lent me neither.
DIANA
It wasn't lent to me either.
KING
Where did you find it, then?
KING
Where did you find it, then?
DIANA
I found it not.
DIANA
I didn't find it.
KING
If it were yours by none of all these ways,How could you give it him?
KING
If you didn't get it any of these ways, how did you have it to give it to him?
DIANA
I never gave it him.
DIANA
I never gave it to him.
LAFEU
This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes offand on at pleasure.
LAFEU
This woman's like a loose glove, my lord. She slips off and on, going back and forth, without warning.
KING
This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.
KING
This ring belonged to me. I gave it to his first wife.
DIANA
It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.
DIANA
It could be yours or it could be hers for all that I know.
KING
Take her away; I do not like her now; To prison with her: and away with him. Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, Thou diest within this hour.
KING
Take her away. I don't like her anymore. Take her to prison and away with him. Unless you tell me where you got this ring, you'll die within the hour.
DIANA
I'll never tell you.
DIANA
I'll never tell you.
KING
Take her away.
KING
Take her away.
DIANA
I'll put in bail, my liege.
DIANA
I'll post my bail, my lord.
KING
I think thee now some common customer.
KING
Now I think you probably are a whore.
DIANA
By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
DIANA
By God, if I've ever slept with a man, it was you.
KING
Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?
KING
Why have you accused him of sleeping with you all this time then?
DIANA
Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't; I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not. Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.
DIANA
Because he's guilty and he's not guilty. He knows I'm not a virgin and he'll swear to it. I swear I am a virgin and he doesn't know it. Great king, I'm no loose woman, by my life. I am either a virgin, or else this old man's wife.
KING
She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.
KING
She just talks nonsense to us. To prison with her.
DIANA
Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:
DIANA
Good mother, get my bail. Hold one moment, royal sir.
Exit Widow
DIANA
The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: He knows himself my bed he hath defiled; And at that time he got his wife with child: Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick: So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick: And now behold the meaning.
DIANA
The jeweler that the ring came from is coming, and he will pay my bail. As for this lord, who has abused me, as he's said himself, although he's never yet harmed me, this is the last I'll say of him: He knows he's defiled my bed, and when he did so, he got his wife pregnant. Even though she's dead, she feels her child kick inside her. So there's my riddle: someone who's dead is pregnant. And now you'll see what I mean.
Re-enter Widow, with HELENA
KING
Is there no exorcistBeguiles the truer office of mine eyes?Is't real that I see?
KING
Is there no sorcerer who has bewitched me to see what my eyes present to me? Is what I see real?
HELENA
No, my good lord;'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,The name and not the thing.
HELENA
No, my good lord. It's only the shadow of a wife you see before you. The name of wife but not the thing itself.
BERTRAM
Both, both. O, pardon!
BERTRAM
Both, both. Oh, forgive me!
HELENA
O my good lord, when I was like this maid, I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring; And, look you, here's your letter; this it says: 'When from my finger you can get this ring And are by me with child,' etc. This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?
HELENA
Oh, my good lord, when I pretended to be this maid, I found you incredibly kind. There's your ring. And, look at this, here's your letter. Here's what it says: "When you can get this ring from my finger and are pregnant by me, etc." This is done. Will you be mine, now that I've fulfilled both conditions?
BERTRAM
If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.
BERTRAM
[To the KING] My lord, if she can explain this to me clearly, I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.
HELENA
If it appear not plain and prove untrue,Deadly divorce step between me and you!O my dear mother, do I see you living?
HELENA
If it's not clear and it proves untrue, then we'll instantly be separated by divorce!
[To the COUNTESS] Oh, my dear mother, do I see you alive?
LAFEU
Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:
LAFEU
My eyes smell onions. I'm going to weep.
LAFEU
Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee:Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones.
LAFEU
[To PAROLLES] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief. There, I thank you. Come visit me at home and we'll have a fun time. Forget your manners—your manners are worthless anyway.
KING
Let us from point to point this story know, To make the even truth in pleasure flow.
[To DIANA]
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess that by thy honest aid
Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.
Of that and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
KING
Tell us the story from beginning to end so that we can enjoy the whole tale.
[To DIANA] If you're still a virgin, choose your own husband and I'll pay your dowry. Based on your honest assistance in helping a wife to preserve her marriage bed, I'd guess you've also kept yourself a virginal maiden. We can talk about that, and everything else, big and small, when we have more leisure to do so. All seems to be well now. If it ends well, too, it will be all the sweeter for having left the bitter past behind us.
Flourish
KING
The king's a beggar, now the play is done: All is well ended, if this suit be won, That you express content; which we will pay, With strife to please you, day exceeding day: Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
KING
[To the audience] The king now turns into a beggar since the play is over. All will indeed end well if you tell us you're happy with our performance. We'll do whatever we can to please you day after day. Now we'll patiently listen while you perform for us: give us your hands in applause and we'll love you for it.
Exeunt
