Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Rousillon, HELENA, and LAFEU, all in black

BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Roussillon, HELENA, and LAFEU enter, all wearing black. 

COUNTESS

In delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband.

COUNTESS

In saying goodbye to my son, it's like I'm losing another husband.

BERTRAM

And I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's deathanew: but I must attend his majesty's command, towhom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.

BERTRAM

And for me, in leaving, mother, I mourn my father's death all over again, but I must serve at the king's command, since I am now his subject and eternally in servitude to him. 

LAFEU

You shall find of the king a husband, madam; you, sir, a father: he that so generally is at all times good must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather than lack it where there is such abundance.

LAFEU

The king will be like a husband to you, madam, and like a father to you, sir. If he's so good to all his subjects, you can be sure he'll be good to you. Your family has been so important to him that you'd bring out the generosity in him even if he was miserable—since he is generous, there's no way he won't share that kindness with you.

COUNTESS

What hope is there of his majesty's amendment?

COUNTESS

How likely is it that his majesty will recover?

LAFEU

He hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whose practises he hath persecuted time with hope, and finds no other advantage in the process but only the losing of hope by time.

LAFEU

He's given up on his doctors, madam. He's wasted a lot of time and hope following their orders, and all he's getting out of it is gradually losing hope over time. 

COUNTESS

This young gentlewoman had a father, —O, that 'had'! how sad a passage 'tis! —whose skill was almost as great as his honesty; had it stretched so far, would have made nature immortal, and death should have play for lack of work. Would, for the king's sake, he were living! I think it would be the death of the king's disease.

COUNTESS

[Gesturing to HELENA] This young woman had a father—oh, that word "had!" What a sad word it is!—and his skill was only outshined by his goodness. If he'd had the chance, he could have made men immortal. Death would have been out of business. If only he were living now, for the king's sake! I think he would cure the king's illness. 

LAFEU

How called you the man you speak of, madam?

LAFEU

What was the name of this man you speak of, madam?

COUNTESS

He was famous, sir, in his profession, and it washis great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.

COUNTESS

He was famous in his line of work, sir, and he absolutely deserved that fame: Gerard de Narbon. 

LAFEU

He was excellent indeed, madam: the king very lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly: he was skilful enough to have lived still, if knowledge could be set up against mortality.

LAFEU

He was excellent indeed, madam. The king only recently was talking admiringly and sadly about him. Narbon had enough skill to keep himself alive, if only you could fight mortality with brilliance. 

BERTRAM

What is it, my good lord, the king languishes of?

BERTRAM

What exactly is the king's sickness, my good lord?