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- William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act IV, Scene V
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Scene VRousillon. The Count’s palaceEnter Countess, Lafeu, and ClownLafeuNo, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.CountessI would I had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. If she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.Lafeu’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another herb.ClownIndeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or rather, the herb of grace.LafeuThey are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.ClownI am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in grass.LafeuWhether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a fool?ClownA fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a man’s.LafeuYour distinction?ClownI would cozen the man of his wife and do his service.LafeuSo you were a knave at his service, indeed.ClownAnd I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.LafeuI will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave and fool.ClownAt your service.LafeuNo, no, no.ClownWhy, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.LafeuWho’s that? a Frenchman?ClownFaith, sir, a’ has an English name; but his fisnomy is more hotter in France than there.LafeuWhat prince is that?ClownThe black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.LafeuHold thee, there’s my purse: I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still.ClownI am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in’s court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they’ll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.LafeuGo thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks.ClownIf I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be jades’ tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.ExitLafeuA shrewd knave and an unhappy.CountessSo he is. My lord that’s gone made himself much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.LafeuI like him well; ’tis not amiss. And I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady’s death and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?CountessWith very much content, my lord; and I wish it happily effected.LafeuHis highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.CountessIt rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together.LafeuMadam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.CountessYou need but plead your honourable privilege.LafeuLady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I thank my God it holds yet.Re-enter ClownClownO madam, yonder’s my lord your son with a patch of velvet on’s face: whether there be a scar under’t or no, the velvet knows; but ’tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.LafeuA scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour; so belike is that.ClownBut it is your carbonadoed face.LafeuLet us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk with the young noble soldier.ClownFaith there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man.Exeunt
William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act IV
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William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act I
- William Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act I
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
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The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
