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All's Well That Ends Well - Act 1, scene 2
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Last updated: Wed, Mar 14, 2018
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All's Well That Ends Well - Act 1, scene 2Act 1, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
The King of France refuses to take sides in the war between Siena and Florence, giving his courtiers permission to fight on either side. He welcomes Bertram to court, lamenting his own failing strength.
Flourish cornets. Enter the King of France with letters,⌜two Lords,⌝ and divers Attendants.
KING
0236 The Florentines and Senoys are by th’ ears,
0237 Have fought with equal fortune, and continue
0238 A braving war.
FIRST LORD 0239 So ’tis reported, sir.
KING
0240 5 Nay, ’tis most credible. We here receive it
0241 A certainty vouched from our cousin Austria,
0242 With caution that the Florentine will move us
0243 For speedy aid, wherein our dearest friend
0244 Prejudicates the business and would seem
0245 10 To have us make denial.
FIRST LORD 0246 His love and wisdom,
0247 Approved so to your Majesty, may plead
0248 For amplest credence.
KING 0249 He hath armed our answer,
0250 15 And Florence is denied before he comes.
0251 Yet for our gentlemen that mean to see
0252 The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
0253 To stand on either part.
SECOND LORD 0254 It well may serve
0255 20 A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
0256 For breathing and exploit.
Enter Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles.
KING 0257 What’s he comes here?
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23
FIRST LORD 0258 It is the Count Rossillion, my good lord,
0259 Young Bertram.
KING 0260 25 Youth, thou bear’st thy father’s face.
0261 Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
0262 Hath well composed thee. Thy father’s moral parts
0263 Mayst thou inherit too. Welcome to Paris.
BERTRAM
0264 My thanks and duty are your Majesty’s.
KING
0265 30 I would I had that corporal soundness now
0266 As when thy father and myself in friendship
0267 First tried our soldiership. He did look far
0268 Into the service of the time and was
0269 Discipled of the bravest. He lasted long,
0270 35 But on us both did haggish age steal on
0271 And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
0272 To talk of your good father. In his youth
0273 He had the wit which I can well observe
0274 Today in our young lords; but they may jest
0275 40 Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
0276 Ere they can hide their levity in honor.
0277 So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
0278 Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
0279 His equal had awaked them, and his honor,
0280 45 Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
0281 Exception bid him speak, and at this time
0282 His tongue obeyed his hand. Who were below him
0283 He used as creatures of another place
0284 And bowed his eminent top to their low ranks,
0285 50 Making them proud of his humility,
0286 In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
0287 Might be a copy to these younger times,
0288 Which, followed well, would demonstrate them now
0289 But goers backward.
BERTRAM 0290 55 His good remembrance, sir,
p.
25
0291
Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb.0292 So in approof lives not his epitaph
0293 As in your royal speech.
KING
0294 Would I were with him! He would always say—
0295 60 Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words
0296 He scattered not in ears, but grafted them
0297 To grow there and to bear. “Let me not live”—
0298 This his good melancholy oft began
0299 On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
0300 65 When it was out—“Let me not live,” quoth he,
0301 “After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
0302 Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
0303 All but new things disdain, whose judgments are
0304 Mere fathers of their garments, whose constancies
0305 70 Expire before their fashions.” This he wished.
0306 I, after him, do after him wish too,
0307 Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
0308 I quickly were dissolvèd from my hive
0309 To give some laborers room.
SECOND LORD 0310 75 You’re lovèd, sir.
0311 They that least lend it you shall lack you first.
KING
0312 I fill a place, I know ’t.—How long is ’t, count,
0313 Since the physician at your father’s died?
0314 He was much famed.
BERTRAM 0315 80 Some six months since, my lord.
KING
0316 If he were living, I would try him yet.—
0317 Lend me an arm.—The rest have worn me out
0318 With several applications. Nature and sickness
0319 Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count.
0320 85 My son’s no dearer.
BERTRAM 0321 Thank your Majesty.
⌜They⌝ exit. Flourish.