No Fear Shakespeare: All's Well That Ends Well: Act 2 Scene 4

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All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter HELEN with a paper, and FOOL.	Enter HELEN with a paper, and FOOL.
HELEN My mother greets me kindly. Is she well?	HELEN My mother greets me kindly. Is she well?
FOOL 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’ th’ world, 5 but yet she is not well.	FOOL 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’ th’ world, but yet she is not well.
HELEN If she be very well, what does she ail that she’s not very well?	HELEN If she be very well, what does she ail that she’s not very well?
FOOL Truly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things.	FOOL Truly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things.
HELEN What two things?	HELEN What two things?
FOOL 10 One, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly; the other, that she’s in Earth, from whence God send her quickly.	FOOL One, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly; the other, that she’s in Earth, from whence God send her quickly.
Enter PAROLLES.	Enter PAROLLES.
PAROLLES Bless you, my fortunate lady.	PAROLLES Bless you, my fortunate lady.
HELEN I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine 15 own good fortunes.	HELEN I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes.
PAROLLES You had my prayers to lead them on, and to keep them on have them still.—O my knave, how does my old lady?	PAROLLES You had my prayers to lead them on, and to keep them on have them still.—O my knave, how does my old lady?
FOOL So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I 20 would she did as you say.	FOOL So that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.
PAROLLES Why, I say nothing.	PAROLLES Why, I say nothing.
FOOL 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 25 have nothing is to be a great part of your title, which is within a very little of nothing.	FOOL 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.
PAROLLES Away. Thou ’rt a knave.	PAROLLES Away. Thou ’rt a knave.
FOOL You should have said, sir, “Before a knave, thou ’rt a knave”; that’s “Before me, thou ’rt a 30 knave.” This had been truth, sir.	FOOL You should have said, sir, “Before a knave, thou ’rt a knave”; that’s “Before me, thou ’rt a knave.” This had been truth, sir.
PAROLLES Go to. Thou art a witty fool. I have found thee.	PAROLLES Go to. Thou art a witty fool. I have found thee.
FOOL Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find me?	FOOL Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find me?
PAROLLES …	PAROLLES …
FOOL 35 The search, sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world’s pleasure and the increase of laughter.	FOOL The search, sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world’s pleasure and the increase of laughter.
PAROLLES A good knave, i’ faith, and well fed. Madam, my lord will go away tonight; 40 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 compelled restraint, Whose want and whose delay is strewed with sweets, 45 Which they distill now in the curbèd time To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.	PAROLLES A good knave, i’ faith, and well fed. Madam, my lord will go away tonight; 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 compelled restraint, Whose want and whose delay is strewed with sweets, Which they distill now in the curbèd time To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.
HELEN What’s his will else?	HELEN What’s his will else?
PAROLLES That you will take your instant leave o’ th’ King 50 And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Strengthened with what apology you think May make it probable need.	PAROLLES That you will take your instant leave o’ th’ King And make this haste as your own good proceeding, Strengthened with what apology you think May make it probable need.
HELEN What more commands he?	HELEN What more commands he?
PAROLLES That, having this obtained, you presently 55 Attend his further pleasure.	PAROLLES That, having this obtained, you presently Attend his further pleasure.
HELEN In everything I wait upon his will.	HELEN In everything I wait upon his will.
PAROLLES I shall report it so.	PAROLLES I shall report it so.
PAROLLES exits.	PAROLLES exits.
HELEN , to FOOL I pray you, come, sirrah.	HELEN , to FOOL I pray you, come, sirrah.
They exit.	They exit.