No Fear Shakespeare: All's Well That Ends Well: Act 3 Scene 5

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All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

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A tucket afar off. Enter old WIDOW OF FLORENCE, her daughter DIANA, and MARIANA, with other Citizens.	A tucket afar off. Enter old WIDOW OF FLORENCE, her daughter DIANA, and MARIANA, with other Citizens.
WIDOW Nay, come, for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.	WIDOW Nay, come, for if they do approach the city, we shall lose all the sight.
DIANA They say the French count has done most honorable service.	DIANA They say the French count has done most honorable service.
WIDOW 5 It is reported that he has taken their great’st commander, and that with his own hand he slew the Duke’s brother. A trumpet sounds. We have lost our labor. They are gone a contrary way. Hark, you may know by their trumpets.	WIDOW It is reported that he has taken their great’st commander, and that with his own hand he slew the Duke’s brother. A trumpet sounds. We have lost our labor. They are gone a contrary way. Hark, you may know by their trumpets.
MARIANA 10 Come, let’s return again and suffice ourselves with the report of it.—Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl. The honor of a maid is her name, and no legacy is so rich as honesty.	MARIANA Come, let’s return again and suffice ourselves with the report of it.—Well, Diana, take heed of this French earl. The honor of a maid is her name, and no legacy is so rich as honesty.
WIDOW, to DIANA I have told my neighbor how you 15 have been solicited by a gentleman, his companion.	WIDOW, to DIANA I have told my neighbor how you have been solicited by a gentleman, his companion.
MARIANA I know that knave, hang him! One Parolles, a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.—Beware of them, Diana. Their promises, 20 enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust are not the things they go under. Many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is example that so terrible shows in the wrack of maidenhood cannot for all that dissuade 25 succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threatens them. I hope I need not to advise you further, but I hope your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known but the modesty which is so lost.	MARIANA I know that knave, hang him! One Parolles, a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.—Beware of them, Diana. Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust are not the things they go under. Many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the misery is example that so terrible shows in the wrack of maidenhood cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threatens them. I hope I need not to advise you further, but I hope your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known but the modesty which is so lost.
DIANA 30 You shall not need to fear me.	DIANA You shall not need to fear me.
WIDOW I hope so. Enter HELEN as a pilgrim. Look, here comes a pilgrim. I know she will lie at my house; thither they send one another. I’ll question her.—God save you, pilgrim. Whither are 35 bound?	WIDOW I hope so. Enter HELEN as a pilgrim. Look, here comes a pilgrim. I know she will lie at my house; thither they send one another. I’ll question her.—God save you, pilgrim. Whither are bound?
HELEN, as pilgrim To Saint Jaques le Grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?	HELEN, as pilgrim To Saint Jaques le Grand. Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?
WIDOW At the Saint Francis here beside the port.	WIDOW At the Saint Francis here beside the port.
HELEN, as pilgrim Is this the way?	HELEN, as pilgrim Is this the way?
A march afar.	A march afar.
WIDOW 40 Ay, marry, is ’t.—Hark you, they come this way.— If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, But till the troops come by, I will conduct you where you shall be lodged, The rather for I think I know your hostess 45 As ample as myself.	WIDOW Ay, marry, is ’t.—Hark you, they come this way.— If you will tarry, holy pilgrim, But till the troops come by, I will conduct you where you shall be lodged, The rather for I think I know your hostess As ample as myself.
HELEN, as pilgrim Is it yourself?	HELEN, as pilgrim Is it yourself?
WIDOW If you shall please so, pilgrim.	WIDOW If you shall please so, pilgrim.
HELEN, as pilgrim I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.	HELEN, as pilgrim I thank you, and will stay upon your leisure.
WIDOW You came I think from France?	WIDOW You came I think from France?
HELEN, as pilgrim 50 I did so.	HELEN, as pilgrim I did so.
WIDOW Here you shall see a countryman of yours That has done worthy service.	WIDOW Here you shall see a countryman of yours That has done worthy service.
HELEN, as pilgrim His name, I pray you?	HELEN, as pilgrim His name, I pray you?
DIANA The Count Rossillion. Know you such a one?	DIANA The Count Rossillion. Know you such a one?
HELEN, as pilgrim 55 But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him. His face I know not.	HELEN, as pilgrim But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him. His face I know not.
DIANA Whatsome’er he is, He’s bravely taken here. He stole from France, As ’tis reported, for the King had married him 60 Against his liking. Think you it is so?	DIANA Whatsome’er he is, He’s bravely taken here. He stole from France, As ’tis reported, for the King had married him Against his liking. Think you it is so?
HELEN, as pilgrim Ay, surely, mere the truth. I know his lady.	HELEN, as pilgrim Ay, surely, mere the truth. I know his lady.
DIANA There is a gentleman that serves the Count Reports but coarsely of her.	DIANA There is a gentleman that serves the Count Reports but coarsely of her.
HELEN, as pilgrim What’s his name?	HELEN, as pilgrim What’s his name?
DIANA 65 Monsieur Parolles.	DIANA Monsieur Parolles.
HELEN, as pilgrim O, I believe with him. In argument of praise, or to the worth Of the great count himself, she is too mean To have her name repeated. All her deserving 70 Is a reservèd honesty, and that I have not heard examined.	HELEN, as pilgrim O, I believe with him. In argument of praise, or to the worth Of the great count himself, she is too mean To have her name repeated. All her deserving Is a reservèd honesty, and that I have not heard examined.
DIANA Alas, poor lady, ’Tis a hard bondage to become the wife Of a detesting lord.	DIANA Alas, poor lady, ’Tis a hard bondage to become the wife Of a detesting lord.
WIDOW 75 I warrant, good creature, wheresoe’er she is, Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do her A shrewd turn if she pleased.	WIDOW I warrant, good creature, wheresoe’er she is, Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do her A shrewd turn if she pleased.
HELEN, as pilgrim How do you mean? 80 Maybe the amorous count solicits her In the unlawful purpose?	HELEN, as pilgrim How do you mean? Maybe the amorous count solicits her In the unlawful purpose?
WIDOW He does indeed, And brokes with all that can in such a suit Corrupt the tender honor of a maid, 85 But she is armed for him and keeps her guard In honestest defense.	WIDOW He does indeed, And brokes with all that can in such a suit Corrupt the tender honor of a maid, But she is armed for him and keeps her guard In honestest defense.
MARIANA The gods forbid else!	MARIANA The gods forbid else!
Drum and Colors. Enter BERTRAM COUNT ROSSILLION, PAROLLES, and the whole Army.	Drum and Colors. Enter BERTRAM COUNT ROSSILLION, PAROLLES, and the whole Army.
WIDOW So, now they come. That is Antonio, the Duke’s eldest son; 90 That, Escalus.	WIDOW So, now they come. That is Antonio, the Duke’s eldest son; That, Escalus.
HELEN, as pilgrim Which is the Frenchman?	HELEN, as pilgrim Which is the Frenchman?
DIANA He, That with the plume. ’Tis a most gallant fellow. I would he loved his wife. If he were honester, 95 He were much goodlier. Is ’t not a handsome gentleman?	DIANA He, That with the plume. ’Tis a most gallant fellow. I would he loved his wife. If he were honester, He were much goodlier. Is ’t not a handsome gentleman?
HELEN, as pilgrim I like him well.	HELEN, as pilgrim I like him well.
DIANA ’Tis pity he is not honest. Yond’s that same knave That leads him to these places. Were I his lady, 100 I would poison that vile rascal.	DIANA ’Tis pity he is not honest. Yond’s that same knave That leads him to these places. Were I his lady, I would poison that vile rascal.
HELEN, as pilgrim Which is he?	HELEN, as pilgrim Which is he?
DIANA That jackanapes with scarves. Why is he melancholy?	DIANA That jackanapes with scarves. Why is he melancholy?
HELEN, as pilgrim Perchance he’s hurt i’ th’ battle.	HELEN, as pilgrim Perchance he’s hurt i’ th’ battle.
PAROLLES Lose our drum? Well.	PAROLLES Lose our drum? Well.
MARIANA 105 He’s shrewdly vexed at something. Look, he has spied us.	MARIANA He’s shrewdly vexed at something. Look, he has spied us.
WIDOW, to PAROLLES Marry, hang you.	WIDOW, to PAROLLES Marry, hang you.
MARIANA, to PAROLLES And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier.	MARIANA, to PAROLLES And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier.
BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the army exit.	BERTRAM, PAROLLES, and the army exit.
WIDOW 110 The troop is passed. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you Where you shall host. Of enjoined penitents There’s four or five, to Great Saint Jaques bound, Already at my house.	WIDOW The troop is passed. Come, pilgrim, I will bring you Where you shall host. Of enjoined penitents There’s four or five, to Great Saint Jaques bound, Already at my house.
HELEN, as pilgrim I humbly thank you. 115 Please it this matron and this gentle maid To eat with us tonight, the charge and thanking Shall be for me. And to requite you further, I will bestow some precepts of this virgin Worthy the note.	HELEN, as pilgrim I humbly thank you. Please it this matron and this gentle maid To eat with us tonight, the charge and thanking Shall be for me. And to requite you further, I will bestow some precepts of this virgin Worthy the note.
BOTH 120 We’ll take your offer kindly.	BOTH We’ll take your offer kindly.
They exit.	They exit.