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Enter FOOL, COUNTESS, and LAFEW.
 
LAFEW
No, no, no, your son was misled with a
snipped-taffeta fellow there, whose villainous saffron
would have made all the unbaked and doughy
youth of a nation in his color. Your daughter-in-law
5
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.
The FOOL, COUNTESS, and LAFEW enter.
 
LAFEW
No, no, no, your son was misled by a flashily-dressed fellow, whose villainous ways would try to persuade all the ignorant, vulnerable youths of a nation to wear his

orange color

Saffron is a spice, orange-red in color, that was used to dye clothing, among other things. A very fashionable color at the time, here it is being used to express that Parolles, if he had the opportunity, would try to talk the younger, innocent set into his vapid, villainous ways.

orange color. If your daughter-in-law was alive right now, and your son here at home, the King would have made things far better than that no-good insect I’m talking about.
COUNTESS
I would I had not known him. It was the
death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever
10
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.
COUNTESS
I 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.
LAFEW  
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may
15
pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another
herb.
LAFEW  
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may
pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another
herb.
FOOL  
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
salad, or rather the herb of grace.
FOOL  
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
salad, or rather the herb of grace.
LAFEW  
They are not herbs, you knave. They are
20
nose-herbs.
LAFEW  
They are not herbs, you knave. They are
nose-herbs.
FOOL  
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir. I have not
much skill in grass.
FOOL  
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir. I have not
much skill in grass.
LAFEW
Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a
fool?
LAFEW
Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a
fool?
FOOL
25
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a
man’s.
FOOL
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a
man’s.
LAFEW  
Your distinction?
LAFEW  
Your distinction?
FOOL  
I would cozen the man of his wife and do his
service.
FOOL  
I would cozen the man of his wife and do his
service.
LAFEW  
30
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
LAFEW  
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
FOOL  
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do
her service.
FOOL  
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do
her service.
LAFEW  
I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave
and fool.
LAFEW  
I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave
and fool.
FOOL  
35
At your service.
FOOL  
At your service.
LAFEW  
No, no, no.
LAFEW  
No, no, no.
FOOL  
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
great a prince as you are.
FOOL  
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
great a prince as you are.
LAFEW  
Who’s that, a Frenchman?
LAFEW  
Who’s that, a Frenchman?
FOOL  
40
Faith, sir, he has an English name, but his
phys’nomy is more hotter in France than there.
FOOL  
Faith, sir, he has an English name, but his
phys’nomy is more hotter in France than there.
LAFEW
What prince is that?
LAFEW
What prince is that?
FOOL  
The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness,
alias the devil.
FOOL  
The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness,
alias the devil.
LAFEW, giving him money
45
Hold thee, there’s my
purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy
master thou talk’st of. Serve him still.
LAFEW, giving him money
Hold thee, there’s my
purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy
master thou talk’st of. Serve him still.
FOOL  
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a
great fire, and the master I speak of ever keeps a
50
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
55
they’ll be for the flow’ry way that leads to the
broad gate and the great fire.
FOOL  
I 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 flow’ry way that leads to the
broad gate and the great fire.
LAFEW
Go 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
60
looked to, without any tricks.
LAFEW
Go 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.
FOOL  
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be
jades’ tricks, which are their own right by the law
of nature.
FOOL  
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be
jades’ tricks, which are their own right by the law
of nature.
He exits.
He exits.
LAFEW  
A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
LAFEW  
A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
COUNTESS
65
So 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.
COUNTESS
So 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.
LAFEW  
70
I 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
75
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?
LAFEW  
I 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?
COUNTESS  
80
With very much content, my lord, and I
wish it happily effected.
COUNTESS  
With very much content, my lord, and I
wish it happily effected.
LAFEW  
His Highness comes post from Marseilles, of
as able body as when he numbered thirty. He will
be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in
85
such intelligence hath seldom failed.
LAFEW  
His Highness comes post from Marseilles, of
as able body as when he numbered thirty. He will
be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in
such intelligence hath seldom failed.
COUNTESS  
It rejoices me that, I hope, I shall see him
ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here
tonight. I shall beseech your Lordship to remain
with me till they meet together.
COUNTESS  
It rejoices me that, I hope, I shall see him
ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here
tonight. I shall beseech your Lordship to remain
with me till they meet together.
LAFEW  
90
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I
might safely be admitted.
LAFEW  
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I
might safely be admitted.
COUNTESS  
You need but plead your honorable
privilege.
COUNTESS  
You need but plead your honorable
privilege.
LAFEW  
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter. But I thank
95
my God it holds yet.
LAFEW  
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter. But I thank
my God it holds yet.
Enter FOOL.
Enter FOOL.
FOOL
O 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
100
and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
FOOL
O 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.
LAFEW  
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good liv’ry
of honor. So belike is that.
LAFEW  
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good liv’ry
of honor. So belike is that.
FOOL  
But it is your carbonadoed face.
FOOL  
But it is your carbonadoed face.
LAFEW  
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk
105
with the young noble soldier.
LAFEW  
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk
with the young noble soldier.
FOOL  
’Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine
hats, and most courteous feathers which bow the
head and nod at every man.
FOOL  
’Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine
hats, and most courteous feathers which bow the
head and nod at every man.
They exit.
They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter FOOL, COUNTESS, and LAFEW.
 
LAFEW
No, no, no, your son was misled with a
snipped-taffeta fellow there, whose villainous saffron
would have made all the unbaked and doughy
youth of a nation in his color. Your daughter-in-law
5
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.
The FOOL, COUNTESS, and LAFEW enter.
 
LAFEW
No, no, no, your son was misled by a flashily-dressed fellow, whose villainous ways would try to persuade all the ignorant, vulnerable youths of a nation to wear his

orange color

Saffron is a spice, orange-red in color, that was used to dye clothing, among other things. A very fashionable color at the time, here it is being used to express that Parolles, if he had the opportunity, would try to talk the younger, innocent set into his vapid, villainous ways.

orange color. If your daughter-in-law was alive right now, and your son here at home, the King would have made things far better than that no-good insect I’m talking about.
COUNTESS
I would I had not known him. It was the
death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever
10
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.
COUNTESS
I 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.
LAFEW  
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may
15
pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another
herb.
LAFEW  
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may
pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another
herb.
FOOL  
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
salad, or rather the herb of grace.
FOOL  
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the
salad, or rather the herb of grace.
LAFEW  
They are not herbs, you knave. They are
20
nose-herbs.
LAFEW  
They are not herbs, you knave. They are
nose-herbs.
FOOL  
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir. I have not
much skill in grass.
FOOL  
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir. I have not
much skill in grass.
LAFEW
Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a
fool?
LAFEW
Whether dost thou profess thyself, a knave or a
fool?
FOOL
25
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a
man’s.
FOOL
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a
man’s.
LAFEW  
Your distinction?
LAFEW  
Your distinction?
FOOL  
I would cozen the man of his wife and do his
service.
FOOL  
I would cozen the man of his wife and do his
service.
LAFEW  
30
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
LAFEW  
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
FOOL  
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do
her service.
FOOL  
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do
her service.
LAFEW  
I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave
and fool.
LAFEW  
I will subscribe for thee, thou art both knave
and fool.
FOOL  
35
At your service.
FOOL  
At your service.
LAFEW  
No, no, no.
LAFEW  
No, no, no.
FOOL  
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
great a prince as you are.
FOOL  
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as
great a prince as you are.
LAFEW  
Who’s that, a Frenchman?
LAFEW  
Who’s that, a Frenchman?
FOOL  
40
Faith, sir, he has an English name, but his
phys’nomy is more hotter in France than there.
FOOL  
Faith, sir, he has an English name, but his
phys’nomy is more hotter in France than there.
LAFEW
What prince is that?
LAFEW
What prince is that?
FOOL  
The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness,
alias the devil.
FOOL  
The black prince, sir, alias the prince of darkness,
alias the devil.
LAFEW, giving him money
45
Hold thee, there’s my
purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy
master thou talk’st of. Serve him still.
LAFEW, giving him money
Hold thee, there’s my
purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy
master thou talk’st of. Serve him still.
FOOL  
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a
great fire, and the master I speak of ever keeps a
50
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
55
they’ll be for the flow’ry way that leads to the
broad gate and the great fire.
FOOL  
I 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 flow’ry way that leads to the
broad gate and the great fire.
LAFEW
Go 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
60
looked to, without any tricks.
LAFEW
Go 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.
FOOL  
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be
jades’ tricks, which are their own right by the law
of nature.
FOOL  
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be
jades’ tricks, which are their own right by the law
of nature.
He exits.
He exits.
LAFEW  
A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
LAFEW  
A shrewd knave and an unhappy.
COUNTESS
65
So 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.
COUNTESS
So 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.
LAFEW  
70
I 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
75
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?
LAFEW  
I 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?
COUNTESS  
80
With very much content, my lord, and I
wish it happily effected.
COUNTESS  
With very much content, my lord, and I
wish it happily effected.
LAFEW  
His Highness comes post from Marseilles, of
as able body as when he numbered thirty. He will
be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in
85
such intelligence hath seldom failed.
LAFEW  
His Highness comes post from Marseilles, of
as able body as when he numbered thirty. He will
be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in
such intelligence hath seldom failed.
COUNTESS  
It rejoices me that, I hope, I shall see him
ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here
tonight. I shall beseech your Lordship to remain
with me till they meet together.
COUNTESS  
It rejoices me that, I hope, I shall see him
ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here
tonight. I shall beseech your Lordship to remain
with me till they meet together.
LAFEW  
90
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I
might safely be admitted.
LAFEW  
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I
might safely be admitted.
COUNTESS  
You need but plead your honorable
privilege.
COUNTESS  
You need but plead your honorable
privilege.
LAFEW  
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter. But I thank
95
my God it holds yet.
LAFEW  
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter. But I thank
my God it holds yet.
Enter FOOL.
Enter FOOL.
FOOL
O 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
100
and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
FOOL
O 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.
LAFEW  
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good liv’ry
of honor. So belike is that.
LAFEW  
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good liv’ry
of honor. So belike is that.
FOOL  
But it is your carbonadoed face.
FOOL  
But it is your carbonadoed face.
LAFEW  
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk
105
with the young noble soldier.
LAFEW  
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk
with the young noble soldier.
FOOL  
’Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine
hats, and most courteous feathers which bow the
head and nod at every man.
FOOL  
’Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine
hats, and most courteous feathers which bow the
head and nod at every man.
They exit.
They exit.
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