No Fear Shakespeare: All's Well That Ends Well: Act 5 Scene 2

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All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

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Original Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter FOOL and PAROLLES.	Enter FOOL and PAROLLES.
PAROLLES holding out a paper Good Monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafew this letter. I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes. But I am 5 now, sir, muddied in Fortune’s mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.	PAROLLES holding out a paper Good Monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafew this letter. I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes. But I am 5 now, sir, muddied in Fortune’s mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.
FOOL Truly, Fortune’s displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speak’st of. I will henceforth eat no fish of Fortune’s butt’ring. Prithee, 10 allow the wind.	FOOL Truly, Fortune’s displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speak’st of. I will henceforth eat no fish of Fortune’s butt’ring. Prithee, 10 allow the wind.
PAROLLES Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir. I spake but by a metaphor.	PAROLLES Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir. I spake but by a metaphor.
FOOL Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink I will stop my nose, or against any man’s metaphor. Prithee, get 15 thee further.	FOOL Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink I will stop my nose, or against any man’s metaphor. Prithee, get 15 thee further.
PAROLLES Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.	PAROLLES Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
FOOL Foh! Prithee, stand away. A paper from Fortune’s close-stool, to give to a nobleman!	FOOL Foh! Prithee, stand away. A paper from Fortune’s close-stool, to give to a nobleman!
Enter LAFEW.	Enter LAFEW.
Look, here he comes himself.—Here is a purr of 20 Fortune’s, sir, or of Fortune’s cat—but not a musk-cat—that has fall’n into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure and, as he says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may, for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, 25 rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your Lordship.	Look, here he comes himself.—Here is a purr of 20 Fortune’s, sir, or of Fortune’s cat—but not a musk-cat—that has fall’n into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure and, as he says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may, for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, 25 rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your Lordship.
LAFEW exits.	LAFEW exits.
PAROLLES My lord, I am a man whom Fortune hath cruelly scratched.	PAROLLES My lord, I am a man whom Fortune hath cruelly scratched.
LAFEW And what would you have me to do? ’Tis too 30 late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with Fortune that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There’s a cardecu for you. Let the justices make 35 you and Fortune friends. I am for other business.	LAFEW And what would you have me to do? ’Tis too 30 late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with Fortune that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There’s a cardecu for you. Let the justices make 35 you and Fortune friends. I am for other business.
PAROLLES I beseech your Honor to hear me one single word.	PAROLLES I beseech your Honor to hear me one single word.
LAFEW You beg a single penny more. Come, you shall ha ’t. Save your word.	LAFEW You beg a single penny more. Come, you shall ha ’t. Save your word.
PAROLLES 40 My name, my good lord, is Parolles.	PAROLLES 40 My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
LAFEW You beg more than a word, then. Cock’s my passion; give me your hand. How does your drum?	LAFEW You beg more than a word, then. Cock’s my passion; give me your hand. How does your drum?
PAROLLES O my good lord, you were the first that found me.	PAROLLES O my good lord, you were the first that found me.
LAFEW 45 Was I, in sooth? And I was the first that lost thee.	LAFEW 45 Was I, in sooth? And I was the first that lost thee.
PAROLLES It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.	PAROLLES It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.
LAFEW Out upon thee, knave! Dost thou put upon me 50 at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out.	LAFEW Out upon thee, knave! Dost thou put upon me 50 at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out.
Trumpets sound.	Trumpets sound.
The King’s coming. I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me. I had talk of you last night. Though you are a fool 55 and a knave, you shall eat. Go to, follow.	The King’s coming. I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me. I had talk of you last night. Though you are a fool 55 and a knave, you shall eat. Go to, follow.
PAROLLES I praise God for you.	PAROLLES I praise God for you.
They exit.	They exit.