Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 5

Another room in the same.

  1. [Enter LAFEU and BERTRAM.]
  2. Lafew
  3. 1151 But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
  4. Bertram
  5. 1152 Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
  6. Lafew
  7. 1153 You have it from his own deliverance.
  8. Bertram
  9. 1154 And by other warranted testimony.
  10. Lafew
  11. 1155 Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.
  12. Bertram
  13. 1156 I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge,
  14. 1157 and accordingly valiant.
  15. Lafew
  16. 1158 I have, then, sinned against his experience and transgressed
  17. 1159 against his valour; and my state that way is dangerous, since I
  18. 1160 cannot yet find in my heart to repent. Here he comes; I pray you
  19. 1161 make us friends; I will pursue the amity
  20. [Enter PAROLLES.]
  21. [To BERTRAM.]
  22. Parolles
  23. 1162 These things shall be done, sir.
  24. Lafew
  25. 1163 Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?
  26. Parolles
  27. 1164 Sir!
  28. Lafew
  29. 1165 O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, is a good workman, a
  30. 1166 very good tailor.
  31. [Aside to PAROLLES.]
  32. Bertram
  33. 1167 Is she gone to the king?
  34. Parolles
  35. 1168 She is.
  36. Bertram
  37. 1169 Will she away to-night?
  38. Parolles
  39. 1170 As you'll have her.
  40. Bertram
  41. 1171 I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
  42. 1172 Given order for our horses; and to-night,
  43. 1173 When I should take possession of the bride,
  44. 1174 End ere I do begin.
  45. Lafew
  46. 1175 A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner;
  47. 1176 but one that lies three-thirds and uses a known truth to pass a
  48. 1177 thousand nothings with, should be once heard and thrice beaten.—
  49. 1178 God save you, Captain.
  50. Bertram
  51. 1179 Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?
  52. Parolles
  53. 1180 I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's displeasure.
  54. Lafew
  55. 1181 You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs and all,
  56. 1182 like him that leapt into the custard; and out of it you'll run
  57. 1183 again, rather than suffer question for your residence.
  58. Bertram
  59. 1184 It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
  60. Lafew
  61. 1185 And shall do so ever, though I took him at his prayers.
  62. 1186 Fare you well, my lord; and believe this of me, there can be no
  63. 1187 kernal in this light nut; the soul of this man is his clothes;
  64. 1188 trust him not in matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them
  65. 1189 tame, and know their natures.—Farewell, monsieur; I have spoken
  66. 1190 better of you than you have or will to deserve at my hand; but we
  67. 1191 must do good against evil.
  68. [Exit.]
  69. Parolles
  70. 1192 An idle lord, I swear.
  71. Bertram
  72. 1193 I think so.
  73. Parolles
  74. 1194 Why, do you not know him?
  75. Bertram
  76. 1195 Yes, I do know him well; and common speech
  77. 1196 Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.
  78. [Enter HELENA.]
  79. Helena
  80. 1197 I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
  81. 1198 Spoke with the king, and have procur'd his leave
  82. 1199 For present parting; only he desires
  83. 1200 Some private speech with you.
  84. Bertram
  85. 1201 I shall obey his will.
  86. 1202 You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
  87. 1203 Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
  88. 1204 The ministration and required office
  89. 1205 On my particular. Prepared I was not
  90. 1206 For such a business; therefore am I found
  91. 1207 So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you:
  92. 1208 That presently you take your way for home,
  93. 1209 And rather muse than ask why I entreat you:
  94. 1210 For my respects are better than they seem;
  95. 1211 And my appointments have in them a need
  96. 1212 Greater than shows itself at the first view
  97. 1213 To you that know them not. This to my mother:
  98. [Giving a letter.]
  99. Bertram
  100. 1214 'Twill be two days ere I shall see you; so
  101. 1215 I leave you to your wisdom.
  102. Helena
  103. 1216 Sir, I can nothing say
  104. 1217 But that I am your most obedient servant.
  105. Bertram
  106. 1218 Come, come, no more of that.
  107. Helena
  108. 1219 And ever shall
  109. 1220 With true observance seek to eke out that
  110. 1221 Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd
  111. 1222 To equal my great fortune.
  112. Bertram
  113. 1223 Let that go:
  114. 1224 My haste is very great. Farewell; hie home.
  115. Helena
  116. 1225 Pray, sir, your pardon.
  117. Bertram
  118. 1226 Well, what would you say?
  119. Helena
  120. 1227 I am not worthy of the wealth I owe;
  121. 1228 Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;
  122. 1229 But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
  123. 1230 What law does vouch mine own.
  124. Bertram
  125. 1231 What would you have?
  126. Helena
  127. 1232 Something; and scarce so much:—nothing, indeed.—
  128. 1233 I would not tell you what I would, my lord:—Faith, yes;—
  129. 1234 Strangers and foes do sunder and not kiss.
  130. Bertram
  131. 1235 I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.
  132. Helena
  133. 1236 I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
  134. Bertram
  135. 1237 Where are my other men, monsieur?—
  136. 1238 Farewell,
  137. [Exit HELENA.]
  138. Bertram
  139. 1239 Go thou toward home, where I will never come
  140. 1240 Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum:—
  141. 1241 Away, and for our flight.
  142. Parolles
  143. 1242 Bravely, coragio!
  144. [Exeunt.]