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for death and me； Whom I myself embrace to set him free。' COUNTESS。
Ah； what sharp stings are in her mildest words！ Rinaldo； you did never
lack advice so much As letting her pass so； had I spoke with her； I could
have well diverted her intents； Which thus she hath prevented。 STEWARD。
Pardon me； madam； If I had given you this at over…night； She might have
been o'er ta'en； and yet she writes Pursuit would be but vain。 COUNTESS。
What angel shall Bless this unworthy husband？ He cannot thrive； Unless
her prayers； whom heaven delights to hear And loves to grant； reprieve
him from the wrath Of greatest justice。 Write； write； Rinaldo； To this
unworthy husband of his wife； Let every word weigh heavy of her worth
That he does weigh too light。 My greatest grief； Though little he do feel it；
set down sharply。 Dispatch the most convenient messenger。 When haply
he shall hear that she is gone He will return； and hope I may that she；
Hearing so much； will speed her foot again； Led hither by pure love。
Which of them both Is dearest to me I have no skill in sense To make
distinction。 Provide this messenger。 My heart is heavy； and mine age is
weak； Grief would have tears； and sorrow bids me speak。 Exeunt
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SCENE 5。
Without the walls of Florence A tucket afar off。 Enter an old WIDOW
OF FLORENCE； her daughter DIANA； VIOLENTA； and MARIANA；
with other CITIZENS
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 honourable
service。 WIDOW。 It is reported that he has taken their great'st commander；
and that with his own hand he slew the Duke's brother。 ＇Tucket＇ We have
lost our labour； they are gone a contrary way。 Hark！ you may know by
their trumpets。 MARIANA。 Come； let's return again； and suffice ourselves
with the report of it。 Well； Diana； take heed of this French earl； the honour
of a maid is her name； and no legacy is so rich as honesty。 WIDOW。 I have
told my neighbour 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； 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 wreck 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。 You shall not need to fear me。
Enter HELENA in the dress of a pilgrim
WIDOW。 I hope so。 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？ HELENA。 To Saint Jaques le Grand。 Where
do the palmers lodge； I do beseech you？ WIDOW。 At the Saint Francis
here； beside the port。 HELENA。 Is this the way？ ＇A march afar＇
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 lodg'd； The rather for I think I know your hostess As ample as
myself。 HELENA。 Is it yourself？ WIDOW。 If you shall please so； pilgrim。
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ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL
HELENA。 I thank you； and will stay upon your leisure。 WIDOW。 You
came； I think； from France？ HELENA。 I did so。 WIDOW。 Here you shall
see a countryman of yours That has done worthy service。 HELENA。 His
name； I pray you。 DIANA。 The Count Rousillon。 Know you such a one？
HELENA。 But by the ear； that hears most nobly of him； His face I know
not。 DIANA。 What some'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？ HELENA。 Ay； surely； mere the truth； I know his lady。
DIANA。 There is a gentleman that serves the Count Reports but coarsely
of her。 HELENA。 What's his name？ DIANA。 Monsieur Parolles。
HELENA。 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 reserved honesty； and that I have not heard examin'd。
DIANA。 Alas； poor lady！ 'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife Of a
detesting lord。 WIDOW。 I sweet； good creature； wheresoe'er she is Her
heart weighs sadly。 This young maid might do her A shrewd turn； if she
pleas'd。 HELENA。 How do you mean？ May be 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 honour of a maid； But she is
arm'd for him； and keeps her guard In honestest defence。
Enter； with drum and colours； BERTRAM； PAROLLES； and the
whole ARMY
MARIANA。 The gods forbid else！ WIDOW。 So； now they come。
That is Antonio； the Duke's eldest son； That； Escalus。 HELENA。 Which is
the Frenchman？ DIANA。 He… That with the plume； 'tis a most gallant
fellow。 I would he lov'd his wife； if he were honester He were much
goodlier。 Is't not a handsome gentleman？ HELENA。 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 I would poison that vile rascal。 HELENA。
Which is he？ DIANA。 That jack…an…apes with scarfs。 Why is he
melancholy？ HELENA。 Perchance he's hurt i' th' battle。 PAROLLES。 Lose
our drum！ well。 MARIANA。 He's shrewdly vex'd at something。 Look； he
has spied us。 WIDOW。 Marry； hang you！ MARIANA。 And your courtesy；
for a ring…carrier！ Exeunt BERTRAM； PAROLLES； and ARMY WIDOW。
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The troop is past。 Come； pilgrim； I will bring you Where you shall host。
Of enjoin'd penitents There's four or five； to great Saint Jaques bound；
Already at my house。 HELENA。 I humbly thank you。 Please it this matron
and this