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Exeunt
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SCENE 7。 Florence。 The WIDOW'S house
Enter HELENA and WIDOW
HELENA。 If you misdoubt me that I am not she； I know not how I
shall assure you further But I shall lose the grounds I work upon。 WIDOW。
Though my estate be fall'n； I was well born； Nothing acquainted with
these businesses； And would not put my reputation now In any staining act。
HELENA。 Nor would I wish you。 FIRST give me trust the Count he is my
husband； And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken Is so from word
to word； and then you cannot； By the good aid that I of you shall borrow；
Err in bestowing it。 WIDOW。 I should believe you； For you have show'd
me that which well approves Y'are great in fortune。 HELENA。 Take this
purse of gold； And let me buy your friendly help thus far； Which I will
over…pay and pay again When I have found it。 The Count he woos your
daughter Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty； Resolv'd to carry
her。 Let her in fine consent； As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it。 Now
his important blood will nought deny That she'll demand。 A ring the
County wears That downward hath succeeded in his house From son to
son some four or five descents Since the first father wore it。 This ring he
holds In most rich choice； yet； in his idle fire； To buy his will； it would not
seem too dear； Howe'er repented after。 WIDOW。 Now I see The bottom of
your purpose。 HELENA。 You see it lawful then。 It is no more But that
your daughter； ere she seems as won； Desires this ring； appoints him an
encounter； In fine； delivers me to fill the time； Herself most chastely
absent。 After this； To marry her； I'll add three thousand crowns To what is
pass'd already。 WIDOW。 I have yielded。 Instruct my daughter how she
shall persever； That time and place with this deceit so lawful May prove
coherent。 Every night he comes With musics of all sorts； and songs
compos'd To her unworthiness。 It nothing steads us To chide him from our
eaves； for he persists As if his life lay on 't。 HELENA。 Why then to…night
Let us assay our plot； which； if it speed； Is wicked meaning in a lawful
deed； And lawful meaning in a lawful act； Where both not sin； and yet a
sinful fact。 But let's about it。 Exeunt
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ACT IV。
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ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL
SCENE 1。 Without the Florentine camp
Enter SECOND FRENCH LORD with five or six other SOLDIERS in
ambush
SECOND LORD。 He can come no other way but by this hedge…
corner。 When you sally upon him； speak what terrible language you will；
though you understand it not yourselves； no matter； for we must not seem
to understand him； unless some one among us； whom we must produce for
an interpreter。 FIRST SOLDIER。 Good captain； let me be th' interpreter。
SECOND LORD。 Art not acquainted with him？ Knows he not thy voice？
FIRST SOLDIER。 No； sir； I warrant you。 SECOND LORD。 But what
linsey…woolsey has thou to speak to us again？ FIRST SOLDIER。 E'en such
as you speak to me。 SECOND LORD。 He must think us some band of
strangers i' th' adversary's entertainment。 Now he hath a smack of all
neighbouring languages； therefore we must every one be a man of his own
fancy； not to know what we speak one to another； so we seem to know； is
to know straight our purpose： choughs' language； gabble enough； and good
enough。 As for you； interpreter； you must seem very politic。 But couch； ho！
here he comes； to beguile two hours in a sleep； and then to return and
swear the lies he forges。
Enter PAROLLES
PAROLLES。 Ten o'clock。 Within these three hours 'twill be time
enough to go home。 What shall I say I have done？ It must be a very
plausive invention that carries it。 They begin to smoke me； and disgraces
have of late knock'd to often at my door。 I find my tongue is too foolhardy；
but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it； and of his creatures； not
daring the reports of my tongue。 SECOND LORD。 This is the first truth
that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of。 PAROLLES。 What the devil
should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum； being not
ignorant of the impossibility； and knowing I had no such purpose？ I must
give myself some hurts； and say I got them in exploit。 Yet slight ones will
not carry it。 They will say 'Came you off with so little？' And great ones I
dare not give。 Wherefore； what's the instance？ Tongue； I must put you into
a butterwoman's mouth； and buy myself another of Bajazet's mule； if you
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prattle me into these perils。 SECOND LORD。 Is it possible he should
know what he is； and be that he is？ PAROLLES。 I would the cutting of my
garments would serve the turn； or the breaking of my Spanish sword。
SECOND LORD。 We cannot afford you so。 PAROLLES。 Or the baring of
my beard； and to say it was in stratagem。 SECOND LORD。 'Twould not
do。 PAROLLES。 Or to drown my clothes； and say I was stripp'd。
SECOND LORD。 Hardly serve。 PAROLLES。 Though I swore I leap'd
from the window of the citadel… SECOND LORD。 How deep？
PAROLLES。 Thirty fathom。 SECOND LORD。 Three great oaths would
scarce make that be believed。 PAROLLES。 I would I