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divers ATTENDANTS
KING。 The Florentines and Senoys are by th' ears； Have fought with
equal fortune； and continue A braving war。 FIRST LORD。 So 'tis reported；
sir。 KING。 Nay； 'tis most credible。 We here receive it； A certainty； vouch'd
from our cousin Austria； With caution； that the Florentine will move us
For speedy aid； wherein our dearest friend Prejudicates the business； and
would seem To have us make denial。 FIRST LORD。 His love and wisdom；
Approv'd so to your Majesty； may plead For amplest credence。 KING。 He
hath arm'd our answer； And Florence is denied before he comes； Yet； for
our gentlemen that mean to see The Tuscan service； freely have they leave
To stand on either part。 SECOND LORD。 It well may serve A nursery to
our gentry； who are sick For breathing and exploit。 KING。 What's he
comes here？
Enter BERTRAM； LAFEU； and PAROLLES
FIRST LORD。 It is the Count Rousillon； my good lord； Young
Bertram。 KING。 Youth； thou bear'st thy father's face； Frank nature； rather
curious than in haste； Hath well compos'd thee。 Thy father's moral parts
Mayst thou inherit too！ Welcome to Paris。 BERTRAM。 My thanks and
duty are your Majesty's。 KING。 I would I had that corporal soundness now；
As when thy father and myself in friendship First tried our soldiership。 He
did look far Into the service of the time； and was Discipled of the bravest。
He lasted long； But on us both did haggish age steal on； And wore us out
of act。 It much repairs me To talk of your good father。 In his youth He had
the wit which I can well observe To…day in our young lords； but they may
jest Till their own scorn return to them unnoted Ere they can hide their
levity in honour。 So like a courtier； contempt nor bitterness Were in his
pride or sharpness； if they were； His equal had awak'd them； and his
honour； Clock to itself； knew the true minute when Exception bid him
speak； and at this time His tongue obey'd his hand。 Who were below him
He us'd as creatures of another place； And bow'd his eminent top to their
low ranks； Making them proud of his humility In their poor praise he
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humbled。 Such a man Might be a copy to these younger times； Which；
followed well； would demonstrate them now But goers backward。
BERTRAM。 His good remembrance； sir； Lies richer in your thoughts than
on his tomb； So in approof lives not his epitaph As in your royal speech。
KING。 Would I were with him！ He would always say… Methinks I hear him
now； his plausive words He scatter'd not in ears； but grafted them To grow
there； and to bear… 'Let me not live'… This his good melancholy oft began；
On the catastrophe and heel of pastime； When it was out…'Let me not live'
quoth he 'After my flame lacks oil； to be the snuff Of younger spirits；
whose apprehensive senses All but new things disdain； whose judgments
are Mere fathers of their garments； whose constancies Expire before their
fashions。' This he wish'd。 I； after him； do after him wish too； Since I nor
wax nor honey can bring home； I quickly were dissolved from my hive； To
give some labourers room。 SECOND LORD。 You're loved； sir； They that
least lend it you shall lack you first。 KING。 I fill a place； I know't。 How
long is't； Count； Since the physician at your father's died？ He was much
fam'd。 BERTRAM。 Some six months since； my lord。 KING。 If he were
living； I would try him yet… Lend me an arm…the rest have worn me out
With several applications。 Nature and sickness Debate it at their leisure。
Welcome； Count； My son's no dearer。 BERTRAM。 Thank your Majesty。
Exeunt ＇Flourish＇
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ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL
SCENE 3。 Rousillon。 The COUNT'S palace
Enter COUNTESS； STEWARD； and CLOWN
COUNTESS。 I will now hear； what say you of this gentlewoman？
STEWARD。 Madam； the care I have had to even your content I wish
might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours； for then we wound
our modesty； and make foul the clearness of our deservings； when of
ourselves we publish them。 COUNTESS。 What does this knave here？ Get
you gone； sirrah。 The complaints I have heard of you I do not all believe；
'tis my slowness that I do not； for I know you lack not folly to commit
them and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours。 CLOWN。 'Tis
not unknown to you； madam； I am a poor fellow。 COUNTESS。 Well； sir。
CLOWN。 No； madam； 'tis not so well that I am poor； though many of the
rich are damn'd； but if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the
world； Isbel the woman and I will do as we may。 COUNTESS。 Wilt thou
needs be a beggar？ CLOWN。 I do beg your good will in this case。
COUNTESS。 In what case？ CLOWN。 In Isbel's case and mine own。
Service is no heritage； and I think I shall never have the blessing of God
till I have issue o' my body； for they say bames are blessings。 COUNTESS。
Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry。 CLOWN。 My poor body； madam；
requires it。 I am driven on by the flesh； and he must needs go that the devil
drives。 COUNTESS。 Is this all your worship's reason？ CLOWN。 Faith；
madam； I have other holy reasons； such as they are。 COUNTESS。 May the
world know them？ CLOWN。 I have been； madam； a wicked creature； as
you and all flesh and blood are； and； indeed； I do marry that I may repent。
COUNTESS。 Thy marriage； sooner than thy wickedness。 CLOWN。 I am
out o' friends； madam； and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake。
COUNTESS。 Such friends are thine enemies； knave。 CLOWN。 Y'are
shallow； madam…in great friends； for the knaves come to do that for me
which I am aweary of。 He that ears my land spares my team； and gives me
leave to in the crop。 If I be his cuckold； he's my drudge。 He that comforts
my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood； he that cherishes my flesh
and blood loves my flesh and blood； he that loves my flesh and blood is
my friend； ergo； he that kisses my wife is my friend。 If men could be
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contented to be what they are； there were no fear in marriage； for young
Charbon the puritan and old Poysam the papist； howsome'er th