All's Well, that Ends Well
Actus primus. Scoena Prima.
Enter yong Bertram Count of Rossillion, his Mother, and Helena,
Lord
Lafew, all in blacke.
Mother. In deliuering my sonne from me, I burie a second
husband
Ros. And I in going Madam, weep ore myfathers death anew; but I must attend his maiestiescommand, to whom I am now in Ward, euermorein subiection
Laf. You shall find of the King a husband Madame,you sir a father. He that so generally is at all times good,must of necessitie hold his vertue to you, whose worthinessewould stirre it vp where it wanted rather then lackit where there is such abundance
Mo. What hope is there of his Maiesties amendment? Laf. He hath abandon'd his Phisitions Madam, vnderwhose practises he hath persecuted time with hope,and finds no other aduantage in the processe, but onelythe loosing of hope by time
Mo. This yong Gentlewoman had a father, O thathad, how sad a passage tis, whose skill was almost asgreat as his honestie, had it stretch'd so far, would hauemade nature immortall, and death should haue play forlacke of worke. Would for the Kings sake hee were liuing,I thinke it would be the death of the Kings disease
Laf. How call'd you the man you speake of Madam?
Mo. He was famous sir in his profession, and it was
his great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon
Laf. He was excellent indeed Madam, the King verylatelie spoke of him admiringly, and mourningly: heewas skilfull enough to haue liu'd stil, if knowledge couldbe set vp against mortallitie
Ros. What is it (my good Lord) the King languishes
of?
Laf. A Fistula my Lord
Ros. I heard not of it before
Laf. I would it were not notorious. Was this Gentlewomanthe Daughter of Gerard de Narbon? Mo. His sole childe my Lord, and bequeathed to myouer looking. I haue those hopes of her good, that hereducation promises her dispositions shee inherits, whichmakes faire gifts fairer: for where an vncleane mind carriesvertuous qualities, there commendations go withpitty, they are vertues and traitors too: in her they arethe better for their simplenesse; she deriues her honestie,and atcheeues her goodnesse
Lafew. Your commendations Madam get from herteares
Mo. 'Tis the best brine a Maiden can season her praisein. The remembrance of her father neuer approches herheart, but the tirrany of her sorrowes takes all liuelihoodfrom her cheeke. No more of this Helena, go too, nomore least it be rather thought you affect a sorrow, thento haue- Hell. I doe affect a sorrow indeed, but I haue it too
Laf. Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead,
excessiue greefe the enemie to the liuing
Mo. If the liuing be enemie to the greefe, the excesse
makes it soone mortall
Ros. Maddam I desire your holie wishes
Laf. How vnderstand we that?
Mo. Be thou blest Bertrame, and succeed thy father
In manners as in shape: thy blood and vertue
Contend for Empire in thee, and thy goodnesse
Share with thy birth-right. Loue all, trust a few,
Doe wrong to none: be able for thine enemie
Rather in power then vse: and keepe thy friend
Vnder thy owne lifes key. Be checkt for silence,
But neuer tax'd for speech. What heauen more wil,
That thee may furnish, and my prayers plucke downe,
Fall on thy head. Farwell my Lord,