←

All's Well That Ends Well, Act 3, Scene 1

William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Florence is at war; Helena cures the king and marries Bertram, who plans to leave for the wars.

In the last scene: Act 2, Scene 5

Bertram sends Helena home with a letter, refuses her a farewell kiss, and leaves with Parolles to make their escape.

SCENE I. Florence. A room in the Duke’s palace.

Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence attended; two French Lords, and Soldiers.
DUKE
So that, from point to point, now have you heardThe fundamental reasons of this war,Whose great decision hath much blood let forth,And more thirsts after.
FIRST LORD
Holy seems the quarrelUpon your Grace’s part; black and fearfulOn the opposer.
DUKE
Therefore we marvel much our cousin FranceWould, in so just a business, shut his bosomAgainst our borrowing prayers.
SECOND LORD
Good my lord,The reasons of our state I cannot yield,But like a common and an outward manThat the great figure of a council framesBy self-unable motion; therefore dare notSay what I think of it, since I have foundMyself in my incertain grounds to failAs often as I guess’d.
DUKE
Be it his pleasure.
FIRST LORD
But I am sure the younger of our nature,That surfeit on their ease, will day by dayCome here for physic.
DUKE
Welcome shall they be;And all the honours that can fly from usShall on them settle. You know your places well;When better fall, for your avails they fell.Tomorrow to the field.
Flourish. Exeunt.

Characters

Speaking

  • Duke4 speeches
  • 2 speeches
  • 1 speech

All the characters ›

Themes

All the themes ›

Questions on this scene

  • Reading

    Who refuses the Duke of Florence’s request for help?

Locations

  • FlorenceScene

    Bertram serves in the Duke's army during the war against Siena. In Florence and its neighbouring military camp, Helena meets Diana and the Widow, arranges the bed-trick, and secures Bertram's ring; Parolles is exposed through a staged interrogation.

    Set here · 8 quotes in this scene

Also mentioned

  • Parischaracters travel here or from here