←

All's Well That Ends Well, Act 3, Scene 5

William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Helena has cured the King and married Bertram at his command. Bertram refuses to live with her unless she obtains his ring and bears his child. He leaves for the Florentine wars with Parolles and becomes cavalry general. Helena decides to leave home so he can return.

In the last scene: Act 3, Scene 4

The Steward reads Helena’s letter announcing her departure on pilgrimage to Saint Jaques and asking that Bertram return from war. The Countess orders him to write to Bertram, praising Helena and expressing her grief. She hopes Helena’s absence will bring him home, and his return will bring Helena back.

SCENE V. Without the walls of Florence.

Enter an old Widow of Florence, Diana, Violenta, Mariana and 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.
A tucket afar off.
WIDOW
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 threaten 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 hostessAs ample as myself.
HELENA
Is it yourself?
WIDOW
If you shall please so, pilgrim.
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 yoursThat has done worthy service.
HELENA
His name, I pray you.
DIANA
The Count Rossillon. Know you such a one?
HELENA
But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him;His face I know not.
DIANA
Whatsome’er he is,He’s bravely taken here. He stole from France,As ’tis reported, for the king had married himAgainst 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 countReports 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 worthOf the great count himself, she is too meanTo have her name repeated; all her deservingIs a reserved honesty, and thatI have not heard examin’d.
DIANA
Alas, poor lady!’Tis a hard bondage to become the wifeOf a detesting lord.
WIDOW
Ay, right; good creature, wheresoe’er she is,Her heart weighs sadly. This young maid might do herA shrewd turn, if she pleas’d.
HELENA
How do you mean?Maybe the amorous count solicits herIn the unlawful purpose.
WIDOW
He does indeed,And brokes with all that can in such a suitCorrupt the tender honour of a maid;But she is arm’d for him, and keeps her guardIn honestest defence.
Enter, with a drum and colours, a party of the Florentine army, Bertram and Parolles.
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 honesterHe 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 knaveThat leads him to these places. Were I his ladyI 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’ the 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, Officers and Soldiers.
WIDOW
The troop is past. Come, pilgrim, I will bring youWhere you shall host; of enjoin’d penitentsThere’s four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,Already at my house.
HELENA
I humbly thank you.Please it this matron and this gentle maidTo eat with us tonight; the charge and thankingShall be for me; and, to requite you further,I will bestow some precepts of this virgin,Worthy the note.
BOTH
We’ll take your offer kindly.
Exeunt.

Characters

Speaking

  • 16 speeches
  • Widow15 speeches
  • 10 speeches
  • 5 speeches
  • 1 speech

All the characters ›

Themes

All the themes ›

Questions on this scene

  • Reading

    Whom does Mariana warn Diana against?

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 · 24 quotes in this scene

Also mentioned

  • Saint Jaques le Grand?2 quotes in this scene · characters travel here or from here
  • Roussillon1 quote in this scene