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All's Well That Ends Well, Act 3, Scene 7

William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Bertram rejects Helena unless she obtains his ring and bears his child. Disguised as a pilgrim, she reaches Florence and lodges with a widow, learning that Bertram is pursuing her daughter Diana.

In the last scene: Act 3, Scene 6

Parolles promises to recover the lost drum. The French lords arrange to capture him disguised as enemies and question him before Bertram. Bertram reports that Diana has returned his letters and gifts, and takes a lord to see her.

SCENE VII. Florence. A room in 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 nowIn 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 spokenIs 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 approvesY’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 againWhen I have found it. The count he woos your daughterLays 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 naught denyThat she’ll demand; a ring the county wears,That downward hath succeeded in his houseFrom son to son, some four or five descentsSince the first father wore it. This ring he holdsIn 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 seeThe bottom of your purpose.
HELENA
You see it lawful then; it is no moreBut 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,To marry her, I’ll add three thousand crownsTo what is pass’d already.
WIDOW
I have yielded.Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,That time and place with this deceit so lawfulMay prove coherent. Every night he comesWith musics of all sorts, and songs compos’dTo her unworthiness: it nothing steads usTo chide him from our eaves; for he persistsAs if his life lay on ’t.
HELENA
Why then tonightLet 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.

Characters

Speaking

  • 5 speeches
  • Widow4 speeches

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

  • Reading

    What does Helena give the Widow for her 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 · 1 quote in this scene