All's Well That Ends Well, Act 4, Scene 3

William Shakespeare

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Helena has married Bertram after curing the king. He refuses her unless she obtains his ring and bears his child. In Florence, she arranges to replace Diana in his bed. Soldiers pretending to be enemies have captured Parolles, who offers military secrets to save his life.

In the last scene: Act 4, Scene 2

Bertram gives Diana his ancestral ring. She tells him to come to her chamber at midnight, stay only an hour and remain silent; she promises to put another ring on his finger. He leaves expecting to sleep with her. Alone, Diana says she intends to remain a virgin and deceive him.

SCENE III. The Florentine camp.

Enter the two French Lords and two or three Soldiers.

FIRST LORD

You have not given him his mother’s letter?

SECOND LORD

I have deliv’red it an hour since; there is something in’t that stings his nature; for on the reading it, he chang’d almost into another man.

FIRST LORD

He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady.

SECOND LORD

Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king, who had even tun’d his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you.

FIRST LORD

When you have spoken it, ’tis dead, and I am the grave of it.

SECOND LORD

He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown, and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour; he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.

FIRST LORD

Now, God delay our rebellion! As we are ourselves, what things are we!

SECOND LORD

Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all treasons, we still see them reveal themselves till they attain to their abhorr’d ends; so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility, in his proper stream, o’erflows himself.

FIRST LORD

Is it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not then have his company tonight?

SECOND LORD

Not till after midnight; for he is dieted to his hour.

FIRST LORD

That approaches apace. I would gladly have him see his company anatomized, that he might take a measure of his own judgments, wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit.

SECOND LORD

We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other.

FIRST LORD

In the meantime, what hear you of these wars?

SECOND LORD

I hear there is an overture of peace.

FIRST LORD

Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded.

SECOND LORD

What will Count Rossillon do then? Will he travel higher, or return again into France?

FIRST LORD

I perceive by this demand, you are not altogether of his council.

SECOND LORD

Let it be forbid, sir! So should I be a great deal of his act.

FIRST LORD

Sir, his wife some two months since fled from his house. Her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le Grand; which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished; and there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven.

This word means 'purpose', but it also means a false show. So the report of Helena's holy death quietly hints that the whole story is staged.

St James the Greater's shrine at Santiago de Compostela, in north-western Spain, was one of medieval Europe's principal pilgrimage destinations. Journeys to saints' shrines were undertaken as acts of devotion or penance.

The lord reports that Bertram’s wife Helena left home two months ago.

The report of Helena’s death is Shakespeare’s addition. In the Giletta of Narbonne story in William Painter’s The Palace of Pleasure, adapted from Boccaccio’s Decameron (III.9), the rejected wife leaves home dressed as a pilgrim and reaches Florence; no corresponding report of her death reaches her husband.

Helena supposedly completed her pilgrimage, then died from grief and went to heaven.

The image makes grief a hunter…

SECOND LORD

How is this justified?

FIRST LORD

The stronger part of it by her own letters, which makes her story true, even to the point of her death. Her death itself, which could not be her office to say is come, was faithfully confirm’d by the rector of the place.

SECOND LORD

Hath the count all this intelligence?

FIRST LORD

Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity.

SECOND LORD

I am heartily sorry that he’ll be glad of this.

FIRST LORD

How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses!

SECOND LORD

And how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity that his valour hath here acquir’d for him shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample.

FIRST LORD

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together; our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherish’d by our virtues.

Enter a Messenger.

FIRST LORD

How now? Where’s your master?

MESSENGER

He met the duke in the street, sir; of whom he hath taken a solemn leave: his lordship will next morning for France. The duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king.

SECOND LORD

They shall be no more than needful there, if they were more than they can commend.

Enter Bertram.

FIRST LORD

They cannot be too sweet for the king’s tartness. Here’s his lordship now. How now, my lord, is’t not after midnight?

BERTRAM

I have tonight despatch’d sixteen businesses, a month’s length apiece; by an abstract of success: I have congied with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourn’d for her, writ to my lady mother I am returning, entertained my convoy, and between these main parcels of despatch effected many nicer needs: the last was the greatest, but that I have not ended yet.

SECOND LORD

If the business be of any difficulty and this morning your departure hence, it requires haste of your lordship.

BERTRAM

I mean the business is not ended, as fearing to hear of it hereafter. But shall we have this dialogue between the Fool and the Soldier? Come, bring forth this counterfeit module has deceiv’d me like a double-meaning prophesier.

SECOND LORD

Bring him forth.

Exeunt Soldiers.

SECOND LORD

Has sat i’ the stocks all night, poor gallant knave.

BERTRAM

No matter; his heels have deserv’d it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself?

FIRST LORD

I have told your lordship already; the stocks carry him. But to answer you as you would be understood: he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk; he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the time of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of his setting i’ the stocks. And what think you he hath confessed?

BERTRAM

Nothing of me, has he?

SECOND LORD

His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face; if your lordship be in’t, as I believe you are, you must have the patience to hear it.

Enter Soldiers with Parolles.

BERTRAM

A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of me; hush, hush!

FIRST LORD

Hoodman comes! Portotartarossa.

FIRST SOLDIER

He calls for the tortures. What will you say without ’em?

PAROLLES

I will confess what I know without constraint. If ye pinch me like a pasty I can say no more.

FIRST SOLDIER

Bosko chimurcho.

FIRST LORD

Boblibindo chicurmurco.

FIRST SOLDIER

You are a merciful general. Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note.

PAROLLES

And truly, as I hope to live.

FIRST SOLDIER

‘First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong.’ What say you to that?

PAROLLES

Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live.

FIRST SOLDIER

Shall I set down your answer so?

PAROLLES

Do. I’ll take the sacrament on ’t, how and which way you will.

BERTRAM

All’s one to him. What a past-saving slave is this!

FIRST LORD

You are deceived, my lord; this is Monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist (that was his own phrase), that had the whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger.

SECOND LORD

I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean, nor believe he can have everything in him by wearing his apparel neatly.

FIRST SOLDIER

Well, that’s set down.

PAROLLES

‘Five or six thousand horse’ I said—I will say true—or thereabouts, set down,—for I’ll speak truth.

FIRST LORD

He’s very near the truth in this.

BERTRAM

But I con him no thanks for’t in the nature he delivers it.

PAROLLES

Poor rogues, I pray you say.

FIRST SOLDIER

Well, that’s set down.

PAROLLES

I humbly thank you, sir; a truth’s a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor.

FIRST SOLDIER

‘Demand of him of what strength they are a-foot.’ What say you to that?

PAROLLES

By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio, a hundred and fifty, Sebastian, so many; Corambus, so many; Jaques, so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodowick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each; mine own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two hundred fifty each: so that the muster-file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks lest they shake themselves to pieces.

BERTRAM

What shall be done to him?

FIRST LORD

Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my condition, and what credit I have with the duke.

FIRST SOLDIER

Well, that’s set down. ‘You shall demand of him whether one Captain Dumaine be i’ the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the duke, what his valour, honesty and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks it were not possible with well-weighing sums of gold to corrupt him to a revolt.’ What say you to this? What do you know of it?

PAROLLES

I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the inter’gatories. Demand them singly.

FIRST SOLDIER

Do you know this Captain Dumaine?

PAROLLES

I know him: he was a botcher’s ’prentice in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve’s fool with child, a dumb innocent that could not say him nay.

First Lord lifts up his hand in anger.

BERTRAM

Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls.

FIRST SOLDIER

Well, is this captain in the Duke of Florence’s camp?

PAROLLES

Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy.

FIRST LORD

Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon.

FIRST SOLDIER

What is his reputation with the duke?

PAROLLES

The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine, and writ to me this other day to turn him out o’ the band. I think I have his letter in my pocket.

FIRST SOLDIER

Marry, we’ll search.

PAROLLES

In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there or it is upon a file, with the duke’s other letters, in my tent.

FIRST SOLDIER

Here ’tis; here’s a paper; shall I read it to you?

PAROLLES

I do not know if it be it or no.

BERTRAM

Our interpreter does it well.

FIRST LORD

Excellently.

FIRST SOLDIER

Dian, the Count’s a fool, and full of gold.

PAROLLES

That is not the duke’s letter, sir; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one Count Rossillon, a foolish idle boy, but for all that very ruttish. I pray you, sir, put it up again.

FIRST SOLDIER

Nay, I’ll read it first by your favour.

PAROLLES

My meaning in’t, I protest, was very honest in the behalf of the maid; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy, who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds.

BERTRAM

Damnable both sides rogue!

FIRST SOLDIER

Reads.When he swears oaths, bid him drop gold, and take it;After he scores, he never pays the score.Half won is match well made; match, and well make it;He ne’er pays after-debts, take it before.And say a soldier, ‘Dian,’ told thee this:Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss;For count of this, the count’s a fool, I know it,Who pays before, but not when he does owe it.Thine, as he vow’d to thee in thine ear,PAROLLES.

BERTRAM

He shall be whipped through the army with this rhyme in’s forehead.

SECOND LORD

This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier.

BERTRAM

I could endure anything before but a cat, and now he’s a cat to me.

FIRST SOLDIER

I perceive, sir, by our general’s looks we shall be fain to hang you.

PAROLLES

My life, sir, in any case. Not that I am afraid to die, but that, my offences being many, I would repent out the remainder of nature. Let me live, sir, in a dungeon, i’ the stocks, or anywhere, so I may live.

FIRST SOLDIER

We’ll see what may be done, so you confess freely. Therefore, once more to this Captain Dumaine: you have answer’d to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour. What is his honesty?

PAROLLES

He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister: for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus. He professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking them he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a fool: drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk, and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bedclothes about him; but they know his conditions and lay him in straw. I have but little more to say, sir, of his honesty; he has everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.

FIRST LORD

I begin to love him for this.

BERTRAM

For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him for me, he’s more and more a cat.

FIRST SOLDIER

What say you to his expertness in war?

PAROLLES

Faith, sir, has led the drum before the English tragedians,—to belie him I will not,—and more of his soldiership I know not, except in that country he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end, to instruct for the doubling of files. I would do the man what honour I can, but of this I am not certain.

FIRST LORD

He hath out-villain’d villainy so far that the rarity redeems him.

BERTRAM

A pox on him! He’s a cat still.

FIRST SOLDIER

His qualities being at this poor price, I need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt.

PAROLLES

Sir, for a quart d’ecu he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation, the inheritance of it, and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually.

FIRST SOLDIER

What’s his brother, the other Captain Dumaine?

SECOND LORD

Why does he ask him of me?

FIRST SOLDIER

What’s he?

PAROLLES

E’en a crow o’ the same nest; not altogether so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is. In a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming on he has the cramp.

FIRST SOLDIER

If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine?

PAROLLES

Ay, and the captain of his horse, Count Rossillon.

FIRST SOLDIER

I’ll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure.

PAROLLES

I’ll no more drumming; a plague of all drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the count, have I run into this danger: yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken?

FIRST SOLDIER

There is no remedy, sir, but you must die. The general says you that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army, and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head.

PAROLLES

O Lord! sir, let me live, or let me see my death.

FIRST SOLDIER

That shall you, and take your leave of all your friends.

Unmuffling him.

FIRST SOLDIER

So, look about you; know you any here?

BERTRAM

Good morrow, noble captain.

SECOND LORD

God bless you, Captain Parolles.

FIRST LORD

God save you, noble captain.

SECOND LORD

Captain, what greeting will you to my Lord Lafew? I am for France.

FIRST LORD

Good Captain, will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rossillon? And I were not a very coward I’d compel it of you; but fare you well.

Exeunt Bertram, Lords &c.

FIRST SOLDIER

You are undone, captain: all but your scarf; that has a knot on’t yet.

PAROLLES

Who cannot be crushed with a plot?

FIRST SOLDIER

If you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame, you might begin an impudent nation. Fare ye well, sir. I am for France too; we shall speak of you there.

Exeunt.

PAROLLES

Yet am I thankful. If my heart were great’Twould burst at this. Captain I’ll be no more,But I will eat, and drink, and sleep as softAs captain shall. Simply the thing I amShall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart,Let him fear this; for it will come to passThat every braggart shall be found an ass.Rust, sword; cool, blushes; and, Parolles liveSafest in shame; being fool’d, by foolery thrive.There’s place and means for every man alive.I’ll after them.

Exit.

Characters

Speaking

First Soldier30 speeches
28 speeches
26 speeches
23 speeches
16 speeches
Messenger1 speech

Mentioned

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

Reading
What does the First Lord report about Bertram’s wife?
Reading
Reading

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 · 18 quotes in this scene

Also mentioned

Roussillon6 quotes in this scene · characters travel here or from here
Saint Jaques le Grand?4 quotes in this scene
Paris1 quote in this scene