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

William Shakespeare

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Helena plans to take Diana’s place in bed with Bertram, whose conditions for accepting her are his ring and his child. Diana has obtained the ring.

In the last scene: Act 4, Scene 3

The lords report Helena’s death and peace. Bertram prepares to return to France, then hears Parolles reveal military secrets and slander his companions. Unmasked before them, Parolles gives up his captaincy.

SCENE IV. Florence. A room in the Widow’s house.

Enter Helena, Widow and Diana.

HELENA

That you may well perceive I have not wrong’d youOne of the greatest in the Christian worldShall be my surety; fore whose throne ’tis needful,Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel.Time was I did him a desired office,Dear almost as his life; which gratitudeThrough flinty Tartar’s bosom would peep forth,And answer thanks. I duly am inform’dHis grace is at Marseilles; to which placeWe have convenient convoy. You must knowI am supposed dead. The army breaking,My husband hies him home, where, heaven aiding,And by the leave of my good lord the king,We’ll be before our welcome.

This image sets a small, shy verb against a heart of stone, so the king's thanks would push out even from the hardest man.

European chronicles of the medieval Mongol invasions portrayed the invaders, commonly called Tartars, as exceptionally cruel. That reputation remained current in early modern Europe.

Helena says the King will protect them because she once saved his life.

Kneeling scheduled as a step in the plan: submission used as a tool

Helena distinguishes what others believe from what is true. The false report of her death gives her freedom to act without her husband’s knowledge.

The proposed appeal to the king departs from the tale of Giletta of Narbonne in William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure. In Painter, Giletta returns to her husband’s home at Roussillon and presents their twin sons to him; the king does not adjudicate their reconciliation.

They will travel towards France while Bertram returns home believing Helena is dead.

Helena approaches royal authority as part of her own plan. Although she must petition the King, she remains the person directing the action towards her chosen goal.

WIDOW

Gentle madam,You never had a servant to whose trustYour business was more welcome.

HELENA

Nor you, mistress,Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labourTo recompense your love. Doubt not but heavenHath brought me up to be your daughter’s dower,As it hath fated her to be my motiveAnd helper to a husband. But, O strange men!That can such sweet use make of what they hate,When saucy trusting of the cozen’d thoughtsDefiles the pitchy night; so lust doth playWith what it loathes, for that which is away.But more of this hereafter. You, Diana,Under my poor instructions yet must sufferSomething in my behalf.

DIANA

Let death and honestyGo with your impositions, I am yoursUpon your will to suffer.

HELENA

Yet, I pray you;But with the word the time will bring on summer,When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns,And be as sweet as sharp. We must away;Our waggon is prepar’d, and time revives us.All’s well that ends well; still the fine’s the crown.Whate’er the course, the end is the renown.

Exeunt.

Characters

Speaking

3 speeches
1 speech
Widow1 speech

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

Reading
Where does Helena report the king is staying?
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 · 4 quotes in this scene

Also mentioned

Marseilles1 quote in this scene · characters travel here or from here
Roussillon1 quote in this scene
Parischaracters travel here or from here