PURCHASE A COPY OF ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE ENGLISH NOW! Do you need to understand Shakespeare and want something more interactive? Try our free app, SwipeSpeare! EXCERPT FROM ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE ENGLISH SCENE I. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace. Enter BERTRAM, the COUNTESS of Rousillon, HELENA, and LAFEU, all in blackCOUNTESSIn delivering my son from me, I bury a second husband.In sending away my son, it is as if I buried my husband again.BERTRAMAnd I in going, madam, weep o'er my father's deathanew: but I must attend his majesty's command, towhom I am now in ward, evermore in subjection.And in going away, madam, I weep for my father's deathover again: but I must obey his Majesty's command,for he is now my guardian and I am forever under his rule.LAFEUYou shall find of the king a husband, madam; you,sir, a father: he that so generally is at all timesgood must of necessity hold his virtue to you; whoseworthiness would stir it up where it wanted ratherthan lack it where there is such abundance.You shall find the king like a husband, madam; yousir will find him like a father: he is always so goodthat he will of course be good to you; youdeserve it and would provoke goodness if it was lacking,so you will not lack it where there is so much available.COUNTESSWhat hope is there of his majesty's amendment?What hope is there of his Majesty getting better?LAFEUHe hath abandoned his physicians, madam; under whosepractises he hath persecuted time with hope, andfinds no other advantage in the process but only thelosing of hope by time.He has given up on his doctors, madam; he hadhoped to get more time through them, and nowhe thinks that the only thing they can give himis that he will lose hope over time.COUNTESSThis young gentlewoman had a father,--O, that'had'! how sad a passage 'tis!--whose skill wasalmost as great as his honesty; had it stretched sofar, would have made nature immortal, and deathshould have play for lack of work. Would, for theking's sake, he were living! I think it would bethe death of the king's disease. This young lady had a father–oh how sadit is to say ‘had’!–whose skill was almost as greatas his honesty; if it had been he could have mademankind immortal, and death would have hadtime on his hands through lack of work. I wish he were alive,for the King's sake! I think he would havekilled off the King's disease.LAFEUHow called you the man you speak of, madam?What was the name of this man you speak of, madam?COUNTESSHe was famous, sir, in his profession, and it washis great right to be so: Gerard de Narbon.He was famous in his profession, Sir, andhe had every right to be: Gerard de Narbon.LAFEUHe was excellent indeed, madam: the king verylately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly: hewas skilful enough to have lived still, if knowledgecould be set up against mortality.He was indeed a great man, madam: just recentlythe King spoke of him admiringly and sadly: hehad the skills to still be alive, if knowledgecould triumph over death.BERTRAMWhat is it, my good lord, the king languishes of? What is the nature of the King's illness, my good lord?LAFEUA fistula, my lord.He has a fistula, my Lord.BERTRAMI heard not of it before.I have never heard of that.LAFEUI would it were not notorious. Was this gentlewomanthe daughter of Gerard de Narbon?I wish nobody had. Was this young ladythe daughter of Gerard de Narbon?COUNTESSHis sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to myoverlooking. I have those hopes of her good thather education promises; her dispositions sheinherits, which makes fair gifts fairer; for wherean unclean mind carries virtuous qualities, therecommendations go with pity; they are virtues andtraitors too; in her they are the better for theirsimpleness; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.His only child, my lord, and left in my care.I have high hopes for her due tothe education she has received; she has inheriteda good character which improves her gifts; whenan unclean mind has good qualities, praisegoes along with pity; they are virtuesbut they are corrupted; in her they are better for herinnocence; she inherits her honesty and has worked for her goodness.LAFEUYour commendations, madam, get from her tears.Your praise has made her cry, madam.COUNTESS'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praisein. The remembrance of her father never approachesher heart but the tyranny of her sorrows takes alllivelihood from her cheek. No more of this, Helena;go to, no more; lest it be rather thought you affecta sorrow than have it.Tears give the best salt for a girl to flavour her praise with.She can never remember her fatherwithout her great sorrow draining all the colour from her cheeks.Stop this, Helena; come on, stop it, you don't want people to thinkthat your sorrow isn't genuine.HELENAI do affect a sorrow indeed, but I have it too.I am making a show of mourning, but it is genuine.LAFEUModerate lamentation is the right of the dead,excessive grief the enemy to the living.The dead have a right to expect a little mourning,but excessive grief damages the living.COUNTESSIf the living be enemy to the grief, the excessmakes it soon mortal. If those who are alive fight against the grief,it will soon die.BERTRAMMadam, I desire your holy wishes.Madam, I want your blessing.LAFEUHow understand we that?What does that mean?COUNTESSBe thou blest, Bertram, and succeed thy fatherIn manners, as in shape! thy blood and virtueContend for empire in thee, and thy goodnessShare with thy birthright! Love all, trust a few,Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemyRather in power than use, and keep thy friendUnder thy own life's key: be cheque'd for silence,But never tax'd for speech. What heaven more will,That thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down,Fall on thy head! Farewell, my lord;'Tis an unseason'd courtier; good my lord,Advise him.Bertram, may you have the blessing of copying your father'smanners as well as his shape! Your passion and your virtuesfight to rule over you, and your goodnessfights with your inheritance! Love everyone, only trust a few,do no harm to any; be prepared for your enemybut don't attack him, and defend your friendswith your life: don't be too quiet,but don't talk too much.May whatever else heaven will allow,and my prayers get for you,fall upon your head! Farewell, my lord;he is not used to courts; my good lord,look after him.
