All's well that ends well: still the fine's the crown: Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Rousillon. A Room in the COUNTESS's Palace. Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and Clown. Laf. No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villainous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his color: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and son here at home, more advanced by the King than by that red-tailed bumble-bee I speak of. Count. I would I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating: if she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love. Laf. 'T was a good lady, 't was a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads, ere we light on such another herb. Clo. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad; or rather the herb of grace. Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman? Clo. Faith, sir, he has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France than there. Laf. What prince is that? Clo. The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the Devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talk'st of; serve him still. Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But sure he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in his court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire. Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee: and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature. [Exit. Laf. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy. Count. So he is. My lord that's gone made Laf. They are not salad-herbs, you knave; they himself much sport out of him: by his authority are nose-herbs. he remains here, which he thinks is à patent for Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have his sauciness; and indeed he has no pace, but runs not much skill in grass. where he will. Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself-a knave or a fool? Laf. I like him well; 't is not amiss.-And I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good Clo. A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a lady's death, and that my lord your son was upon knave at a man's. Laf. Your distinction ? his return home, I moved the King my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter: which, in the Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do minority of them both, his majesty, out of a selfhis service. gracious remembrance, did first propose. His Laf. So you were a knave at his service, in- highness hath promised me to do it; and, to stop deed. up the displeasure he hath conceived against your Clo. And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it? to do her service. Laf. I will subscribe for thee; thou art both knave and fool. Clo. At your service. Laf. No, no, no. Count. With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected. Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a that in such intelligence hath seldom failed. Count. It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here to-night I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together. scar under it or no, the velvet knows; but 't is a goodly patch of velvet. His left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare. Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what man- livery of honor; so belike is that. ners I might safely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honorable privilege. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I thank my God it holds yet. Re-enter Clown. Clo. O madam, yonder 's my lord, your son, with Clo. But it is your carbonadoed face. Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you: I long to talk with the young noble soldier. Clo. Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man. [Excunt. Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of Since you are like to see the King before me, Laf. You beg more than one word, then.Cox' my passion! give me your hand: how does your drum? Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee. Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the Devil? one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sound] The King's coming, I know by his trumpets.- Sirrah, inquire further Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir: I after me: I had talk of you last night: though spake but by a metaphor. you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat: go to, follow. Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Pr'y thee, get thee further. Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Clo. Foh, pr'y thee, stand away. A paper from SCENE III. The same. A Room in the COUNTfortune's closestool to give to a nobleman ! — Look, here he comes himself. Enter LAFEU. Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat (but not a musk-cat), that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal. Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your lordship. [Exit Clown. Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched. Laf. And what would you have me to do? 't is too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'écu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other business. ESS's Palace. Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, Lords. Gentlemen, Guards, &c. King. We lost a jewel of her, and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lacked the sense to know Her estimation home. Par. I beseech your honor to hear me one single Whose beauty did astonish the survey word. Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive; Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you Whose dear perfection hearts that scorned to serve Laf. All that he is hath reference to your high- While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon.Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. ness. King. Then shall we have a match. I have Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: Not one word more of the consuméd time. Steals, ere we can effect them. You remember Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart That she whom all men praised, and whom my I have seen her wear it; and she reckoned it self Since I have lost have loved, was in mine eye The dust that did offend it. At her life's rate. Laf. I am sure I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceived, my lord, she never saw it : That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, ment you. Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not: KING reads. "Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Rousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honor 's paid to him. He stole from Flor enforce-ence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country You got it from her: she called the saints to That she would never put it from her finger, King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine Go speedily, and bring again the Count. honor; And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, Enter BERTRAM, guarded. King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you, [Guards seize BERTRAM. And that you fly them as you swear them lord My forepast proofs, howe'er the matter fall, ship, Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that? Re-enter the Astringer, with Widow, and DIANA. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet: My suit, as I do understand, you know, |