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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 soldier…ship 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。 SECOND 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 cardecue he will sell the fee…simple of his
salvation； the inheritance of it； and cut th' entail from all
remainders and a perpetual succession for it perpetually。 FIRST
SOLDIER。 What's his brother； the other Captain Dumain？ FIRST LORD。
Why does he ask him of me？ FIRST SOLDIER。 What's he？ PAROLLES。
E'en a crow o' th' 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 Rousillon。 FIRST SOLDIER。 I'll whisper
with the General； and know his pleasure。 PAROLLES。 ＇Aside＇ 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 discover'd the
secrets of your army； and made such pestiferous reports of men very
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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＇ So look about you； know you
any here？ BERTRAM。 Good morrow； noble Captain。 FIRST LORD。 God
bless you； Captain Parolles。 SECOND LORD。 God save you； noble
Captain。 FIRST LORD。 Captain； what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu？
I am for France。 SECOND LORD。 Good Captain； will you give me a copy
of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon？ An I
were not a very coward I'd compel it of you； but fare you well。 Exeunt
BERTRAM and LORDS FIRST SOLDIER。 You are undone； Captain； all
but your scarf； that has a knot on 't yet。 PAROLLES。 Who cannot be
crush'd 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。 Exit with SOLDIERS 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 soft As captain shall。 Simply the thing I am Shall
make me live。 Who knows himself a braggart； Let him fear this； for it will
come to pass That every braggart shall be found an ass。 Rust； sword； cool；
blushes； and； Parolles； live Safest in shame。 Being fool'd； by fool'ry thrive。
There's place and means for every man alive。 I'll after them。 Exit
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SCENE 4。 The WIDOW'S house
Enter HELENA； WIDOW； and DIANA
HELENA。 That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you！ One
of the greatest in the Christian world Shall 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 gratitude Through
flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth； And answer 'Thanks。' I duly am
inform'd His Grace is at Marseilles； to which place We have convenient
convoy。 You must know I 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。 WIDOW。 Gentle madam；
You never had a servant to whose trust Your business was more welcome。
HELENA。 Nor you； mistress； Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly
labour To recompense your love。 Doubt not but heaven Hath brought me
up to be your daughter's dower； As it hath fated her to be my motive And
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 thoughts Defiles the
pitchy night。 So lust doth play With what it loathes； for that which is away。
But more of this hereafter。 You； Diana； Under my poor instructions yet
must suffer Something in my behalf。 DIANA。 Let death and honesty Go
with your impositions； I am yours Upon 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
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SCENE 5。 Rousillon。 The COUNT'S palace
Enter COUNTESS； LAFEU； and CLOWN
LAFEU。 No； no； no； your son was misled with a snipt…taffeta fellow
there； whose villainous saffron would have made all the unbak'd and
doughy youth of a nation in his colour。 Your daughter…in…law had been
alive at this hour； and your son here at home； more advanc'd by the King
than by that red…tail'd humble…bee I speak of。 COUNTESS。 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。 LAFEU。 'Twas a good lady； 'twas a good lady。 We may pick a
thousand sallets ere we light on such another herb。 CLOWN。 Indeed； sir；
she was the sweet…marjoram of the sallet； or； rather； the herb of grace。
LAFEU。 They are not sallet…herbs； you knave； they are nose…herbs。
CLOWN。 I am no great Nebuchadnezzar； sir； I have not much skill in
grass。 LAFEU。 Whether dost thou profess thyself…a knave or a fool？
CLOWN。 A fool； sir； at a woman's service； and a knave at a man's。
LAFEU。 Your distinction？ CLOWN。 I would cozen the man of his wife；
and do his service。 LAFEU。 So you were a knave at his service； indeed。
CLOWN。 And I would give his wife my bauble； sir； to do her service。
LAFEU。 I will subscribe for thee； thou art both knave and fool。 CLOWN。
At your service。 LAFEU。 No； no； no。 CLOWN。 Why； sir； if I cannot serve
you； I can serve as great a prince as you are。 LAFEU。 Who's that？ A
Frenchman？ CLOWN。 Faith； sir； 'a has an English name； but his fisnomy
is more hotter in France than there。 LAFEU。 What prince is that？ CLOWN。
The Black Prince； sir； alias； the Prince of Darkness； alias； the devil。
LAFEU。 Hold thee； there's my purse。 I give thee not this to suggest thee
from thy master thou talk'st of； serve him still。 CLOWN。 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's 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 flow'ry way that
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leads to the broad gate and the great fire。 LAFEU。 Go thy ways； I begin to
be aweary of thee； and I tell the