All’s Well That Ends Well
ACT V SCENE I | Marseilles. A street. | |
[ Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants ] | ||
HELENA | But this exceeding posting day and night | |
Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it: | ||
But since you have made the days and nights as one, | ||
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, | ||
Be bold you do so grow in my requital | 5 | |
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time; | ||
[Enter a Gentleman] | ||
This man may help me to his majesty’s ear, | ||
If he would spend his power. God save you, sir. | ||
Gentleman | And you. | |
HELENA | Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. | 10 |
Gentleman | I have been sometimes there. | |
HELENA | I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen | |
From the report that goes upon your goodness; | ||
An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, | ||
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to | 15 | |
The use of your own virtues, for the which | ||
I shall continue thankful. | ||
Gentleman | What’s your will? | |
HELENA | That it will please you | |
To give this poor petition to the king, | 20 | |
And aid me with that store of power you have | ||
To come into his presence. | ||
Gentleman | The king’s not here. | |
HELENA | Not here, sir! | |
Gentleman | Not, indeed: | 25 |
He hence removed last night and with more haste | ||
Than is his use. | ||
Widow | Lord, how we lose our pains! | |
HELENA | All’s well that ends well yet, | |
Though time seem so adverse and means unfit. | 30 | |
I do beseech you, whither is he gone? | ||
Gentleman | Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; | |
Whither I am going. | ||
HELENA | I do beseech you, sir, | |
Since you are like to see the king before me, | 35 | |
Commend the paper to his gracious hand, | ||
Which I presume shall render you no blame | ||
But rather make you thank your pains for it. | ||
I will come after you with what good speed | ||
Our means will make us means. | 40 | |
Gentleman | This I’ll do for you. | |
HELENA | And you shall find yourself to be well thank’d, | |
Whate’er falls more. We must to horse again. | ||
Go, go, provide. | ||
[Exeunt] |
Next: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 5, Scene 2