All’s Well That Ends Well
| ACT III SCENE IV | Rousillon. The COUNT’S palace. | |
| [Enter COUNTESS and Steward] | ||
| COUNTESS | Alas! and would you take the letter of her? | |
| Might you not know she would do as she has done, | ||
| By sending me a letter? Read it again. | ||
| Steward | [Reads] | |
| I am Saint Jaques’ pilgrim, thither gone: | 5 | |
| Ambitious love hath so in me offended, | ||
| That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon, | ||
| With sainted vow my faults to have amended. | ||
| Write, write, that from the bloody course of war | ||
| My dearest master, your dear son, may hie: | 10 | |
| Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far | ||
| His name with zealous fervor sanctify: | ||
| His taken labours bid him me forgive; | ||
| I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth | ||
| From courtly friends, with camping foes to live, | 15 | |
| Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth: | ||
| He is too good and fair for death and me: | ||
| Whom I myself embrace, to set him free. | ||
| COUNTESS | Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words! | |
| Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much, | 20 | |
| As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her, | ||
| I could have well diverted her intents, | ||
| Which thus she hath prevented. | ||
| Steward | Pardon me, madam: | |
| If I had given you this at over-night, | 25 | |
| She might have been o’erta’en; and yet she writes, | ||
| Pursuit would be but vain. | ||
| COUNTESS | What angel shall | |
| Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive, | ||
| Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear | 30 | |
| And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath | ||
| Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo, | ||
| To this unworthy husband of his wife; | ||
| Let every word weigh heavy of her worth | ||
| That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief. | 35 | |
| Though little he do feel it, set down sharply. | ||
| Dispatch the most convenient messenger: | ||
| When haply he shall hear that she is gone, | ||
| He will return; and hope I may that she, | ||
| Hearing so much, will speed her foot again, | 40 | |
| Led hither by pure love: which of them both | ||
| Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense | ||
| To make distinction: provide this messenger: | ||
| My heart is heavy and mine age is weak; | ||
| Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak. | 45 | |
| [Exeunt] | ||
Next: All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 3, Scene 5