All's Well That Ends Well, Act I, Scene 2 :|: Open Source Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well

Act I, Scene 2

Paris. The KING’s palace.

Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING of France,] [p]with letters, and divers Attendants]

King of France. The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; 235
Have fought with equal fortune and continue
A braving war.

King of France. Nay, 'tis most credible; we here received it
A certainty, vouch'd from our cousin Austria, 240
With caution that the Florentine will move us
For speedy aid; wherein our dearest friend
Prejudicates the business and would seem
To have us make denial.

First Lord. His love and wisdom, 245
Approved so to your majesty, may plead
For amplest credence.

King of France. He hath arm'd our answer,
And Florence is denied before he comes:
Yet, for our gentlemen that mean to see 250
The Tuscan service, freely have they leave
To stand on either part.

Second Lord. It well may serve
A nursery to our gentry, who are sick
For breathing and exploit. 255

[Enter BERTRAM, LAFEU, and PAROLLES]

King of France. Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; 260
Frank nature, rather curious than in haste,
Hath well composed thee. Thy father's moral parts
Mayst thou inherit too! Welcome to Paris.

King of France. I would I had that corporal soundness now, 265
As when thy father and myself in friendship
First tried our soldiership! He did look far
Into the service of the time and was
Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
But on us both did haggish age steal on 270
And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
To talk of your good father. In his youth
He had the wit which I can well observe
To-day in our young lords; but they may jest
Till their own scorn return to them unnoted 275
Ere they can hide their levity in honour;
So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
His equal had awaked them, and his honour,
Clock to itself, knew the true minute when 280
Exception bid him speak, and at this time
His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him
He used as creatures of another place
And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,
Making them proud of his humility, 285
In their poor praise he humbled. Such a man
Might be a copy to these younger times;
Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now
But goers backward.

Bertram. His good remembrance, sir, 290
Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb;
So in approof lives not his epitaph
As in your royal speech.

King of France. Would I were with him! He would always say—
Methinks I hear him now; his plausive words 295
He scatter'd not in ears, but grafted them,
To grow there and to bear,—'Let me not live,'—
This his good melancholy oft began,
On the catastrophe and heel of pastime,
When it was out,—'Let me not live,' quoth he, 300
'After my flame lacks oil, to be the snuff
Of younger spirits, whose apprehensive senses
All but new things disdain; whose judgments are
Mere fathers of their garments; whose constancies
Expire before their fashions.' This he wish'd; 305
I after him do after him wish too,
Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home,
I quickly were dissolved from my hive,
To give some labourers room.

Second Lord. You are loved, sir: 310
They that least lend it you shall lack you first.

King of France. I fill a place, I know't. How long is't, count,
Since the physician at your father's died?
He was much famed.

King of France. If he were living, I would try him yet.
Lend me an arm; the rest have worn me out
With several applications; nature and sickness
Debate it at their leisure. Welcome, count;
My son's no dearer. 320

[Exeunt. Flourish]