Act II, Scene 4

Paris. The KING’s palace.

[Enter HELENA and Clown]

• Helena. My mother greets me kindly; is she well? 1205

• Clown. She is not well; but yet she has her health: she's
  very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be
  given, she's very well and wants nothing i', the
  world; but yet she is not well.

• Helena. If she be very well, what does she ail, that she's 1210
  not very well?

• Clown. Truly, she's very well indeed, but for two things.

• Helena. What two things?

• Clown. One, that she's not in heaven, whither God send her
  quickly! the other that she's in earth, from whence 1215
  God send her quickly!

[Enter PAROLLES]

• Parolles. Bless you, my fortunate lady!

• Helena. I hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own
  good fortunes. 1220

• Parolles. You had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them
  on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?

• Clown. So that you had her wrinkles and I her money,
  I would she did as you say.

• Parolles. Why, I say nothing. 1225

• Clown. Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's
  tongue shakes out his master's undoing: to say
  nothing, to do nothing, to know nothing, and to have
  nothing, is to be a great part of your title; which
  is within a very little of nothing. 1230

• Parolles. Away! thou'rt a knave.

• Clown. You should have said, sir, before a knave thou'rt a
  knave; that's, before me thou'rt a knave: this had
  been truth, sir.

• Parolles. Go to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee. 1235

• Clown. Did you find me in yourself, sir? or were you
  taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable;
  and much fool may you find in you, even to the
  world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.

• Parolles. A good knave, i' faith, and well fed. 1240
  Madam, my lord will go away to-night;
  A very serious business calls on him.
  The great prerogative and rite of love,
  Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge;
  But puts it off to a compell'd restraint; 1245
  Whose want, and whose delay, is strew'd with sweets,
  Which they distil now in the curbed time,
  To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy
  And pleasure drown the brim.

• Helena. What's his will else? 1250

• Parolles. That you will take your instant leave o' the king
  And make this haste as your own good proceeding,
  Strengthen'd with what apology you think
  May make it probable need.

• Helena. What more commands he? 1255

• Parolles. That, having this obtain'd, you presently
  Attend his further pleasure.

• Helena. In every thing I wait upon his will.

• Parolles. I shall report it so.

• Helena. I pray you. 1260
  [Exit PAROLLES]
  Come, sirrah.

[Exeunt]