Though yet he never harmed me, here I quit328 him.
He knows himself my bed he hath defiled,
And at that time he got his wife with child.
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick.
So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick332,
And now behold the meaning.
Enter Helen and Widow
KING Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office335 of mine eyes?
Is't real that I see?
HELEN No, my good lord,
'Tis but the shadow338 of a wife you see,
The name and not the thing.
BERTRAM Both, both. O, pardon!
HELEN O my good lord, when I was like341 this maid,
I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring,
And, look you, here's your letter. This it says:
Shows letter
'When from my finger you can get this ring
And are by me with child', etc. This is done:
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?
BERTRAM If she, my liege, can make me know347 this clearly,
I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.
HELEN If it appear not plain and prove untrue,
Deadly divorce350 step between me and you!
O my dear mother, do I see you living?
LAFEW Mine eyes smell onions. I shall weep anon:
To Parolles
Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher.353 So. I
thank thee. Wait on me home, I'll make sport354 with thee.
Let thy court'sies355 alone, they are scurvy ones.
KING Let us from point to point this story know,
To make the even357 truth in pleasure flow.--
To Diana
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower,
For I can guess that by thy honest aid
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.--
Of that and all the progress more and less362
Resolvedly363 more leisure shall express.
All yet seems well, and if it end so meet364,
The bitter past365, more welcome is the sweet.
Flourish
[Epilogue]
The king's a beggar now the play is done.
All is well ended if this suit be won,
That you express content368, which we will pay
With strife to please you, day exceeding369 day.
Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts370,
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.371
Exeunt
TEXTUAL NOTES
F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play
F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632
F3 = a correction introduced in the Third Folio text of 1663-64
F4 = a correction introduced in the Fourth Folio text of 1685
Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor
SD = stage direction
SH = speech heading (i.e. speaker's name)
List of parts = Ed
1.1.1 SH COUNTESS = Ed. F = Mother 3 SH BERTRAM = Ed. F = Ros. 122 got = F2. F = goe 148 wear = Ed. F = were 159 traitress = F2. F = Traitoresse
1.2.4 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = 1.Lo.G. 19 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = 2.Lo.E 23 Rossillion = F2. F = Rosignoll
1.3.2 SH REYNALDO = Ed. F = Ste. 11 SH LAVATCH = Ed. F = Clo. 16 I = F2. F = w 22 bairns spelled barnes in F 67 F omits this line, but prints 'bis' (Latin for 'twice') at the end of the preceding line 78 ere = Ed. F = ore 100 Dian no queen = Ed. F = Queene 114 rightly = Ed. F = righlie 164 t'one = F2. F = 'ton tooth 193 intenible = F2. F = intemible 228 Haply spelled Happily in F 241 and = F2. F = an
2.1.6 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = Lord. G. 19 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = L.G. 28 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = 2.Lo.E. 45 with his cicatrice = Ed. F = his sicatrice, with 65 fee = Ed. F = see 100 SD Enter Helen = Ed. One line later in F 165 impostor = F3. F = Impostrue 185 nay = Ed. F = ne 205 heaven = Ed. F = helpe
2.2.1 SH COUNTESS = Ed. F = Lady. (F also uses Count., Lad., Old La. and La.) 54 An = Ed. F = And 59 legs = F2. F = legegs
2.3.1 SH LAFEW = Ed. F = Ol. Laf. 96 her = F2. F = heere 133 it is = F2. F = is is 211 thou'rt = F3. F = th'ourt 263 SD Enter Count Rossillion = Ed. One line earlier in F 288 detested = Ed. F = detected
2.5.17 Ay, 'sir', he 'Sir' 's = Ed. F = I sir, hee sirs 26 End = Ed. F = And 28 one = Ed. F = on 30 heard = F2. F = hard
3.1.11 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = French E. 20 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = Fren. G. 27 th'field = F2. F = th the field
3.2.8 sold = F3. F = hold 18 E'en = Ed. F = In
3.4.1 SH COUNTESS = Ed. Not in F 4 SH REYNALDO = Ed. Not in F 7 have = F2. F = hane 18 SH COUNTESS = Ed. Not in F 23 SH REYNALDO = Ed. F = Ste.
3.5.0 SD Diana = Ed. F = Violenta 30 are you = F2. F = are 31 le = Ed. F = la
3.6.1 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = Cap. E. 3 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = Cap. G. 30 his = Ed. F = this 31 ore = Ed. F = ours
3.7.22 Resolves = F2. F = Resolve 38 After = F. F2 = After this 46 steads = F4. F = steeds
4.1.1 SH FIRST LORD = F (1 Lord E.). Lo.E for remainder of scene, perhaps because Shakespeare has forgotten that elsewhere first lord is G and second is E 6 captain = F3. F = Captaiue 86 art = F3. F = are
4.2.45 scar spelled scarre in F
4.3.128 All's ... him assigned to Parolles in F 219 the = F2. F = your 254 cardecue = F2. F = Cardceue
4.4.18 you = F4. F = your
5.2.1 Monsieur = Ed. F = Mr 29 under her = F2. F = vnder
5.3.67 count spelled compt in F 117 Plutus = Ed. F = Platus 139 tax = F2. F = taze 158 SH KING = Ed. Not in F 173 sith = Ed. F = sir 176 SD Diana = Ed. F = Diana, and Parolles 241 cunning = Ed. F = comming 345 are = Ed. F = is 369 strife = F2. F = strift
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Lines 1-74: The widowed Countess of Rossillion is saying goodbye to her son, Bertram, who has been summoned by the King of France, his legal guardian. Lafew reports that the virtuous King is very ill and has given up his doctors' attempts to cure him of a painful fistula. The Countess laments that Helen's father, the renowned physician, Gerard de Narbon, is dead, believing that his skill would have cured the King. She is full of praise for Helen, who was entrusted to the Countess' care after her father's death. Helen is weeping. The Countess offers her son advice on how to behave at court, wishes him well and leaves. Bertram asks Helen to comfort and look after his mother and then departs with Lafew.
Lines 75-215: Now alone, Helen confides that her tears are not for her father but for the departure of Bertram whom she loves. She says she cannot live without him but she might as well "love a bright particular star" and think to marry that as Bertram since "he is so above me." She's tormented by her love for one who is her social superior. Despite her pain, she enjoyed seeing him all the time and drawing a picture of him in her heart. Now she has only these "relics" to remember him by. She sees Bertram's friend Parolles and says that even though she knows he's a coward and a liar she likes him for Bertram's sake. He asks her if she's thinking about "virginity" and they conduct a bawdy exchange about its merits with Helen defending it and Parolles believing it overrated. She turns the conversation obliquely to Bertram and her wishes. Parolles is called away and Helen accuses him of cowardice. He advises her to get a husband. Once he's gone, Helen argues in a soliloquy that an individual's fate lies in their own hands. She has a plan relating to the King and is determined to carry it through.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
The King reports that Florence and Siena are at war but are equally matched. France is not going to aid the Florentines but French knights will be allowed to fight on either side if they choose. Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles arrive. The King welcomes them, praising Bertram's late father who was an old friend and regretting his own ill health, asking how long ago Bertram's father's doctor (Helen's late father) died, believin
g that he might have cured him.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Lines 1-111: The Countess and Reynaldo the Steward are about to discuss Helen when the Countess notices the Clown Lavatch. He explains that he wants to get married; his reasons are desires of the flesh, repentance, and to make "friends." He goes on to offer a paradoxical justification for adultery and the Countess says she'll speak to him later. She tells him to ask Helen to come to her and Lavatch sings a song about Helen of Troy. The Countess complains about his corruption of the song and abuse of women and sends him again for Helen. When Lavatch is gone, Reynaldo explains how he recently overheard Helen saying that she loves Bertram and feels bitter that the social distance between them means they can never marry. The Countess says she is not surprised and thanks Reynaldo for his "honest care" as he leaves.
Lines 112-252: As Helen enters, the Countess exclaims in an aside, "Even so it was with me when I was young" and she goes on to register her sympathy for Helen. She calls herself Helen's "mother" but Helen rejects the idea. When asked her reason, she's confused, saying she can't be Bertram's sister, she's too humble, and he mustn't be her brother. The Countess says that Helen could be her daughter-in-law then. Helen's reaction assures her that she has discovered the secret of her love for Bertram. Helen is reluctant to confess but the Countess is determined to learn the truth. Helen admits that she loves her son and begs the Countess' pardon but says she cannot help it--her love does Bertram no harm. The Countess then asks why she wants to go to Paris. Helen admits that she believes she can cure the King, having inherited her father's skill. The Countess gives her blessing and offers her aid for the enterprise.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1-63: The King is saying goodbye to the young lords going to fight in the Italian wars. He encourages them to fight bravely and be honorable and warns them against love. As the King goes aside to speak with the lords, Bertram complains that he isn't allowed to go--the King's told him he's "Too young" and he can go "the next year." The other lords sympathize. Parolles recalls his previous experiences of war and, telling Bertram to be "more expressive" with his goodbyes to them, they go off.
Lines 64-223: Lafew tells the King that a young woman has arrived who believes she can cure him. The King agrees to see her. Helen enters and Lafew leaves them alone. Helen explains that she's the only child of Gerard de Narbon and that on his death he left her his secret medical recipes. The King is initially reluctant but Helen eventually convinces him to let her try, guaranteeing that he will be cured within forty-eight hours and if he isn't, she's prepared to die. If she succeeds she asks only that she may be allowed to choose her own husband, promising not to choose one of royal blood. The King agrees to her terms.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
A short comic scene between the Countess and Lavatch, in which he boasts that he has an answer for all questions and occasions and she goes along with him, playing his stooge. His fit-all response turns out to be "O lord, sir!" Finally she sends him off with a letter for Helen and greetings to Bertram.
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Lines 1-149: Lafew, Bertram, and Parolles are discussing the King's recovery in terms of miracle versus science. The King, now cured, enters with Helen. He confirms the bargain they struck and has his young lords line up for Helen to choose a husband. She rejects the other young men and selects Bertram who is shocked and resentful, complaining that he wishes to choose his own wife. He knows Helen well and believes marriage to her would bring him social disgrace. The King says if that's his only objection, he can ennoble her, and goes on to point out that she is "young, wise, fair," all qualities that breed "honour," which should be derived from the individual's acts rather than noble ancestry.
Lines 150-260: When she realizes that Bertram doesn't want to marry her, Helen offers to give up the agreement, but the King insists, believing his own "honour" is "at the stake." Bertram submits to his authority and agrees to the marriage. Everyone but Parolles and Lafew leaves to witness the ceremony. Lafew compliments Parolles' "lord and master" on his "recantation," by agreeing to the King's wishes. Parolles objects to these terms to describe himself and says he'd challenge Lafew for insulting him if he weren't so old. Lafew now realizes Parolles is a fool, which he'd suspected from his showy clothes and, continuing to insult him, leaves. Parolles vows he'll be revenged, however old and however much a lord Lafew is, when the opportunity presents itself. Lafew returns to say that Bertram is married and Parolles now has a "new mistress." Parolles, however, claims that while Bertram is his "good lord," he serves the one "above," but Lafew says it's not God he serves but the devil. He tells Parolles he's a worthless "vagabond" and leaves.
Lines 261-96: Bertram returns, complaining that he's ruined and determined that even though he's married to Helen, he'll go to the wars and "never bed her." Parolles encourages him in his decision, calling France a "dog-hole" and saying that to gain honor a man should go to the wars to fight rather than hug his "kicky-wicky [wife] here at home." Bertram says he'll send Helen back to his mother, telling her how much he hates Helen, and spend the money given him by the King to equip himself for the war, since war is preferable to a "dark house" and "detested wife." Parolles tells him it's the right decision: "A young man married is a man that's marred."
ACT 2 SCENE 4
Helen is reading the letter delivered by Lavatch from the Countess. He gives a riddling response to Helen's inquiries about her. Parolles arrives and after a comic exchange with Lavatch tells Helen that she is to return to the Countess at once since Bertram is detained on "very serious business." She says she'll do whatever Bertram wishes.
ACT 2 SCENE 5
Lines 1-51: Lafew is discussing Parolles with Bertram who assures him that Parolles is a "valiant" soldier. Lafew is unconvinced and continues to mock Parolles. Bertram asks if Helen is going away as he has ordered her to and Parolles confirms that she is. Bertram says he will leave for the wars himself then. Parolles denies that there is any ill feeling between himself and Lafew and Bertram is convinced that Lafew is mistaken in his estimate of his friend. Lafew's opinion is that "The soul of this man is his clothes" though, and he warns Bertram not to trust him in important matters. Parolles dismisses Lafew as an "idle lord" and Bertram agrees. Seeing Helen coming toward him, Bertram exclaims: "Here comes my clog."
Lines 52-98: Helen says she has spoken to the King who has given her permission to leave, but he wishes to speak to Bertram. Bertram says he'll do as he asks. He then excuses himself, saying he wasn't prepared for "such a business" and is "unsettled." He asks her to go home and gives her a letter for his mother. He'll see her in two days. She repeats that she knows she isn't worthy but would ask a small thing of him. She changes her mind and then says, "Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss," but he tells her to hurry. After she's gone, he vows he'll never go home while he can "shake [his] sword or hear the drum."
ACT 3 SCENE 1
The Duke of Florence has explained the cause of the war to the two French lords. They agree that it seems a just war on his part but cannot say why the French king refused to ally France with Florence, however they are sure that the young French knights will all want to fight with him. The Duke says they will be welcome and he will honor them.
ACT 3 SCENE 2
Lines 1-29: Lavatch has told the Countess about recent events in Paris. She's delighted with the way things have turned out, except that Bertram hasn't returned with Helen. Lavatch describes him as "a very melancholy man." The Countess reads the letter from her son while Lavatch explains that he no longer wishes to marry, having seen the women at court. He leaves and, now alone, the Countess reads Bertram's letter aloud in which he says that he's "wedded" but not "bedded" Helen and never intends to. He has "run away" and wants her to know the truth from him first. She's disgusted by his impetuous, immature behavior, which shows contempt for the King's favor and Helen's virtue.
Lines 30-64: Lavatch returns to tell the Countess that Helen and two lords have returned with bad news. Helen sa
ys Bertram has run away and the lords confirm that he has gone to fight for the Duke of Florence. Helen relates Bertram's letter to her which says he'll never be her husband until she can "get the ring upon my finger" and prove that she's pregnant by him: "show me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to." The Countess tells Helen to cheer up--half the griefs are hers since he's her son, but now she washes her hands of him and Helen is her only child.
Lines 65-132: The Countess inquires if Bertram has gone to Florence to be a soldier and the lords confirm it and assure her that the Duke of Florence will honor him. Helen bitterly quotes another line from Bertram's letter which says, "Till I have no wife I have nothing in France." The lords try to make light of the words, but the Countess exclaims that there's nothing in France too good for him except Helen, who deserves a lord that twenty such "rude boys" might serve. She asks who is with Bertram, if it's Parolles, and when the lords admit it is, calls him "A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness." He is a bad influence on Bertram. She gives them a message for her son, to say that he can never win "The honour that he loses" by his sword. She asks them to take a letter from her. Alone, Helen repeats Bertram's words and is shocked that her presence has driven him away to war, where he may be hurt or killed. Fearful for his safety, she decides that she must leave France that night.
ACT 3 SCENE 3
The Duke of Florence promotes Bertram to "general of our horse." Bertram says it is too great an honor but he'll try to live up to it. The Duke wishes him well and he says he will follow Mars, love war and hate love.
ACT 3 SCENE 4
The Countess questions why Reynaldo took the letter from Helen, since he must have known what she would do. She asks him to read it again. In her letter Helen says she has decided to tread the pilgrim way of Saint Jaques to repent her sin of "Ambitious love" and begs the Countess to write that her own departure has brought Bertram back safe from the war. She asks the Countess to beg Bertram's forgiveness. He is too good to die and she would prefer her own death to set him free. The Countess says Reynaldo should have brought her the letter last night so that Helen could be persuaded against this course of action, but he replies that Helen has written that pursuit would be in vain. The Countess does not believe her son--"this unworthy husband"--can thrive except through Helen's prayers. She asks Reynaldo to write to Bertram telling him of Helen's worth and her departure, in the hope that he may return and Helen may also out of "pure love." She cannot say which of the two she loves best and is overcome with sorrow.