First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Countesse and Clowne | Enter the Countess and the Clown | | AW III.ii.1 | |
| Count. | COUNTESS | | | |
| It hath happen'd all, as I would haue had it, | It hath happened all as I would have had it, | | AW III.ii.1 | |
| saue that he comes not along with her. | save that he comes not along with her. | | AW III.ii.2 | |
| Clo. | CLOWN | | | |
| By my troth I take my young Lord to be a verie | By my troth, I take my young lord to be a very | troth, by my by my truth [exclamation emphasizing an assertion] | AW III.ii.3 | |
| melancholly man. | melancholy man. | | AW III.ii.4 | |
| Count. | COUNTESS | | | |
| By what obseruance I pray you. | By what observance, I pray you? | observance (n.) powers of observation | AW III.ii.5 | |
| Clo. | CLOWN | | | |
| Why he will looke vppon his boote, and sing: mend | Why, he will look upon his boot and sing, mend | | AW III.ii.6 | |
| the Ruffe and sing, aske questions and sing, picke his teeth, | the ruff and sing, ask questions and sing, pick his teeth | ruff (n.) ruffle, flap of a top-boot | AW III.ii.7 | |
| and sing: I know a man that had this tricke of melancholy | and sing. I knew a man that had this trick of melancholy | trick (n.) habit, characteristic, typical behaviour | AW III.ii.8 | |
| hold a goodly Mannor for a song. | hold a goodly manor for a song. | manor (n.) country house, mansion, estate | AW III.ii.9 | |
| | hold (v.) wager, offer as a bet | | |
| | goodly (adj.) splendid, excellent, fine | | |
| Lad. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Let me see what he writes, and when he | Let me see what he writes, and when he | | AW III.ii.10 | |
| meanes to come. | means to come. | | AW III.ii.11 | |
| She opens the letter | | AW III.ii.12 | |
| Clow. | CLOWN | | | |
| I haue no minde to Isbell since I was at Court. Our | I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court. Our | | AW III.ii.12 | |
| old Lings, and our Isbels a'th Country, are nothing like | old lings and our Isbels o'th' country are nothing like | ling, old [person resembling] salted cod | AW III.ii.13 | |
| your old Ling and your Isbels a'th Court: the brains of | your old ling and your Isbels o'th' court. The brains of | | AW III.ii.14 | |
| my Cupid's knock'd out, and I beginne to loue, as an old | my Cupid's knocked out, and I begin to love as an old | Cupid (n.) [pron: 'kyoopid] Roman god of love, son of Venus and Mercury; a winged, blindfolded boy with curved bow and arrows | AW III.ii.15 | |
| man loues money, with no stomacke. | man loves money, with no stomach. | stomach (n.) appetite, desire [for food] | AW III.ii.16 | |
| Lad | COUNTESS | | | |
| What haue we heere? | What have we here? | | AW III.ii.17 | |
| Clo | CLOWN | | | |
| In that you haue there. | E'en that you have there. | | AW III.ii.18 | |
| exit | Exit | | AW III.ii.18 | |
| COUNTESS | | | |
| A Letter. | (reading the letter aloud) | | AW III.ii.19 | |
| I haue sent you a | I have sent you a | | AW III.ii.19 | |
| daughter-in-Law, shee hath recouered the King, and vndone | daughter-in-law; she hath recovered the King and undone | recover (v.) revive, restore to health | AW III.ii.20 | |
| | undo (v.) ruin, destroy, wipe out | | |
| me: I haue wedded her, not bedded her, and sworne to make | me. I have wedded her, not bedded her, and sworn to make | | AW III.ii.21 | |
| the not eternall. You shall heare I am runne away, know it | the ‘ not ’ eternal. You shall hear I am run away; know it | | AW III.ii.22 | |
| before the report come. If there bee bredth enough in the | before the report come. If there be breadth enough in the | | AW III.ii.23 | |
| world, I will hold a long distance. My duty to you. | world I will hold a long distance. My duty to you. | | AW III.ii.24 | |
| Your vnfortunate sonne, | Your unfortunate son, | | AW III.ii.25 | |
| Bertram. | Bertram. | | AW III.ii.26 | |
| This is not well rash and vnbridled boy, | This is not well, rash and unbridled boy, | | AW III.ii.27 | |
| To flye the fauours of so good a King, | To fly the favours of so good a King, | | AW III.ii.28 | |
| To plucke his indignation on thy head, | To pluck his indignation on thy head | | AW III.ii.29 | |
| By the misprising of a Maide too vertuous | By the misprising of a maid too virtuous | misprising (n.) despising, slighting, holding in contempt | AW III.ii.30 | |
| For the contempt of Empire. | For the contempt of empire. | empire (n.) emperor | AW III.ii.31 | |
| Enter Clowne. | Enter Clown | | AW III.ii.32.1 | |
| Clow | CLOWN | | | |
| O Madam, yonder is heauie newes within betweene | O madam, yonder is heavy news within, between | heavy (adj.) sorrowful, sad, gloomy | AW III.ii.32 | |
| two souldiers, and my yong Ladie. | two soldiers and my young lady. | | AW III.ii.33 | |
| La | COUNTESS | | | |
| What is the matter. | What is the matter? | | AW III.ii.34 | |
| Clo | CLOWN | | | |
| Nay there is some comfort in the newes, some | Nay, there is some comfort in the news, some | | AW III.ii.35 | |
| comfort, your sonne will not be kild so soone as I thoght | comfort: your son will not be killed so soon as I thought | | AW III.ii.36 | |
| he would. | he would. | | AW III.ii.37 | |
| La | COUNTESS | | | |
| Why should he be kill'd? | Why should he be killed? | | AW III.ii.38 | |
| Clo | CLOWN | | | |
| So say I Madame, if he runne away, as I heare he | So say I, madam, if he run away, as I hear he | | AW III.ii.39 | |
| does, the danger is in standing too't, that's the losse of | does. The danger is in standing to't; that's the loss of | stand to it (v.) fight stoutly, get down to business | AW III.ii.40 | |
| men, though it be the getting of children. Heere they | men, though it be the getting of children. Here they | | AW III.ii.41 | |
| come will tell you more. For my part I onely heare your | come will tell you more. For my part, I only hear your | | AW III.ii.42 | |
| sonne was run away. | son was run away. | | AW III.ii.43 | |
| Exit | | AW III.ii.43 | |
| Enter Hellen and two Gentlemen. | Enter Helena and the two French Lords | | AW III.ii.44 | |
| French E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| Saue you good Madam. | Save you, good madam. | | AW III.ii.44 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| Madam, my Lord is gone, for euer gone. | Madam, my lord is gone, for ever gone. | | AW III.ii.45 | |
| French G. | SECOND LORD | | | |
| Do not say so. | Do not say so. | | AW III.ii.46 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Thinke vpon patience, pray you Gentlemen, | Think upon patience. Pray you, gentlemen – | | AW III.ii.47 | |
| I haue felt so many quirkes of ioy and greefe, | I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief | | AW III.ii.48 | |
| That the first face of neither on the start | That the first face of neither on the start | start, on the without warning, with sudden appearance | AW III.ii.49 | |
| Can woman me vntoo't. Where is my sonne I pray you? | Can woman me unto't. Where is my son, I pray you? | woman (v.) make behave like a woman, weep | AW III.ii.50 | |
| Fren.G. | SECOND LORD | | | |
| Madam he's gone to serue the Duke of Florence, | Madam, he's gone to serve the Duke of Florence. | | AW III.ii.51 | |
| We met him thitherward, for thence we came: | We met him thitherward, for thence we came, | | AW III.ii.52 | |
| And after some dispatch in hand at Court, | And, after some dispatch in hand at court, | dispatch, despatch (n.) settlement of business, sorting out of affairs | AW III.ii.53 | |
| Thither we bend againe. | Thither we bend again. | bend (v.) turn, direct one's steps, proceed | AW III.ii.54 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| Looke on his Letter Madam, here's my Pasport. | Look on his letter, madam: here's my passport. | passport (n.) licence given to an inmate of an institution to travel abroad as a beggar | AW III.ii.55 | |
| (She reads the letter aloud) | | AW III.ii.56 | |
| When thou canst get the Ring vpon my finger, which neuer | When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never | | AW III.ii.56 | |
| shall come off, and shew mee a childe begotten of thy bodie, | shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body | | AW III.ii.57 | |
| that I am father too, then call me husband: but in such a | that I am father to, then call me husband; but in such a | | AW III.ii.58 | |
| (then) I write a Neuer. | ‘ then ’ I write a ‘ never.’ | | AW III.ii.59 | |
| This is a dreadfull sentence. | This is a dreadful sentence. | | AW III.ii.60 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Brought you this Letter Gentlemen? | Brought you this letter, gentlemen? | | AW III.ii.61 | |
| 1. G. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| I Madam, and for the Contents sake are | Ay, madam, and for the contents' sake are | | AW III.ii.62 | |
| sorrie for our paines. | sorry for our pains. | | AW III.ii.63 | |
| Old La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| I prethee Ladie haue a better cheere, | I prithee, lady, have a better cheer. | cheer (n.) mood, disposition | AW III.ii.64 | |
| If thou engrossest, all the greefes are thine, | If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine | engross (v.) collect up, appropriate, monopolize | AW III.ii.65 | |
| Thou robst me of a moity: He was my sonne, | Thou robbest me of a moiety. He was my son, | moiety (n.) share, portion, part | AW III.ii.66 | |
| But I do wash his name out of my blood, | But I do wash his name out of my blood | | AW III.ii.67 | |
| And thou art all my childe. Towards Florence is he? | And thou art all my child. Towards Florence is he? | all (adv.) alone, only, solely | AW III.ii.68 | |
| Fren. G. | SECOND LORD | | | |
| I Madam. | Ay, madam. | | AW III.ii.69.1 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| And to be a souldier. | And to be a soldier? | | AW III.ii.69.2 | |
| Fren. G. | SECOND LORD | | | |
| Such is his noble purpose, and beleeu't | Such is his noble purpose; and, believe't, | purpose (n.) intention, aim, plan | AW III.ii.70 | |
| The Duke will lay vpon him all the honor | The Duke will lay upon him all the honour | | AW III.ii.71 | |
| That good conuenience claimes. | That good convenience claims. | convenience (n.) fitness, appropriateness, propriety | AW III.ii.72.1 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Returne you thither. | Return you thither? | | AW III.ii.72.2 | |
| Fren. E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| I Madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. | Ay, madam, with the swiftest wing of speed. | | AW III.ii.73 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| (reading) | | AW III.ii.74 | |
| Till I haue no wife, I haue nothing in France, | Till I have no wife I have nothing in France. | | AW III.ii.74 | |
| 'Tis bitter. | 'Tis bitter. | | AW III.ii.75.1 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Finde you that there? | Find you that there? | | AW III.ii.75.2 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| I Madame. | Ay, madam. | | AW III.ii.75.3 | |
| Fren. E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| 'Tis but the boldnesse of his hand haply, | 'Tis but the boldness of his hand, haply, | haply (adv.) perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck | AW III.ii.76 | |
| which his heart was not consenting too. | which his heart was not consenting to. | | AW III.ii.77 | |
| Lad. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Nothing in France, vntill he haue no wife: | Nothing in France until he have no wife! | | AW III.ii.78 | |
| There's nothing heere that is too good for him | There's nothing here that is too good for him | | AW III.ii.79 | |
| But onely she, and she deserues a Lord | But only she, and she deserves a lord | | AW III.ii.80 | |
| That twenty such rude boyes might tend vpon, | That twenty such rude boys might tend upon | rude (adj.) violent, harsh, unkind | AW III.ii.81 | |
| And call her hourely Mistris. Who was with him? | And call her, hourly, mistress. Who was with him? | | AW III.ii.82 | |
| Fren. E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| A seruant onely, and a Gentleman: which I | A servant only, and a gentleman which I | | AW III.ii.83 | |
| haue sometime knowne. | have sometime known. | | AW III.ii.84 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Parolles was it not? | Parolles, was it not? | | AW III.ii.85 | |
| Fren. E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| I my good Ladie, hee. | Ay, my good lady, he. | | AW III.ii.86 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| A verie tainted fellow, and full of wickednesse, | A very tainted fellow, and full of wickedness. | tainted (adj.) corrupted, dishonourable, depraved | AW III.ii.87 | |
| My sonne corrupts a well deriued nature | My son corrupts a well-derived nature | | AW III.ii.88 | |
| With his inducement. | With his inducement. | inducement (n.) temptation, bad influence, persuasiveness | AW III.ii.89.1 | |
| Fren. E. | FIRST LORD | | | |
| Indeed good Ladie | Indeed, good lady, | | AW III.ii.89.2 | |
| the fellow has a deale of that, too much, | The fellow has a deal of that too much | | AW III.ii.90 | |
| which holds him much to haue. | Which holds him much to have. | hold (v.) avail, profit, benefit | AW III.ii.91.1 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Y'are welcome Gentlemen, | Y'are welcome, gentlemen. | | AW III.ii.81.2 | |
| I will intreate you when you see my sonne, | I will entreat you, when you see my son, | | AW III.ii.92 | |
| to tell him that his sword can neuer winne | To tell him that his sword can never win | | AW III.ii.93 | |
| the honor that he looses: more Ile intreate you | The honour that he loses. More I'll entreat you | | AW III.ii.94 | |
| written to beare along. | Written to bear along. | | AW III.ii.95.1 | |
| Fren. G. | SECOND LORD | | | |
| We serue you Madam | We serve you, madam, | | AW III.ii.95.2 | |
| in that and all your worthiest affaires. | In that and all your worthiest affairs. | | AW III.ii.96 | |
| La. | COUNTESS | | | |
| Not so, but as we change our courtesies, | Not so, but as we change our courtesies. | change (v.) exchange, trade | AW III.ii.97 | |
| | courtesy, cur'sy, curtsy (n.) courteous service, polite behaviour, good manners | | |
| Will you draw neere? | Will you draw near? | | AW III.ii.98 | |
| Exit | Exeunt the Countess and the Lords | | AW III.ii.98 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| Till I haue no wife I haue nothing in France. | ‘ Till I have no wife I have nothing in France.’ | | AW III.ii.99 | |
| Nothing in France vntill he has no wife: | Nothing in France until he has no wife! | | AW III.ii.100 | |
| Thou shalt haue none Rossillion none in France, | Thou shalt have none, Rossillion, none in France, | | AW III.ii.101 | |
| Then hast thou all againe: poore Lord, is't I | Then hast thou all again. Poor lord, is't I | | AW III.ii.102 | |
| That chase thee from thy Countrie, and expose | That chase thee from thy country, and expose | | AW III.ii.103 | |
| Those tender limbes of thine, to the euent | Those tender limbs of thine to the event | event (n.) outcome, issue, consequence | AW III.ii.104 | |
| Of the none-sparing warre? And is it I, | Of the none-sparing war? And is it I | | AW III.ii.105 | |
| That driue thee from the sportiue Court, where thou | That drive thee from the sportive court, where thou | sportive (adj.) light-hearted, full of amusement | AW III.ii.106 | |
| Was't shot at with faire eyes, to be the marke | Wast shot at with fair eyes, to be the mark | mark (n.) target, goal, aim | AW III.ii.107 | |
| Of smoakie Muskets? O you leaden messengers, | Of smoky muskets? O you leaden messengers, | | AW III.ii.108 | |
| That ride vpon the violent speede of fire, | That ride upon the violent speed of fire, | | AW III.ii.109 | |
| Fly with false ayme, moue the still-peering aire | Fly with false aim, move the still-piecing air | still-piecing (adj.) always reconstituting itself | AW III.ii.110 | |
| | false (adj.) wrong, mistaken | | |
| That sings with piercing, do not touch my Lord: | That sings with piercing; do not touch my lord. | | AW III.ii.111 | |
| Who euer shoots at him, I set him there. | Whoever shoots at him, I set him there. | | AW III.ii.112 | |
| Who euer charges on his forward brest | Whoever charges on his forward breast, | forward (adj.) in the front line, in forward position | AW III.ii.113 | |
| I am the Caitiffe that do hold him too't, | I am the caitiff that do hold him to't; | caitiff (n.) [sympathetic or contemptuous] miserable wretch, wretched creature | AW III.ii.114 | |
| And though I kill him not, I am the cause | And though I kill him not, I am the cause | | AW III.ii.115 | |
| His death was so effected: Better 'twere | His death was so effected. Better 'twere | | AW III.ii.116 | |
| I met the rauine Lyon when he roar'd | I met the ravin lion when he roared | ravin (adj.) ravenous, starving, devouring | AW III.ii.117 | |
| With sharpe constraint of hunger: better 'twere, | With sharp constraint of hunger; better 'twere | | AW III.ii.118 | |
| That all the miseries which nature owes | That all the miseries which nature owes | owe (v.) own, possess, have | AW III.ii.119 | |
| Were mine at once. No come thou home Rossillion | Were mine at once. No, come thou home, Rossillion, | | AW III.ii.120 | |
| Whence honor but of danger winnes a scarre, | Whence honour but of danger wins a scar, | | AW III.ii.121 | |
| As oft it looses all. I will be gone: | As oft it loses all. I will be gone; | oft (adv.) often | AW III.ii.122 | |
| My being heere it is, that holds thee hence, | My being here it is that holds thee hence. | | AW III.ii.123 | |
| Shall I stay heere to doo't? No, no, although | Shall I stay here to do't? No, no, although | | AW III.ii.124 | |
| The ayre of Paradise did fan the house, | The air of paradise did fan the house | | AW III.ii.125 | |
| And Angels offic'd all: I will be gone, | And angels officed all. I will be gone, | office (v.) carry out the work for, act as servants to | AW III.ii.126 | |
| That pittifull rumour may report my flight | That pitiful rumour may report my flight | pitiful (adj.) compassionate, merciful, tender | AW III.ii.127 | |
| To consolate thine eare. Come night, end day, | To consolate thine ear. Come, night; end, day! | consolate (v.) console, comfort, cheer | AW III.ii.128 | |
| For with the darke (poore theefe) Ile steale away. | For with the dark, poor thief, I'll steal away. | | AW III.ii.129 | |
| Exit. | Exit | | AW III.ii.129 | |