All’s Well that Ends Well

All's Well that Ends Well

The full text of Shakespeare's All’s Well that Ends Well : Act 3 Scene 1

Florence. A Room in the DUKE'S Palace.

Flourish. Enter the DUKE, attended; two French Lords, and Soldiers.

Duke. So that from point to point now have you heard

The fundamental reasons of this war,

Whose great decision hath much blood let forth,

And more thirsts after.

First Lord. Holy seems the quarrel

Upon your Grace's part; black and fearful

On the opposer.

Duke. Therefore we marvel much our cousin France

Would in so just a business shut his bosom

Against our borrowing prayers.

First Lord. Good my lord,

The reasons of our state I cannot yield,

But like a common and an outward man,

That the great figure of a council frames

By self-unable motion: therefore dare not

Say what I think of it, since I have found

Myself in my incertain grounds to fail

As often as I guess'd.

Duke. Be it his pleasure.

Sec. Lord. But I am sure the younger of our nature,

That surfeit on their ease, will day by day

Come here for physic.

Duke. Welcome shall they be,

And all the honours that can fly from us

Shall on them settle. You know your places well;

When better fall, for your avails they fell.

To-morrow to the field. [Flourish. Exeunt.