ARKCODEX
Act II, Scene 4
1Paris. The King’s palace.
2Enter Helena and Clown.
3HelenaMy mother greets me kindly: is she well?
4ClownShe 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.
5HelenaIf she be very well, what does she ail, that she’s not very well?
6ClownTruly, she’s very well indeed, but for two things.
7HelenaWhat two things?
8ClownOne, that she’s not in heaven, whither God send her quickly! the other that she’s in earth, from whence God send her quickly!
9Enter Parolles.
10ParollesBless you, my fortunate lady!
11HelenaI hope, sir, I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes.
12ParollesYou had my prayers to lead them on; and to keep them on, have them still. O, my knave, how does my old lady?
13ClownSo that you had her wrinkles and I her money, I would she did as you say.
14ParollesWhy, I say nothing.
15ClownMarry, 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.
16ParollesAway! thou’rt a knave.
17ClownYou should have said, sir, before a knave thou’rt a knave; that’s, before me thou’rt a knave: this had been truth, sir.
18ParollesGo to, thou art a witty fool; I have found thee.
19ClownDid 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.
20ParollesA good knave, i’ faith, and well fed.
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;
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.
21HelenaWhat’s his will else?
22ParollesThat 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.
23HelenaWhat more commands he?
24ParollesThat, having this obtain’d, you presently
Attend his further pleasure.
25HelenaIn every thing I wait upon his will.
26ParollesI shall report it so.
27HelenaI pray you. Exit Parolles. Come, sirrah. Exeunt.