Previous
Act 2, Scene 5
All's Well That Ends Well Translation Act 3, Scene 1
Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence attended; the two Frenchmen, with a troop of 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.
DUKE
So now you've heard point by point the basic reasons for this war. The weighty decision to go to war has already caused so many deaths and more are still to come.
FIRST LORD
Holy seems the quarrelUpon your grace's part; black and fearfulOn the opposer.
FIRST LORD
It seems like God is on your side in this fight, your grace. Things are looking pretty dire and frightening for your enemy.
DUKE
Therefore we marvel much our cousin FranceWould in so just a business shut his bosomAgainst our borrowing prayers.
DUKE
That's why we're astonished that the King of France would refuse to help us when we have such a just cause and pray for support.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Get instant explanations to your questions about anything we cover.
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Learn More
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Learn More
SECOND 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.
SECOND LORD
My good lord, I can't explain why our king does what he does. I can only say, as a common observer, that great men tend to act in ways I'm incapable of explaining. Don't ask me what I think about it then, since I tend to be so uncertain about such things that I'm usually wrong whenever I guess.
DUKE
Be it his pleasure.
DUKE
Well, he'll do as he pleases.
FIRST LORD
But I am sure the younger of our nature,That surfeit on their ease, will day by dayCome here for physic.
FIRST LORD
But I'm sure that our younger countrymen, that are sick of easy leisure, will come here to recover themselves more and more every day.
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.
DUKE
They'll be welcome here. All the honors that I can bestow, I'll bestow upon them. You know where you're supposed to be. When better positions open up, you'll be the first to know. Tomorrow, the battlefield!
Flourish. Exeunt
