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Act 5, Scene 1
All's Well That Ends Well Translation Act 5, Scene 2
Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following
PAROLLES
Good Monsieur Lavatch, give my Lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.
PAROLLES
Good Monsieur Lavatach, give my lord Lafeu this letter. You knew me before, sir, when I wore fresher clothes. Now, sir, I have been muddied by fortune turning against me, and so I smell somewhat like fortune's fool.
CLOWN
Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.
CLOWN
Well, fortune in a bad mood must be quite dirty if it smells as strongly as you do. I will never again eat any fish that fortune has buttered. Let's air you out.
PAROLLES
Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spakebut by a metaphor.
PAROLLES
No, you don't need to hold your nose sir. I was just using a metaphor.
CLOWN
Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop mynose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, getthee further.
CLOWN
Well, sir, since your metaphor stinks, I will hold my nose. I'd hold my nose at any man's metaphor. Please, stand further away from me.
PAROLLES
Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
PAROLLES
I hope, sir, that you'll deliver this note.
CLOWN
Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune'sclose-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here hecomes himself.
CLOWN
Pffh! Stand further away. A note from fortune's chamber pot to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.
Enter LAFEU
CLOWN
Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat,—but not a musk-cat, —that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship.
CLOWn
Sir, here is fortune's rogue, a plaything of fortune's cat—but not a sweet-smelling cat,—who has fallen into the dirty fishpond of fortune's displeasure. And, as he says, is muddied from the fall. I ask you, sir, use this fish as you want. He looks like a poor, decayed, clever, foolish, rascally rogue. In my own state of something like comfort, I do take pity on how distressed he is, and I leave him with your lordship.
Exit
PAROLLES
My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruellyscratched.
PAROLLES
My lord, I am a man who has been cruelly scratched by fortune.
LAFEU
And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.
LAFEU
And what would have me do about that? It's too late to trim Fortune's nails now. What have you done to Fortune to make her scratch you? Fortune's a good lady and she wouldn't allow rogues to have good fortune for very long. Here's a silver coin for you. I hope you and fortune can become friends. I have other things to deal with.
PAROLLES
I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.
PAROLLES
I beg your honor to listen to one single word from me.
LAFEU
You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;save your word.
LAFEU
You beg just a single penny more from me. Come, then, you shall have it. Don't bother with your single word.
PAROLLES
My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
PAROLLES
My name is Parolles, my good lord.
LAFEU
You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!give me your hand. How does your drum?
LAFEU
You beg more than just one "word" then. By God! Give me your hand. How is your drum?
PAROLLES
O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
PAROLLES
Oh, my good lord, you were the first man that found me out!
LAFEU
Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
LAFEU
Was I, really? And I was the first man that lost you too.
PAROLLES
It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,for you did bring me out.
PAROLLES
You're the only man, my lord, who can see that I find favor with the court since you brought me out of favor when you saw through me.
LAFEU
Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at onceboth the office of God and the devil? One bringsthee in grace and the other brings thee out.
LAFEU
How dare you, you rascal! Do you claim that I do the work of both God and the devil at the same time? One is bringing you into favor and the other one's bringing you out of it.
Trumpets sound
LAFEU
The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow.
LAFEU
The king's coming. This is his fanfare. Sir, ask for me later. I heard people talking about you last night. Even though you're a fool and a rogue, I'll make sure you eat. Go along, follow.
PAROLLES
I praise God for you.
PAROLLES
I praise God for you.
Exeunt
