All's Well That Ends Well, Act 2 Scene 5 runs 96 lines of dialogue, spoken by 4 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 127 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of All's Well That Ends Well.
Full Dialogue
Lafeu ♂
But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier.
Bertram ♂
Yes, my lord, and of very valiant approof.
Lafeu ♂
You have it from his own deliverance.
Bertram ♂
And by other warranted testimony.
Lafeu ♂
Then my dial goes not true: I took this lark for a bunting.
Bertram ♂
I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in
knowledge and accordingly valiant.
knowledge and accordingly valiant.
Lafeu ♂
I have then sinned against his experience and
transgressed against his valour; and my state that
way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my
heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make
us friends; I will pursue the amity.
transgressed against his valour; and my state that
way is dangerous, since I cannot yet find in my
heart to repent. Here he comes: I pray you, make
us friends; I will pursue the amity.
Parolles ♂
[To BERTRAM] These things shall be done, sir.
Lafeu ♂
Pray you, sir, who's his tailor?
Parolles ♂
Sir?
Lafeu ♂
O, I know him well, I, sir; he, sir, 's a good
workman, a very good tailor.
workman, a very good tailor.
Bertram ♂
[Aside to PAROLLES] Is she gone to the king?
Parolles ♂
She is.
Bertram ♂
Will she away to-night?
Parolles ♂
As you'll have her.
Bertram ♂
I have writ my letters, casketed my treasure,
Given order for our horses; and to-night,
When I should take possession of the bride,
End ere I do begin.
Given order for our horses; and to-night,
When I should take possession of the bride,
End ere I do begin.
Lafeu ♂
A good traveller is something at the latter end of a
dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a
known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should
be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.
dinner; but one that lies three thirds and uses a
known truth to pass a thousand nothings with, should
be once heard and thrice beaten. God save you, captain.
Bertram ♂
Is there any unkindness between my lord and you, monsieur?
Parolles ♂
I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's
displeasure.
displeasure.
Lafeu ♂
You have made shift to run into 't, boots and spurs
and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and
out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer
question for your residence.
and all, like him that leaped into the custard; and
out of it you'll run again, rather than suffer
question for your residence.
Bertram ♂
It may be you have mistaken him, my lord.
Lafeu ♂
And shall do so ever, though I took him at 's
prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this
of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the
soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in
matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them
tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:
I have spoken better of you than you have or will to
deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.
prayers. Fare you well, my lord; and believe this
of me, there can be no kernel in this light nut; the
soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in
matter of heavy consequence; I have kept of them
tame, and know their natures. Farewell, monsieur:
I have spoken better of you than you have or will to
deserve at my hand; but we must do good against evil.
Parolles ♂
An idle lord. I swear.
Bertram ♂
I think so.
Parolles ♂
Why, do you not know him?
Bertram ♂
Yes, I do know him well, and common speech
Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.
Gives him a worthy pass. Here comes my clog.
Helena ♀
I have, sir, as I was commanded from you,
Spoke with the king and have procured his leave
For present parting; only he desires
Some private speech with you.
Spoke with the king and have procured his leave
For present parting; only he desires
Some private speech with you.
Bertram ♂
I shall obey his will.
You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
The ministration and required office
On my particular. Prepared I was not
For such a business; therefore am I found
So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you
That presently you take our way for home;
And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
For my respects are better than they seem
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than shows itself at the first view
To you that know them not. This to my mother:
'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
I leave you to your wisdom.
You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,
Which holds not colour with the time, nor does
The ministration and required office
On my particular. Prepared I was not
For such a business; therefore am I found
So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you
That presently you take our way for home;
And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,
For my respects are better than they seem
And my appointments have in them a need
Greater than shows itself at the first view
To you that know them not. This to my mother:
'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so
I leave you to your wisdom.
Helena ♀
Sir, I can nothing say,
But that I am your most obedient servant.
But that I am your most obedient servant.
Bertram ♂
Come, come, no more of that.
Helena ♀
And ever shall
With true observance seek to eke out that
Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd
To equal my great fortune.
With true observance seek to eke out that
Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd
To equal my great fortune.
Bertram ♂
Let that go:
My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
My haste is very great: farewell; hie home.
Helena ♀
Pray, sir, your pardon.
Bertram ♂
Well, what would you say?
Helena ♀
I am not worthy of the wealth I owe,
Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;
But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.
Nor dare I say 'tis mine, and yet it is;
But, like a timorous thief, most fain would steal
What law does vouch mine own.
Bertram ♂
What would you have?
Helena ♀
Something; and scarce so much: nothing, indeed.
I would not tell you what I would, my lord:
Faith yes;
Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
I would not tell you what I would, my lord:
Faith yes;
Strangers and foes do sunder, and not kiss.
Bertram ♂
I pray you, stay not, but in haste to horse.
Helena ♀
I shall not break your bidding, good my lord.
Bertram ♂
Where are my other men, monsieur? Farewell.
Go thou toward home; where I will never come
Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.
Away, and for our flight.
Go thou toward home; where I will never come
Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.
Away, and for our flight.
Parolles ♂
Bravely, coragio!
96 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bertram | 40 | 41.7% |
| Lafeu | 27 | 28.1% |
| Helena | 20 | 20.8% |
| Parolles | 9 | 9.4% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 40 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 24 lines.
Total speakers on stage
4 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 5 of 5 in Act 2 of All's Well That Ends Well.
Scene length vs. play average
At 96 lines, this scene is shorter than the All's Well That Ends Well average scene in All's Well That Ends Well (~127 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 4 · Next: Act 3 Scene 1
About Act 2 Scene 5 of All's Well That Ends Well
Who carries Act 2 Scene 5 of All's Well That Ends Well?
Bertram, with 40 lines — about 42% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 4 speakers and the lead holding 42% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.