All's Well That Ends Well - Act 5 - Scene 2

SCENE II. Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace.

    Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following

PAROLLES

    Good Monsieur Lavache, 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.

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.

PAROLLES

    Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake
    but by a metaphor.

Clown

    Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my
    nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get
    thee further.

PAROLLES

    Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

Clown

    Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's
    close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he
    comes himself.

    Enter LAFEU
    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.

    Exit

PAROLLES

    My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly
    scratched.

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.

PAROLLES

    I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.

LAFEU

    You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;
    save your word.

PAROLLES

    My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

LAFEU

    You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!
    give me your hand. How does your drum?

PAROLLES

    O my good lord, you were the first that found me!

LAFEU

    Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.

PAROLLES

    It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,
    for you did bring me out.

LAFEU

    Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once
    both the office of God and the devil? One brings
    thee in grace and the other brings thee out.

    Trumpets sound
    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.

PAROLLES

    I praise God for you.

    Exeunt