Act III, Scene 3 Florence. Before the DUKE's palace.

Flourish. Enter the DUKE of Florence, BERTRAM,
PAROLLES, Soldiers, Drum, and Trumpets

 

DUKE The general of our horse thou art; and we,
Great in our hope, lay our best love and credence
Upon thy promising fortune.
BERTRAM Sir, it is
A charge too heavy for my strength, but yet
We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake
To the extreme edge of hazard.
DUKE Then go thou forth;
And fortune play upon thy prosperous helm,
As thy auspicious mistress!
BERTRAM This very day,
Great Mars, I put myself into thy file:
Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove
A lover of thy drum, hater of love.
  [Exeunt]

 

Act III, Scene 4 Rousillon. The COUNT's palace.

Enter COUNTESS and Steward

 

COUNTESS Alas! and would you take the letter of her?
Might you not know she would do as she has done,
By sending me a letter? Read it again.
Steward [Reads]
  I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim, thither gone:
Ambitious love hath so in me offended,
That barefoot plod I the cold ground upon,
With sainted vow my faults to have amended.
Write, write, that from the bloody course of war
My dearest master, your dear son, may hie:
Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far
His name with zealous fervor sanctify:
His taken labours bid him me forgive;
I, his despiteful Juno, sent him forth
From courtly friends, with camping foes to live,
Where death and danger dogs the heels of worth:
He is too good and fair for death and me:
Whom I myself embrace, to set him free.
COUNTESS Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!
Rinaldo, you did never lack advice so much,
As letting her pass so: had I spoke with her,
I could have well diverted her intents,
Which thus she hath prevented.
Steward Pardon me, madam:
If I had given you this at over-night,
She might have been o'erta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.
COUNTESS What angel shall
Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice. Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief.
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient messenger:
When haply he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me. I have no skill in sense
To make distinction: provide this messenger:
My heart is heavy and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.
  [Exeunt]

 

To view other scenes in the show click below:

Full Text Act III, Scene 3 Before the Duke's Palace/Act III, Scene 4 Count's Palace
Act I, Scene 1 Rousillon, The Count's Palace Act III, Scene 5Without the walls, a tucket far off
Act I, Scene 2 The King's Palace Act III, Scene 6 Camp before Florence/Act III, Scene 7 Florence The Widow's House
Act I, Scene 3 Count's Palace Act IV, Scene 1 Without the Florentine Camp
Act II, Scene 1 King's Palace Act IV, Scene 2 Florence The Widow's House
Act II, Scene 2 Count's Palace Act IV, Scene 3 The Florentine Camp
Act II, Scene 3 King's Palace Act IV, Scene 4 Florence The Widow's House/Act IV, Scene 5 Count's Palace
Act II, Scene 4 King's Palace/Act II, Scene 5 King's Palace Act V, Scene 1 Marseilles, A Street/Act V, Scene 2 Rousillon Before the Count's Palace
Act III, Scene 1 Duke's Palace/Act III, Scene 2 Count's Palace Act V, Scene 3 Rousillon, The Count's Palace

 

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Main Play Page    Play Text     Scene by Scene Synopsis     Character Directory     Commentary  

 

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By  Comedies    Histories    Romances    Tragedies

All's Well the Ends Well Antony & Cleopatra As You Like It Cardenio Comedy of Errors Coriolanus
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Henry VI, Part 1 Henry VI, Part 2 Henry VI, Part 3 Henry VIII Julius Caesar King John
King Lear Love's Labours Lost Love's Labours Wonne Macbeth Measure for Measure Merchant of Venice
The Merry Wives of Windsor A Mid Summer Night's Dream  Much Ado About Nothing Othello Pericles Richard II
Richard III Romeo & Juliet Sir Thomas More Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus Troilus & Cressida Twelfth Night Two Gentlemen of Verona The Two Noble Kinsman The Winter's Tale

 

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