Act 5, Scene 2

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

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PAROLLES

Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafew this letter; I have 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 speak’st of. I will henceforth eat no fish of Fortune’s buttering. , 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. , get further.

PAROLLES

Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

CLOWN

Foh, stand away. A paper from Fortune’s close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look here he comes himself.

CLOWN

Here is a pur 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 . Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may, for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally . I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort, and leave him to your lordship.

PAROLLES

My lord, I am a man whom Fortune cruelly scratch’d.

LAFEW

And what would you have me to do? too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the 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.

LAFEW

You beg a single penny more. Come, you shall ha’t; save your word.

PAROLLES

My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

LAFEW

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.

LAFEW

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

PAROLLES

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

LAFEW

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

LAFEW

The king’s coming; I know by his trumpets. , inquire further after me. I had talk of you last night; though you are a fool and a , you shall eat. Go to; follow.

PAROLLES

I praise God for you.

All of All’s Well That Ends Well