Nay, good my lord, put him to’t; let him have his way.
no, good my lord, put him to’t; let him have his way.
no, good my lord, put him to’t; let him 've h's way.
no, good my lord, put him to’t; let him have his way.
If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your
respect.
If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.
if your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.
If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more...
On my life, my lord, a bubble.
On my life, my lord, a bubble.
on my life, my lord, a bubble.
On my life, my lord, a bubble.
Do you think I am so far deceived in him?
Do you think I am so far deceived in him?
do you think i am so far deceived in him?
Do you think I am so far deceived in him?
Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice,
but to speak of him as my kinsman, he’s a most notable coward, an
infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no
one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment.
Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment.
believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship’s entertainment.
Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice,...
It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which
he hath not, he might at some great and trusty business, in a main
danger fail you.
It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which he has not, he might at some great and trusty business, in a main danger fail you.
it were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in h's virtue, which he has not, he might at some great and trusty business, in a main danger fail you.
It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his...
I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
i would i knew in what particular action to try him.
I would I knew in what particular action to try him.
None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so
confidently undertake to do.
None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.
none better than to let him fetch off h's drum, which you hear him so confidently undertake to do.
None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you...
I with a troop of Florentines will suddenly surprise him; such I will
have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy; we will bind and
hoodwink him so that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried
into the leaguer of the adversaries when we bring him to our own tents.
Be but your lordship present at his examination; if he do not for the
promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer
to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against
you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never
trust my judgment in anything.
I with a troop of Florentines will suddenly surprise him; such I will have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy; we will bind and hoodwink him so that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries when we bring him to our own tents. Be but your lordship present at his examination; if he do not for the promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in anything.
i with a troop of florentines will suddenly surprise him; such i will 've whom i am sure he knows not from the enemy; we will bind and hoodwink him so that he shall suppose no other but that he 's carried into the leaguer of the adversaries when we bring him to our own tents. be but your lordship present at h's examination; if he do not for the promise of h's life, and in the highest compulsion of base fear, offer to betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in h's power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of h's soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in anything.
I with a troop of Florentines will suddenly surprise him; such I...
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says he has a
stratagem for’t. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success
in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if
you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be
removed. Here he comes.
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he says he has a stratagem for’t. When your lordship sees the bottom of his success in’t, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.
o, for the love of laughter, let him fetch h's drum; he says he has a stratagem for’t. when your lordship sees the bottom of h's success in’t, and to what metal th's counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not john drum’s entertainment, your inclining cannot be removed. here he comes.
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum; he...
O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let
him fetch off his drum in any hand.
O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his design: let him fetch off his drum in any hand.
o, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of h's design: let him fetch off h's drum in any hand.
O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the honour of his...
How now, monsieur! This drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
How now, monsieur! This drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
how now, monsieur! th's drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
How now, monsieur! This drum sticks sorely in your disposition.
The scene is structured around two parallel schemes: the lords trapping Parolles, and Bertram pursuing Diana. The parallelism is deliberate and dark. In both cases, a target is being observed and assessed without knowing it. In both cases, the scheme involves deception. In both cases, the goal is exposure of something false. But the moral valuation of the two schemes is entirely different: the Parolles trap is treated as admirable (exposing a genuine fraud, protecting Bertram), while Bertram's pursuit of Diana is treated as normal male behavior (she's 'a fair creature,' her virtue is 'the fault'). Nobody in the scene notices the parallel. Shakespeare trusts the audience to make it. The play is quietly asking: if it's wrong to pretend you're a soldier when you're not, what is it when you pursue a woman's honor while already married to another? Nobody names this as a trap. It is one.
A pox on ’t; let it go; ’tis but a drum.
A pox on ’t; let it go; ’is but a drum.
a pox on ’t; let it go; ’t's but a drum.
A pox on ’t; let it go; ’is but a drum.
But a drum! Is’t but a drum? A drum so lost! There was excellent
command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend
our own soldiers.
But a drum! Is’t but a drum? A drum so lost! There was excellent command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers.
but a drum! is’t but a drum? a drum so lost! there was excellent command, to charge in with our horse upon our own wings, and to rend our own soldiers.
But a drum! Is’t but a drum? A drum so lost! There...
That was not to be blam’d in the command of the service; it was a
disaster of war that Caesar himself could not have prevented, if he had
been there to command.
That was not to be blam’d in the command of the service; it was a disaster of war that Caesar himself could not have prevented, if he had been there to command.
that was not to be blam’d in the command of the service; it was a disaster of war that caesar himself could not 've prevented, if he had been there to command.
That was not to be blam’d in the command of the service;...
Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in
the loss of that drum, but it is not to be recovered.
Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum, but it is not to be recovered.
well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum, but it 's not to be recovered.
Well, we cannot greatly condemn our success: some dishonour we had in...
It might have been recovered.
It might have been recovered.
it might 've been recovered.
It might have been recovered.
It might, but it is not now.
It might, but it is not now.
it might, but it 's not now.
It might, but it is not now.
It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom
attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or
another, or _hic jacet_.
It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, I would have that drum or another, or _hic jacet_.
it 's to be recovered. but that the merit of service 's seldom attributed to the true and exact performer, i would 've that drum or another, or _hic jacet_.
It is to be recovered. But that the merit of service is...
Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur, if you think your mystery
in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native
quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; I will grace the
attempt for a worthy exploit; if you speed well in it, the duke shall
both speak of it and extend to you what further becomes his greatness,
even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit; if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
why, if you 've a stomach, to’t, monsieur, if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring th's instrument of honour again into h's native quarter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on; i will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit; if you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it and extend to you what further becomes h's greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.
Why, if you have a stomach, to’t, monsieur, if you think your...
By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
by the hand of a soldier, i will undertake it.
By the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it.
But you must not now slumber in it.
But you must not now slumber in it.
but you must not now slumber in it.
But you must not now slumber in it.
I’ll about it this evening; and I will presently pen down my dilemmas,
encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal
preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.
I’ll about it this evening; and I will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.
i’ll about it th's evening; and i will presently pen down my dilemmas, encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation; and by midnight look to hear further from me.
I’ll about it this evening; and I will presently pen down my...
May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?
May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it?
may i be bold to acquaint h's grace you 're gone about it?
May I be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about...
I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the attempt I vow.
I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the attempt I vow.
i know not what the success will be, my lord, but the attempt i vow.
I know not what the success will be, my lord, but the...
I know th’art valiant; and to the possibility of thy soldiership, will
subscribe for thee. Farewell.
I know th’are valiant; and to the possibility of your soldiership, will subscribe for you. Farewell.
i know th’'re valiant; and to the possibility of your soldiership, will subscribe for you. farewell.
I know th’are valiant; and to the possibility of your soldiership, will...
The lost drum that drives this scene is one of the play's cleverest pieces of stagecraft. A military drum was literally the instrument of command in battle — it set the pace of marching, signaled the attack, maintained order. To lose a drum was to lose the symbol of organized martial courage. Parolles has been obsessing over this lost drum because it's the one visible military failure he can use to perform his warrior credentials — by claiming he could get it back. The lords recognize this immediately: the drum mission is perfect precisely because it requires actual courage, which Parolles doesn't have. When they let him go 'get his drum,' they already know he'll invent an elaborate excuse. What they don't know is just how spectacularly he'll cave under pressure. The drum mission exposes Parolles's hollow core — and the scene asks you to notice that Bertram, watching his companion be exposed, is pursuing his own hollow mission across town.
I love not many words.
I love not many words.
i love not many words.
I love not many words.
No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord,
that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is
not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn’d than to
do’t.
No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn’d than to do’t.
no more than a fish loves water. 's not th's a strange fellow, my lord, that so confidently seems to undertake th's business, which he knows 's not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn’d than to do’t.
No more than a fish loves water. Is not this a strange...
You do not know him, my lord, as we do; certain it is that he will
steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal
of discoveries, but when you find him out, you have him ever after.
You do not know him, my lord, as we do; certain it is that he will steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries, but when you find him out, you have him ever after.
you do not know him, my lord, as we do; certain it 's that he will steal himself into a man’s favour, and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries, but when you find him out, you 've him ever after.
You do not know him, my lord, as we do; certain it...
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this, that so
seriously he does address himself unto?
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto?
why, do you think he will make no deed at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto?
Why, do you think he will make no deed at all of...
None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two
or three probable lies; but we have almost embossed him; you shall see
his fall tonight; for indeed he is not for your lordship’s respect.
None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies; but we have almost embossed him; you shall see his fall tonight; for indeed he is not for your lordship’s respect.
none in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies; but we 've almost embossed him; you shall see h's fall tonight; for indeed he 's not for your lordship’s respect.
None in the world; but return with an invention, and clap upon...
We’ll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him. He was first
smok’d by the old Lord Lafew; when his disguise and he is parted, tell
me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very
night.
We’ll make you some sport with the fox before we case him. He was first smok’d by the old Lord Lafew; when his disguise and he is parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see this very night.
we’ll make you some sport with the fox before we case him. he was first smok’d by the old lord lafew; when h's disguise and he 's parted, tell me what a sprat you shall find him; which you shall see th's very night.
We’ll make you some sport with the fox before we case him....
I must go look my twigs. He shall be caught.
I must go look my twigs. He shall be caught.
i must go look my twigs. he shall be caught.
I must go look my twigs. He shall be caught.
Your brother, he shall go along with me.
Your brother, he shall go along with me.
your brother, he shall go along with me.
Your brother, he shall go along with me.
As’t please your lordship. I’ll leave you.
As’t please your lordship. I’ll leave you.
as’t please your lordship. i’ll leave you.
As’t please your lordship. I’ll leave you.
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you
The lass I spoke of.
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you The lass I spoke of.
now will i lead you to the house, and show you the lass i spoke of.
Now will I lead you to the house, and show you The...
But you say she’s honest.
But you say she’s honest.
but you say she’s honest.
But you say she’s honest.
That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once,
And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her
By this same coxcomb that we have i’ the wind
Tokens and letters which she did re-send,
And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature;
Will you go see her?
That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once, And found her wondrous cold, but I sent to her By this same coxcomb that we have i’ the wind Tokens and letters which she did re-send, And this is all I have done. She’s a fair creature; Will you go see her?
that’s all the fault. i spoke with her but once, and found her wondrous cold, but i sent to her by th's same coxcomb that we 've i’ the wind tokens and letters which she did re-send, and th's 's all i 've done. she’s a fair creature; will you go see her?
That’s all the fault. I spoke with her but once, And found...
With all my heart, my lord.
With all my heart, my lord.
with all my heart, my lord.
With all my heart, my lord.
The Reckoning
A scene of male conspiracy on two tracks: the lords setting up Parolles's humiliation, and Bertram casually describing his pursuit of Diana's honor as if it's the same kind of game. There's a dark parallel running through this scene that the lords don't quite notice — they are taking elaborate care to expose a fraud, while Bertram is committing a different kind of fraud against Diana and no one treats it the same way. The scene ends with Bertram leading the Second Lord to view Diana, his intended victim, as if she's a sporting trophy.
If this happened today…
At a work retreat, two colleagues convince a third that his best friend and sidekick is actually a fraud who has been lying about his credentials and will sell out everyone if pressured. They set up an elaborate fake interview to expose him. Then the same man who just agreed to entrap his friend mentions, as an afterthought, that there's a girl at the hotel he's been trying to seduce — 'she's playing hard to get but I'll get there.' His colleague says 'I'll come have a look.' Nobody treats this as connected to the conversation they just had.