No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there,
whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbak’d and doughy
youth of a nation in his colour. Your daughter-in-law had been alive at
this hour, and your son here at home, more advanc’d by the king than by
that red-tail’d humble-bee I speak of.
No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbak’d and doughy youth of a nation in his colour. Your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour, and your son here at home, more advanc’d by the king than by that red-tail’d humble-bee I speak of.
no, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would 've made all the unbak’d and doughy youth of a nation in h's colour. your daughter-in-law had been alive at th's hour, and your son here at home, more advanc’d by the king than by that red-tail’d humble-bee i speak of.
No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there,...
I would I had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous
gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. If she had
partaken of my flesh and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I
could not have owed her a more rooted love.
I would I had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. If she had partaken of my flesh and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.
i would i had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. if she had partaken of my flesh and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, i could not 've owed her a more rooted love.
I would I had not known him; it was the death of...
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may pick a thousand salads ere
we light on such another herb.
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may pick a thousand salads before we light on such another herb.
’twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. we may pick a thousand salads before we light on such another herb.
’Twas a good lady, ’twas a good lady. We may pick a...
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or, rather, the
herb of grace.
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or, rather, the herb of grace.
indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or, rather, the herb of grace.
Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the salad, or, rather,...
They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.
They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.
they 're not herbs, you knave; they 're nose-herbs.
They are not herbs, you knave; they are nose-herbs.
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in grass.
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in grass.
i am no great nebuchadnezzar, sir; i 've not much skill in grass.
I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir; I have not much skill in...
Whether dost thou profess thyself,—a knave or a fool?
Whether do you profess yourself,—a knave or a fool?
whether do you profess yourself,—a knave or a fool?
Whether do you profess yourself,—a knave or a fool?
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a man’s.
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a man’s.
a fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a man’s.
A fool, sir, at a woman’s service, and a knave at a...
Your distinction?
Your distinction?
your distinction?
Your distinction?
I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service.
I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service.
i would cozen the man of h's wife, and do h's service.
I would cozen the man of his wife, and do his service.
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
so you were a knave at h's service indeed.
So you were a knave at his service indeed.
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.
and i would give h's wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.
And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her...
I will subscribe for thee; thou art both knave and fool.
I will subscribe for you; you are both knave and fool.
i will subscribe for you; you 're both knave and fool.
I will subscribe for you; you are both knave and fool.
The Clown's speech about the 'narrow gate' (4-5-023) is one of the most genuinely thoughtful moments in a play that mostly uses him for ribaldry. He's quoting Matthew 7:13-14 ('straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it') and applying it to worldly ambition. His point is sharp: pomp — pride, social display, the currency Parolles trafficked in — is too fat for the narrow gate. Most people take the wide, pleasant road. He claims to want the narrow one. This from a man who just made dirty jokes about a woman's husband. Shakespeare's fools are often the characters with the clearest moral vision — they speak truth because they're not competing for anything. The Clown's theology here is comic in delivery but serious in substance.
At your service.
At your service.
at your service.
At your service.
No, no, no.
No, no, no.
no, no, no.
No, no, no.
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you
are.
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.
why, sir, if i cannot serve you, i can serve as great a prince as you are.
Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great...
Who’s that? a Frenchman?
Who’s that? a Frenchman?
who’s that? a frenchman?
Who’s that? a Frenchman?
Faith, sir, ’a has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in
France than there.
Faith, sir, ’a has an English name; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France than there.
faith, sir, ’a has an english name; but h's phisnomy 's more hotter in france than there.
Faith, sir, ’a has an English name; but his phisnomy is more...
What prince is that?
What prince is that?
what prince 's that?
What prince is that?
The black prince, sir; alias the prince of darkness; alias the devil.
The black prince, sir; alias the prince of darkness; alias the devil.
the black prince, sir; alias the prince of darkness; alias the devil.
The black prince, sir; alias the prince of darkness; alias the devil.
Hold thee, there’s my purse. I give thee not this to suggest thee from
thy master thou talk’st of; serve him still.
Hold you, there’s my purse. I give you not this to suggest you from your master you talk’st of; serve him still.
hold you, there’s my purse. i give you not th's to suggest you from your master you talk’st of; serve him still.
Hold you, there’s my purse. I give you not this to suggest...
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire, and the
master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But sure he is the prince of
the world; let his nobility remain in’s court. I am for the house with
the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some
that humble themselves may, but the many will be too chill and tender,
and they’ll be for the flow’ry way that leads to the broad gate and the
great fire.
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire, and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But sure he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in’s court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may, but the many will be too chill and tender, and they’ll be for the flow’ry way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.
i am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire, and the master i speak of ever keeps a good fire. but sure he 's the prince of the world; let h's nobility remain in’s court. i am for the house with the narrow gate, which i take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may, but the many will be too chill and tender, and they’ll be for the flow’ry way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.
I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire,...
Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee; and I tell thee so before,
because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be
well look’d to, without any tricks.
Go your ways, I begin to be a-weary of you; and I tell you so before, because I would not fall out with you. Go your ways; let my horses be well look’d to, without any tricks.
go your ways, i begin to be a-weary of you; and i tell you so before, because i would not fall out with you. go your ways; let my horses be well look’d to, without any tricks.
Go your ways, I begin to be a-weary of you; and I...
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be jades’ tricks, which
are their own right by the law of nature.
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be jades’ tricks, which are their own right by the law of nature.
if i put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be jades’ tricks, which 're their own right by the law of nature.
If I put any tricks upon ’em, sir, they shall be jades’...
A shrewd knave, and an unhappy.
A shrewd knave, and an unhappy.
a shrewd knave, and an unhappy.
A shrewd knave, and an unhappy.
So he is. My lord that’s gone made himself much sport out of him; by
his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his
sauciness; and indeed he has no pace, but runs where he will.
So he is. My lord that’s gone made himself much sport out of him; by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and indeed he has no pace, but runs where he will.
so he is. my lord that’s gone made himself much sport out of him; by h's authority he remains here, which he thinks 's a patent for h's sauciness; and indeed he has no pace, but runs where he will.
So he is. My lord that’s gone made himself much sport out...
The Clown announces Bertram's return with the detail of a velvet patch on his face — possible evidence of a wound, covered in expensive cloth. This small image does real work. Bertram left for Florence as a boy avoiding his responsibilities. He returns as a soldier, visibly marked by war. Whether the scar was genuinely earned in battle or is an affectation — the Clown leans toward the latter — it changes the visual register of his return. He's coming back different, or at least performing difference. Lafew wants to see 'the young noble soldier.' The Clown says it's a 'carbonado'd face.' Both interpretations will be put to the test in 5-3, when Bertram's actual character — his lies, his evasions, his final capitulation — is more revealing than any scar.
I like him well; ’tis not amiss. And I was about to tell you, since I
heard of the good lady’s death, and that my lord your son was upon his
return home, I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my
daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty out of a
self-gracious remembrance did first propose. His highness hath promis’d
me to do it; and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against
your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?
I like him well; ’is not amiss. And I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady’s death, and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty out of a self-gracious remembrance did first propose. His highness has promis’d me to do it; and, to stop up the displeasure he has conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?
i like him well; ’t's not amiss. and i was about to tell you, since i heard of the good lady’s death, and that my lord your son was upon h's return home, i moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, h's majesty out of a self-gracious remembrance did first propose. h's highness has promis’d me to do it; and, to stop up the displeasure he has conceived against your son, there 's no fitter matter. how does your ladyship like it?
I like him well; ’is not amiss. And I was about to...
With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected.
With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected.
with very much content, my lord, and i wish it happily effected.
With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected.
His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he
number’d thirty; he will be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that
in such intelligence hath seldom fail’d.
His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he number’d thirty; he will be here tomorrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence has seldom fail’d.
h's highness comes post from marseilles, of as able body as when he number’d thirty; he will be here tomorrow, or i am deceived by him that in such intelligence has seldom fail’d.
His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when...
It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters
that my son will be here tonight. I shall beseech your lordship to
remain with me till they meet together.
It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him before I die. I have letters that my son will be here tonight. I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together.
it rejoices me that i hope i shall see him before i die. i 've letters that my son will be here tonight. i shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together.
It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him before I...
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.
madam, i was thinking with what manners i might safely be admitted.
Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.
You need but plead your honourable privilege.
You need but plead your honourable privilege.
you need but plead your honourable privilege.
You need but plead your honourable privilege.
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds
yet.
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet.
lady, of that i 've made a bold charter; but, i thank my god, it holds yet.
Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank...
O madam, yonder’s my lord your son with a patch of velvet on’s face;
whether there be a scar under’t or no, the velvet knows; but ’tis a
goodly patch of velvet. His left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a
half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
O madam, over there’s my lord your son with a patch of velvet on’s face; whether there be a scar under’t or no, the velvet knows; but ’is a goodly patch of velvet. His left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.
o madam, over there’s my lord your son with a patch of velvet on’s face; whether there be a scar under’t or no, the velvet knows; but ’t's a goodly patch of velvet. h's left cheek 's a cheek of two pile and a half, but h's right cheek 's worn bare.
O madam, over there’s my lord your son with a patch of...
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour; so
belike is that.
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour; so belike is that.
a scar nobly got, or a noble scar, 's a good livery of honour; so belike 's that.
A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery...
But it is your carbonado’d face.
But it is your carbonado’d face.
but it 's your carbonado’d face.
But it is your carbonado’d face.
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk with the young noble
soldier.
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to talk with the young noble soldier.
let us go see your son, i pray you. i long to talk with the young noble soldier.
Let us go see your son, I pray you. I long to...
Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine hats, and most
courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man.
Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man.
faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man.
Faith, there’s a dozen of ’em, with delicate fine hats, and most...
The Reckoning
The play needs a breath before its final act, and it takes it here. The mourning for Helena feels genuine — Lafew's 'We may pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another herb' is one of the most touching eulogies in the play. The comedy with the Clown has teeth: his riff on the Devil as his employer is genuinely theological and very funny. And the scene closes with news that the King is coming and Bertram with him — the pieces moving into position for the finale. It's the calm before the storm, but the calm has texture.
If this happened today…
The waiting room before the big family confrontation. The grandmother and her old friend are sipping tea, quietly devastated about the daughter-in-law who died after the son ran off. The grandfather's old frenemy shows up. There's a lot of dignified sadness, some uncomfortable jokes from the household assistant who has no read on the room, and then someone checks their phone: 'The car is thirty minutes out.' The whole family is about to be in the same room for the first time in two years.