All's Well That Ends Well: Act 3, Scene 1 Translation

Flourish. Enter the Duke of Florence, the two French
Lords, with a troop of Soldiers.

DUKE
So that from point to point now have you heard
The fundamental reasons of this war,
Whose great decision hath much blood let forth
And more thirsts after.

FIRST LORD Holy seems the quarrel 5
Upon your Grace’s part, black and fearful
On the opposer.

DUKE
Therefore we marvel much our cousin France
Would in so just a business shut his bosom
Against our borrowing prayers. 10

SECOND LORD Good my lord,
The reasons of our state I cannot yield
But like a common and an outward man
That the great figure of a council frames
By self-unable motion; therefore dare not 15
Say what I think of it, since I have found
Myself in my incertain grounds to fail
As often as I guessed.

DUKE Be it his pleasure.

FIRST LORD
But I am sure the younger of our nation, 20
That surfeit on their ease, will day by day
Come here for physic.

DUKE Welcome shall they be,
And all the honors that can fly from us
Shall on them settle. You know your places well. 25
When better fall, for your avails they fell.
Tomorrow to th’ field.

Flourish. They exit.