Enter Helen, Widow, and Diana. HELEN
That you may well perceive I have not wronged you,
One of the greatest in the Christian world
Shall be my surety, ’fore whose throne ’tis needful,
Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel.
Time was, I did him a desirèd office 5
Dear almost as his life, which gratitude
Through flinty Tartar’s bosom would peep forth
And answer thanks. I duly am informed
His Grace is at Marseilles, to which place
We have convenient convoy. You must know 10
I am supposèd dead. The army breaking,
My husband hies him home, where, heaven aiding
And by the leave of my good lord the King,
We’ll be before our welcome. WIDOW Gentle madam, 15
You never had a servant to whose trust
Your business was more welcome. HELEN Nor you, mistress,
Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labor
To recompense your love. Doubt not but heaven 20
Hath brought me up to be your daughter’s dower,
As it hath fated her to be my motive
And helper to a husband. But O, strange men,
That can such sweet use make of what they hate
When saucy trusting of the cozened thoughts 25
Defiles the pitchy night! So lust doth play
With what it loathes for that which is away.
But more of this hereafter.—You, Diana,
Under my poor instructions yet must suffer
Something in my behalf. 30 DIANA Let death and honesty
Go with your impositions, I am yours
Upon your will to suffer. HELEN Yet, I pray you—
But with the word “The time will bring on summer,” 35
When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns
And be as sweet as sharp. We must away.
Our wagon is prepared, and time revives us.
All’s well that ends well. Still the fine’s the crown.
Whate’er the course, the end is the renown. 40 They exit. | Helen is most definitely NOT dead. But you probably guessed that. She's in full celebration mode with the widow and Diana. The bed trick has gone off without a hitch, the Italian war has ended, and Bertram is on his way to the King's new court in Marseille, France...which is where, Helen, the Widow, and Diana are headed, too. Helen's going to confront her hubby, and she's pretty sure the King will back her up. Sure, she manipulated him into marrying her, faked her own death, and slept with him pretending to be somebody else, but hey: all's well that ends well, right? Ahem...right? Before they take off, Helen wonders how it's possible that Bertram could make such sweet love to the person he hates the most. (That would be Helen.) She chalks it up to lust. (Psst. Go to "Symbols" and read about the bed trick if you want to know what we think about all this.) |