All's Well That Ends Well: Act 5, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 1 of All's Well That Ends Well from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Helen, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants. HELEN But this exceeding posting day and night Must wear your spirits low. We cannot help it. But since you have made the days and nights as one To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, Be bold you do so grow in my requital 5 As nothing can unroot you. Enter a Gentleman, a gentle Astringer. In happy time! This man may help me to his Majesty’s ear, If he would spend his power.—God save you, sir. GENTLEMAN And you. 10 HELEN Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. GENTLEMAN I have been sometimes there. HELEN I do presume, sir, that you are not fall’n From the report that goes upon your goodness, And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions 15 Which lay nice manners by, I put you to The use of your own virtues, for the which I shall continue thankful. GENTLEMAN What’s your will? HELEN, taking out a paper That it will please you 20 To give this poor petition to the King And aid me with that store of power you have To come into his presence. GENTLEMAN The King’s not here. HELEN Not here, sir? 25 GENTLEMAN Not indeed. He hence removed last night, and with more haste Than is his use.	Helen, the widow, and Diana have arrived in Marseilles, France, in search of the King. As we know, the King isn't there. (Oops.) They bump into an astringer (a guy who works with hawks) and find out that the King is actually in Roussillon, which means the women had traveled all this way for nothing.
WIDOW Lord, how we lose our pains! HELEN All’s well that ends well yet, 30 Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.— I do beseech you, whither is he gone? GENTLEMAN Marry, as I take it, to Rossillion, Whither I am going. HELEN, giving him the paper I do beseech you, sir, 35 Since you are like to see the King before me, Commend the paper to his gracious hand, Which I presume shall render you no blame But rather make you thank your pains for it. I will come after you with what good speed 40 Our means will make us means. GENTLEMAN This I’ll do for you. HELEN And you shall find yourself to be well thanked Whate’er falls more. We must to horse again.— Go, go, provide. 45 They exit.	Helen is not about to give up. She laces up her riding shoes and says, "I know it looks hopeless, but we've got this." Helen then passes the Gentleman a note and promises him a bunch of money if he delivers it to the King for her. Helen and company saddle up for the trip to Roussillon.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Helen, Widow, and Diana, with two Attendants.

HELEN
But this exceeding posting day and night
Must wear your spirits low. We cannot help it.
But since you have made the days and nights as one
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold you do so grow in my requital 5
As nothing can unroot you.

Enter a Gentleman, a gentle Astringer.

In happy time!
This man may help me to his Majesty’s ear,
If he would spend his power.—God save you, sir.

GENTLEMAN And you. 10

HELEN
Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.

GENTLEMAN I have been sometimes there.

HELEN
I do presume, sir, that you are not fall’n
From the report that goes upon your goodness,
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions 15
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

GENTLEMAN What’s your will?

HELEN, taking out a paper That it will please you 20
To give this poor petition to the King
And aid me with that store of power you have
To come into his presence.

GENTLEMAN
The King’s not here.

HELEN Not here, sir? 25

GENTLEMAN Not indeed.
He hence removed last night, and with more haste
Than is his use.

Helen, the widow, and Diana have arrived in Marseilles, France, in search of the King.

As we know, the King isn't there. (Oops.)

They bump into an astringer (a guy who works with hawks) and find out that the King is actually in Roussillon, which means the women had traveled all this way for nothing.

WIDOW Lord, how we lose our pains!

HELEN All’s well that ends well yet, 30
Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.—
I do beseech you, whither is he gone?

GENTLEMAN
Marry, as I take it, to Rossillion,
Whither I am going.

HELEN, giving him the paper I do beseech you, sir, 35
Since you are like to see the King before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand,
Which I presume shall render you no blame
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you with what good speed 40
Our means will make us means.

GENTLEMAN This I’ll do for you.

HELEN
And you shall find yourself to be well thanked
Whate’er falls more. We must to horse again.—
Go, go, provide. 45

They exit.

Helen is not about to give up. She laces up her riding shoes and says, "I know it looks hopeless, but we've got this."

Helen then passes the Gentleman a note and promises him a bunch of money if he delivers it to the King for her.

Helen and company saddle up for the trip to Roussillon.

All's Well That Ends Well: Act 5, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 1 of All's Well That Ends Well from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

Tired of ads?