All’s Well That Ends Well – Act Two – “I will show myself highly fed, and lowly taught.”

All’s Well That Ends Well – Act Two – “I will show myself highly fed, and lowly taught.”

We cross back to Paris, where the King of France wonders whether to send some lords to the Florentines for the war with the Senoys (Austrians) because he fears they will soon be dead and questions whether young men should “…woo honour not to wed it…”    A couple of Lords try to convince Bertram to join them in the war but Bertram says that the King of France has ordered him to stay at court.

The King of France is told that a female doctor has arrived at the court and she may be able to heal him. As an audience we know that the female doctor is Helena. Helena enters and reveals that her father gave her a powerful medicine on his own deathbed. Helena reveals that she this this will save the King. The King thanks Helena but refuses to take the medicine since his doctors have said that his illness is terminal. Helena reinforces that there is no harm in trying her cure which she says will restore his health in two days. But then Helena goes right out on a limb and claims that if the cure does not work then she will give up her life and if it does work then the King must give her permission to marry whomever she wishes. The King is impressed and agrees to the deal and takes the medicine. 

We cross back to the Countess, who sends her Clown to the court in Paris to give Helena a message. Meanwhile, back in Paris, even Parolles and Lafew are impressed with Helena's medicine which seems to be working on the King. The King says that he will be true to his word and he lines up a number of young noblemen for helena to choice from. Helena rejects them all and selects Bertram who arrogantly says that Helena is too far beneath his noble birth for him to marry her. The King chastises Bertram maintaining that inner worth is more important that noble birth. He also says that he will give Helena the status and rank she needs. Bertram again rejects the match and this upsets the King who says that he will dismiss Bertram from court and this makes Bertram finally agree to the marriage. They leave immediately to the altar to be married. 

Lafew and Parolles are left on stage and they quarrel over this match, Lafew judging Bertram as in the wrong and Parolles blaming Helena. Then the newly married Bertram enters but he reveals to Parolles that he has no intention to consummate his marriage to Helena. He also reveals that he intends go away to war and intends to send Helena back to his home to live with his mother.

We then cross to Helena who welcomes the Clown with a message from the Countess. Parolles then enters and informs Helena that Bertram is about to go away and so consummation of the marriage will have to wait. Parolles also says that Bertram wants her to pack to go back to home and then he will farewell her.  

Meanwhile, Bertram is warned by Lafew that Parolles is not a great soldier. Bertram rejects this. Helena enters and Bertram makes excuses for having to leave. Helena asks for a farewell kiss from Bertram but he refuses, and states that duty calls him, gives her a letter to give to his mother and rides off, accompanied only by Parolles:

“You must not marvel, Helen, at my course,

Which holds not colour with the time, nor does

The ministration and required office

On my particular. Prepared I was not

For such a business; therefore am I found

So much unsettled: this drives me to entreat you

That presently you take our way for home;

And rather muse than ask why I entreat you,

For my respects are better than they seem

And my appointments have in them a need

Greater than shows itself at the first view

To you that know them not. This to my mother (Giving a letter)

'Twill be two days ere I shall see you, so

I leave you to your wisdom…

Go thou toward home; where I will never come

Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum.

Away, and for our flight.”