First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Hellen, Widdow, and Diana. | Enter Helena, the Widow, and Diana | | AW IV.iv.1 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| That you may well perceiue I haue not wrong'd you, | That you may well perceive I have not wronged you | | AW IV.iv.1 | |
| One of the greatest in the Christian world | One of the greatest in the Christian world | | AW IV.iv.2 | |
| Shall be my suretie: for whose throne 'tis needfull | Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful, | surety (n.) person undertaking a legal responsibility in relation to another, guarantor | AW IV.iv.3 | |
| Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneele. | Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel. | intent (n.)intention, purpose, aim | AW IV.iv.4 | |
| Time was, I did him a desired office | Time was, I did him a desired office, | office (n.)task, service, duty, responsibility | AW IV.iv.5 | |
| Deere almost as his life, which gratitude | Dear almost as his life, which gratitude | | AW IV.iv.6 | |
| Through flintie Tartars bosome would peepe forth, | Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth | Tartar (n.)someone from Tartary, C Asia; known for pitilessness; also, a stereotype of dark complexion | AW IV.iv.7 | |
| And answer thankes. I duly am inform'd, | And answer thanks. I duly am informed | | AW IV.iv.8 | |
| His grace is at Marcellae, to which place | His grace is at Marcellus, to which place | Marcellus (n.)Marseilles, S France | AW IV.iv.9 | |
| We haue conuenient conuoy: you must know | We have convenient convoy. You must know | convoy (n.)means of transport, method of conveyance | AW IV.iv.10 | |
| I am supposed dead, the Army breaking, | I am supposed dead. The army breaking, | break (v.)disband, disperse, demobilize | AW IV.iv.11 | |
| My husband hies him home, where heauen ayding, | My husband hies him home, where, heaven aiding, | hie (v.)hasten, hurry, speed | AW IV.iv.12 | |
| And by the leaue of my good Lord the King, | And by the leave of my good lord the King, | | AW IV.iv.13 | |
| Wee'l be before our welcome. | We'll be before our welcome. | | AW IV.iv.14.1 | |
| Wid. | WIDOW | | | |
| Gentle Madam, | Gentle madam, | gentle (adj.)well-born, honourable, noble | AW IV.iv.14.2 | |
| You neuer had a seruant to whose trust | You never had a servant to whose trust | | AW IV.iv.15 | |
| Your busines was more welcome. | Your business was more welcome. | | AW IV.iv.16.1 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| Nor your Mistris | Nor you, mistress, | | AW IV.iv.16.2 | |
| Euer a friend, whose thoughts more truly labour | Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour | | AW IV.iv.17 | |
| To recompence your loue: Doubt not but heauen | To recompense your love. Doubt not but heaven | | AW IV.iv.18 | |
| Hath brought me vp to be your daughters dower, | Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower, | dower (n.)dowry, property or wealth given with a wife | AW IV.iv.19 | |
| | bring up (v.)raise, breed, rear | | |
| As it hath fated her to be my motiue | As it hath fated her to be my motive | motive (n.)instrument, agent, moving organ | AW IV.iv.20 | |
| And helper to a husband. But O strange men, | And helper to a husband. But, O strange men! | | AW IV.iv.21 | |
| That can such sweet vse make of what they hate, | That can such sweet use make of what they hate, | | AW IV.iv.22 | |
| When sawcie trusting of the cosin'd thoughts | When saucy trusting of the cozened thoughts | saucy (adj.)lecherous, lascivious, lustful | AW IV.iv.23 | |
| | trusting (n.)acceptance, belief [in] | | |
| | cozened (adj.)deceived, deluded, tricked | | |
| Defiles the pitchy night, so lust doth play | Defiles the pitchy night; so lust doth play | pitchy (adj.)pitch-dark, black, inky, dark | AW IV.iv.24 | |
| With what it loathes, for that which is away, | With what it loathes for that which is away. | | AW IV.iv.25 | |
| But more of this heereafter: you Diana, | But more of this hereafter. You, Diana, | | AW IV.iv.26 | |
| Vnder my poore instructions yet must suffer | Under my poor instructions yet must suffer | | AW IV.iv.27 | |
| Something in my behalfe. | Something in my behalf. | something (adv.)a little, to some extent | AW IV.iv.28.1 | |
| Dia. | DIANA | | | |
| Let death and honestie | Let death and honesty | honesty (n.)virtue, chastity | AW IV.iv.28.2 | |
| Go with your impositions, I am yours | Go with your impositions, I am yours, | imposition (n.)order, charge, command | AW IV.iv.29 | |
| Vpon your will to suffer. | Upon your will to suffer. | will (n.)desire, wish, liking, inclination | AW IV.iv.30.1 | |
| Hel. | HELENA | | | |
| Yet I pray you: | Yet, I pray you. | | AW IV.iv.30.2 | |
| But with the word the time will bring on summer, | But with the word the time will bring on summer, | | AW IV.iv.31 | |
| When Briars shall haue leaues as well as thornes, | When briars shall have leaves as well as thorns | | AW IV.iv.32 | |
| And be as sweet as sharpe: we must away, | And be as sweet as sharp. We must away; | | AW IV.iv.33 | |
| Our Wagon is prepar'd, and time reuiues vs, | Our waggon is prepared, and time revives us. | waggon, wagon (n.)carriage, coach | AW IV.iv.34 | |
| | revive (v.)refresh, restore, invigorate | | |
| All's well that ends well, still the fines the Crowne; | All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown. | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | AW IV.iv.35 | |
| | fine (n.)outcome, final result, conclusion | | |
| What ere the course, the end is the renowne. | Whate'er the course, the end is the renown. | renown (n.)reputation, good name, honour | AW IV.iv.36 | |
| | course (n.)course of action, way of proceeding | | |
| Exeunt | Exeunt | | AW IV.iv.36 | |