All's Well That Ends Well

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Hellen, and Widdow.Enter Helena and the Widow AW III.vii.1.1
Hel.HELENA 
If you misdoubt me that I am not shee,If you misdoubt me that I am not she,misdoubt (v.)
disbelieve, doubt the reality [of]
AW III.vii.1
I know not how I shall assure you further,I know not how I shall assure you further AW III.vii.2
But I shall loose the grounds I worke vpon.But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.ground (n.)
foundation, basis, root
AW III.vii.3
Wid. WIDOW 
Though my estate be falne, I was well borne,Though my estate be fallen, I was well born, AW III.vii.4
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,Nothing acquainted with these businesses, AW III.vii.5
And would not put my reputation nowAnd would not put my reputation now AW III.vii.6
In any staining act.In any staining act.staining (adj.)
disgraceful, dishonourable, shameful
AW III.vii.7.1
Hel.HELENA 
Nor would I wish you.Nor would I wish you. AW III.vii.7.2
First giue me trust, the Count he is my husband,First give me trust the Count he is my husband, AW III.vii.8
And what to your sworne counsaile I haue spoken,And what to your sworn counsel I have spokensworn (adj.)

old form: sworne
sworn to secrecy, confirmed by oath
AW III.vii.9
counsel (n.)

old form: counsaile
secrecy, confidence, privacy
Is so from word to word: and then you cannotIs so from word to word, and then you cannot, AW III.vii.10
By the good ayde that I of you shall borrow,By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,by (prep.)
with regard to
AW III.vii.11
Erre in bestowing it.Err in bestowing it. AW III.vii.12.1
Wid. WIDOW 
I should beleeue you,I should believe you, AW III.vii.12.2
For you haue shew'd me that which well approuesFor you have showed me that which well approvesapprove (v.)

old form: approues
prove, confirm, corroborate, substantiate
AW III.vii.13
Y'are great in fortune.Y'are great in fortune. AW III.vii.14.1
Hel HELENA 
Take this purse of Gold,Take this purse of gold, AW III.vii.14.2
And let me buy your friendly helpe thus farre,And let me buy your friendly help thus far, AW III.vii.15
Which I will ouer-pay, and pay againeWhich I will overpay, and pay again AW III.vii.16
When I haue found it. The Count he woes your daughter,When I have found it. The Count he woos your daughter, AW III.vii.17
Layes downe his wanton siedge before her beautie,Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,wanton (adj.)
sexually hot, passionate, sportive
AW III.vii.18
Resolue to carrie her: let her in fine consentResolved to carry her; let her in fine consent,fine, in
in the end, finally, in conclusion
AW III.vii.19
carry (v.)

old form: carrie
secure, obtain, gain
As wee'l direct her how 'tis best to beare it:As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it. AW III.vii.20
Now his important blood will naught denie,Now his important blood will naught denyimportant (adj.)
urgent, pressing, demanding, importunate
AW III.vii.21
That shee'l demand: a ring the Countie weares,That she'll demand. A ring the County wearscounty (n.)

old form: Countie
[title of rank] count
AW III.vii.22
That downward hath succeeded in his houseThat downward hath succeeded in his housesucceed (v.)
pass through inheritance, devolve
AW III.vii.23
From sonne to sonne, some foure or fiue discents,From son to son some four or five descents AW III.vii.24
Since the first father wore it. This Ring he holdsSince the first father wore it. This ring he holds AW III.vii.25
In most rich choice: yet in his idle fire,In most rich choice, yet, in his idle fire,choice (n.)
special value, estimation, esteem
AW III.vii.26
idle (adj.)
mad, crazy, lunatic
fire (n.)
ardour, fervour, burning passion
To buy his will, it would not seeme too deere,To buy his will it would not seem too dear,will (n.)
lust, sexual desire, passion
AW III.vii.27
How ere repented after.Howe'er repented after. AW III.vii.28.1
Wid.WIDOW 
Now I seeNow I see AW III.vii.28.2
the bottome of your purpose.The bottom of your purpose.purpose (n.)
intention, aim, plan
AW III.vii.29
bottom (n.)

old form: bottome
essence, gist, main point
Hel.HELENA 
You see it lawfull then, it is no more,You see it lawful then. It is no more AW III.vii.30
But that your daughter ere she seemes as wonne,But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, AW III.vii.31
Desires this Ring; appoints him an encounter;Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter; AW III.vii.32
In fine, deliuers me to fill the time,In fine, delivers me to fill the time,fine, in
in the end, finally, in conclusion
AW III.vii.33
deliver (v.)

old form: deliuers
hand over, convey, commit to the keeping [of someone]
Her selfe most chastly absent: afterHerself most chastely absent. After, AW III.vii.34
To marry her, Ile adde three thousand CrownesTo marry her I'll add three thousand crownsmarry (v.)
be a marriage dowry for
AW III.vii.35
crown (n.)
coin [usually showing a monarch's crown], English value: 5 shilllings
To what is past already.To what is passed already. AW III.vii.36.1
Wid.WIDOW 
I haue yeelded:I have yielded. AW III.vii.36.2
Instruct my daughter how she shall perseuer,Instruct my daughter how she shall perseverpersever (v.)

old form: perseuer
proceed, carry on
AW III.vii.37
That time and place with this deceite so lawfullThat time and place with this deceit so lawful AW III.vii.38
May proue coherent. Euery night he comesMay prove coherent. Every night he comescoherent (adj.)
fitting, accordant, agreeable
AW III.vii.39
With Musickes of all sorts, and songs compos'dWith musics of all sorts, and songs composed AW III.vii.40
To her vnworthinesse: It nothing steeds vsTo her unworthiness. It nothing steads usstead (v.)

old form: steeds
help, assist, benefit
AW III.vii.41
To chide him from our eeues, for he persistsTo chide him from our eaves, for he persistschide (v.), past form chid
brusquely command, drive [away] with harsh words
AW III.vii.42
As if his life lay on't.As if his life lay on't. AW III.vii.43.1
Hel HELENA 
Why then to nightWhy then tonight AW III.vii.43.2
Let vs assay our plot, which if it speed,Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,speed (v.)
meet with success, prosper, flourish
AW III.vii.44
assay (v.)
try, test the mettle of, put to the proof
Is wicked meaning in a lawfull deede;Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,meaning (n.)
design, intention, purpose
AW III.vii.45
And lawfull meaning in a lawfull act,And lawful meaning in a lawful act, AW III.vii.46
Where both not sinne, and yet a sinfull fact.Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact. AW III.vii.47
But let's about it.But let's about it. AW III.vii.48
Exeunt AW III.vii.48
 Previous Act III, Scene VII Next  
x

Jump directly to