King monologue from All's Well That Ends Well

King’s monologue

I would I had that corporal soundness now,

As when thy father and myself in friendship

First tried our soldiership! He did look far

Into the service of the time and was

5Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;

But on us both did haggish age steal on

And wore us out of act. It much repairs me

To talk of your good father. In his youth

He had the wit which I can well observe

10To-day in our young lords; but they may jest

Till their own scorn return to them unnoted

Ere they can hide their levity in honour;

So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness

Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,

15His equal had awaked them, and his honour,

Clock to itself, knew the true minute when

Exception bid him speak, and at this time

His tongue obey'd his hand: who were below him

He used as creatures of another place

20And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks,

Making them proud of his humility,

In their poor praise he humbled.

Such a man Might be a copy to these younger times;

Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now

25But goers backward.

Public domain text.