Act 5, Scene 2
Rossillion. Before the COUNT'S palace.
Enter CLOWN, and PAROLLES, following.
Parolles
Good Master Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.
Clown
Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.
Parolles
Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor.
Clown
Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get thee further.
Parolles
Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
Clown
Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself. Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, — but not a musk-cat, — that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship.
Parolles
My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched.
Lafeu
And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a cardecu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.
Parolles
I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.
Lafeu
You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.
Parolles
My name, my good lord; is Parolles.
Lafeu
You beg more than “word,” then. Cox my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum?
Parolles
O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
Lafeu
Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
Parolles
It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.
Lafeu
Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out. The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow.
Parolles
I praise God for you.