Finished: All's Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare) Another twisty Shakespeare dramedy with the witty banters and lovely soliloquies typical of his writing. This one gives us the famous quote, All's Well That Ends Well, among others, but one of my favorites was "Who cannot be crushed with a plot?", uttered by side character, Parolles, after he realizes he was set up in an intricate plan to confess that he would betray his friend Bertram, the Count of Rousillon. Then, there's this quote that I loved:

"Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use; and keep thy friend
Under they own life's key..."

Love that one! The play is about a girl named Helen who is the daughter of the now deceased physician to the Countess of Rousillon, Bertram's mother. The countess considers Helen to be like a daughter, even though she is "common" and beneath their station. Helen is in love with Bertram, but he doesn't give her much thought. Bertram's father has just died and he will soon step into his father's shoes. He's a bit arrogant. His mother sends him to see the King of France who is very sick and not expected to live much longer. Their families are good friends. Meanwhile, the Florentine wars are going on in Italy, and France has not committed to helping out in Italy. After Bertram leaves, the Countess realizes that Helen loves her son! She thinks Helen would be a perfect match for Bertram. When Helen tells the Countess that her father taught her many of his cures, and she can fix the king's particular ailment, the Countess sends her immediately to see the king. In trying to convince the king that she can help him, Helen even promises that if she doesn't cure his ailment, she will offer her life as payment. In return, the king says if she does cure his ailment, she can have her pick of the eligible bachelors in France to marry. Helen is successful in curing the king, and she chooses Bertram to marry! The king loves the idea and also gives Helen a very rich dowry and a special family ring. Bertram balks and wants nothing to do with marrying Helen. The king is insulted and will have none of Bertram's attitude and insists Bertram marry the person who saved his life! Bertram relents and marries Helen, but doesn't consummate the marriage. Instead he goes off to Florence to fight in the wars. He writes Helen a letter and tells her that he will only consummate and respect their marriage once she has his family ring on her finger and is pregnant with their child. In other words, never, because of the obvious Catch-22. Helen is distraught at the rejection, but more so at the idea that Bertram has gone to war and put himself in danger because of her. Helen has a letter delivered to Bertram in Florence telling him that his new wife has died, hoping it will make him come back home and to safety. She plans then to head to a monastery that just happens to be in Florence. In Florence she meets a widow woman and her beautiful daughter, Diana, who Bertram is pursuing now that his wife is "dead"! Bertram is basically a hound and just trying to get the virgin Diana to sleep with him. She refuses and refuses, making him more and more interested. Helen comes up with a plan! She promises the widow that she will pay Diana's dowry for when she does get married if they will help her out. She has Diana tell Bertram that she will succumb to his advances, first if he will give her his family ring, and secondly, if he will meet her in the silence and darkness of her room, not speaking, to consummate their relationship, so her mother will not hear them. Bertram does both these things, and has his way. Of course, he was not interested in a commitment to Diana, and after his conquest, he heads for home since he is no longer tied down by an unwanted wife. Helen then also makes her way home, with Diana and her mother in tow. The king goes to visit the Countess and Bertram, hoping to arrange yet another marriage when Diana shows up. She claims that Bertram has taken her virtue and therefore should be betrothed to her. Bertram denies all involvement with Diana, but can't explain to his mother or the king why she has his cherished family ring! They are beginning to see how duplicitous he is when Diana admits that she is not the one who Bertram slept with that night, but Helen. They are all shocked and happy to see Helen, and of course, Helen is with child! Helen shows the king Bertram's letter that said he would honor their marriage if Helen had his ring and was pregnant with his child, so the king says, done deal! Even Bertram realizes the lengths that Helen has gone to just for his love, and he gives in and says he will love her well. I'm sitting there thinking, do you really WANT this dude, Helen? But, you know, all's well that ends well...and that's the end of the play. :-) This is one I'd seen as a production, but never read, so glad I finally did. :-)