Original: I would I had that corporal soundness now,
Modern: I wish I had that physical strength now,

Original: As when thy father and myself in friendship
Modern: Like when your father and I, as friends,

Original: First tried our soldiership! He did look far
Modern: First tested our skills as soldiers! He looked deeply

Original: Into the service of the time and was
Modern: Into military service of that era and was

Original: Discipled of the bravest: he lasted long;
Modern: Taught by the bravest warriors: he served for a long time;

Original: But on us both did haggish age steal on
Modern: But old age crept up on both of us like a witch

Original: And wore us out of act. It much repairs me
Modern: And wore us out of action. It greatly comforts me

Original: To talk of your good father. In his youth
Modern: To talk about your good father. When he was young

Original: He had the wit which I can well observe
Modern: He had the intelligence that I can clearly see

Original: To-day in our young lords; but they may jest
Modern: In today’s young nobles; but they might joke around

Original: Till their own scorn return to them unnoted
Modern: Until their own mockery comes back to hurt them without them realizing it

Original: Ere they can hide their levity in honour;
Modern: Before they can cover up their foolishness with honor;

Original: So like a courtier, contempt nor bitterness
Modern: Unlike a typical courtier, neither contempt nor bitterness

Original: Were in his pride or sharpness; if they were,
Modern: Were part of his confidence or wit; if they had been,

Original: His equal had awaked them, and his honour,
Modern: Someone of his own rank would have provoked them, and his sense of honor,

Original: Clock to itself, knew the true minute when
Modern: Like a perfect timepiece, knew the exact moment when

Original: Exception bid him speak, and at this time
Modern: He should object and speak up, and when that time came

Original: His tongue obey’d his hand: who were below him
Modern: His words matched his actions: those who ranked below him

Original: He used as creatures of another place
Modern: He treated as if they were from a higher world

Original: And bow’d his eminent top to their low ranks,
Modern: And he lowered his high position to their humble level,

Original: Making them proud of his humility,
Modern: Making them feel honored by his modesty,

Original: In their poor praise he humbled.
Modern: He remained humble even when they praised him poorly.

Original: Such a man Might be a copy to these younger times;
Modern: A man like that could be a model for today’s young generation;

Original: Which, follow’d well, would demonstrate them now
Modern: If they followed his example well, it would show that they are now

Original: But goers backward.
Modern: Just moving backwards instead of forward.

In Act I, Scene 2 of “All’s Well That Ends Well,” the King of France holds court and discusses the ongoing war between Florence and Siena with his lords. The King explains that France will remain neutral in this conflict, but he grants permission for young French noblemen to choose sides and gain military experience by fighting for whichever faction they prefer. He emphasizes that this decision is left to their individual honor and inclination, as it will provide valuable training in warfare. The King then dispatches the lords with his blessing to seek their fortunes in Italy.

Bertram, the young Count of Rousillon, expresses his eagerness to join the military campaign and prove himself in battle. However, the King refuses to allow Bertram to participate, stating that he is too young and inexperienced for such dangerous undertakings. Despite Bertram’s disappointment and protestations about his readiness to serve, the King remains firm in his decision, insisting that Bertram must wait until he is more mature before engaging in warfare. The King’s protective stance toward Bertram reflects both his affection for the young count and his responsibility as his guardian following the recent death of Bertram’s father.

“All’s Well That Ends Well” follows Helena, a physician’s daughter living in the household of the Countess of Rousillon, who is deeply in love with the Countess’s son, Bertram. When the King of France falls gravely ill, Helena travels to court and offers to cure him using remedies learned from her late father. She succeeds in healing the King, who grants her any husband of her choosing as reward. Helena selects Bertram, but he reluctantly marries her and immediately departs for the wars in Italy, declaring he will never consummate the marriage until she can obtain his ancestral ring and bear his child - conditions he believes impossible to fulfill.

Helena returns to Rousillon, where she learns of Bertram’s conditions through a letter. Disguising herself as a pilgrim, she travels to Florence, where Bertram is staying and pursuing Diana, a young woman whose mother keeps a lodging house. Helena reveals her identity to Diana and her mother, proposing a bed trick: Diana will agree to meet Bertram secretly, but Helena will take her place in the darkness. During their encounter, Helena obtains Bertram’s ring and gives him another ring that the King had previously given her.

Helena spreads word of her own death and returns to France, where Bertram has come to seek a new wife with the King’s blessing. When Bertram presents Helena’s ring to his prospective bride, the King recognizes it and suspects Bertram of murdering Helena. Diana arrives and presents Bertram’s ring as proof of their relationship, leading to confusion until Helena appears, pregnant with Bertram’s child and wearing his family ring. Faced with the fulfillment of his impossible conditions, Bertram accepts Helena as his true wife, and the King promises to arrange Diana’s marriage to a suitable husband.