impossible to disconnect the stories; and by means the most artful, though at the same time apparently natural and simple, the episode is made to promote the ends of retributive justice, which were unsatisfied by the conclusion of the original tale.

134

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

1606.

THE plot of All's Well that Ends Well,`or, as Dr. Farmer supposes it to have been sometimes called, Love's Labour Wonne, was originally the property of Bocaccio, but was immediately derived by Shakspeare from the thirty-eighth novel in the first volume of Painter's Palace of Pleasure: its title is Giletta of Narbona.

Isnardo, Count of Rossiglione, was continually afflicted by sickness. He retained in his house a celebrated physician, Gerardo of Narbona, whose daughter, Giletta, fostered a very early attachment for Bertram, the son of Isnardo. On the decease of his father, the young Count became a ward of the king, and was sent to Paris. Shortly afterwards the father of Giletta

also died, when she conceived the idea of making a journey in pursuit of the object of her romantic passion.

The king's disease baffled his most skilful physicians; and on this circumstance Giletta founded a project of obtaining Bertram for her husband. Directed by the knowledge she had obtained from her father, she prepared a powder of herbs; set out for Paris, had an audience of the king, and undertaking to effect his cure, without any pain, within the period of eight days, she prevailed on him to make a trial of her skill. The penalty of failure was to be death by fire in the event of success, she stipulated for permission to choose a husband, with reservation only of the royal blood.

The king was restored to health within the appointed time, and Giletta fixed her choice on Bertram. Unable to refuse obedience to the king's commands, he reluctantly submitted to the union; but highly disgusted with the meanness of his connection, immediately after the performance of the marriage ceremony he dismissed his bride to her home, and set out himself for Tuscany to join the Florentine army.

From Rossiglione, Giletta despatched two knights to Bertram with a message expressive of her entire obedience to his will. He coldly re

plied, "Let her do what she list: for I do purpose to dwell with her when she shall have this ring upon her finger, and a son in her arms begotten by me." The ring was one he greatly loved, and constantly wore upon his finger on account of a virtue he supposed it to possess.

Giletta quickly determined on her course. Providing herself with money and jewels, she assumed the habit of a pilgrim, and taking with her a kinsman and female servant, travelled without intermission till she arrived at Florence. Here she discovered that her husband was violently in love with the daughter of a poor, but highly respectable lady, On this information she formed her plan; and repairing to the house of this lady, after the fullest explanation, proposed that her daughter should seemingly acquiesce in the desires of the Count, on his consenting to give her the ring he wore. Every preparation was made for Bertram's introduction in the obscurity of night, and Giletta, instead of the young lady whom he loved, received Bertram to her arms. The ring was obtained, and Giletta had the satisfaction, in due time, of giving birth to two sons, both bearing a striking resemblance to their father.

In the mean time, Bertram, informed of the departure of his wife from Rossiglione, resolved

to return home and reside there. It was on the celebration of a great entertainment given by the Count, that Giletta, with her husband's "ring upon her finger, and two sons begotten by him in her arms," prostrated herself before him, claiming the fulfilment of his promise to receive her as his wife. The Countess then related every particular relative to her accomplishment of the conditions imposed upon her. The Count embraced and kissed her, and acknowledging her for his lawful wife, vowed thenceforth to love and honour her.

Not only the leading features of this story, but many minute and unimportant circumstances have been copied into his play by Shakspeare with almost verbal fidelity. In several instances, however, he has thought proper to desert his original, sometimes capriciously, sometimes with advantage.

The singularity of the monarch's submission of his case to the care of a young woman is lessened, if not entirely removed, by Shakspeare's judicious preparation for the incident. In a previous scene the king inquires after Gerardo de Narbona, and declares, “if he were living I would try him yet:" his attention to the professions of the daughter, therefore, is scarcely to be wondered at.