All's Well That Ends Well

The Duke of Florence greets the French lords that intend to fight with Florence, explaining the war to them. The lords are convinced that Florence is on the more righteous side of the war, and the Duke expresses his confusion that France is not sending direct aid. One lord says that he cannot guess why the King of France refuses to help one particular side, avoiding the issue, but he asserts that many young French lords want to fight for exercise. The Duke says that they are welcome to fight with Florence, and he will give them commendations for fighting with him.

The Fool reports Bertram’s marriage to Helen, and the Countess is pleased. However, the Fool gives her Bertram’s letter, in which he tells the Countess that he has no intention of being Helen’s husband, and he intends to run away from France. The Countess is distraught. Helen arrives, bearing another letter in which Bertram declares that he is not Helen’s husband until they have a child together and she wears his ring. The Countess assures Helen that she considers Helen to be her only child, and she is ashamed of Bertram.