All's Well That Ends Well — Act 3, Scene 1: Florence. The DUKE's palace.

At Florence, the Duke speaks with two French lords and his soldiers about the reasons for the war, insisting that the conflict on his side is just and that France has wrongly refused support. One lord cautiously avoids judging the political issue, while another predicts that younger French men, worn out by idleness, will soon come to Florence seeking treatment and action. The Duke welcomes that possibility and promises them honor if they come. He tells everyone to keep their positions and prepares for battle, ordering that the army march to the field the next day.

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So that from point to point now have you heard

The fundamental reasons of this war,

Whose great decision hath much blood let forth

And more thirsts after.

Holy seems the quarrel

Upon your grace's part; black and fearful

On the opposer.

Therefore we marvel much our cousin France

Would in so just a business shut his bosom

Against our borrowing prayers.

Good my lord,

The reasons of our state I cannot yield,

But like a common and an outward man,

That the great figure of a council frames

By self-unable motion: therefore dare not

Say what I think of it, since I have found

Myself in my incertain grounds to fail

As often as I guess'd.

Be it his pleasure.

But I am sure the younger of our nature,

That surfeit on their ease, will day by day

Come here for physic.

Welcome shall they be;

And all the honours that can fly from us

Shall on them settle. You know your places well;

When better fall, for your avails they fell:

To-morrow to the field.