He decides to leave for Florence and the Tuscan wars, along with Parolles, abruptly sending Helena back home. He rejects her for her lack of social standing, but then accepts her rather than suffer the King’s anger. As a reward, she is offered a husband of her choice, and she chooses Bertram. Lafew, a lord at court, persuades the King to see Helena, and he is cured by her medicine.
She gives Helena permission to visit Paris in an attempt to cure the King of his ailment using a drug devised by Helena’s father, a physician. Helena, the Countess’s ward, is in love with Bertram, and reveals her affection to the Countess, who is sympathetic. Following his father’s death, Bertram, the young Count of Rossillion, leaves home to attend the court of the ailing King of France, along with his friend Parolles.
