The main consents are had; and here we'll stay Count. Which better than the firft, o dear heav'n, blefs! Or, ere they meet, in me, o nature, cease! Laf. Come on, my fon, in whom my house's name That she may quickly come. By my old beard, And ev'ry hair that's on't, Helen that's dead Ber. Hers it was not. [Ber. gives a ring. King. Now, pray you, let me fee it; for mine eye, This ring was mine; and when I gave it Helen, Neceffited to help, that by this token I would relieve her: had you that craft to 'reave her Ber. My gracious fovereign, Count. Son, on my life, I've feen her wear it; and fhe reckon'd it Laf. I'm fure, I faw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, fhe never saw it; As she had made the overture, fhe ceas'd In heavy fatisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again. King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, (Where you have never come) or fent it us Upon her great disaster. Ber. She never faw it. King. Thou speak'st it falfely, as I love mine honour; [guards feize Bertram. My forepaft proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him, Ber. If you fhall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, [Exit Bertram guarded. SCENE SCENE V. Enter a Gentleman. King. I'm wrap'd in dismal thinking. Gent. Gracious fovereign, Whether I've been to blame or no, I know not; Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath, fome four or five removes, come fhort Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech The King reads a letter. Upon his many proteftations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Roufillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's pay'd to him. He ftole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to this country for juftice: grant it me, o king, in your breaft it lies; otherwife, a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. Diana Capulet. Laf. I will buy me a fon-in-law in a fair, and toll for him: for this, I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discov'ry. Seek these fuitors: Go speedily, and bring again the count. Enter Bertram. I am afraid, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully fnatch'd. Count. Count. Now, juftice on the doers! King. I wonder, fir, wives are fo monftrous to you, And that you fly them as you fwear to them; defire to wed. What woman's that? Yet you Enter Widow, and Diana. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, My fuit, as I do understand, you know, Wid. I am her mother, fir, whose age and honour Both suffer under this complaint we bring, And both fhall ceafe without your remedy. King. Come hither, count; do you not know these women? Ber. My lord, I neither can nor will deny But that I know them: do they charge me further ? Dia. Why do you look fo ftrange upon your wife? Dia. If you fall marry, You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; You give away my flesh, which is known mine; For I by vow am fo embodied yours, That the which marries you must marry me, Either both, or none. Laf. Your reputation comes Short for my daughter, you are no husband for her. [to Bertram. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and defperate creature, Whom fometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour Than e'er to think that I would fink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend Dia. Now, good my lord, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think He He had not my virginity. King. What fay'ft thou to her? And was a common gamefter to the camp. Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, He might have bought me at a common price. Do not believe him. O, behold this ring, He gave If I be one. Count. He blushes, and 'tis his: Of fix preceding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by teftament to th' fequent iffue, Hath fo been ow'd, and worn. This is his wife; King. Methought, you faid, You faw one here in court could witness it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce He's quoted for a most perfidious flave, With all the spots o'th' world tax'd and debosh'd, Am I or that or this, for what he'll utter, King. She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, fhe has; certain it is, I lik'd her, Subdu'd |