Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not: Who hath, for four or five removes, come short King. [Reads.] "Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower: his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: grant it me, O king! in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET." Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for this: I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors :- [Exeunt the gentle Astringer, and some Attendants. I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd. Count. Now, justice on the doers! Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded. King. I wonder, Sir, since wives are monsters to you, Re-enter the gentle Astringer, with Widow and DIANA. What woman's that? Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, Sir, whose age and honour Both suffer under this complaint we bring: And both shall cease, without your remedy. King. Come hither, count: do you know these women? But that I know them: do they charge me farther? If you shall marry, Ber. She's none of mine, my lord. Dia. You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; That she which marries you must marry me, Either both or none. Laf. [To BERTRAM.] Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you are no husband for her. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would sink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, Dia. Good my lord, King. What say'st thou to her? Ber. She's impudent, my lord; And was a common gamester to the camp. He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, King. Hath it been ow'd and worn. That ring's a thousand proofs. This is his wife; Methought you said. You saw one here in court could witness it. So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles. [Exit an Attendant. What of him? He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd ; Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth. King Dia. Ber. I must be patient : I have it not. Sir, much like King. What ring was yours, I pray you? Dia. The same upon your finger. King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. Dia. I have spoke the truth. Ber. My lord, I do confess, the ring was hers. King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you. Dia. Re-enter an Attendant, with PAROLLES. Is this the man you speak of? Ay, my lord. King. Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you, Par. So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have. : King. Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman? King. How, I pray you? Par. He did love her, Sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. King. How is that? Par. He loved her, Sir, and loved her not. King. As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an equivocal companion is this! Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command. Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest ? Par. Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved her,-for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not what yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of their going to bed; and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things which would derive me ill-will to speak of; therefore I will not speak what I know. King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst In thy evidence; therefore stand aside.— This ring, you say, was yours? Ay, my good lord. Dia. Dia. It was not lent me neither. King. Where did you find it, then? Dia. I found it not. King. If it were yours by none of all these ways, Dia. I never gave it him. Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off and on at pleasure. King. This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife. Dia. King. Take her away. Dia. I'll never tell you. I'll put in bail, my liege. King. I think thee now some common customer. Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this while? Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [Pointing to LAFEU. King. She does abuse our ears: to prison with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-[Exit Widow.] Stay, royal King. Hel. Ber. Sir: The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. Is there no exorcist Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? No, my good lord; 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, Hel. O my good lord, when I was Both, both :-O, pardon! like this maid, I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring; Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you! O my dear mother, do I see you living? Laf. Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon :— [TO PAROLLES.] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief: so, I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones. King. Let us from point to point this story know, To make the even truth in pleasure flow. [To DIANA.] If thou be'st yet a fresh uncroppèd flower, |