talked of Satan, and of Limbo, and of Fu-
ries, 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; there-
fore I will not speak what I know.

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: but thou art too 270 fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside.

Dia.

This ring, you say, was yours?

Aye, my good lord. King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. King. Who lent it you?

Dia.

It was not lent me neither.

I found it not.

King. Where did you find it then?

Dia.

King. If it were yours by none of all these ways, How could you give it him?

280

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. It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.
King. Take her away; I do not like her now;

Dia.

To prison with her: and away with him.

Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this

ring,

Thou diest within this hour.

King. Take her away.

I'll never tell you.

Dia.

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 accused him all this while?

290

Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:
He knows I am no maid, and he 'll swear to 't;
I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.
King. She does abuse our ears: to
Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.

prison with her. Stay, royal sir: [Exit Widow. is sent for,

300

The jeweler that owes the ring
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:
He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;
And at that time he got his wife with child:
Dead though she be, she feels her young one
kick:

So there's my riddle,-One that's dead is
quick:

And now behold the meaning.

King.

Hel.

Re-enter Widow, with Helena.

Is there no exorcist

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is 't real that I see?

No, my good lord;

"Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,
The name and not the thing.

Ber.

Both, both. O, pardon!

Hel. O my good lord, when I was like this maid, 311

I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring;

And, look you, here's your letter; this it says: 'When from my finger you can get this ring And are by me with child,' &c. This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

320

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 handkercher: 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 uncropped flower,

Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;

330

For I can guess that by thy honest aid
Thou kep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.
Of that and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish.

EPILOGUE

King. The king's a beggar, now the play is done:
All is well ended, if this suit be won,

That you express content; which we will pay,
With strife to please you, day exceeding day:
Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts;
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
[Exeunt.

1. "The King's a beggar"; an allusion to the old story of "The King and the Beggar" (cp. Percy's Reliques), often referred to by Shakespeare.-I. G.

GLOSSARY

By ISRAEL Gollancz, M.A.