To tender it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor fuppliant, who by this, I know,
Is here attending: her bufinefs looks in her
With an importing wifage; and fhe told me,
In a fweet verbal brief, it did concern.
Your Highnefs with herself.

The King reads a letter.

Upon his many proteftations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to fay it, be won me. Now is the Count Roufillon a widower, his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to bim. He ftole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to this country for juftice: grant it me, O King, in you it beft lies; otherwife a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is unDiana Capulet. Laf. I will buy me a fon-in-law in a fair, and toll for him. For this, I'll none of him.

done.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this difcov'ry. Seek thefe fuitors: Go fpeedily, and bring again the Count.

Enter Bertram.

I am afraid, the life of Helen (lady)
Was fouly fnatch'd.

Count. Now juftice on the doers!

King. I wonder, Sir, wives are fo monftrous to you, And that you fly them as you fwear to them; Yet you defire to wed. What woman's that?

Enter Widow and Diana.

Dia. I am, my Lord, a wretched Florentine.

Derived from the antient Capulet;

My fuit, as I do understand, you know,:

And therefore know how far I may be pitied.

Wid. I am her mother, Sir, whofe age and honour Both fuffer under this complaint we bring, And both fhall ceafe without your remedy.

King. Come hither, Count; do you 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 strange upon your wife? Ber. She's none of mine, my Lord.".

Dia. If you fhall marry,

You give away this hand, and that is mine;
You give away heav'n's vows, and those are mine
You give away myfelf, which is known mine
For I by vow am fo embodied yours,

That fhe, which marries you, muft marry me,
Either both or none.

Laf. Your reputation comes too fhort for my daughter, you are no hufband for her.

[To Bertram. Ber. My Lord, this is a fond and defp'rate creature, Whom fometime I have laugh'd with : let your High

nefs

Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour,
Than for to think that I would fink it here.

King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend,

'Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour, Than in my thought it lies!

Dia, Good my Lord,

Afk him upon his oath, if he does not think

He had not my virginity.

King. What fay'it thou to her ?

Ber. She's impudent, my Lord;

And was a common gamefter to the camp.

Dia. He does me wrong, my Lord; if I were fo,

He might have bought me at a common price.

Do

Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,
Whofe high respect and rich validity s
Did lack a parallel: yet for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o'th' camp,
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 it been ow'd and worn.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you said,

This is his wife,

You faw one here in Court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my Lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an inftrument; his name's Parolles.
Laf. I faw the man to day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a moft perfidious slave,

With all the spots o'th' world tax'd and debosh'd,
Which nature fickens with: but to speak truth,
'Am I or that or this, for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

King. She bath that ring of yours.

Ber. I think, fhe has; certain it is, I lik'd her,
And boarded her i'th' wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagnernefs with her restraint;
As all impediments in fancy's course,

6

Are motives of more fancy and in fine,
Her infuit coming with her modern grace,

5 Validity is a very bad word for value, which yet I think is its meaning, unless it be con: fidered as making a contract valid.

11

all impediments in fancy's, course,

an occafion by which love is heightened. And, to-conclude, ber folicitation concurring with ber fashionable appearance, fhe got the ring.

I am not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the word modern, which, perhaps,

Are motives of more fancy :-
Every thing that obftructs love is fignifies rather meanly pretty.

Subdu'd

Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe got the ring;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

Dia. I must be patient:

You, that turn'd off a first fo noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet,
(Since you lack virtue, I will lofe a husband.)
Send for your ring, I will return it home,
And give me mine again.

Ber. I have it not.

King. What ring was yours, I pray you? Dia. Sir, much like the fame upon your finger. King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. Dea. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. The ftory then goes falfe, you threw it him Out of a casement.

Dia. I have spoke the truth.

SCENE. VL

Enter Parolles.

Ber. My Lord, I do confefs, the ring was hers. King. You boggle fhrewdly, every feather ftarts you!

Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my Lord.

King. Tell me, Sirrah, but tell, me true, I charge you,

Not fearing the difpleasure of your master, Which on your juft proceeding I'll keep off By him and by this woman here, what know you? Par. So please your Majefty, my mafter hath been an honourable Gentleman. Tricks he hath had in him, which Gentlemen have.

King. Come, come, to the purpofe; did he love this Woman?

Par. 'Faith, Sir, he did love her; but how?

I

King

King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, Sir, as a Gentleman loves a Woman.

King. How it that?

Par. He lov'd her, Sir, and lov'd 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 Majefty's Com

mand.

Laf. He's a good drum, my Lord, but a naughty Orator.

Dia. Do you know, he promis'd me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

King. But wilt thou not fpeak all thou know'ft? Par. Yes, fo please your Majefty. I did go between them, as I faid; but more than that, he loved her: for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talk'd 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 promifing her marriage, and things that would derive me ill-will to fpeak of; therefore I will not fpeak what I know.

King. Thou haft fpoken all already, unless thou canft say they are married; but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside. This ring, you fay, was yours?

Dia. Ay, my good Lord.

King, Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? Dia. It was not given me, nor did I buy it.

King. Who lent it you?

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,

How could you give it him?

Dia. I never gave it him,

Laf.