That she would never put it from her finger, Ber. She never saw it. King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him ;-We'll sift this matter further. Ber. This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, If you shall prove Where yet she never was. [Exit Ber. guarded. Enter a Gentleman. Gent. Gracious sovereign, King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not; Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath, for four or five removes,1 come short Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations tc (1) Post-stages. 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 him: for this, I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discovery.--Seek these suitors:Go, speedily, and bring again the count. [Exeunt Gentleman, and some attendants. I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd. Count. Now, justice on the doers! Enter Bertram, guarded. King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to Yet you, And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny But that I know them: Do they charge me further? Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your wife? (1) Pay toll for him. (2) Decease, die. Ber. She's none of inine, my lord. Dia. That she which marries you, must marry me, Laf. Your reputation [To Bertram.] comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate crea ture, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, 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, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think He had not my virginity. King. What say'st thou to her? She's impudent, my lord; And was a common gamester 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, Whose high respect, and rich validity,2 He Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem (1) Gamester when applied to a female, then meant a common woman. (2) Value. This is his wife; Methought, you said, Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;2 : King. She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, she has certain it is, I lik'd her, And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth: She knew her distance, and did angle for me, Madding my eagerness with her restraint, As all impediments in fancy's3 course Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, Her insuit coming with her modern grace4 Subdued me to her rate: she 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 so noble wife, May justly diet me.5 I pray you yet, (Since you lack virtue, I will lose 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 (3) Love's. (4) Her solicitation concurring with her appear ance of being common. (5) May justly make me fast. The same upon your finger. King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. Dia. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. The story then goes false, you threw it him Out of a casement. Dia. I have spoke the truth. Enter Parolles. Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you. Is this the man you speak of? Dia. Ay, my lord. King. Tell me, sirrah, but tell me true, I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master (Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off,) By him, and by this woman here, what know 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? Par. 'Faith, sir, he did love her; But how? 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 companion1 is this? Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command. Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator. Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage? |