For thou may'st see a sun-shine and a hail Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth, The time is far again. Ber. My high-repented blames Dear sovereign, pardon to me. Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admiringly, my liege at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart King. Well excused: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away To the great sender turns a sour offence, Count. Which better than the first, O dear hea ven, bless! Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! • Faults repented of to the utmost. That she may quickly come.-By my old beard, Ber. Hers it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't.This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood Necessitied to help, that by this token I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most? Ber. My gracious sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and she reckon❜d it Laf. I am sure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceived, my lord, she never saw it; In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought I stood ingaged: but when I had subscribed To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully, I could not answer in that course of honour As she had made the overture, she ceased In heavy satisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again. King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicinet, Than I have in this ring: twas mine, 'twas Helen's, (Where you have never come), or sent it us Ber. She never saw it. In sense of unengaged. That you have the proper consciousness of your own actions. King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; And makest conjectural fears to come into me, Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him ;- Ber. If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy [Exit Bertram guarded. Enter a GENTLEMAN. King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not; Who hath, for four or five removes, come short Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech 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 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 : Post-stages. + Pay toll for him. 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. lants. King. I wonder, Sir, since wives are monsters to you, And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that? Re-enter GENTLEMAN, with WIDOW and DIANA. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, My suit, as I do understand, you know, Ber. My lord, I neither can nor will deny Dia. If you shall marry, 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, 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 ho Dia. Good my lord, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think King. What say'st thou to her? Ber. 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 †, Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that, He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, If I be one. Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem King. Methought, you said, You saw one here in court could witness it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles. Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be. King. Find him, and bring him hither. Ber. 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: Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter, That will speak any thing? King. She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, she has certain it is, I liked 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's course Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, Her insuit coming with her modern grace, 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, (Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband,) • Gamester when applied to a female, then meant a common woman. + Value. VOL. II. ‡ Noted. Debauched. |