To tender it herfelf. 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 vifage; and fhe told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your Highness with herself.

The King reads a letter.

Upon his many proteftations to marry me, when bis wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Rouillon a widower, his vows are forfeited to me, and my b nour's paid to him. He ftole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to this country for justice: grant it me, O King, in you it beft lies; otherwife a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is unDiana Capulet.

done.

Laf. I will buy me a fon-in law in a fair, and toll for him. For this, I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discov'ry. Seek these suitors: 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 monstrous to you, And that you fly them as you fwear to them;

Yet you defire to wed.

defire to wed. What woman's that?

Enter Widow and Diana.

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

Derived from the ancient 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 ftrange 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 thofe are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am fo embodied yours,

That fhe, which marries you, must 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 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 so, He might have bought me at a common price.

Do

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

He

gave

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 faid,

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 fpots o'th' world tax'd and debofh'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 hath 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 eagerness with her reftraint;
As all impediments in fancy's course,
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 confidered as making a contract valid.

6-all impediments in fancy's courfe,

Are motives of more fancy: — Every thing that obftructs love is

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

I am not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the word modern, which, perhaps, 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 so 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. Dia. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. The story then goes falfe, you threw it him Out of a cafement.

Dia. I have spoke the truth.

SCENE VI.

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 displeasure 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 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?

King. How, I pray you?

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

King. How is 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 Command.

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 speak all thou know'st? Par. Yes, fo pleafe 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 speak what I know.

King. Thou haft spoken all already, unless thou canft fay they are married; but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore ftand afide. 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.