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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 :— 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

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,
Derived from the ancient Capulet;

My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour

2 I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll him :] i. e. I'll buy me a son-in-law as they buy a horse in a fair; toul him, i. e. enter him on the toul or toll-book, to prove I came honestly by him, and ascertain my title to him. Mr. Malone reads the passage thus: "I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for this: I'll none of him."

Both suffer under this complaint we bring,

And both shall cease, 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 so strange upon your wife? Ber. She's none of mine, my lord.

Dia.
If you shall marry,
You give away this hand, and that is mine;

You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,

That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both or none.

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 creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour,

Than for to think that I would sink 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,

Ask him upon his oath, if he does think

He had not my virginity.

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,

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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

Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,

Hath it been ow'd and worn.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King.

This is his wife;

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.
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's course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace,

She hath that ring of yours.

8

5 Methought, you said,] The poet has here forgot himself; Diana has said no such thing. BLACKSTONE.

"He's quoted-] i. e. noted, or observed.

7 Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth :] i. e. only to speak a truth.

8 all impediments in fancy's course, &c.] Every thing that obstructs love is an occasion by which love is heightened. And to conclude, her solicitation concurring with her fashionable appearance, she got the ring. I am not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the word modern, which, perhaps, signifies rather meanly pretty. JOHNSON.

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'. 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.

The same upon your finger.

Sir, much like

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?

May justly diet me.] May justly make me fast, by depriving me (as Desdemona says) of the rites for which I love you.

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 loved her, sir, and loved 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 majesty's command.

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

orator.

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

King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

Par. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved herfor, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked 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 promising her marriage, and things that would derive me illwill to speak of, therefore I will not speak what I know. King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: But thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside.

This ring, you say, 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 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.

1

2

artful.

companion] i. e. fellow.

But thou art too fine-] Too fine, too full of finesse, too A French expression-trop fine.

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