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 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,

9 Decease, die.

Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your high

ness

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 ho

nour,

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.1

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

Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,

Hath it been ow'd and worn.

This is his wife;

Methought you said,

That ring's a thousand proofs.
King.
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 2 for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd ; 3

1 Gamester, when applied to a female, then meant a

common woman.

2 Noted.

3 Debauch'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 lik'd her.
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's 4 course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her insuit coming with her modern grace, 5
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?

4 Love.

5 Her solicitation concurring with her appearance of being common.

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 proceedings, 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?
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 her, - for, 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 ill will 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.

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. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off and on at pleasure.

King. This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know.

King. Take her away, I do not like her now; Το prison with her, and away with him. -

Unless thou tell'st me where thou had'st this ring, Thou diest within this hour.

Dia.

King. Take her away.

I'll never tell you.

Dia.
I'll put in bail, my liege.
King. I think thee now some common customer.
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this
while?

Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty;
He knows, I am no maid, and he'll swear to't:
I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.

[Pointing to LAFEU. King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with

her.

Dia. Good mother, fetch

bail. my

sir;

Stay, royal [Exit Widow.