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 fuitors: Go speedily, and bring again the Count.

Enter Bertram.

I am afraid, the life of Helen (Lady)
Was foully fnatch'd.

Count. Now juftice on the doers!

King. I wonder, Sir, wives are fo monftrous to you, And that you fly them as you fwear to them; Yet you 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 those are mine;
You give away my felf, which is known mine;
For I by vow am fo embodied yours,

That the, which marries you, muft marry me,
Either both or none.

Laf. Your reputation comes too fhort for my Daughter, you are no husband 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

VOL. II.

Gg

Lay

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, Then 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 fay't 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,
Whofe high respect and rich validity
Did lack a parallel: yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o'th' camp,
If I be one.

Count. He blufhes, and 'tis his :

Of fix preceding ancestors, that gemm

(42) Conferr'd by Teftament to th' fequent iffue, Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his Wife, That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you faid,

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.

(42) Conferr'd by Teftament to th' fubfequent Iffue,] This is only the Reading, I think, of the laft Editor. I might lay, This in Mr. Pope's Ear is a Verfe, to return him one of his Civilities: but I'll content myself with obferving, that all the genuine Copies read;

Conferr'd by Teftament to th' fequent Iue,

So, before, in this Play;

Indeed, your O Lord, Sir, is very fequent to your awhipping. So, in Troilus and Crefida;

But be thou true, fay I, to fashion in

My fequent Proteftation:

So, in Hamlet.

now. the next Day

Was our Sea-fight; and What to this was fequent,

Thou know't already.

And in many other Initances, that might be quoted.

Laf.

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 flave,

With all the spots 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 restraint;
As all impediments in fancy's course

Are motives of more fancy: and in fine,
Her infuit coming with her modern grace,
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 firft 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 false, you threw it him Out of a casement.

Dia. I have fpoke the truth.

Enter Parolles.

Ber. My Lord, I do confefs, the ring was hers. King. You boggle fhrewdly, every feather starts.

you:

Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my Lord.

King.

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King. Tell me, Sirrah, but tell me true, I charge

you,

Not fearing the difpleasure of your Mafter,

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 Mafter 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'ft? Par. Yes, fo please your Majefty. I did go between them, as I faid; but more than that, he lov'd 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 canst 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. This Woman's an eafie glove, my Lord, the 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 ought I know, King. Take her away, I do not like her now, To prifon with her: and away with him. Unless thou tell'ft me where thou hadst this ring, Thou dieft within this hour.

Dia. I'll never tell you,

King, Take her away.

Dia. I'll put in bail, my Liege,

King. I think thee now fome common customer, Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you, King. Wherefore haft 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 fwear to't; I'll fwear, I am a Maid, and he knows not, Great King, I am no Strumpet, by my life; I'm either Maid, or elfe this old Man's Wife.

[Pointing to Lafeu. King. She does abuse our ears; to prifon with her. Dia. Good Mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal Sir, [Ex. Widow.

[To Bert.

The Jeweller that owes the ring is fent for,
And he fhall furety me. But for this Lord,
Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,
Tho' yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him.
He knows himself my bed he hath defil'd,
And at that time he got his Wife with child;
Dead tho' fhe be, the feels her young one kick:
So there's my Riddle, one that's dead is quick.
And now behold the meaning.

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Enter