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Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and CLOWN. Laf. No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his color: your daughterin-law had been alive at this hour, and your son here at home, more advanced by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.

Count. I would I had not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating. If she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.

Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on

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not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still.

Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always loved a great fire; and the master I speak of ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world; let his nobility remain in's court. I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some that humble themselves may; but the many will be too chill and tender, and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.

Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways: let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks.

Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature. [Exit.

Laf. A shrewd knave and an unhappy. Count. So he is. My lord that's gone made himself much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.

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Laf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss. And I was about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady's death and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like like it?

Count. With very much content, my lord; and I wish it happily effected.

Laf. Hishighness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty: he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.

Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together.

Laf. Madam, I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted.

Count. You need but plead your honorable privilege.

Laf Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but I thank my God it holds yet.

Re-enter CLOWN.

Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honor; so belike is that.

Clo. But it is your carbonadoed face. Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you: long to talk with the young noble soldier.

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Clo. Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with deli cate fine hats and most courteous feathers which bow the head and nod at every man. [Exeunt.

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This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power. God save you,
Gent. And you.
Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Gent. I have been sometimes there.
Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore goaded with most sharp occasions,
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

Gent.

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Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, but not a musk-cat,-that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship. [Exit.

Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched.

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Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrives long under her? There's a quart d'écu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.

What's your will? Hel. That it will please you To give this poor petition to the king, And aid me with that store of power you have 20 single word. To come into his presence.

Gent. The king's not here. Hel.

Not here, sir?

Gent. Not, indeed: He hence removed last night and with more haste Than is his use.

Wid.

Lord, how we lose our pains! Hel. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet, Though time seem so adverse and means unfit: I do beseech you, whither is he gone? Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; Whither I am going.

Hel.

I do beseech you, sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me, 30
Commend the paper to his gracious hand,
Which I presume shall render you no blame
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Gent.
This I'll do for you.
Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well
thank'd,

Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.
Go, go, provide.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace. Enter CLOWN, and PAROLLES, following. Par. Good Monsieur Lavache, give my lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.

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Par. Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sur; I spake but a metaphor.

Par. I beseech your honor to hear me one

Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.

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Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Laf. You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum?

Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me!

Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.

Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.

you.

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Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sound.] The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you iast shall eat; go to, follow. night: though you are a fool and a knave, you Par. I praise God for [Exeunt. SCENE III. Rousillon. The COUNT's palace. Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, Lafeu, the two French lords, with Attendants. King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know Her estimation home.

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But first I beg my pardon, the young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady,
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife
Whose beauty did astonish the survey
Ofrichest eyes, whose words all ears took captive,
Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve
Humbly call'd mistress.
King
Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him
hither;

Praising what is lost

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We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill
All repetition let him not ask our pardon;
The nature of his great offence is dead,
And deeper than oblivion we do bury

The incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him
So 'tis our will he should.

Gent.
I shall, my liege. [Exit.
King. What says he to your daughter? have
you spoke?

Laf. All that he is hath reference to your highness.

King. Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me

That set him high in fame.

Laf.

Enter BERTRAM.

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He looks well on't. King. I am not a day of season, For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail In me at once: but to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth; The time is fair again.

Ber.

My high-repented blames, Dear sovereign, pardon to me. King.

All is whole;

Not one word more of the consumed time. Let's take the instant by the forward top;

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For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees 40 Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name
The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals ere we can effect them. You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Ber. Admiringly, my liege, at first

I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue,
Where the impression of mine eye infixing,
Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favor;
Scorn'd a fair color, or express'd it stolen;
Extended or contracted all proportions
To a most hideous object: thence it came
That she whom all men praised and whom my-
self,

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Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye
The dust that did offend it.
King.

Well excused:

That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away

From the great compt: but love that comes too late,

Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash
faults

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Make trivial price of serious things we have, Not knowing them until we know their grave: Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, Destroy our friends and after weep their dust:

Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought
I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed
To mine own fortune and inform'd her fully
I could not answer in that course of honor
As she had made the overture, she ceased
In heavy satisfaction and would never
Receive the ring again.

King

Plutus himself,

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That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,
Hath not in nature's mystery more science
Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas
Helen's,

Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know
That you are well acquainted with yourself,
Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforce-

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And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring. Take him away. 120
[Guards seize Bertram.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him!
We'll sift this matter further.
Ber.

If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was. [Exit, guarded. King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

Enter a Gentleman.

Gent. Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not: Here's a petition from a Florentine, 130 Who hath for four or five removes come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this I know Is here attending: her business looks in her With an importing visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself.

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 honor'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 DIANA CAPilet.

maid is undone.

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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: 170 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 comes too short for my daughter; you are no husband for her.

Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,

Who sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness

Lay a more noble thought upon mine honor 180 Than for to think that I would sink it here. King, Sir, for my thoughts, you have them Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your ill to friend

honor

Than in my thought it lies.
Dia.
Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.

Ber.

King. What say'st thou to her? She's impudent, my lord, And was a common gamester to the camp. Dia. He does me wrong, my lord: if I were so, Do not believe him. He might have bought me at a common price: O, behold this ring. Did lack a parallel; yet for all that Whose high respect and rich validity He it to a commoner o' the camp, gave 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 owed and worn. This is his wife:
That rings a thousand proofs.
King.
Methought you said
You saw one here in court could witness it. 200
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.
[Exit an Attendant.
Ber.
What of him?
He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and de-
bosh'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: 211
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 infinite cunning, 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 have turn'd off a first so noble wife, 220

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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 honorable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have.

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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!

250 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 knowest?

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 which 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. 270 This ring, you say, was yours?

Dia.

Ay, my good lord. King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? [buy it. Dia. I was not given me, nor I did not King. Who lent it you?

Dia.

It

was not lent me neither.

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.

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Dia. It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.

King. Take her away: I do not like her now: To prison with her: and away with him. Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, Thou diest 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 some common cus-

tomer.

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Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir: [Exit Widow. The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: He knows himself my bed he hath defiled; 301 And at that time he got his wife with child: Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick: So there's my riddle; one that's dead is quick : And now behold the meaning.

Re-enter Widow with HELENA.

King. Is there no exorcist Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? Is't real that I see? Hel. No, my good lord: 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name and not the thing.

Ber.

Both, both. O, pardon! Hel. O my good lord, when I was like this maid,

310 I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring: And, look you, here's your letter; this it says: "When from my finger you can get this ring And are by me with child,' &c. This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you! O my dear mother, do I see you living? Laf. Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep

anon:

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[To Paroiles] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so,

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