King. What fays he to your daughter? Have you fpoke? Laf. All, that he is, hath reference to your Highness. King. Then fhall we have a match. I have letters fent me, That fet him high in fame.. Enter Bertram. Laf. He looks well on't. King. I'm not a day of season, Ber.. My high repented blames, King. All is whole, Not one word more of the confumed time, For we are old, and on our quick'ft decrees Ber. Admiringly, my Liege. At first To a most hideous object: thence it came, That fhe, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself, The duft that did offend it. King. Well excus'd: That thou do'ft love her, ftrikes fome scores away To the great fender turns a fowre offence, Crying, Crying, that's good that is gone: our rafh faults Count. (25) Which better than the firft, O dear heav'n, blefs, Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! Laf. Come on, my fon, in whom my house's name That the may quickly come. By my old beard, Ber. Her's it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me fee it: For mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was faften'd to't. This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, Neceffitied to help, that by this token I would relieve her. Had you that craft to reave her Of what should ftead her most? (25) Which better than the firft, O dear Heav'n, bless, Or, e'er they meet, in me, O Nature, cease!] I have ventur'd, against the Authority of the printed Copies, to prefix the Countess's Name to these two Lines. The King appears, indeed, to be a Favourer of Bertram: but if Bertram should make a bad Husband the fecond Time, why should it give the King fuch mortal Pangs? A fond and disappointed Mother might reasonably not defire to live to fee fuch a Day: and from her the Wish of dying, rather than to behold it, comes with Propriety, Ber. Ber. My gracious Sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. Son, on my life, I've seen her wear it, and she reckon❜d it At her life's rate. Laf. I'm fure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my Lord, fhe never faw it ; In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrap'd in a paper, which contain❜d the name Of her that threw it: (26) Noble she was, and thought I ftood ungag'd; but when I had fubfcrib'd To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully, I could not answer in that course of honour As she had made the overture, she ceast In heavy fatisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again. King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Than I have in this ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helen's, (Where you have never come) or fent it us Ber. She never faw it. (26) noble She was, and thought I food engag'd;-] I don't understand this Reading; if we are to understand, that She thought Bertram engag’d to her in Affection, infoar'd by her Charms, this Meaning is too obfcurely exprefs'd. The Context rather makes me believe, that the Poet wrote, •noble She was, and thought I ftood ungag'd ;. i, e. unengag’d: neither my Heart, nor Person, difpos'd of. King. Thou speak'ft it falfely, as I love mine honour And mak'ft conject'ral fears to come into me, Which I would fain fhut out; if it should prove That thou art fo inhuman-'twill not prove fo And yet I know not thou didst hate her deadly, And the is dead; which nothing, but to clofe Her eyes myfelf, could win me to believe, More than to fee this ring. Take him away. [Guards feize Bertram. My fore-patt proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Shall tax my fears of little vanity, Having vainly fear'd too little. Away with him, Ber. If you fhall prove, This ring was ever hers, you fhall as eafie Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was. Exit Bertram guarded. Enter a Gentleman. King. I'm wrap'd in dismal thinkings. Whether I've been to blame or no, I know not:: Who hath for four or five removes come short Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech The King reads a letter. Upon his many protefiations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I bluff to fay it, he won me. Now is the Count Roufillon a widower, his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He fole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to this country for juftice: grant it me, O King, in you it beft lyes; otherwife a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. Diana Capulet. Laf 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 difcov'ry. Seek thefe fuitors : Go speedily, and bring again the Count. Enter Bertram. I am afraid, the life of Helen (lady) 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, My fuit, as I do understand, you know, And both fhall ceafe without your remedy. King. Come hither, Count; do you know these wo men? 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; That the, which marries you, must marry me, Laf. Your reputation comes too fhort for my daugh ter, 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 Lay |