Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, prove your honour, "Till your deeds gain them: fairer Ask him upon his oath, if he does think King. What fay'ft thou to her ? And was a common gamefter to the camp. Count. He blushes, and 'tis his: Laf. I faw the man to day, if man he be. He's quoted for a moft perfidious flave, 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 Madding my eagerness with her restraint; Dia. I must be patient: You, that turn'd off a first so noble wife, 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 ftory then goes false, you threw it him Out of a casement. Dia. I have spoke 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. 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 honourable Gentleman. Tricks he hath had in him, which Gentlemen have. an Par. 'Faith, Sir, he did love her; but how? King. Come, come, to the purpofe; did he love this Woman? Par. 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 Majesty'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 fpeak all thou know'st? Par. Yes, so 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 speak of; therefore I will not speak what I know. King. Thou haft fpoken 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 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 firft wife. Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know. T King. Take her away, I do not like her now; Dia. I'll never tell you. King. Take her away. 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 ftrumpet, by my life; I'm 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 my bail. Stay, royal Sir, [Ex. Widow. The jeweller, that owes the ring, is fent for, And he fhall furety me. But for this Lord, [To Bert 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, fhe feels her young one kick: So there's my riddle; one, that's dead, is quick. And now behold the meaning. Enter Helena, and Widow. King. Is there no Exorcist Hel. No, my good Lord, Hel. Oh, my good Lord, when I was like this maid, you fee, When When from my finger you can get this ring, I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, To the Countess. Laf. Mine eyes fmell onions, I fhall weep anon: Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief, [To Parolles. So, I thank thee, wait on me home. I'll make sport with thee: let thy courtefies alone, they are scurvy ones. King Let us from point to point this story know, To make the even truth in pleasure flow: If thou beeft yet a fresh uncropped flower, [To Diana. Chufe thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; For I can guess, that, by thy honest aid, Thou kept it a wife her felf, thy felf a maid. Of that and all the progrefs more and less, Refolvedly more leifure fhall express: All yet feems well; and if it end fo meet, The bitter paft, more welcome is the fweet. [Exeunt. |