Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for this.

I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu,

To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors : Go, speedily, and bring again the count.

Enter BERTRAM, guarded.

I am afraid, the life of Helen (lady),

Was foully snatch'd.

Count. Now, justice on the doers !

270

King. I wonder, sir, wives are so monstrous to you;

And that you fly them as you swear to them;

Yet you desire to marry. What woman's that?

Enter 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.

280

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.

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 your's,

That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both, or none.

290

Laf. Your reputation comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her.

[TO BERTRAM. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your high

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,

300

'Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your honour, 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.

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,

310

He

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.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you said,

This is his wife,

You saw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loth 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 for a most perfidious slave,

320

With all the spots o'the world tax'd and debosh'd, Which nature sickens with: but to speak truth: 330 Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,

That will speak any thing?

King. She hath that ring of your's.

Ber. I think, she has certain it is, I lik'd her,
And boarded her i' the 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 insuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

840

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 your's, I pray you?
Dia. Sir, much like

The same upon your finger.

350

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 her's.
King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts

you.

Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my lord.

360

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 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 ?

371

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. 381

Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty

erator.

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'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 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 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 your's?