Derived from the antient 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? Per. 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 myfelf, which is known mine;
For I by vow am fo embodied yours,

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

Laf. Your reputation comes too fhort for my daughter, you are no hufband 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 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, Than in my thought it lies!

Dia. Good my Lord,

Afk him upon his oath, if he does not think

He had not my virginity.

King. What fay'it thou to her?

Ber. She's impudent, my Lord;

And was a common gamefter to the camp.

Die. He does me wrong, my Lord; if I were fo, He might have bought me at a common price.

Do

Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,
Whofe high respect and rich validity s
Did lack a parallel: yet for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o'th' camp,
If I be one.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis his :
Of fix preceding ancestors, that gem
Conferr'd by Teftament to th' fequent iffue,
Hath it been ow'd and worn.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you faid,

This is his wife,

You faw one here in Court could witnefs it.
Dia. I did, my Lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an inftrument; his name's Parolles.
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 most perfidious slave,
With all the fpots 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 eagnernefs 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,

5 Validity is a very bad word for value, which yet I think is its meaning, unless it be confidered as making a contract valid.

an occafion by which love is heightened. And, to conclude, ber folicitation concurring with her fashionable appearance, she got the ring.

I am not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the word modern, which, perhaps, fignifies rather meanly pretty.

Subdu'd

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 first 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. Dea. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. The ftory then goes falfe, you threw it him Out of a casement.

Dia. I have fpoke the truth.

SCENE VI.

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 difpleafure 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

King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, Sir, as a Gentleman loves a Woman.

-King. How it that?

Per. 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 Com

mand.

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 fpeak.
King. But wilt thou not fpeak all thou know'ft?

Par. Yes, fo please your Majefty. I did go between them, as I faid; 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 promifing her marriage, and things that would derive me ill-will to fpeak of; therefore I will not fpeak what I know.

King. Thou haft fpoken all already, unless thou canft 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.

Laf. This woman's an eafy glove, my Lord, fhe 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. 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 hadft 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 cuftomer. 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 abufe our ears; to prifon with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal Sir, [Exit Widow. The jeweiler, that owns 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. 7 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.

7 He knows himself, &c.] This dialogue is too long, fince the audience already knew the whole tranfaction; nor is there any reafon for puzzling the king

and playing with his paffions; but it was much easier than to make a pathetical interview between Helen and her husband, her mother, and the king.

Enter