2697Kin We lost a Iewell of her, and our esteeme

2698Was made much poorer by it: but your sonne,

2699As mad in folly, lack'd the sence to know

2700Her estimation home.

2701OldLa 'Tis past my Liege,

2702And I beseech your Maiestie to make it

2703Naturall rebellion, done i'th blade of youth,

2704When oyle and fire, too strong for reasons force,

2705Ore-beares it, and burnes on.

2706Kin My honour'd Lady,

2707I haue forgiuen and forgotten all,

2708Though my reuenges were high bent vpon him,

2709And watch'd the time to shoote.

2710Laf This I must say,

2711But first I begge my pardon: the yong Lord

2712Did to his Maiesty, his Mother, and his Ladie,

2713Offence of mighty note; but to himselfe

2714The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife,

2715Whose beauty did astonish the suruey

2716Of richest eies: whose words all eares tooke captiue,

2717Whose deere perfection, hearts that scorn'd to serue,

2718Humbly call'd Mistris.

2719Kin Praising what is lost,

2720Makes the remembrance deere. Well, call him hither,

2721We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill

2722All repetition: Let him not aske our pardon,

2723The nature of his great offence is dead,

2724And deeper then obliuion, we do burie

2725Th' incensing reliques of it. Let him approach

2726A stranger, no offender; and informe him

2727So 'tis our will he should.

2728Gent I shall my Liege.

2729Kin What sayes he to your daughter,

2730Haue you spoke?

2731Laf All that he is, hath reference to your Highnes.

2732Kin Then shall we haue a match. I haue letters sent

2733me, that sets him high in fame.

2735Laf He lookes well on't.

2736Kin I am not a day of season,

2737For thou maist see a sun-shine, and a haile

2738In me at once: But to the brightest beames

2739Distracted clouds giue way, so stand thou forth,

2740The time is faire againe.

2741Ber My high repented blames

2742Deere Soueraigne pardon to me.

2743Kin All is whole,

2744Not one word more of the consumed time,

2745Let's take the instant by the forward top:

2746For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees

2747Th' inaudible, and noiselesse foot of time

2748Steales, ere we can effect them. You remember

2749The daughter of this Lord?

2750Ber Admiringly my Liege, at first

2751I stucke my choice vpon her, ere my heart

2752Durst make too bold a herauld of my tongue:

2753Where the impression of mine eye enfixing,

2754Contempt his scornfull Perspectiue did lend me,

2755Which warpt the line, of euerie other fauour,

2756Scorn'd a faire colour, or exprest it stolne,

2757Extended or contracted all proportions

2758To a most hideous obiect. Thence it came,

2759That she whom all men prais'd, and whom my selfe,

2760Since I haue lost, haue lou'd; was in mine eye

2761The dust that did offend it.

2762Kin Well excus'd:

2763That thou didst loue her, strikes some scores away

2764From the great compt: but loue that comes too late,

2765Like a remorsefull pardon slowly carried

2766To the great sender, turnes a sowre offence,

2767Crying, that's good that's gone: Our rash faults,

2768Make triuiall price of serious things we haue,

2769Not knowing them, vntill we know their graue.

2770Oft our displeasures to our selues vniust,

2771Destroy our friends, and after weepe their dust:

2772Our owne loue waking, cries to see what's don,e

2773While shamefull hate sleepes out the afternoone.

2774Be this sweet Helensknell, and now forget her.

2775Send forth your amorous token for faire Maudlin

2776The maine consents are had, and heere wee'l stay

2777To see our widdowers second marriage day:

2778Which better then the first, O deere heauen blesse,

2779Or, ere they meete in me, O Nature cesse.

2780Laf Come on my sonne, in whom my houses name

2781Must be digested: giue a fauour from you

2782To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,

2783That she may quickly come. By my old beard,

2784And eu'rie haire that's on't, Helenthat's dead

2785Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,

2786The last that ere I tooke her leaue at Court,

2787I saw vpon her finger.

2788Ber Hers it was not.

2789King Now pray you let me see it. For mine eye,

2790While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd too't:

2791This Ring was mine, and when I gaue it Hellen

2792I bad her if her fortunes euer stoode

2793Necessitied to helpe, that by this token

2794I would releeue her. Had you that craft to reaue her

2795Of what should stead her most?

2796Ber My gracious Soueraigne,

2797How ere it pleases you to take it so,

2798The ring was neuer hers.

2799OldLa Sonne, on my life

2800I haue seene her weare it, and she reckon'd it

2801At her liues rate.

2802Laf I am sure I saw her weare it.

2803Ber You are deceiu'd my Lord, she neuer saw it:

2804In Florence was it from a casement throwne mee,

2805Wrap'd in a paper, which contain'd the name

2806Of her that threw it: Noble she was, and thought

2807I stood ingag'd, but when I had subscrib'd

2808To mine owne fortune, and inform'd her fully,

2809I could not answer in that course of Honour

2810As she had made the ouerture, she ceast

2811In heauie satisfaction, and would neuer

2812Receiue the Ring againe.

2813Kin Platus himselfe,

2814That knowes the tinct and multiplying med'cine,

2815Hath not in natures mysterie more science,

2816Then I haue in this Ring. 'Twas mine, 'twas Helens

2817Who euer gaue it you: then if you know

2818That you are well acquainted with your selfe,

2819Confesse 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement

2820You got it from her. She call'd the Saints to suretie,

2821That she would neuer put it from her finger,

2822Vnlesse she gaue it to your selfe in bed,

2823Where you haue neuer come: or sent it vs

2824Vpon her great disaster.

2825Ber She neuer saw it.

2826Kin Thou speak'st it falsely: as I loue mine Honor,

2827And mak'st connecturall feares to come into me,

2828Which I would faine shut out, if it should proue

2829That thou art so inhumane, 'twill not proue so:

2830And yet I know not, thou didst hate her deadly,

2831And she is dead, which nothing but to close

2832Her eyes my selfe, could win me to beleeue,

2833More then to see this Ring. Take him away,

2834My fore-past proofes, how ere the matter fall

2835Shall taze my feares of little vanitie,

2836Hauing vainly fear'd too little. Away with him,

2837Wee'l sift this matter further.

2838Ber If you shall proue

2839This Ring was euer hers, you shall as easie

2840Proue that I husbanded her bed in Florence,

2841Where yet she neuer was.

2843King I am wrap'd in dismall thinkings.

2844Gen Gracious Soueraigne.

2845Whether I haue beene too blame or no, I know not,

2846Here's a petition from a Florentine,

2847Who hath for foure or fiue remoues come short,

2848To tender it her selfe. I vndertooke it,

2849Vanquish'd thereto by the faire grace and speech

2850Of the poore suppliant, who by this I know

2851Is heere attending: her businesse lookes in her

2852With an importing visage, and she told me

2853In a sweet verball breefe, it did concerne

2854Your Highnesse with her selfe.

2864Laf I will buy me a sonne in Law in a faire, and toule

2865for this. Ile none of him.

2866Kin The heauens haue thought well on thee Lafew

2867To bring forth this discou'rie, seeke these sutors:

2868Go speedily, and bring againe the Count.

2870I am a-feard the life of Hellen(Ladie)

2871Was fowly snatcht.

2872OldLa Now iustice on the doers.

2873King I wonder sir, sir, wiues are monsters to you,

2874And that you flye them as you sweare them Lordship,

2875Yet you desire to marry. What woman's that?

2877Dia I am my Lord a wretched Florentine,

2878Deriued from the ancient Capilet,

2879My suite as I do vnderstand you know,

2880And therefore know how farre I may be pittied.

2881Wid I am her Mother sir, whose age and honour

2882Both suffer vnder this complaint we bring,

2883And both shall cease, without your remedie.

2884King Come hether Count, do you know these Wo-

2885men?

2886Ber My Lord, I neither can nor will denie,

2887But that I know them, do they charge me further?

2888Dia Why do you looke so strange vpon your wife?

2889Ber She's none of mine my Lord.

2890Dia If you shall marrie

2891You giue away this hand, and that is mine,

2892You giue away heauens vowes, and those are mine:

2893You giue away my selfe, which is knowne mine:

2894For I by vow am so embodied yours,

2895That she which marries you, must marrie me,

2896Either both or none.

2897Laf Your reputation comes too short for my daugh-

2898ter, you are no husband for her.

2899Ber My Lord, this is a fond and desp'rate creature,

2900Whom sometime I haue laugh'd with: Let your highnes

2901Lay a more noble thought vpon mine honour,

2902Then for to thinke that I would sinke it heere.

2903Kin Sir for my thoughts, you haue them il to friend,

2904Till your deeds gaine them fairer: proue your honor,

2905Then in my thought it lies.

2906Dian Good my Lord,

2907Aske him vpon his oath, if hee do's thinke

2908He had not my virginity.

2909Kin What saist thou to her?

2910Ber She's impudent my Lord,

2911And was a common gamester to the Campe.

2912Dia He do's me wrong my Lord: If I were so,

2913He might haue bought me at a common price.

2914Do not beleeue him. O behold this Ring,

2915Whose high respect and rich validitie

2916Did lacke a Paralell: yet for all that

2917He gaue it to a Commoner a'th Campe

2918If I be one.

2919Coun He blushes, and 'tis hit:

2920Of sixe preceding Ancestors that Iemme

2921Confer'd by testament to'th sequent issue

2922Hath it beene owed and worne. This is his wife,

2923That Ring's a thousand proofes.

2924King Me thought you saide

2925You saw one heere in Court could witnesse it.

2926Dia I did my Lord, but loath am to produce

2927So bad an instrument, his names Parrolles

2928Laf I saw the man to day, if man he bee.

2929Kin Finde him, and bring him hether.

2930Ros What of him:

2931He's quoted for a most perfidious slaue

2932With all the spots a'th world, taxt and debosh'd,

2933Whose nature sickens: but to speake a truth,

2934Am I, or that or this for what he'l vtter,

2935That will speake any thing.

2936Kin She hath that Ring of yours.

2937Ros I thinke she has; certaine it is I lyk'd her,

2938And boorded her i'th wanton way of youth:

2939She knew her distance, and did angle for mee,

2940Madding my eagernesse with her restraint,

2941As all impediments in fancies course

2942Are motiues of more fancie, and in fine,

2943Her insuite comming with her moderne grace,

2944Subdu'd me to her rate, she got the Ring,

2945And I had that which any inferiour might

2946At Market price haue bought.

2947Dia I must be patient:

2948You that haue turn'd off a first so noble wife,

2949May iustly dyet me. I pray you yet,

2950(Since you lacke vertue, I will loose a husband)

2951Send for your Ring, I will returne it home,

2952And giue me mine againe.

2953Ros I haue it not.

2954Kin What Ring was yours I pray you?

2955Dian Sir much like the same vpon your finger.

2956Kin Know you this Ring, this Ring was his of late.

2957Dia And this was it I gaue him being a bed.

2958Kin The story then goes false, you threw it him

2959Out of a Casement.

2960Dia I haue spoke the truth. Enter Parolles

2961Ros My Lord, I do confesse the ring was hers.

2962Kin You boggle shrewdly, euery feather starts you:

2963Is this the man you speake of?

2964Dia I, my Lord.

2965Kin Tell me sirrah, but tell me true I charge you,

2966Not fearing the displeasure of your master:

2967Which on your iust proceeding, Ile keepe off,

2968By him and by this woman heere, what know you?

2969Par So please your Maiesty, my master hath bin an

2970honourable Gentleman. Trickes hee hath had in him,

2971which Gentlemen haue.

2972Kin Come, come, to'th' purpose: Did hee loue this

2973woman?

2974Par Faith sir he did loue her, but how.

2975Kin How I pray you?

2976Par He did loue her sir, as a Gent. loues a Woman.

2977Kin How is that?

2978Par He lou'd her sir, and lou'd her not.

2979Kin As thou art a knaue and no knaue, what an equi-

2980uocall Companion is this?

2981Par I am a poore man, and at your Maiesties com-

2982mand.

2983Laf Hee's a good drumme my Lord, but a naughtie

2984Orator.

2985Dian Do you know he promist me marriage?

2986Par Faith I know more then Ile speake.

2987Kin But wilt thou not speake all thou know'st?

2988Par Yes so please your Maiesty: I did goe betweene

2989them as I said, but more then that he loued her, for in-

2990deede he was madde for her, and talkt of Sathan, and of

2991Limbo, and of Furies, and I know not what: yet I was in

2992that credit with them at that time, that I knewe of their

2993going to bed, and of other motions, as promising her

2994marriage, and things which would deriue mee ill will to

2995speake of, therefore I will not speake what I know.

2996Kin Thou hast spoken all alreadie, vnlesse thou canst

2997say they are maried, but thou art too fine in thy euidence,

2998therefore stand aside. This Ring you say was yours.

2999Dia I my good Lord.

3000Kin Where did you buy it? Or who gaue it you?

3001Dia It was not giuen me, nor I did not buy it.

3002Kin Who lent it you?

3003Dia It was not lent me neither.

3004Kin Where did you finde it then?

3005Dia I found it not.

3006Kin If it were yours by none of all these wayes,

3007How could you giue it him?

3008Dia I neuer gaue it him.

3009Laf This womans an easie gloue my Lord, she goes

3010off and on at pleasure.

3011Kin This Ring was mine, I gaue it his first wife.

3012Dia It might be yours or hers for ought I know.

3013Kin Take her away, I do not like her now,

3014To prison with her: and away with him,

3015Vnlesse thou telst me where thou hadst this Ring,

3016Thou diest within this houre.

3017Dia Ile neuer tell you.

3018Kin Take her away.

3019Dia Ile put in baile my liedge.

3020Kin I thinke thee now some common Customer.

3021Dia By Ioue if euer I knew man 'twas you.

3022King Wherefore hast thou accusde him al this while.

3023Dia Because he's guiltie, and he is not guilty:

3024He knowes I am no Maid, and hee'l sweare too't:

3025Ile sweare I am a Maid, and he knowes not.

3026Great King I am no strumpet, by my life,

3027I am either Maid, or else this old mans wife.

3028Kin She does abuse our eares, to prison with her.

3029Dia Good mother fetch my bayle. Stay Royall sir,

3030The Ieweller that owes the Ring is sent for,

3031And he shall surety me. But for this Lord,

3032Who hath abus'd me as he knowes himselfe,

3033Though yet he neuer harm'd me, heere I quit him.

3034He knowes himselfe my bed he hath defil'd,

3035And at that time he got his wife with childe:

3036Dead though she be, she feeles her yong one kicke:

3037So there's my riddle, one that's dead is quicke,

3038And now behold the meaning.

3040Kin Is there no exorcist

3041Beguiles the truer Office of mine eyes?

3042Is't reall that I see?

3043Hel No my good Lord,

Y 'Tis

3044'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,

3045The name, and not the thing.

3046Ros Both, both, O pardon.

3047Hel Oh my good Lord, when I was like this Maid,

3048I found you wondrous kinde, there is your Ring,

3049And looke you, heeres your letter: this it sayes,

3050When from my finger you can get this Ring,

3051And is by me with childe, &c. This is done,

3052Will you be mine now you are doubly wonne?

3053Ros If she my Liege can make me know this clearly,

3054Ile loue her dearely, euer, euer dearly.

3055Hel If it appeare not plaine, and proue vntrue,

3056Deadly diuorce step betweene me and you.

3057O my deere mother do I see you liuing?

3058Laf Mine eyes smell Onions, I shall weepe anon:

3059Good Tom Drumme lend me a handkercher.

3060So I thanke thee, waite on me home, Ile make sport with

3061thee: Let thy curtsies alone, they are scuruy ones.

3062King Let vs from point to point this storie know,

3063To make the euen truth in pleasure flow:

3064If thou beest yet a fresh vncropped flower,

3065Choose thou thy husband, and Ile pay thy dower.

3066For I can guesse, that by thy honest ayde,

3067Thou keptst a wife her selfe, thy selfe a Maide.

3068Of that and all the progresse more and lesse,

3069Resoluedly more leasure shall expresse:

3070All yet seemes well, and if it end so meete,

3071The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.