Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrap'd in dismal thinkings.

Gent. Gracious fovereign,

Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;
Here's a petition from a Florentine,

Who had, for four or five removes, come short
To tender it herself. I undertook it,

Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor fuppliant, who by this, I know,
Is here attending: her bufinefs looks in her
With an importing visage; and she told me,
In a fweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your highness with herself.

The King reads.

Upon his many proteftations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to fay it, he won me. Now is the count Roufillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my bonour's paid to him. He ftole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in you it beft lies; otherwife a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET.

Laf. I will buy me a fon 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 fuitors :Go, speedily, and bring again the count.--

Enter Bertram, guarded.

I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady,

removes,]-ftages, come short of the time.

In a fweet verbal brief,]-In few, but well chofen terms.

1 and toll ;]-enter him in the toll-book, to fhew my title to him. toll for this-ring his knell, confider him as a dead man.

Was

Was foully fnatch'd.

Count. Now, juftice on the doers!

King. I wonder, fir, fince wives are monsters to you; And that you fly them as you fwear them lordship, Yet you defire to marry.-What woman's that?

Enter Widow, and Diana.

Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet;

My fuit, as I do understand, you know,

And therefore know how far I may be pitied,

Wid. I am her mother, fir, whose 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 so strange 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;

You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am fo embody'd yours,

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

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 defperate creature, Whom fometimes I have laugh'd with: let your highness 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,

* lordship,]-protection.

1 ceafe,]-decease, die.

mill to friend,]-ill-difpofed to favour you.

'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 think

He had not my virginity.

King. What fay'ft thou to her?

Ber. She's impudent, my lord;

And was a common gamefter 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 refpect, and "rich validity,

Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,

He

gave

it to a commoner o'the camp,

If I be one.

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it:

Of fix preceding ancestors, that gem

Conferr'd by teftament to the fequent iffue,

Hath it been ow'd, and worn. This is his wife;
That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought you faid,

You faw one here in court could witness 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 spots o'the world tax'd and debosh'd;

Q

rich validity.]-great value.

quoted]-noted, branded.

"A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd,

66

Quoted, and fign'd, to do a deed of shame."
KING JOHN, A& IV, Sc. 2. K. John.

P debob'd;]-debauch'd.
VOL. II.

Whose nature fickens, but to speak a 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'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 infuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe got the ring;
And I had that, which inferior might
At market-price have bought.

any

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 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 falfe, you threw it him Out of a casement.

Lia. I have spoke the truth.

all impediments in fancy's course, are motives of more fancy ;]—every obftruction which love meets with, ferves but to encrease the flame. Her infuit coming with her modern grace,]-Her folicitation being feconded with a tolerable share of beauty.

diet me.]-loath me like a prescribed regimen.

Enter

Enter Parolles.

Ber. My lord, I do confess 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, firrah, but tell me true, I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master,

(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 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, fir, he did love her.

King. But how! how, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, fir, as a gentleman loves a woman. King. How is that?

Par. He lov'd her, fir, 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 speak all thou know'ft? 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.