You that turn'd off a first so noble wife, (Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband), Ber. I have it not. King. What ring was yours, I pray you? Dia. The same upon your finger. Sir, much like 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 hers. King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you. Is this the man you speak of? Dia. Ay, my lord. 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? Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. King. How is that? Par. He loved her, sir, and loved her not. King. As thou art a knave, and no knave:What an equivocal companion 27 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'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 28 in thy evidence: therefore stand aside. This ring, you say, was yours? Dia. Dia. It was not lent me neither. 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? 27 i. e. fellow. 28 In the French sense trop fine. So in Bacon's Apophthegms, 1625, p. 252:- Your majesty was too fine for my Lord Bur leigh.' Dia. I never gave it him. Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off and on at pleasure. King. This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know. King. Take her away, I do not like her now; To prison with her: and away with him.— Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, Thou diest within this hour. Dia. I'll never tell you. King. Take her away. sir; Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty; He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't: I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not. Great King, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am 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 [Exit Widow. The jeweller that owes 30 the ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, Though 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 though she be, she feels her young one kick; So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick: And now behold the meaning. 29 i. e. common woman, with whom any one may be familiar. 30 Owns. King. Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. Is there no exorcist 31 Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? Is't real that I see? Hel. No, my good lord; "Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name, and not the thing. Ber. your Both, both: 0, pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring, And, look here's you, letter: This it says, When from my finger you can get this ring, And are by me with child, &c.—This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, I'll love her dearly; ever, ever dearly. Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon: -Good Tom Drum, [To PAROLLES], lend me a handkerchief: So, I thank thee; wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, they are scurvy ones. King. Let us from point to point this story know, 31 Thus, in Julius Cæsar, Ligarius says: Thou like an exorcist hast conjur'd up My mortified spirit.' Exorcist and conjurer were synonymous in Shakspeare's time. The great poet has been accused of using this word erroneously in a sense peculiar to himself, but the dictionaries of his time show that it was the universal acceptation of the word. Thus Florio in his Italian Dictionary, ed. 1598. Essorcista, a conjurer, an exorcist.'-' Essorcismi, exorcismes, conjurations, incantations, spels;' and so throughout: this definition is not peculiar to Florio, all the dictionaries have it. 336 ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. ACT V. To make the even truth in pleasure flow: [To DIANA. Advancing. The King's a beggar, now the play is done: That you express content; which we will pay, [Exeunt. 32 i. e. hear us without interruption, and take our parts, i. e. support and defend us. THIS play has many delightful scenes, though not sufficiently probable, and some happy characters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boaster and a coward, such as has always been the sport of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt than in the hands of Shakspeare. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness. The story of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana and Angelo, and, to confess the truth, scarcely merited to be heard a second time. JOHNSON. |