Count. With very much content, my lord, and I wish it happily effected.

Re-enter Clown. Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a of as able body as when he numbered thirty; he patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a scar will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him under it, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly that in such intelligence hath seldom failed.

patch of velvet : his left cheek is a cheek of two Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare. ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain livery of honour; so, belike, is that. with me till they meet together.

Cla, But it is your carbonadoed face. Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners Laf. Let us go see your son, I pray you ; I long I might safely be admitted.

to talk with the young noble soldier. Count. You need but plead your honourable Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate privilege.

fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; the head, and nod at every man. (Erenst. hut, I thank my God, it holds yet.

ACT V.

SCENE I. Marseilles. A Street.

Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well

thank'd, Enter HELENA, Widow, and Diana, with two

Whate'er falls more. -We must to horse again;-
Attendants.
Go, go, provide.

[Ereunt.
Hel. But this exceeding posting, day and night,
Must wear your spirits low : we cannot help it ; SCENE II. Rousillon. The inner Court of the
But since you have made the days and nights as

Countess's Palace. one, To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,

Enter Clown and PAROLLES. Be bold, you do so grow in my requital,

Par. Good monsieur Lavatch, give my lord As nothing can unroot you. In happy time; Lafeu this letter : I have ere now, sir, been better

known to you, when I have held familiarity with Enter a gentle Astringer.

fresher clothes ; but I am now, sir, muddied in forThis man may help me to his majesty's ear, tune's moat, and smell somewhat strong of her If he would spend his power. — God save you, sir. strong displeasure. Gent. And you.

Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will Gent. I have been sometimes there.

henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen Pr'ythee, allow the wind. From the report that goes upon your goodness ; Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir ; I And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, spake but by a metaphor. Which lay nice manners by, I put you to

Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will The use of your own virtues, for the which

stop my nose ; or against any man's metaphor. I shall continue thankful.

Pr’ythee, get thee further. Gent.

What's your will ? Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Hel. That it will please you

Clo. Foh, pr’ythee, stand away; A paper from To give this poor petition to the king ;

fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, And aid me with that store of power you have, here he comes himself. To come into his presence.

Enter LaFeu.
Gent. The king's not here.
Hel.
Not here, sir ?

Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's Gent.

Not, indeed : cat (but not a musk-cat,) that has fallen into the He hence remov'd last night, and with more haste unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, Than is his use.

is muddied withal : Pray you, sir, use the carp as Wid.

Lord, how we lose our pains ! you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingeHel. All's well that ends well ; yet ;

nious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his disThough time seem so advérse, and means unfit. tress in my smiles of comfort, and leave him to your I do beseech you, whither is he gone ?

lordship

[Erit Clown. Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;

Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath Whither I am going.

cruelly scratched. Hel. I do beseech you, sir,

Laf. And what would you have me to do ? 'tis Since you are like to see the king before me, too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you Commend the paper to his gracious hand;

played the knave with fortune, that she should Which I presume, shall render you no blame, scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and But rather make you thank your pains for it : would not have knaves thrive long under her ? I will come after you, with what good speed There's a quart d'ecu for you : Let the justice Our means will make us means.

make you and fortune friends; I am for other buGent.

This I'll do for you. siness.

found me.

Par. I beseech your honour, to hear me one King. I am not a day of season, single word.

For thou may'st see a sun-shine and a hail Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you In me at once : But to the brightest beams shall ba't; save your word.

Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth, Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. The time is fair again. Laf. You beg more than one word then.-Cox'my Ber.

My high-repented blames, passion! give me your hand : How does your drum? Dear sovereign, pardon to me. Par. O my good lord, you were the first that King.

All is whole ;

Not one word more of the consumed time. Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that Let's take the instant by the forward top ; lost thee.

For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some The inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Tace, for you did bring me out.

Steals ere we can effect them: You remember Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon The daughter of this lord ? me at once both the office of God and the devil ? Ber. Admiringly, my liege : at first dre brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart out (Trumpets sound.] The king's coming, I Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue : know by his trumpets. — Sirrah, inquire further where the impression of mine eye infixing, after me; I had talk of you last night : though you Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, ue a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Which warp'd the line of every other favour; Par. I praise God for you.

(Exeunt. Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stol'n;

Extended or contracted all proportions, SCENE III. The same. A Room in the To a most hideous object : Thence it came, Countess's Palace.

That she, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself, Flourish. Enter King, COUNTESS, Lafer, Lords, Since I have lost, have lov’d, was in mine eye

The dust that did offend it.
Gentlemen, Guards, &c.

King.

Well excus'd: King. We lost a jewel of her ; and our esteem That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away Was made much poorer by it: but your son, From the great compt: But love, that comes too As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know

late, Her estimation home.

Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, Court.

'Tis past, my liege : To the great sender turns a sour offence, And I beseech your majesty to make it

Crying, That's good that's gone : our rash faults Natural rebellion, done i'the blaze of youth ; Make trivial price of serious things we have, When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, Not knowing them, until we know their grave : O'erbears it, and burns on.

Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, King.

My honour'd lady, Destroy our friends, and after weep their dust : I have forgiven and forgotten all;

Our own love waking cries to see what's done, Though my revenges were high bent upon him, While shameful hate sleps out the afternoon. And watch'd the time to shoot.

Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her, Lef. This I must say,

Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin : But first I beg my pardon, — The young lord The main consents are had ; and here we'll stay Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady, To see our widower's second marriage-day. Offence of miglity note; but to himself

Count. Which better than the first, o dear hea The greatest wrong of all : he lost a wife,

ven, bless! Whose beauty did astonish the survey

Or, ere they meet in me, O nature, cease ! Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive; Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's Whose dear perfection, hearts that scorn'd to serve, Humbly call'd mistress.

Must be digested, give a favour from you, Praising what is lost, To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, Vakes the remembrance dear. - Well, call him That she may quickly come. - By my old beard,

And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill

Was a sweet creature ; such a ring as this, All repetition : - Let him not ask our pardon ; The last that e'er I took her leave at court, The nature of his great offence is dead,

I saw upon her finger. And deeper than oblivion do we bury

Ber.

Hers it was not. The incensing relicks of it: let him approach, King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine A stranger, no offender ; and inform him,

eye, So 'tis our will he should.

While I was speaking, oft was fasten’d to it. Genl.

I shall, my liege. This ring was mine ; and, when I gave it Helen,

[Erit Gentleman. I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood King. What says he to your daughter? have you Necessitied to help, that by this token spoke?

I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her Laf. All that he is hath reference to your highness. Of what should stead her most? King. Then shall we have a match. I have letters Ber.

My gracious sovereign,

Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,
That set him high in fame.

The ring was never hers.
Count.

Son, on my life,
Enter BERTRAM.

I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it
Leaf
He looks well on't. At her life's rate.

name

King.

hither;

sent me,

Laf.

I am sure, I saw her wear it. To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors :Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never saw it : Go, speedily, and bring again the count. In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,

(Ereunt Gentleman, and some Attendants. Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain’d the name I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Of her that threw it : noble she was, and thought Was foully snatch'd. I stood ingag'd: but when I had subscrib'd

Count.

Now, justice on the doers ! To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully,

Enter BERTRAM, guarded.
I could not answer in that course of honour
As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,

King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to In heavy satisfaction, and would never

you, Receive the ring again.

And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, King. Plutus himself,

Yet you desire to marry. — What woman's that? That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Hath not in nature's mystery more science,

Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and Diana. Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas H len's, Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Whoever gave it you : Then, if you know

Derived from the ancient Capulet ; That you are well acquainted with yourself, My suit, as I do understand, you know, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement And therefore know how far I may be pitied. You got it from her: she callid the saints to surety, Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour That she would never put it from her finger, Both suffer under this complaint we bring, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,

And both shall cease, without your remedy. (Where you have never come,) or sent it us

King. Come hither, count; Do you know these Upon her great disaster.

women ? Ber. She never saw it.

Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny King. Thou speak’st it falsely, as I love mine But that I know them: Do they charge me further? honour;

Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me,

wife? Which I would fain shut out: If it should prove Ber. She's none of mine, my lord. That thou art so inhuman, —'twill not prove so;- Dia.

If you shall marry, And yet I know not:- thou didst hate her deadly, You give away this hand, and that is mine; And she is dead; which nothing, but to close You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine ; Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,

You give away myself, which is known mine; More than to see this ring. - Take him away. For I by vow am so embodied yours,

[Guards seize BERTRAM. That she, which marries you, must marry me, My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,

Either both or none. Shall tax my fears of little vanity,

Laf. Your reputation [to BERTRAM.) comes too Having vainly fear'd too little. --Away with him ;- short for my daughter, you are no husband for her. We'll sift this matter further.

Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creaBer. If you shall prove

ture, This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy

Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,

highness
Where yet she never was. (Erit Bertram, guarded. Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour,

Than for to think that I would sink it here.
Enter a Gentleman.

King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

friend, Gent.

Gracious sovereign, Till your deeds gain them : Fairer prove your hoWhether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;

nour, Here's a petition from a Florentine,

Than in my thought it lies ! Who hath, for four or five removes, come short Dia.

Good my lord,
To tender it herself. I undertook it,

Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech He had not my virginity.
Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know,

King. What say'st thou to her ?
Is here attending : her business looks in her

Ber.

She's impudent, my lord; With an importing visage; and she told me, And was a common gamester to the camp. In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern

Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so, Your highness with herself.

He might have bought me at a common price:

Do not believe him : 0, behold this ring, King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to Whose high respect, and rich validity, marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say

Did lack a parallel ; yet, for all that, it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a

He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, widower ; his are forfeited to me, and my

If I be one. honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence,

Count. He blushes, and 'tis it : taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for of six preceding ancestors, that gem iustice : Grar:t it me, 0 king; in you it best lies ; Conferr’d by testament to the sequent issue, otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is un- Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife; done.

DIANA CAPULET.

That ring's a thousand proofs. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll King.

Methought, you said, him for this, I'll none of him.

You saw one here in court could witness it. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce Lafeu,

So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles.

a

Vows

Inf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be. loved her, -for, indeed, he was mad for her, and King. Find him, and bring him hither.

talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I Ber.

What of him? know not what : yet I was in that credit with them He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,

at that time, that I knew of their going to bed; and With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd ; of other motions, as promising her marriage, and Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth : things that would derive me ill will to speak of, in I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,

therefore I will not speak what I know. That will speak any thing?

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou She hath that ring of yours. canst say they are married : But thou art too fine in Ber. I think, she has : certain it is, I lik'd ber, thy evidence; therefore stand aside. And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth : This ring, you say, was yours? She knew her distance, and did angle for me,

Dia.

Ay, my good lord. Vadding my eagerness with her restraint,

King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? As all impediments in fancy's course

Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,

King. Who lent it you ? Har insuit coming with her modern grace,

Dia.

It was not lent me neither. subdued me to her rate : she got the ring;

King. Where did you find it ther? And I led that which any inferior might

Dia.

I found it not. At market price have bought.

King. If it were yours by none of all these ways,

I must be patient; How could you give it him ? You, that turn'd off a first so noble wife,

Dia.

I never gave it him. Vay justly diet me. I pray you yet,

Laf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband) goes off and on at pleasure. Seed for your ring, I will return it home,

King. This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. And give me mine again.

Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I Ber. I have it not.

know. King. What ring was yours, I pray you?

King. Take her away, I do not like her now; Dia.

Sir, much like To prison with her : and away with him. The same upon your finger.

Unless thou tell’st me where thou hadst this ring, King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of Thou diest within this hour. late.

Dia.

I'll never tell you. Dis. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. Take her away. King. The story then goes false, you threw it him Dia.

I'll put in bail, my liege. Out of a casement.

King. I think thee now some common customer. Dia. I bave spoke the truth.

Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. Enter PAROLLES.

King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this

while ? Ber. My lord, I do confess, the ring was hers. Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't : you.

I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.

a Is this the man you speak of?

Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life ;

Ay, my lord. I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. King. Tell me, sirrah, but, tell me true, I charge

[Pointing to Lareu. you,

King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her. Not fearing the displeasure of your master,

Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal Which, on your just proceeding, I'll keep off,)

[Erit Widow. By luim, and by this woman here, what know The jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for,

And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Per. So please your majesty, my master hath Who hath abus’d me, as he knows himself, bea an honourable gentleman ; tricks he hath had Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him : in him, which gentlemen have.

He knows himself my bed he hath defil'd; Kraz. Coine, corne, to the purpose : Did he love and at that time he got his wife with child : The woman?

Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick; Por. 'Faith, sir, he did love her; But how ? So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick ; King. How, I pray you ?

And now behold the meaning. Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves

Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. King. How is that?

King.

Is there no exorcist Par. He loved her, sir, and loved her not. Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? King. As thou art a knave, and no knave :- Is't real, that I see? What an equivocal companion is this?

Hel.

No, my good lord ; Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesty's 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, coinband.

The name, and not the thing. Lef. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty Ber.

Both, both; 0, pardon !

Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage ? I found you wond'rous kind. There is your ring, Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. And, look you, here's your letter ; This it says, King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st ? | When from my finger you can get this ring,

Par. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go be- And are by me with child, &c. This is done : tween them, as I said; but more than that, he will you be mine, now you are doubly won ?

sir ;

you?

a

Orator.

Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this For I can guess, that, by thy honest aid, clearly,

Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid. I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Of that and all the progress, more and less, Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Resolvedly more leisure shall express : Deadly divorce step between me and you ! - All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,' 0, my dear mother, do I see you living ?

The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon :

(Flourish. Good Tom Drum, (to PAROLLES. ] lend me a handkerchief: So, I thank thee; wait on me home, I'll

(Advancing.)
make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, The king's a beggar, now the play is done :
they are scurvy ones.

All is well ended, if this suit be won,
King. Let us from point to point this story know, That you express content ; which we will pay,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow : - With strife to please you, day exceeding day :
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,

Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts ;

(To DIANA. Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower

(Excunt.