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 hadst this ring, Thou dieft within this hour. Dia. I'll never tell you. Dia. I'll put in bail, my Liege. King. I think thee now fome common customer. 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 elfe 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 Sir, [Exit Widow. The jeweller, 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. '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 transaction; 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 Enter Helena, and Widow. King. Is there no Exorcift s 8 Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? Hel. No, my good Lord, Hel. Oh, my good Lord, when I was like this maid, And are by me with child, &c. This is done. I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce ftep between me and you! O, my dear mother, do I fee you living? [To the Countes. Laf. Mine eyes fmell onions, I fhall weep anon: Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief, [ToParolles. So, I thank thee, wait on me home. I'll make sport with thee let thy courtefies alone, they are fcurvy ones. King. Let us from point to point this story know, To make the even truth in pleasure flow : If thou beeft yet a fresh uncropped flower, [To Diana. The bitter paft, more welcome is the fweet. [Exeunt. 8 Exorcift] This word is ufed not very properly for erchanter. EPI. T Spoken by the KING. HE King's a beggar now the play is done: That you express content; which we will pay, Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts.] The meaning is Grant us then your patience; hear us without inter ruption. And take our parts; that is, fupport and defend us. This play has many delightful fcenes, though not fufficiently probable, and fome happy characters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boafter and a coward, fuch as has always been the fport of the ftage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt than in the hands of Shakespeare. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generofity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate when he is dead by his unkindness, fneaks home to a fecond marriage, is accused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falfhood, and is difmiffed to happiness. The ftory of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana and Angelo, and, to confefs the truth, fcarcely merited to be heard a second time. The story is copied from a novel of Boccace, which may be read in Shakespeare Illuftrated, with remarks not more favourable to Bertram than my own. THE |