That she, which marries, you, must marry me, Either both or none. Laf. Your reputation [to Ber. ] comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your highness d Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would sink it here.. King, Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend, Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your honour, Than in my thought it lies! Dia. Good my lord, Ask him upon his oath, if he does think King What say'st thou to her? Ber. She's impudent, my lord; And was a common gamester to the camp. were so, He might have bought me at a common price: Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, Hath it been ow'd, and worn. This is his wife; That ring's a thousand proofs. King. Methought, you said, You saw one here in court could witness it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles. Laf. I saw the man to day, if man he be. He's quoted for a most perfidious slave, Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth: King. She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think, she 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 insuit coming with her modern grace, Subdued me to her rate; she got the ring; And I had that, which any inferior might At market price have bought. Dia. I must be patient; 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? The same 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 story then goes false, you threw Somit him "Out of a casement. Dia. I have spoke the truth. Enter PAROLLES. Ber. My lord, I do confefs, the ring was hers. 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? King. How, I pray you? Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. King. How is that? Par. He lov'd her, sir, 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 promised 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 be tween 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 which 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 marry'd: but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore, stand aside. This ring, you say was yours? Dia. Ay, my good lord, King. Where did you buy it? or who you? gave it Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. King. Who lent it you? 'Dia. It was not lent me neither. King. 'Where did you 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? 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 had'st this ring, Thou diest within this hour. Dia. I'll never tell you. King. Take her away. Dia. I'll put in bail, my liege. King. I think thee now some common cus tomer. Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew a man, 'twas you. King. Wherefore hast 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 swear to't; I'll swear, I am a maid, and he hnows 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, roy al sir; [Exit Widow.] The jeweller, that owes the ring, is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who bath 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, Re-enter Widow, with HELENA. King. Is there no exorcist, Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?NT Hel. No, my good lord; 'Tis but a shadow of a wifey you see, The name, and not the thing, Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, I found you wond'rous kind. There is your ring, And, look you, here's your letter; This it says, When from my finger you can get this ring, |