The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Laf. All that he is hath reference to your high- Of what should stead her most?

ness.

Ber.

My gracious sovereign,

King. Then shall we have a match. I have Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,
The ring was never hers.
Count.

letters sent me,

That set him high in fame.

Laj.

Enter Bertram.

He looks well on't. King. I am not a day of season, For thou may'st see a sunshine and a hail In me at once: But to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth, The time is fair again.

Ber.

My high-repented blames,2
Dear sovereign, pardon to me.
King.
All is whole;

Not one word more of the consumed time,
Let's take the instant by the forward top;
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals ere we can effect them: You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first

I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue :
Where the impression of mine eye enfixing,
Contempt his scornful perspéctive did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favour;
Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stol'n;
Extended or contracted all proportions,
To a most hideous object: Thence it came,
That she, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself,
Since I have lost, have lov'd, was in mine eye
The dust that did offend it.

King.
Well excus'd:
That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away
From the great compt: But love, that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, That's good that's gone: our rash faults,
Make trivial price of serious things we have,
Not knowing them, until we know their grave:
Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,
Destroy our friends, and after weep their dust:
Our own love waking cries to see what's done,
While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon.
Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin:
The main consents are had; and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage-day.

Count. Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!

Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease!

Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's name Must be digested, give a favour from you, To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, That she may quickly come.-By my old beard, And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, Was a sweet creature; such a ring as this, The last that e'er I took her leave at court, I saw upon her finger.

Ber.

Hers it was not.

King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine

eye,

While I was speaking, oft was fastened to't.-This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood Necessitied to help, that by this token

Son, on my life,
I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd'it
At her life's rate.

Laf.
I am sure, I saw her wear it.
Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never saw it.
In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,
Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain❜d the name
Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought
I stood ingag'd:3 but when I had subscrib'd
To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully,
I could not answer in that course of honour
As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,
In heavy satisfaction, and would never
Receive the ring again.

King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,* Hath not in nature's mystery more science, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Whoever gave it you: Then, if you know That you are well acquainted with yourself," Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforce

ment

honour;

And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me,
Which I would fain shut out: If it should prove
That thou art so inhuman,-'twill not prove so:-
And yet I know not:-thou didst hate her deadly,
And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring.-Take him away.-
[Guards seize Bertram.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him ;-
We'll sift this matter further.
If you shall prove

Ber.

This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she never was. [Exit Ber. guarded.
Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
Gent.
Gracious sovereign,
Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;
Here's a petition from a Florentine,
Who hath, 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 suppliant, who by this, I know,
Is here attending: her business looks in her
With an importing visage; and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern
Your highness with herself.

King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's

I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no

Grant it me, O king; in you it best lies; otherwise Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife; DIANA CAPULET. That ring's a thousand proofs. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and You saw one here in court could witness it. King. Methought, you said, toll him: for this, I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu,

Tobring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors:Go, speedily, and bring again the count.

[Exeunt Gentleman, and some attendants. I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd. Count.

Now, justice on the doers! Enter Bertram, guarded.

King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you,

And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that?

Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow and Diana. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet; My suit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour Both suffer under this complaint we bring, And both shall cease, 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 shall 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 so embodied yours, That she which marries you, must marry me, Either both, or none.

Laf. Your reputation [To Bertram.] 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 laughed with; let your

highness

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"

He had not my virginity.
King. What say'st thou to her?
Ber.
She's impudent, my lord;
And was a common gamester to the camp.3
Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were 30,
He might have bought me at a common price:
Do not believe him: O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect, and rich validity,4
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 six preceding ancestors, that gem

(1) Pay toll for him. (2) Decease, die. (3) Gamester, when applied to a female, then

meant a common woman.

(4) Value. (5) Noted.

(6) Debauched.

Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles. Laf. I saw 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 ; Whose nature sickens, 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, 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. I must be patient;

Dia.

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.
I have it not.
King What ring was yours, I pray you?
Dia.
Sir, much like

Ber.

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 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?
King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves

[graphic][merged small][graphic][merged small]

Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty| Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real, that I see?
Hel.

erator.

No, my good lord; 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name, and not the thing.

Ber.

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 between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved Both, both; 0, pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, her,-for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked of I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring, Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and I know not And, look you, here's your letter; This it says, what: yet I was in that credit with them at that When from my finger you can get this ring, time, that I knew of their going to bed and of And are by me with child, &c-This is done : other motions, as promising her marriage, and Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? things that would derive me ill will to speak of, Ber. If she, my liege, can make me know this therefore I will not speak what I know.

Ay, my good lord.

clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue,
Deadly divorce step between me and you!-
O, my dear mother, do I see you living?

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: But thou art too fine' in thy evidence: therefore stand aside.→ This ring, you say, was yours? Dia. Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon: King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?-Good Tom Drum, [To Parolles.] lend me a Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. handkerchief: So, I thank thee; wait on me home, King. Who lent it you? I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, Dia. It was not lent me neither. they are scurvy ones. 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 hadst 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 customer.2
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew 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 knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.

King. Let us from point to point this story know,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow:-
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
[To Diana.
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess, that, by the honest aid,
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.-
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express :
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.

Advancing.

[Flourish.

This play has many delightful scenes, though [Pointing to Lafeu. not sufficiently probable; and some happy characKing. She does abuse our ears; to prison with ters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. Parolles is a boaster Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, royal 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.

her.

sir;

[Exit Widow.
The jeweller, that owes3 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.

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.

(5) i. e. Hear us without interruption, and take our parts, that is, support and defend us.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: Accurately Printed from the Text ...