King.

Methought you said 13
You saw one here in court could witness it.
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.

[Exit Attendant.

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,

What of him?

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 'follow'd' 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 infinite cunning with her modern grace,1
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring.
Dia.

14

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.

Ber.

I have it not.

King. What ring was yours, I pray you?

Dia.

The same upon your finger.

I must be patient ;

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.

Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.

King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you.—

Enter PAROLLES.

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 loved her, sir, and loved 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 between them, as I said; but more than that, he loved her-for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talked 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 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 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 gave it you? Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.

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.

King. Take her away.

Dia.

I'll never tell you.

I'll put in bail, my liege.

King. I think thee now some common customer.
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.

[Pointing to LAFEU.
King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her.
Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, royal sir;

The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,

[Exit Widow.

Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,

Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him :
And now behold the meaning.

King.

Re-enter Widow, with HELENA.

Is there no exorcist 15

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?

Is 't real that I see?

Hel.

'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name and not the thing.

No, my good lord ;

Both, both; O, pardon !

Ber.
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,
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,

Deadly divorce step between me and you!—

O, my dear mother, do I see you living?

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,

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 thy 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 :

G

All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.

Advancing.

[Flourish.

The king's a beggar, now the play is done : All is well ended, if this suit be won, That you express content; which we will pay, With strife to please you, day exceeding day : Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.

[Exeunt.