King. All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first To a most hideous object: Thence it came, King. Well excus'd: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away To the great sender turns a sour offence, Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: 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 fasten'd 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 I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her Of what should stead her most? Ber. Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, The ring was never her's. Count. My gracious sovereign, 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 King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, twas Helen's, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement (Where you have never come,) or sent it us Upon her great disaster. Ber. She never saw it. King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine ho nour; And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, 8 In the sense of unengaged. Take him away.— [Guards seize BERTRAM. The philosopher's stone. 1i. e. That you have the proper consciousness of your own actions. My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him ;- Ber. If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Where yet she never was. [Exit BERTRAM, 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 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 paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET. * Post-stages. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll him for this, I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring 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 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. 3 Pay toll for him, 4 Decease, die. |