To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, [Bertram gives a ring. And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead, Was a sweet creature; fuch a ring as this, a The last time that I took my leave at court, I saw upon her finger. Ber. Her's it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me fee it; for mine eye, This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, Neceffity'd to help, that by this token I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave her Ber. My gracious fovereign, Count. Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and the reckon'd it At her life's rate. Laf. I am fure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never faw it: e I stood ingag'd; but when I had subscrib'd To mine own fortune, and inform'd her fully, I could not answer in that course of honour z To Sparkle in the fpirits of my daughter, that he may quickly come.] -Whole brilliancy may induce my daughter to haften her approach. Thelaft that e'er he took her leave at court. 2 I bade her,]—to know, gave her to understand. creave]-bereave. d ingag'd;]-difengag'd. fubfcrib'd to mine own fortune,]-declared my connections. As As fhe had made the overture, fhe ceas'd, 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, know That you are well acquainted with yourself, Confefs 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, (Where you have never come) or fent it us Upon her great difafter. Ber. She never faw it. King. Thou speak'ft it falfely, as I love mine honour; And mak'ft conjectural fears to come into me, Which I would fain fhut out: if it fhould prove That thou art fo inhuman,-'twill not prove fo;— 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 fee this ring.-Take him away. [Guards feize Bertram. My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall, Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him ;- Ber. If you fhall prove This ring was ever hers, you fhall as eafy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was. [Exit Bertram, guarded. ftinct and multiplying medicine,]-the fecret of the philofopher's ftone; the method of tranfmuting metals into gold. Enter Enter a Gentleman. King. I am wrap'd in dismal thinkings. Gent. Gracious fovereign, Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not; g Who had, for four or five removes, come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech The King reads. Upon his many proteftations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Roufillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my bonour's paid to him. He ftole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to his country for justice: Grant it me, O king; in you it beft lies; otherwife a feducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET. Laf. I will buy me a fon in-law in a fair, and 'toll; For this, I'll none of him. King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu, To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these fuitors :Go, fpeedily, and bring again the count.— Enter Bertram, guarded. I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, removes,]-flages, come short of the time. h In a fweet verbal brief,]-In few, but well chofen terms. and toll ;]-enter him in the toll-book, to fhew my title to him. tell for this-ring his knell, consider him as a dead man, 1 Was Was foully fnatch'd. Count. Now, juftice on the doers! King. I wonder, fir, fince wives are monsters to you; And that you fly them as you fwear them lordship, Yet you defire to marry.-What woman's that? Enter Widow, and Diana. Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet; My fuit, as I do understand, you know, And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, fir, whofe age and honour Both fuffer under this complaint we bring, And both fhall '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 fo ftrange upon your wife? Ber. She's none of mine, my lord. Dia. If you fhall marry, You give away this hand, and that is mine; You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine; That fhe, which marries you, must marry me, Laf. Your reputation comes too fhort for my daugh ter, you are no husband for her. [To Bertram. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, Whom fometimes I have laugh'd with: let your highness Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would fink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them "ill to friend, lordship,]-protection. ceafe,]-deceafe, die. ill to friend,]-ill-disposed to favour you. 'Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your honour, Than in my thought it lies! Dia. Good my lord, Afk him upon his oath, if he does think He had not my virginity. King. What fay'ft thou to her? Ber. She's impudent, my lord; And was a common gamefter to the camp. Dia. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were fo, He might have bought me at a common price: He gave If I be one. Count. He blushes, and 'tis it: Of fix preceding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by teftament to the fequent iffue, Hath it been ow'd, and worn. This is his wife King. Methought you faid, You faw one here in court could witnefs it. Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce He's quoted for a moft perfidious slave, With all the spots o'the world tax'd and debosh'd; rich validity,]-great value. • quoted]-noted, branded. "A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd, debob'd;]-debauch'd. VOL. II. Hh Whofe |