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Whose nature fickens, 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, fhe 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 infuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe 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,

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May justly diet me. I pray you yet,

(Since you lack virtue, I will lofe 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. Sir, much like

The fame 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 falfe, you threw it him Out of a casement.

Lia. I have spoke the truth.

all impediments in fancy's courfe, are motives of more fancy ;]-every obftruction which love meets with, ferves but to encrease the flame.

Her infuit coming with her modern grace,]—Her folicitation being feconded with a tolerable share of beauty.

s diet me.]-loath me like a prescribed regimen.

Enter

Enter Parolles.

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

King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you.Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my lord.

King. Tell me, firrah, but tell me true, I charge you, Not fearing the displeasure of your master,

(Which, on your juft 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 purpofe; Did he love this

woman?

?

Par. 'Faith, fir, he did love her.
King. But how! how, I pray you
Par. He did love her, fir, as a gentleman loves a woman.
King. How is that?

Par. He lov'd her, fir, 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 promis'd 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 majefty: I did go between them, as I faid; but more than that, he lov'd 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 promifing her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of, therefore I will not speak what I know.

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King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canft fay

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they are marry'd: But thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore itand aside.-This ring, you fay, was yours?

Dia. Ay, my good lord.

King. Where did you buy it? or who

gave it

it you?

Dia. It was not given me, nor did I 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 eafy glove, my lord; fhe off and on at pleasure.

King. The ring, was mine, I gave it his firft 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'ft me where thou hadft this ring,
Thou dieft within this hour.

Dia. I'll never tell you.

King. Take her away.

Dia. I'll put in bail, my liege.

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King. I think thee now fome common cuftomer. Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. King. Wherefore haft thou accus'd him all this while? Dic. 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 ftrumpet, by my life;

I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.

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King. She does abuse our ears; to prifon with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, royal fir; [Exit Widow.

[To Bert.

The jeweller that owes the ring is fent for,
And he shall furety 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 :

she

Dead though the be, the 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.

W

King. Is there no " exorcift,

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real, that I fee?

Hel. No, my good lord ;

'Tis but a fhadow of a wife you fee,

The name, and not the thing.

Ber. Both, both; oh, pardon!

Hel. Oh, 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 fays, 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 fhe, 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? [To the Countess.

Laf. Mine eyes fmell onions, I fhall weep anon :-Good

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Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief: [To Parolles.] So, I thank thee; wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtefies 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'ft yet a fresh uncropped flower,
[To Diana.
Chuse thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess, that, by thy honest aid,

Thou kept'ft a wife herself, thyself a maid.——
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Refolvedly more leifure fhall express:
All yet feems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter paft, more welcome is the sweet.

Advancing:

The king's a beggar, now the play is done:
All is well ended, if this fuit be won,
That you express content; which we will pay,
With ftrife to please you, day exceeding day:

* Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts:
Your gentle bands lend us, and take our hearts. [Exeunt.

* Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts :]-Hear us patiently, and take our parts, be our patrons.

TWELFTH.

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