Count. He blushes, and 'tis it:

Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been ow'd and worn.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

This is his wife;

[Lefeu gives Diana the Ring again.

King. Methought you said,

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 Paroles.

Lef. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.

King. Find him, and bring him hither. [Exit Lefeu, R. 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 courted 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,
Subdued me to her rate: and thus, I own,
She got the ring, my lord.

Dia. I must be patient:

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. Sir, much like.

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.

Ber. My lord, I do confess, the ring was hers.
King. You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts

you.

Enter LEFEU and PAROLES, R.-[Lefeu goes to King's R.

Is this the man you speak of? -
Dia. It is, 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 had
tricks in him, which young 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 a woman.
King. How is that?

Par. He lov'd her, sir, 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.
Lef. 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 majesty :-I did go between them; and, as I said, 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: I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of his promising her marriage, and of other things,-that would derive me illwill 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.-- [Paroles retires R. This ring, you say, was yours? [To Diana.] 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. 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.

Lef. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off and on at pleasure.

King. The 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.—

[Attendants advance, R. and L. 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. Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while? Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty : Great king, I am no wanton, by my life;

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

King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.

[She gives the Widow the Ring.-Exit Widow, R. Stay, royal sir;

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

[Looking to Bertram.

Though, as he knows, he hath spoke too grossly of me, Yet, as he never did me greater wrong,

I quit him.—

One, that is dead, is quick.-There is my riddle;—
Here behold the meaning.

Enter WIDOW and HELENA, R.-Paroles advances on

Lefeu's R.

King. Is there no exorcist

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?

Is't real, that I see?

Hel. No, my good lord;

"Tis but a shadow of a wife you see,

The name, and not the thing.

Ber. Both, both :--O, pardon !

Hel. O, my good lord, there is your ring again,

And, look you, here's your letter: This it says,
When from my finger you cun get this ring,—

This is done :

Will you be mine, now you are fairly won?

F

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?

[Crossing to the Countess.
Lef. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon :-
Good Tom Drum, [To Paroles,] 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.-
If thou be'st yet free to thine own election, [To Diana.
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower:
I thank thee well, 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.
All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.

He.[Advancing] Helen's a beggar, now the play is done : All is well ended, if this suit is 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.

DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN.

Bir, Lew. Wid. Par. Lef. King, Bert. Helen. Countess. Dum. Jaq. Tour. [L.

R.]

THE END.