Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe got the ring;
And I had that which any inferiour might
At market-price have bought.

Dia. I must be patient:

You that turn'd off a first so noble wife,
May juftly diet me. I pray you yet,
(Since you lack virtue, I will lofe a husband,)
Send for your ring, I will return this home,
And give me mine again.

Ber. I have it not.

King. What ring was yours, I pray you?
Dia. Much like that fame upon your finger, fir.
King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.
Dia. And this was it I gave him, being abed.
King. The ftory then goes falfe, you threw it him

Out of a cafement.

Dia. I have spoke the truth.

SCENE VI.

Enter Parolles.

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

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

Dia. It is, my lord.

King. Tell me, but tell me true, firrah, 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 majefty, my mafter 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; but how!

King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, fir, as a gentleman loves a woman. VOL. II.

Ggg

King.

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 promised me marriage?

Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.
King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'ft?

Par. Yes, fo 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.

King. Thou haft spoken all already; unless thou canft 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 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 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 ought I know.
King. Take her away, I do not like her now;
To prison with her and away with him.

Unlefs

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.

King. I think thee now fome common customer.
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore haft 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 fwear to't;
I'll fwear, I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no ftrumpet, by my life;
I'm either maid, or else this old man's wife.

[pointing to Lafeu.

[to Bert.

King. She does abuse our cars; to prison with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal fir, [Ex. Widow. The jeweller that owes the ring is fent for, And he fhall 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; Dead though the be, fhe feels her young one kick: So there's my riddle, one that's dead is quick. And now behold the meaning.

Enter Helena, and Widow.

King. Is there no exorcist
Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real that I fee?

[to Lafeu.

Hel. No, my good lord,

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

Ber. Both, both; o, pardon!

Hel. O my good lord, when I was like this maid,
I found you wondrous kind: there is your ring;
And, look you, here's your letter: this it says,

Ggg 2

When

When from my finger you can get this ring,

And are by me with child, &c. This now 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 ftep 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:
Now, good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief: [to Parolles.
So, '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'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess that by thy honeft aid
Thou kept'ft a wife herself, thyfelf a maid.
Of that and all the progrefs, more and lefs,
Refolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and, if it end fo meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.

[to Diana.

Exeunt.

EPILOGUE.

Spoken by the KING.

T

HE 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 pleafe you, day exceeding day: Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.