Am Ill'speak any thing?

ther we this for what he'll utter, King.

She hath that ring of yours. Ber. I think she has : certain it is I liked hier,

210 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 infinite cunning, with her modern grace, Subdued me to her rate : she got the ring; And I had that which any inferior might At market-price have bought. Dia.

I must be patient. You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,

220
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 abed.

King. The story then goes false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.
Dia.
I have spoken the truth.

230 Enter PAROLLES. Ber. My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.

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

Ay, 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 been an honourable gentleman : tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have.

240 King. Come, come to the purpose : did he love this wo. man?

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 10,

King. As thou art gir, and loved her not. equivocal companion is this ! - and no knave.

What an Par. I am a poor man, and at your majesu,

250 Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty dand. 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 knowest ?

Par. Yes, so please your majesty. I did go between them, as I said ; but more than that, he loved her : for indeed he was mad for her, and talked 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 promising her marriage, and things which would derive me ill will 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.

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

King. This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife. 280
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 tellst 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.
Din. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while ?

Diu. Because he's guilty, aud he is not guilty : 290 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 strumpet, by my, ljfwife.
I am either maid, or else thisars : to prison with her.
King. She doeser, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir

: Dia a.

(Exit Widor. The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abused me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm’d me, here I quit him : 300 He knows himself my bed he hath defiled ; And at that time he got his wife with child : Dead though she be, she 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.
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 the shadow 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, 310
I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring ;
And, look you, here's your letter ; this it says:
“ 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 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 ?

320 Laf. Mine eyes smell onions ; I shall weep anon: [To Parolles] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher : 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,
To make the even truth in pleasure flow.
[To Diana) 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 honest aid
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.

330
Of that and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express :
All yet stems well ; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. [Flourish.

EPILOGUE. King. The king's a beggar, now the play is done : All is well ended, if this suit be 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. Exeunt.

SCENE: A city in Illyria, and the sea-coast near it.

Enter DUKE, CURIO, and other Lords ; Musicians attending.

Duke. If music be the food of love, play on :
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall :
0, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more :
"Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love ! how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity

10
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute : so full of shapes is fancy
That it alone is high fantastical.

Cur. Will you go hunt, my lord ?
Duke.

What, Curio?