And every hair that's on't, Helen that's dead,
Was a sweet creature: such a ring as this,
The last that e'er I took her leave at court,
I saw upon her finger.

Ber. Hers it was not.

King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine

While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. This ring was mine: when I gave it

and,

Belen,

I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood

Necessitied to help,, that by this token

I would relieve her: Had you that craft, to reave

her

Of what should stead her most?

Ber. My gracious Sovereign, Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,

The ring was never her's.

Count. Son, on my life,

I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it
At her life's rate.

Laf. I am sure, I saw her wear it.

Ber. You are deceiv'd, my Lord, she never saw it:

In Florence was it from a casement, thrown me,
Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name
Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought
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
As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,
In heavy satisfaction, and would never
Receive the ring again.

King. Plutus himself,

That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Hath not in nature's mystery more science,

'Than I have in this ring was mine, 'twas Helen's,

Whoever gave it you: Then, if you know
That you are well acquainted with yourself,
Confess twas hers, and by what rough enforce-

ment

You got it from her: she call'd the saints to

surety,

That she would never put it from her finger,
Unless she gave it to yourself in bed,

(Where you have never come,) or sent it us
Upon her great disaster..

Ber. She never saw it.

King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine

honour;

And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me, Which I would fain shut out: If it should

And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than do see this ring. Take him away.
[Guards seize BERTRAM.

My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly fear'd too little.

him;

We'll sift this matter further.

Bar. If you shall prove

Away with

This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,

Where yet she never was?

.

[Exit BERTRAM, guarded.

Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.
Gent. Gracious Sovereign,

Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not;

Here's a petition from a Florentine,

Who hath, for four or five removes, come short
To tender it herself. I undertook it,

Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech
Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know,
Is here attending: her business looks in her
With an importing visage; and she told me,
In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern.
Your Highness with herself.

King. [Reads.] Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Rou sillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave, and I follow him to. his country for justice: Grant it me, O King; in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll him for this, I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee
Lafeu,

To bring forth this discovery. -Seek these suitors:

Go, speedily, and bring again the Count.

[Exeunt Gentleman, and sme Attendants.

I am afeard, the life of Helen, Lady,

Was foully snatch'd.

Count. Now, justice on the doers!

Enter BERTRAM, guarded.

King. I wonder, Sir, since wives are monsters to you,

And that you fly them as you

lordship,

8 Year them

What woman's

Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow, and DIANA.

Dia. I am, my Lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet;

My suit, as I do understand, you know,·
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
Wid. am her mother, Sir, whose age and
honour

Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall 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 So strange upon your

wife?

Ber. She's none of mine, my Lord.

Dia. If you shall marry,

You give away this hand, and that is mine;

You give away heaven's vows,

mine;

and those are

You give away myself, which is known mine;
For 1 by vow am so embodied yours,

That she, which marries you, must marry me,
Either both or none.

Laf. Your reputation, [To BERTRAM.] comes

too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her.

い

Ber. My Lord, this is a fond and desperate

creature,

Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your Highness...

Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour, Than for to think that I would sink it here. King. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill

to friend,

Till your deeds gain them: Fairer prove your honour,

Than in my thought it lies!

Dia. Good my Lord,

Ask him upon his oath, if he does think

He had not my virginity.

King. What say'st thou to her?

Ber. She's impudent, my Lord;'

And was a common gamester to the camp.

Dia. He does me wrong, my Lord; if I
were so,

He might have bought me at a common price:
Do not believe him: O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect, and rich validity,
Did lack a parallel; yet, for all that,
He gave it to a commoner o'the camp,
If I be one.

Hath it been ow'd, and worn. This is his

wife;

That ring's a thousands proofs.

King. Methonght, you said,

You saw one here in court could witness it.