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Dia. I did, my Lord, but loth am to produce So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles.

Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
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'il 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 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 insuit coming 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.

Dian. 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,

Aud 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

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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. ve

Enter PAROLLES.

I

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,, but, sirrah, tell me true, 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. is

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King, Come, come, to the purpose: Did he love this woman?

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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.

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King. How is that?

Par. He loved her, Sir, and loved her not.

King. As thou art a knave, and no knave: — What an equivoal 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? Far 'Faith, I know more than 1'll speak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st? Par. Yes, so please your Majesty; I did go between them, as a said; but more than that, he loved 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 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 that 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. 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 nor.

King. If it were yours by none of all these

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Dia. I never gave it him.

Laf. This woman's easy glove, my Lord; she 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 aught I know.

King. Take her away, I do not like her now; To prison with her: and away with him.

Unless thou tell'st me where thou had'st 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. Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you King. Wherefore hast 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 swear to't: I'll swear, I am a maid, and he knows not. Great King, I am no strumpet, by my life; I am either maid, or else this old man's wife. [Pointing, to Lafed. King. She does abuse our ears; to prisou with

Dia. Good mother,

her.'

fetch my bail. Stay, royal Sir;

[Exit Widow. the ring, is sent før, But for this lord, as he knows himself,

The jeweller, that owes
And he shall surety me.
Who hath abus'd me,
Though yet he never harm'd me,

him:

here I quit

He knows himself, my bed he hath defil'd;
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,

I found you wond'rous kind.

ring,

There is your

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, etc. - 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 net plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you!

O, my dear mother, do I see you living?

Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep

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Good

Tom Drum, [ To PAROLLES.] lend me a handker chief: 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:
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,

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[To DIANA. 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.
Of that and all the progress more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall expresse
All yet seems well; and, if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.
[Flourish.

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