Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet: My suit, as I do understand, you knowy stołk And therefore know how far I may be pitied. Wid. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honor Y DING

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, and those are
mine;

You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she, which marries you, must marry
me,

Either both, or none.

t

Good my lord,

Ask him upon his oath, if he does think w He had not my virginity.

King. What sayst 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, wagiwala, dobing intos jentene 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, of He gave it to a commoner o' the camp, If I be one. iCount.

He blushes, and 'tis it:
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue,
Hath it been owed and worn.This is his
wife:

That ring's a thousand proofs.
King
Methought, you said
You saw one here in court coult witness it.
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 perfidions stave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and de-
bosh'd

Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:
Am I or that, or this, for what hell utter,
That will speak any thing?
King,
She hath that ring of yours.
Ber. I think she has: certain it is, I liked
Maher,bavivİS

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.
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.

Diat

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.

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 honorable gentleman; tricks he hath had in him, which 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 loved her, sir, and loved 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 knowst?

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 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? Ay, my good lord. King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?

Dia.

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.
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.

Dia. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know.

King. Wherefore hast thou accused 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: P'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 LAFEU.. King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her.

Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay,
royal sir;
[Exit WIDOW.

The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who bath abused me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit.
him:

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 HIELENA.

King. Let us from point to point this story know,

make the even truth in pleasure flow:

And, with a low submissive reverence,
Say, What is it your honor will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper;
And say, Will't please your lordship cool
your hands?

Some one be ready with a costly suit,
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Persuade him that he hath been lunatic;
And, when he says he is,-say that he dreams,
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
This do, and do it kindly gentle sirs;
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hun. My lord, 1 warrant you, we'll play our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.
Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with
him;

And each one to his office when he wakes.
[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds.
Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds:
[Exit Servant.
Belike, some noble gentleman; that means,
Travelling some journey, to repose him here.
Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Serv.
An it please your honor,
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near :-

Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.

1 Play. We thank your honor. Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night? 2 Play. So please your lordship to accept by our duty?

Lord. With all my heart. This fellow I remember,

Since ouce he play'd a farmer's eldest son:'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well:

I have forgot your name; but, sure, that part Was aptly fitted, and naturally perform'd.

1 Play. I think 'twas Soto that your honor

means.

Lord. 'Tis very true;-thou didst it excellent.

Well, you are come to me in happy time;
The rather for I have some sport in hand,
Wherein your cunning can assist me much.
There is a lord will hear you play to-night:
But I am doubtful of your modesties;
Lest, over-cying of his odd behaviour,
(For yet his honor never heard a play,)
You break into some merry passion,
And so offend him; for I tell you, sirs,
If you should smile, he grows impatient.
1 Play. Fear not, my lord; we can contain
ourselves,

Were he the veriest antic in the world.

Lord. Go, sirrab, take them to the buttery, And give them friendly welcome every one: Let them want nothing that my house affords. [Exeunt Servant and Players. Sirrah, go you to Bartholomew my page, [To a Servant. And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady: That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber,

And call him-madam, do him obeisance,
Tell him from me, (as he will win my love,)
He bear himself with honorable action,
Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished:
Such duty to the drunkard let him do,
With soft low tongue, and lowly courtesy:
And say,-What is't your honor will command,
Wherein your lady and your humble wife,
May show her duty, and make known her love?
And then-with kind embracements, tempting
kisses,

་

And with declining head into his bosom,-
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restored to health,
Who, for twice seven years, hath esteem'd him
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift,
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift:
Which in a napkin being close convey'd,
Shall in despight enforce a watery eye.
See this despatch'd with all the haste thou canst;
Anon I'll give thee more instructions.
[Exit Servant.
I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait, and action of a gentlewoman:
I long to hear him call the drunkard, husband;
And how my men will stay themselves from
laughter,

When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them: haply, my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen,
Which otherwise would grow into extremes.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Bedchamber in the Lord's
House.

SLY is discovered in a rich night-gown, with Attendants; some with apparel,others with bason, ewer, and other appurtenances. Enter Lord, dressed like a Servant. Sly. For God's sake, a pot of small ale. 1 Serv. Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack?

2 Serv. Will't please your honor taste of these insconserves?

3 Serv. What raiment will your honor wear to-day?

Sly. I am Christopher Sly; call not mehonor, nor lordship: I never drank sack in my life; and if you give me any conserves, give me conserves of beef. Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear; for I have no more doublets than backs, no more stockings than legs, nor no more shoes than feet; nay, some