Conferr'd by teftament to th' fequent iffue,

Hath it been ow'd and worn.
That ring's a thoufand proofs.
King. Methought you faid

This is his wife,

You faw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my Lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an inftrument; his name 's Parolles.
Laf. I faw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a moft perfidious flave,

With all the spots o' th' world tax'd and debosh'd,
Which nature fickens with: but to speak truth,
Am I or that or this, for what he 'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

King. She hath that ring of your's.

Ber. I think the has; certain it is I lik'd her,
And boarded her i' th' wanton way of youth.
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her reftraint;
As all impediments in fancy's course

Are motives of more fancy: and, in fine,
Her infuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe got the ring;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

Dia. I must be patient :

You that turn'd off a first fo 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 it home,
And give me mine again.

Ber. I have it not.

King. What ring was your's, I pray you?
Dia. Sir, much like the fame upon your finger.

King. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. Dia. And this was it I gave him, being a-bed. King. The ftory then goes falfe, you threw it him Out of a cafement.

Dia. I have fpoke the truth.

*i. e. ufe me herfhly. A phrafe taken from the severe methods taken in curing the venereal diforder.

SCENE VI. Enter Parolles.

Ber. My Lord, I do confefs the ring was her's. King. You boggle fhrewdly, every feather ftarts you!

Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my Lord.

King. Tell me, firrah, 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 pleafe your Majesty, my master 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, 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 lov'd her, Sir, 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 Majefty's command.

Laf. He's a good drum, my Lord, but a naughty

orator.

Dia. Do you know he promis'd me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st? Par. Yes, fo pleafe your Majefty. I did go between them, as I said: 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 L 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 fpoken all already, unless thou can'ft

fay they are married: but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside. This ring, you say, was Jour's ?

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 your's 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 your's, or her's, for aught I know. King. Take her away, I do not like her now; To prifon with her and away with him. 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. King. She does abuse our ears: to prifon with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, Royal Sir.

[Exit Widow.

The jeweller that owes the ring is fent for,
And he fhall furety me. But for this Lord,

[To Bertram.

Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him.

Duke."

66

SCENE I.

The palace.

Enter the Duke, Curio, and Lords.

I

F music be the food of love, play on; Give me excefs of it; that, furfeiting The appetite, love may ficken, and fo die. "That strain again;-it had a dying fall: "O, it came o'er my ear, like the fweet fouth, "That breathes upon a bank of violets,

Stealing, and giving odour.

Enough !—no more; 'Tis not fo fweet now, as it was before.

O fpirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou!
That, notwithstanding thy capacity

Receiveth as the fea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch foe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute; fo full of fhapes in fancy,
That it alone is hight fantastical.

Cur. Will you go hunt, my Lord?

Duke. What, Curio?

Cur. The hart.

Duke. Why, fo I do, the nobleft that I have.
O, when my eyes did fee Olivia first,
Methought the purg'd the air of peftilence;

That inftant was I turn'd into a hart,

And my defires, like fell and cruel hounds,.

E'er fince purfue me. How now, what news from her? Enter Valentine.

Val. So please my Lord, I might not be admitted, But from her handmaid do return this answer. The element itself, till feven years hence, Shall not behold her face at ample view; But, like a cloiftrefs, fhe will veiled walk, And water once a-day her chamber round With eye-offending brine; all this to feafon A brother's dead love, which fhe would keep fresh And lasting in her fad remembrance.

Duke. O fhe that hath a heart of that fine frame, Το pay this debt of love but to a brother,

How will the love, when the rich golden fhaft
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections elfe

That live in her? when liver, brain, and heart,
Three fov'reign thrones, are all fupply'd, and fill'd,
(O fweet perfection !), with one felf-fame King!
Away before me to fweet beds of flowers;
Love-thoughts lie rich, when canopy'd with bowers.

SCENE II. The Street.

Enter Viola, a Captain, and failors.

Vio. What country, friends, is this!

Cap. Illyria, Lady.

Vio. And what fhould I do in Illyria?

My brother he is in Elyfium.

[Exeunt

Perchance he is not drown'd; what think you, failors! Cap. It is perchance that you yourself were fav'd. Vio. O my poor brother! fo perchance may he be. Cap. True, Madam : and to comfort you with chance, VOL. III.

H