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 Majesty's coinmand.

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 fpeak all thou know'ft ? Par. Yes, fo please your Majefty. I did go between them, as I faid; 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 I knew of their going to bed, and of other motions, as promifing her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to fpeak of; therefore I will not fpeak

what I know.

King. Thou haft fpoken all already, unless thou can st fay they are married; but thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore fland afide. This ring, you fay, 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 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 yours by none of all thefe ways,

VOL. III.

How

How could you give it him?

Dia. I never gave it him.

Lef. 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 yours, or her's, for ought I know. King. Take her away, I do not like her now, To prifon with her: and away with him. Unless thou tell'it me where thou hadst 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 cuftomer. 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 elfe this old man's wife.

[Pointing to Lafeu. King. She does abufe 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 Bert.
Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself,
Tho' yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him.
He knows himself my bed he hath defil'd,
And at that time he got his wife with child;
Dead tho' fhe be, fhe feels her young one kick:
So there's my riddle, one that's dead is quick.
And now behold the meaning.

Enter Helena, and Widow.

King. Is there no exorcift

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes ?

Is't real, that I fee?

Hel. No, my good Lord,

'Tis but a fhadow of a wife you fee, The name, and not the thing.

Ber Both, both; oh, pardon!

Hel. Oh, my good Lord, when I was like this maid,
I found you wond'rous kind; there is your ring,
And look you, here's your letter: this it fays,
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 fhe, 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 ftep between me and you!

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

[To the Countess Laf. Mine eyes fmell onions, I fhall weep anon: Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkerchief, [To Parolles. So, I thank thee, wait on me home. I'll make sport with thee: let thy courtefies alone, they are fcurvy ones.

King. Let us from point to point this ftory know, To make the even truth in pleasure flow:

If thou beeft yet a fresh uncropped flower, [To Diana. Chufe thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;

For I can guefs, that by thy honeft aid,

Thou kept'ft a wife herself, thyself a maid.
Of that and all the progrefs more and lefs,
Refolvedly more leifure fhall exprefs:

All yet feems well, and if it end fo meet,

The bitter past, more welcome is the fweet. [Exeun?.