| ACT V SCENE III | Rousillon. The COUNT's palace. | |
| [
Flourish. Enter KING, COUNTESS, LAFEU, the two
French Lords, with Attendants
] |
| KING | We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem |
| Was made much poorer by it: but your son, |
| As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know |
| Her estimation home. |
| COUNTESS | 'Tis past, my liege; | 5 |
| And I beseech your majesty to make it |
| Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth; |
| When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, |
| O'erbears it and burns on. |
| KING | My honour'd lady, | 10 |
| I have forgiven and forgotten all; |
| Though my revenges were high bent upon him, |
| And watch'd the time to shoot. |
| LAFEU | This I must say, |
| But first I beg my pardon, the young lord | 15 |
| Did to his majesty, his mother and his lady |
| Offence of mighty note; but to himself |
| The greatest wrong of all. He lost a wife |
| Whose beauty did astonish the survey |
| Of richest eyes, whose words all ears took captive, | 20 |
| Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve |
| Humbly call'd mistress. |
| KING | Praising what is lost |
| Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call him hither; |
| We are reconciled, and the first view shall kill | 25 |
| All repetition: let him not ask our pardon; |
| The nature of his great offence is dead, |
| And deeper than oblivion we do bury |
| The incensing relics of it: let him approach, |
| A stranger, no offender; and inform him | 30 |
| So 'tis our will he should. |
| Gentleman | I shall, my liege. |
| [Exit] |
| KING | What says he to your daughter? have you spoke? |
| LAFEU | All that he is hath reference to your highness. |
| KING | Then shall we have a match. I have letters sent me | 35 |
| That set him high in fame. |
| [Enter BERTRAM] |
| LAFEU | He looks well on't. |
| KING | I am not a day of season, |
| For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail |
| In me at once: but to the brightest beams | 40 |
| Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth; |
| The time is fair again. |
| BERTRAM | My high-repented blames, |
| Dear sovereign, pardon to me. |
| KING | All is whole; | 45 |
| Not one word more of the consumed time. |
| Let's take the instant by the forward top; |
| For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees |
| The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time |
| Steals ere we can effect them. You remember | 50 |
| The daughter of this lord? |
| BERTRAM | Admiringly, my liege, at first |
| I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart |
| Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue |
| Where the impression of mine eye infixing, | 55 |
| Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me, |
| Which warp'd the line of every other favour; |
| Scorn'd a fair colour, or express'd it stolen; |
| Extended or contracted all proportions |
| To a most hideous object: thence it came | 60 |
| That she whom all men praised and whom myself, |
| Since I have lost, have loved, was in mine eye |
| The dust that did offend it. |
| KING | Well excused: |
| That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away | 65 |
| From the great compt: but love that comes too late, |
| Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried, |
| To the great sender turns a sour offence, |
| Crying, 'That's good that's gone.' Our rash faults |
| Make trivial price of serious things we have, | 70 |
| Not knowing them until we know their grave: |
| Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust, |
| Destroy our friends and after weep their dust |
| Our own love waking cries to see what's done, |
| While shame full late sleeps out the afternoon. | 75 |
| Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her. |
| Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin: |
| The main consents are had; and here we'll stay |
| To see our widower's second marriage-day. |
| COUNTESS | Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless! | 80 |
| Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse! |
| LAFEU | Come on, my son, in whom my house's name |
| Must be digested, give a favour from you |
| To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, |
| That she may quickly come. | 85 |
[BERTRAM gives a ring] |
| By my old beard, |
| 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 at court, |
| I saw upon her finger. | 90 |
| BERTRAM | Hers it was not. |
| KING | Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, |
| While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to't. |
| This ring was mine; and, when I gave it Helen, |
| I bade her, if her fortunes ever stood | 95 |
| Necessitied to help, that by this token |
| I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave |
| her |
| Of what should stead her most? |
| BERTRAM | My gracious sovereign, | 100 |
| Howe'er it pleases you to take it so, |
| The ring was never hers. |
| COUNTESS | Son, on my life, |
| I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it |
| At her life's rate. | 105 |
| LAFEU | I am sure I saw her wear it. |
| BERTRAM | You are deceived, 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 | 110 |
| I stood engaged: but when I had subscribed |
| 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 ceased |
| In heavy satisfaction and would never | 115 |
| 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: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, | 120 |
| Whoever gave it you. Then, if you know |
| That you are well acquainted with yourself, |
| Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement |
| You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety |
| That she would never put it from her finger, | 125 |
| Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, |
| Where you have never come, or sent it us |
| Upon her great disaster. |
| BERTRAM | She never saw it. |
| KING | Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour; | 130 |
| And makest conjectural fears to come into me |
| Which I would fain shut out. If it should prove |
| That thou art so inhuman,--'twill not prove so;-- |
| And yet I know not: thou didst hate her deadly, |
| And she is dead; which nothing, but to close | 135 |
| Her eyes myself, could win me to believe, |
| More than to 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. Away with him! | 140 |
| We'll sift this matter further. |
| BERTRAM | If you shall prove |
| This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy |
| Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, |
| Where yet she never was. | 145 |
| [Exit, guarded] |
| KING | I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. |
| [Enter a Gentleman] |
| Gentleman | 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 | 150 |
| 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, | 155 |
| 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 Rousillon a widower: his vows | 160 |
| 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. | 165 |
| DIANA CAPILET. |
| LAFEU | I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll for |
| this: I'll none of him. |
| KING | The heavens have thought well on thee Lafeu, |
| To bring forth this discovery. Seek these suitors: | 170 |
| Go speedily and bring again the count. |
| I am afeard the life of Helen, lady, |
| Was foully snatch'd. |
| COUNTESS | Now, justice on the doers! |
| [Re-enter BERTRAM, guarded] |
| KING | I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you, | 175 |
| And that you fly them as you swear them lordship, |
| Yet you desire to marry. |
[Enter Widow and DIANA] |
| What woman's that? |
| DIANA | I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, |
| Derived from the ancient Capilet: | 180 |
| My suit, as I do understand, you know, |
| And therefore know how far I may be pitied. |
| Widow | I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour |
| Both suffer under this complaint we bring, |
| And both shall cease, without your remedy. | 185 |
| KING | Come hither, count; do you know these women? |
| BERTRAM | My lord, I neither can nor will deny |
| But that I know them: do they charge me further? |
| DIANA | Why do you look so strange upon your wife? |
| BERTRAM | She's none of mine, my lord. | 190 |
| DIANA | 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, | 195 |
| That she which marries you must marry me, |
| Either both or none. |
| LAFEU | Your reputation comes too short for my daughter; you |
| are no husband for her. |
| BERTRAM | My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature, | 200 |
| 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 | 205 |
| Than in my thought it lies. |
| DIANA | Good my lord, |
| Ask him upon his oath, if he does think |
| He had not my virginity. |
| KING | What say'st thou to her? | 210 |
| BERTRAM | She's impudent, my lord, |
| And was a common gamester to the camp. |
| DIANA | 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, | 215 |
| 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. |
| COUNTESS | He blushes, and 'tis it: | 220 |
| 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 | 225 |
| You saw one here in court could witness it. |
| DIANA | I did, my lord, but loath am to produce |
| So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles. |
| LAFEU | I saw the man to-day, if man he be. |
| KING | Find him, and bring him hither. | 230 |
| [Exit an Attendant] |
| BERTRAM | 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'll utter, | 235 |
| That will speak any thing? |
| KING | She hath that ring of yours. |
| BERTRAM | I think she has: certain it is I liked her, |
| And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth: |
| She knew her distance and did angle for me, | 240 |
| Madding my eagerness with her restraint, |
| As all impediments in fancy's course |
| Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine, |
| Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace, |
| Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring; | 245 |
| And I had that which any inferior might |
| At market-price have bought. |
| DIANA | I must be patient: |
| You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife, |
| May justly diet me. I pray you yet; | 250 |
| Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband; |
| Send for your ring, I will return it home, |
| And give me mine again. |
| BERTRAM | I have it not. |
| KING | What ring was yours, I pray you? | 255 |
| DIANA | Sir, much like |
| The same upon your finger. |
| KING | Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. |
| DIANA | And this was it I gave him, being abed. |
| KING | The story then goes false, you threw it him | 260 |
| Out of a casement. |
| DIANA | I have spoke the truth. |
| [Enter PAROLLES] |
| BERTRAM | My lord, I do confess the ring was hers. |
| KING | You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you. |
| Is this the man you speak of? | 265 |
| DIANA | Ay, my lord. |
| KING | Tell me, sirrah, 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? | 270 |
| PAROLLES | So please your majesty, my master hath been an |
| honourable gentleman: tricks he hath had in him, |
| which gentlemen have. |
| KING | Come, come, to the purpose: did he love this woman? |
| PAROLLES | Faith, sir, he did love her; but how? | 275 |
| KING | How, I pray you? |
| PAROLLES | He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman. |
| KING | How is that? |
| PAROLLES | He loved her, sir, and loved her not. |
| KING | As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an | 280 |
| equivocal companion is this! |
| PAROLLES | I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command. |
| LAFEU | He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator. |
| DIANA | Do you know he promised me marriage? |
| PAROLLES | Faith, I know more than I'll speak. | 285 |
| KING | But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest? |
| PAROLLES | 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 | 290 |
| 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 which would |
| derive me ill will to speak of; therefore I will not |
| speak what I know. | 295 |
| 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? |
| DIANA | Ay, my good lord. | 300 |
| KING | Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? |
| DIANA | It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. |
| KING | Who lent it you? |
| DIANA | It was not lent me neither. |
| KING | Where did you find it, then? | 305 |
| DIANA | I found it not. |
| KING | If it were yours by none of all these ways, |
| How could you give it him? |
| DIANA | I never gave it him. |
| LAFEU | This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off | 310 |
| and on at pleasure. |
| KING | This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife. |
| DIANA | 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. | 315 |
| Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring, |
| Thou diest within this hour. |
| DIANA | I'll never tell you. |
| KING | Take her away. |
| DIANA | I'll put in bail, my liege. | 320 |
| KING | I think thee now some common customer. |
| DIANA | By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you. |
| KING | Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while? |
| DIANA | Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty: |
| He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't; | 325 |
| 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. |
| KING | She does abuse our ears: to prison with her. |
| DIANA | Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir: | 330 |
[Exit Widow] |
| The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, |
| And he shall surety me. But for this lord, |
| Who hath 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; | 335 |
| 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 | 340 |
| Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes? |
| Is't real that I see? |
| HELENA | No, my good lord; |
| 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, |
| The name and not the thing. | 345 |
| BERTRAM | Both, both. O, pardon! |
| HELENA | O my good lord, when I was like this maid, |
| I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring; |
| And, look you, here's your letter; this it says: |
| 'When from my finger you can get this ring | 350 |
| And are by me with child,' &c. This is done: |
| Will you be mine, now you are doubly won? |
| BERTRAM | If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly, |
| I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. |
| HELENA | If it appear not plain and prove untrue, | 355 |
| Deadly divorce step between me and you! |
| O my dear mother, do I see you living? |
| LAFEU | Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon: |
[To PAROLLES] |
| Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so, |
| I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: | 360 |
| 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. |
[To DIANA] |
| If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower, |
| Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower; | 365 |
| For I can guess that by thy honest aid |
| Thou keep'st a wife herself, thyself a maid. |
| Of that and all the progress, more or less, |
| Resolvedly more leisure shall express: |
| All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, | 370 |
| The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. |
| [Flourish] |
| EPILOGUE |
| KING | The king's a beggar, now the play is done: |
| All is well ended, if this suit be won, |
| That you express content; which we will pay, |
| With strife to please you, day exceeding day: |
| Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; | 5 |
| Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. |
| [Exeunt] |