ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL-ACT V

All's Well That Ends Well

Act V

Scene I Marseilles. A street.

[Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two
Attendants]
HELENA But this exceeding posting day and night
Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it:
But since you have made the days and nights as one,
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold you do so grow in my requital
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;
[Enter a Gentleman]
This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.
Gentleman And you.
HELENA Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Gentleman I have been sometimes there.
HELENA I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.
Gentleman What's your will?
HELENA That it will please you
To give this poor petition to the king,
And aid me with that store of power you have
To come into his presence.
Gentleman The king's not here.
HELENA Not here, sir!
Gentleman Not, indeed:
He hence removed last night and with more haste
Than is his use.
Widow Lord, how we lose our pains!
HELENA ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet,
Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.
I do beseech you, whither is he gone?
Gentleman Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.
HELENA I do beseech you, sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand,
Which I presume shall render you no blame
But rather make you thank your pains for it.
I will come after you with what good speed
Our means will make us means.
Gentleman This I'll do for you.
HELENA And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,
Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.
Go, go, provide.
[Exeunt]

Scene II Rousillon. Before the COUNT's palace.

[Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following]
PAROLLES Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this
letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to
you, when I have held familiarity with fresher
clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's
mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong
displeasure.
Clown Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it
smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will
henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.
Prithee, allow the wind.
PAROLLES Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake
but by a metaphor.
Clown Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my
nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get
thee further.
PAROLLES Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
Clown Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's
close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he
comes himself.
[Enter LAFEU]
Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's
cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the
unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he
says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the
carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed,
ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his
distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to
your lordship.
[Exit]
PAROLLES My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly
scratched.
LAFEU And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to
pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the
knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who
of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves
thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for
you: let the justices make you and fortune friends:
I am for other business.
PAROLLES I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.
LAFEU You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't;
save your word.
PAROLLES My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
LAFEU You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!
give me your hand. How does your drum?
PAROLLES O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
LAFEU Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
PAROLLES It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace,
for you did bring me out.
LAFEU Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once
both the office of God and the devil? One brings
thee in grace and the other brings thee out.
[Trumpets sound]
The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah,
inquire further after me; I had talk of you last
night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall
eat; go to, follow.
PAROLLES I praise God for you.
[Exeunt]

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;
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,
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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;
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
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,
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
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
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,
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.
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!
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.
[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.
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
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,
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.
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
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
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,
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,
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;
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
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!
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.
[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
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,
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
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.
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:
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,
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:
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.
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.
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,
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,
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
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?
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,
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:
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 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.
[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,
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,
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;
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;
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?
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
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?
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?
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?
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
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;
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:
[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;
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?
HELENA No, my good lord;
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,
The name and not the thing.
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
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,
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:
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;
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,
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;
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
[Exeunt]

	[Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants]
HELENA	But this exceeding posting day and night Must wear your spirits low; we cannot help it: But since you have made the days and nights as one, To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs, Be bold you do so grow in my requital As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;
	[Enter a Gentleman]
	This man may help me to his majesty's ear, If he would spend his power. God save you, sir.
Gentleman	And you.
HELENA	Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Gentleman	I have been sometimes there.
HELENA	I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen From the report that goes upon your goodness; An therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions, Which lay nice manners by, I put you to The use of your own virtues, for the which I shall continue thankful.
Gentleman	What's your will?
HELENA	That it will please you To give this poor petition to the king, And aid me with that store of power you have To come into his presence.
Gentleman	The king's not here.
HELENA	Not here, sir!
Gentleman	Not, indeed: He hence removed last night and with more haste Than is his use.
Widow	Lord, how we lose our pains!
HELENA	ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet, Though time seem so adverse and means unfit. I do beseech you, whither is he gone?
Gentleman	Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon; Whither I am going.
HELENA	I do beseech you, sir, Since you are like to see the king before me, Commend the paper to his gracious hand, Which I presume shall render you no blame But rather make you thank your pains for it. I will come after you with what good speed Our means will make us means.
Gentleman	This I'll do for you.
HELENA	And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd, Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again. Go, go, provide.
	[Exeunt]

	[Enter Clown, and PAROLLES, following]
PAROLLES	Good Monsieur Lavache, give my Lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.
Clown	Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. Prithee, allow the wind.
PAROLLES	Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor.
Clown	Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get thee further.
PAROLLES	Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.
Clown	Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.
	[Enter LAFEU]
	Here is a purr of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat,--but not a musk-cat,--that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is muddied withal: pray you, sir, use the carp as you may; for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish, rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort and leave him to your lordship.
	[Exit]
PAROLLES	My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched.
LAFEU	And what would you have me to do? 'Tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for you: let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business.
PAROLLES	I beseech your honour to hear me one single word.
LAFEU	You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.
PAROLLES	My name, my good lord, is Parolles.
LAFEU	You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion! give me your hand. How does your drum?
PAROLLES	O my good lord, you were the first that found me!
LAFEU	Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.
PAROLLES	It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.
LAFEU	Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? One brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out.
	[Trumpets sound]
	The king's coming; I know by his trumpets. Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow.
PAROLLES	I praise God for you.
	[Exeunt]

	[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; 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, 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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; 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 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, 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 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 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, 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. 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! 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.
	[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.
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 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, 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.
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 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 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, 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, 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; 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 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! 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.
	[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 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, 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 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. 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: 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, 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: 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.
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.
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, 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, 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 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?
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, 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: 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 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.
	[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, 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, 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; 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; 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?
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 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?
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?
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?
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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?
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 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. 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.
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; 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:
	[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; 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?
HELENA	No, my good lord; 'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name and not the thing.
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 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, 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: 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; 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, 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; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
	[Exeunt]