Thou speak’st it falsely, as I love mine honour;
And mak’st 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 forepast 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 she yet 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 CAPULET.’
LAFEU. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll 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.
[Exeunt Gentleman, and some Attendants.]
I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch’d.
COUNTESS.
Now, justice on the doers!
[Enter BERTRAM, guarded.]
KING.
I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you.
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.—What woman’s that?
[Re-enter Widow and DIANA.]
DIANA.
I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capulet;
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. [To BERTRAM] 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 ow’d 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,