William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (477 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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That thou didst love her strikes some scores away
From the great count. But love that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the grace-sender turns a sour offence, 60
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. 65
Our own love waking cries to see what’s done,
While shameful hate 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.
From the great count. But love that comes too late,
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the grace-sender turns a sour offence, 60
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. 65
Our own love waking cries to see what’s done,
While shameful hate 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, cease.
Or ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease.
LAFEU
(to Bertram)
(to Bertram)
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.
Must be digested, give a favour from you
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter,
That she may quickly come.
Bertram gives Lafeu a ring
By my old beard
And ev’ry hair that’s on’t, Helen that’s dead
Was a sweet creature. Such a ring as this,
The last that ere I took her leave at court,
I saw upon her finger.
And ev’ry hair that’s on’t, Helen that’s dead
Was a sweet creature. Such a ring as this,
The last that ere I took her leave 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 fastened to’t.
While I was speaking, oft was fastened to’t.
Lafeu gives him the ring
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?
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.
The ring was never hers.
COUNTESS
Son, on my life
I have seen her wear it, and she reckoned it
At her life’s rate.
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,
Wrapped in a paper which contained the name
Of her that threw it. Noble she was, and thought
I stood ingaged. But when I had subscribed
To mine own fortune, and informed 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.
In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,
Wrapped in a paper which contained the name
Of her that threw it. Noble she was, and thought
I stood ingaged. But when I had subscribed
To mine own fortune, and informed 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 med‘cine,
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 called 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.
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 called 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 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.
My fore-past proofs, howe’er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly feared too little. Away with him.
We’ll sift this matter further.
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.
My fore-past proofs, howe’er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly feared 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
Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence,
Where yet she never was. Exit guarded
Enter the Gentleman Austringer with a paper
KING I am wrapped in dismal thinkings.
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,
Vanquished 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.
Here’s a petition from a Florentine
Who hath for four or five removes come short
To tender it herself. I undertook it,
Vanquished 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 a letter) ’Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the Count Roussillon 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 discov’ry.—Seek these suitors.
Go speedily and bring again the Count.
To bring forth this discov’ry.—Seek these suitors.
Go speedily and bring again the Count.
Exit one or more
I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatched.
Was foully snatched.
⌈Enter Bertram guarded⌉
COUNTESS Now justice on the doers!
KING (to Bertram)
I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you,
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.
Enter the 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.
Derived from the ancient Capilet.
My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.
WIDOW (to the King)
I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease without your remedy.
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?
But that I know them. Do they charge me further?
DIANA
Why do you look so strange upon your wife?
BERTRAM
(to the King)
(to the King)
She’s none of mine, my lord.
DIANA
If you shall marry
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.
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.
(to Bertram)
Your reputation comes too short for my daughter, you are no husband for her.
BERTRAM (
to the King)
to the King)
My lord, this is a fond and desp’rate creature
Whom sometime I have laughed with. Let your
highness
Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour
Than for to think that I would sink it here.
Whom sometime I have laughed 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.
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.
He had not my virginity.
KING What sayst thou to her?
BERTRAM She’s impudent, my lord,
And was a common gamester to the camp.
DIANA (to the King)
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’th’ camp,
If I be one.
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’th’ camp,
If I be one.
COUNTESS
He blushes and ’tis hit.
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem;
Conferred by testament to th’ sequent issue
Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife.
That ring’s a thousand proofs.
Conferred by testament to th’ sequent issue
Hath it been owed and worn. This is his wife.
That ring’s a thousand proofs.
KING
(to Diana)
(to Diana)
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 Paroles.
So bad an instrument. His name’s Paroles.
LAFEU
I saw the man today, if man he be.
KING
Find him and bring him hither. Exit one
BERTRAM
What of him?
He’s quoted for a most perfidious slave
With all the spots o’th’ world taxed and debauched,
Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.
Am I or that or this for what he’ll utter,
That will speak anything?
With all the spots o’th’ world taxed and debauched,
Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth.
Am I or that or this for what he’ll utter,
That will speak anything?
KING
She hath that ring of yours.
BERTRAM
I think she has. Certain it is I liked her
And boarded her i‘th’ 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 inf’nite cunning with her modern grace
Subdued me to her rate. She got the ring,
And I had that which my inferior might
At market price have bought.
And boarded her i‘th’ 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 inf’nite cunning with her modern grace
Subdued me to her rate. She got the ring,
And I had that which my inferior might
At market price have bought.
DIANA
I must be patient.
You that have turned 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.
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
(to Diana)
What ring was yours, I pray you?
(to Diana)
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?
Out of a casement?
DIANA
I have spoke the truth.
Enter Paroles
BERTRAM
(to the King)
(to the King)
My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.
KING
You boggle shrewdly; every feather starts you.—
Is this the man you speak of?
Is this the man you speak of?
DIANA
Ay, my lord.
KING
(to Paroles)
(to Paroles)
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?
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?
PAROLES So please your majesty, my master hath been an honourable gentleman. Tricks he hath had in him which gentlemen have.
KING
Come, come, to th’ purpose. Did he love this woman?
PAROLES Faith, sir, he did love her, but how?
KING How, I pray you?
PAROLES He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.
KING How is that?
PAROLES He loved her, sir, and loved her not.
KING As thou art a knave and no knave. What an equivocal companion is this!
PAROLES I am a poor man, and at your majesty’s command.
LAFEU
(to the King)
He’s a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.
(to the King)
He’s a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.
DIANA
(to Paroles)
Do you know he promised me marriage?
(to Paroles)
Do you know he promised me marriage?
PAROLES Faith, I know more than I’ll speak.
KING But wilt thou not speak all thou know’st?
PAROLES 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.
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