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every other favour； Scorn'd a fair colour or express'd it stol'n； Extended or
contracted all proportions To a most hideous object。 Thence it came That
she whom all men prais'd； and whom myself； Since I have lost； have lov'd；
was in mine eye The dust that did offend it。 KING。 Well excus'd。 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 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； 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 ev'ry 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 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 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 deceiv'd；
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 engag'd； but when I had subscrib'd To mine
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own fortune； and inform'd her fully I could not answer in that course of
honour As she had made the overture； she ceas'd； 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 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 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 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 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 the 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 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。
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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。 Exeunt 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； 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。 ＇To
BERTRAM＇ Your reputation comes too short for my daughter； you are no
husband for her。 BERTRAM。 My lord； this is a fond and desp'rate creature
Whom sometime I have laugh'd with。 Let your Highness Lay