Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was 1, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee. Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. 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: 1 had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Palace. A Room in the Countess's Flourish. Enter King, Countess, LAFEU, Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, &c. King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem1 Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lacked the sense to know Her estimation home.2 Count. 'Tis past, my liege: And I beseech your majesty to make it 3 Natural rebellion, done i'the blade of youth; King. My honored lady, Though my revenges were high bent upon him, Laf. This I must say, 1 i. e. in losing her we lost a large portion of our esteem, which she possessed. 2 Completely, in its full extent. 3 Theobald proposes to read blaze. But first I beg my pardon,―The young lord of all. He lost a wife Whose beauty did astonish the survey 1 Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive, Whose dear perfection, hearts that scorned to serve, Humbly called mistress. King. Praising what is lost, Well, call him Makes the remembrance dear. We hither; e are reconciled, and the first view shall kill The incensing relics of it. Let him approach, Gent. I shall, my liege. [Exit Gentleman. King. What says he to your daughter? Have you spoke? Laf. 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. Laf. Enter BERTRAM. He looks well on't King. I am not a day of season,3 For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail 1 So in As You Like It.-to have "seen much and to have nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands." 2 i. e. the first interview shall put an end to all recollection of the past. 3 i. e. a seasonable day: a mixture of sunshine and hail, of winter and summer, is unseasonable. Ber. My high-repented blames, Dear sovereign, pardon to me. All is whole; Not one word more of the consumed time. Ber. Admirably, my liege: at first I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart King. Well excused: That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away To the great sender turns a sour offence, Our rash faults Make trivial price of serious things we have, 1 This obscure couplet seems to mean, that "Our love awaking to the worth of the lost object, too late laments; our shameful hate or dislike having slept out the period when our fault was remediable." Count. Which better than the first, O dear Heaven, bless! Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease! Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's name Must be digested, give a favor from you, To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter, That she may quickly come.-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 leave at court,1 I saw upon her finger. Ber. Hers it was not. King. Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye, While I was speaking, oft was fastened to't. This ring was mine, and, when I gave I bade her, if her fortune ever stood it Helen, I would relieve her. Had you that craft to reave her Of what should stead her most? My gracious sovereign, Ber. The ring was never hers. Count. Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and she reckoned it 3 Laf. I am sure I saw her wear it. Ber. 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; 2 but when I had subscribed 3 To mine own fortune, and informed her fully, I could not answer in that course of honor As she had made the overture, she ceased, In heavy satisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again. King. Plutus himself, 1 "The last time that ever I took leave of her at court." That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Where you have never come,) or sent it us Ber. She never saw it. King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honor, 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 feared too little.'-Away with him ;We'll sift this matter further. Ber. 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 BERTRAM, guarded. Enter a Gentleman. King. I am wrapped in dismal thinkings. Gent. Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not; Here's a petition from a Florentine, 1 The proofs which I have already had are sufficient to show that my fears were not vain and irrational. I have unreasonably feared too little. |