Chapter XVII: Act V: SCENE I. Marseilles. A street

_Enter_ HELENA, Widow, _and_ DIANA, _with two_ Attendants.

_Hel._ 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 5
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.

_Gent._ And you.

_Hel._ Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. 10

_Gent._ I have been sometimes there.

_Hel._ I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen
From the report that goes upon your goodness;
And therefore, goaded with most sharp occasions,
Which lay nice manners by, I put you to 15
The use of your own virtues, for the which
I shall continue thankful.

_Gent._ What's your will?

_Hel._ That it will please you
To give this poor petition to the king,
And aid me with that store of power you have 20
To come into his presence.

_Gent._ The king's not here.

_Hel._ Not here, sir!

_Gent._ Not, indeed:
He hence removed last night and with more haste
Than is his use.

_Wid._ Lord, how we lose our pains!

_Hel._ ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL yet, 25
Though time seem so adverse and means unfit.
I do beseech you, whither is he gone?

_Gent._ Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.

_Hel._ I do beseech you, sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me, 30
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.

_Gent._ This I'll do for you. 35

_Hel._ And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd,
Whate'er falls more. We must to horse again.
Go, go, provide. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

Marseilles. A street.] Capell. The Court of France. Pope.

[3] _you have_] _you've_ Pope.

[6] Enter a Gentleman.] Rowe. Enter a gentle Astringer. F1. Enter a
gentle Astranger. F2. Enter a Gentleman a stranger. F3 F4.

[16] _virtues_] _virtue_ S. Walker conj.

[29] _I do_] _I_ Hanmer.

[35] _make us means._] _make us._ Anon. conj.

[36-38] Printed as prose in Ff. First as verse by Pope.

SCENE II. _Rousillon._ _Before the_ COUNT'S _palace_.

_Enter_ Clown, _and_ PAROLLES, _following_.

_Par._ 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. 5

_Clo._ 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.

_Par._ Nay, you need not to stop your nose, sir; I
spake but by a metaphor. 10

_Clo._ Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my
nose; or against any man's metaphor. Prithee, get thee
further.

_Par._ Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

_Clo._ Foh! prithee, stand away: a paper from fortune's 15
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 20
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._

_Par._ My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly 25
scratched.

_Laf._ 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 30
long under her? There's a quart d'écu for you: let the
justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other
business.

_Par._ I beseech your honour to hear me one single
word. 35

_Laf._ You beg a single penny more: come, you shall
ha't; save your word.

_Par._ My name, my good lord, is Parolles.

_Laf._ You beg more than 'word,' then. Cox my passion!
give me your hand. How does your drum? 40

_Par._ O my good lord, you were the first that found
me!

_Laf._ Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that lost
thee.

_Par._ It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, 45
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 50
further after me; I 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._

LINENOTES:

SCENE II. Before ... palace.] Edd. Inner-court of the palace. Capell.

following.] Capell. ill-favoured. Collier MS.

[1] _Monsieur_] _Mr_ Ff. _Lavache_] Edd. (Tollet conj.).

_Lavatch_ Ff. _Lapatch_ Jervis conj.

[4] _mood_] _moat_ Theobald. See note (XVII).

[10] _spake_] F1. _speake_ F2. _speak_ F3 F4.

[12] _or against_] _against_ Theobald.

[18] _Here_] Clo. _Here_ Ff.

_purr_] _purre_ F1 F2 F3. _pur_ F4. _puss_ Mason conj.

_or of_] _or_ Warburton.

[19] _musk-cat_] Theobald. _Muscat_ Ff. _mouse-cat_ Anon. conj.

_has_] _hath_ Pope.

[22] _ingenious_] _ingenuous_ Anon. conj.

[23] _similes_] Theobald (Warburton). _smiles_ Ff.

[31] _under her?_] F2 F3 F4. _under?_ F1.

_quart'd'écu_] Pope. _cardecue_ Ff.

[36] _You_] _If you_ Anon. conj.

[39] _'word'_] _word_ F1 F2. _one word_ F3 F4. _a word Collier_
(Egerton MS.).

[45] _lies in you_] _lies on you_ Capell.

[49] [Trumpets sound.] Sound trumpets. Theobald, om. Ff.

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.

_Count._ 'Tis past, my liege;
And I beseech your majesty to make it 5
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, 10
And watch'd the time to shoot.

_Laf._ 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 15
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; 20
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, 25
A stranger, no offender; and inform him
So 'tis our will he should.

_Gent._ I shall, my liege. [_Exit._

_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 30
That set him high in fame.

_Enter_ BERTRAM.

_Laf._ 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; 35
The time is fair again.

_Ber._ 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 40
The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals ere we can effect them. You remember
The daughter of this lord?

_Ber._ Admiringly, my liege, at first
I stuck my choice upon her, ere my heart 45
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; 50
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: 55
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 60
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, 65
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. 70

_Count._ Which better than the first, O dear heaven, bless!
Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cesse!

_Laf._ 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, 75
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 leave at court,
I saw upon her finger.

_Ber._ Hers it was not. 80

_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 85
I would relieve her. Had you that craft, to reave her
Of what should stead her most?

_Ber._ My gracious sovereign,
Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,
The ring was never hers.

_Count._ Son, on my life,
I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd it 90
At her life's rate.

_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,
Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name
Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought 95
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 100
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 105
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, 110
Where you have never come, or sent it us
Upon her great disaster.

_Ber._ 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 115
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. 120
[_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.

_Ber._ If you shall prove
This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy 125
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._

_Gent._ Gracious sovereign,
Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:
Here's a petition from a Florentine, 130
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 135
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 140
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. 145

_Laf._ 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. 150
I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,
Was foully snatch'd.

_Count._ 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? 155

_Dia._ 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.

_Wid._ I am her mother, sir, whose age and honour 160
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
And both shall cease, without your remedy.

_King._ Come hither, count; do you know these women?

_Ber._ My lord, I neither can nor will deny
But that I know them: do they charge me further? 165

_Dia._ Why do you look so strange upon your wife?

_Ber._ She's none of mine, my lord.

_Dia._ 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; 170
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she which marries you must marry me,
Either both or none.

_Laf._ Your reputation comes too short for my daughter;
you are no husband for her. 175

_Ber._ My lord, this 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 180
Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour
Than in my thought it lies.

_Dia._ Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.

_King._ What say'st thou to her?

_Ber._ She's impudent, my lord, 185
And was a common gamester to the camp.

_Dia._ 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 190
Did lack a parallel; yet for all that
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.

_Count._ He blushes, and 'tis it:
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem,
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, 195
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.

_Dia._ I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles. 200

_Laf._ I saw the man to-day, if man he be.

_King._ Find him, and bring him hither.
[_Exit an Attendant._

_Ber._ 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. 205
Am I or that or this for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

_King._ She hath that ring of yours.

_Ber._ 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, 210
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; 215
And I had that which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

_Dia._ 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, 220
Send for your ring, I will return it home,
And give me mine again.

_Ber._ I have it not.

_King._ What ring was yours, I pray you?

_Dia._ Sir, much like
The same upon your finger.

_King._ Know you this ring? this ring was his of late. 225

_Dia._ And this was it I gave him, being a-bed.

_King._ The story then goes false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.

_Dia._ I have spoke the truth.

_Enter_ PAROLLES.

_Ber._ My lord, I do confess the ring was hers.

_King._ You boggle shrewdly, every feather starts you. 230
Is this the man you speak of?

_Dia._ 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? 235

_Par._ 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? 240

_Par._ Faith, sir, he did love her; but how?

_King._ How, I pray you?

_Par._ He did love her, sir, as a gentleman loves a woman.

_King._ How is that?

_Par._ He loved her, sir, and loved her not. 245

_King._ As thou art a knave, and no knave. What an
equivocal companion is this!

_Par._ I am a poor man, and at your majesty's command.

_Laf._ He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.

_Dia._ Do you know he promised me marriage? 250

_Par._ Faith, I know more than I'll speak.

_King._ But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest?

_Par._ 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, 255
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. 260

_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?

_Dia._ Ay, my good lord.

_King._ Where did you buy it? or who gave it you? 265

_Dia._ It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.

_King._ Who lent it you?

_Dia._ It was not lent me neither.

_King._ Where did you find it, then?

_Dia._ I found it not.

_King._ If it were yours by none of all these ways,
How could you give it him?

_Dia._ I never gave it him. 270

_Laf._ 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.

_Dia._ It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.

_King._ Take her away; I do not like her now; 275
To prison with her: and away with him.
Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,
Thou diest within this hour.

_Dia._ I'll never tell you.

_King._ Take her away.

_Dia._ I'll put in bail, my liege.

_King._ I think thee now some common customer. 280

_Dia._ By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.

_King._ Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?

_Dia._ 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. 285
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.

_Dia._ Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:
[_Exit Widow._
The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for, 290
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: 295
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?

_Hel._ No, my good lord; 300
'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see,
The name and not the thing.

_Ber._ Both, both. O, pardon!

_Hel._ 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: 305
'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?

_Ber._ If she, my liege, can make me know this clearly,
I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly. 310

_Hel._ If it appear not plain and prove untrue,
Deadly divorce step between me and you!
O my dear mother, do I see you living?

_Laf._ Mine eyes smell onions; I shall weep anon:
[_To Parolles_] Good Tom Drum, lend me a handkercher: so, 315
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, 320
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy dower;
For I can guess that by thy honest aid
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.
Of that and all the progress, more or less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express: 325
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet. [_Flourish._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III. The Count's palace.] A Room of State in the Palace. Capell.

COUNTESS] old Lady Ff.

[1] _of her_] F1 F2. om. F3 F4.

_esteem_] _estate_ Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

[6] _blaze_] Warburton. _blade_ Ff.

[8] _O'erbears ... burns_] _O'er-bear ... burn_ Hanmer.

[12, 13] _But ... lady_] Hanmer these lines at _did ... lady_.

[21] _We are_] _We're_ Pope.

[23] _nature_] _matter_ Hanmer.

[24] _we do_] _do we_ Reed.

[28] _What ... spoke?_] As two lines in Ff, ending _daughter ...
spoke?_

[30, 31] Printed as prose in Ff. First as verse by Pope.

[31] _set_] Rowe. _sets_ Ff.

[32] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter Bertram.] Enter Count Bertram. Ff.

[39] _forward_] _forehead_ Anon. conj.

[44] _Admiringly, my liege, at first_] F3 F4. _Admiringly my liege, at
first_ F1 F2. _Admiringly, my liege. At first_ Rowe. _Admiringly, my
liege. Even at first_ Hanmer. _Admiringly, my liege; at the first
sight_ Capell. _Admiringly. My liege, at first_ Collier.

[49] _warp'd_] _warpt_ F1 F2. _wrapt_ F3 F4.

[50] _Scorn'd_] _Scorch'd_ Hanmer (Warburton). _Scors'd_ Becket conj.

[58, 59] _Like ... offence,_] (_Like ... To an offender_) _turns to
sour repentance_Hanmer.

_carried, ... sender_] Theobald. _carried ... sender,_ Ff. _carried,
... sender_, Rowe.

[59] _sour_] _sore_ Collier MS.

[60] _that's gone_] _that is gone_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_Our_] _Our own_ Capell.

_faults_] _thoughts_ Long MS.

[61] _trivial_] _triviall_ F1 F2. _triall_ F3. _trial_ F4.

[65, 66] _Our ... afternoon_] omitted in Collier MS.

[65] _own_] _old_ Collier (Mason conj.).

[66] _shameful hate_] _shapeful hate_ F4. _shame full late_ W. G. C.
(Fras. Mag.) conj.

_sleeps_] _slept_ Johnson conj.

[67, 68] _forget her ... fair Maudlin_] _forget ... Margaret_ Anon.
conj.

[71] Count.] Theobald. Continued to King in Ff. _O dear_] _dear_
Lloyd conj.

[72] _meet_,] Rowe. _meet_ F1 F2. _meet_ F3 F4.

_in me_] _in one_ Long MS. _cesse_] F1. _ceasse_ F2. _ceass_ F3.
_cease_ F4.

[74] _digested_] F1 F4. _disgested_ F2 F3.

[76] [B. gives a ring.] Hanmer.

[79] _that e'er I_] _that ere I_ Ff. _that e'er she_ Rowe. _time e'er
she_ Hanmer. _time, ere she_ Collier (Collier MS.).

_that ... leave_] _leave that I took of her_ Jervis conj.

[85] _Necessitied_] F1 F2 F3. _Necessited_ F4.

[90] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[91] _life's_] Rowe. _lives_ Ff.

_I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[96] _engaged_] Rowe. _ingag'd_ Ff. _ungag'd_ Theobald. _in gage_
Jackson conj.

[101] _Plutus_] Rowe (ed. 2). _Platus_] Ff.

[110] _yourself_] _you selfe_ F2.

[114] _conjectural_] _connecturall_ F1.

[115] _would fain_] _should fain_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

_out._] _out_, F1 F2 F3. _out_; F4.

[120] [_Guards_ seize B.] Rowe.

[122] _tax_] F3 F4. _taxe_ F2. _taze_ F1.

[127] [Exit, guarded.] Rowe.

[128] SCENE v. Pope.

_I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_thinkings_] _thinking_ Rowe.

Enter....] Ff (after line 127). Enter the Astringer. Grant White.

[129] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

_to blame_] _too blame_ Ff.

[131] _hath_] _had_ Heath conj.

_for four_] _some four_ Warburton.

[136] _importing_] _important_ Boswell (1821).

[139] King, [reads] A letter. Ff. The King reads a letter. Rowe.

[143] _his_] F1 F2. _this_ F3 F4.

[144] _you it best_] _your breast it_ Hanmer.

[145, 157] _Capilet_] Ff. _Capulet_ Rowe.

[146] _fair_] _faire_ F1. _feare_ F2. _fear_ F3 F4.

_and toll_] _a toule_ Becket conj.

[146, 147] _toll for this_: _I'll_] _toule for this. Ile_ F1. _toule
him for this. Ile_ F2 F3 F4. _toll for him. For this, I'll_ Theobald,
_toll him: for this, I'll_ Steevens. _toll: for this, I'll_ Collier
(Mason conj.). _towl him: for this, I'll_ Grant White.

[147] _this ... him_] _him ... this_ Anon, conj.

[150] [Exeunt some Attendants. Capell. Exeunt Gentleman and some
Attendants. Malone.

[151] _afeard_] _afraid_ Rowe.

[152] Re-enter B., guarded.] Capell. Enter Bertram. Ff (after line
150).

[153] _sir, sith wives are monsters_

Dyce. _sir, sir, wives are monsters_ F1. _sir, wives are such
monsters_ F2. _sir, wives are so monstrous_ F3 F4. _sir, since wives
are monsters_ Steevens (Tyrwhitt conj.). _sir, sin wives are monsters_
Becket conj. _sir, for wives are monsters_ Collier (Egerton MS.).

[154] _them lordship_] _to them_ Rowe (ed. 2). _them worship_ Anon.
conj.

[155] _marry_] _wed_ Pope.

Enter Widow and Diana.

Enter Widdow, Diana, and Parolles. Ff. Re-enter Gentleman with Widow
and Diana. Malone. Enter the Astringer with ... Grant White.

[157] _Capilet_] _Capulets_ Heath conj.

[163] _hither_] F2 F3 F4. _hether_ F1.

_count; do you_] _count; do you not_ Hanmer. _count; say, do you_
Capell. _county, do you_ S. Walker conj.

[168] _that is_] _this is_ or _that were_ Seymour conj.

[170] _myself_] _my flesh_ Hanmer.

[174] _too_] om. Hanmer, who reads lines 174, 175 as verse, ending
_comes ... her._

[To Bertram. Rowe.

[179] _Than for_] _Than e'er_ Pope. _Than so_ Collier MS.

[181] _them: fairer_] Hanmer (Theobald conj.). _them fairer_: Ff.

[182] _Good_] _Now, good_ Hanmer.

[192, 204] _o'_] Rowe. _a'_ Ff.

[193] Count.] Coun. F1. Boun. F2. Old La. F3 F4.

_'tis it_] Capell. _'tis hit_ Ff. _'tis his_ Pope. _is hit_ Malone
conj. _'tis fit_ Henley conj.

[195] _to the sequent_] _to 'th sequent_ F1 F2. _to th' sequent_ F3
F4. _to th' subsequent_ Pope.

[196] _it_] _so_ Hanmer.

[202] [Exit an Attendant. Dyce.

_him?_] F2 F3 F4. _him_: F1.

[205] _Whose nature sickens but ... truth._] Hanmer. _Whose nature
sickens: but ... truth,_ Ff. _Which nature sickens with: but to speak
truth_, Rowe.

[210] _for me_] F1. _of me_ F2 F3 F4.

[214] _infinite cunning_] Singer (S. Walker conj.). _insuite comming_
F1. _insuit comming_ F2 F3. _insuit coming_ F4. _in suit coming_
Hanmer. _insuit cunning_ Easy conj. _instant comity_ Bubier conj.

_infinite ... grace_] _own suit joining with her mothers, scarce_
Heath conj.

_modern_] _modest_ Long MS.

[216] _any_] _an_ or _my_ S. Walker conj.

[218] _have turn'd off_] Ff. _turn'd off_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[219] _diet_] _edict_ Jackson conj.

[221] _it_] _this_ Hanmer.

[223, 224] _Sir, ... finger_] Metre as in Capell. As one line in Ff.
_Much like that same upon your finger, sir._ Hanmer.

[228] Dia. _I have ... truth_] omitted by Rowe.

[Enter P.] Ff. Re-enter Attendant, with P. Dyce (after line 230).

[229] SCENE VI. Pope.

[231] _Ay_] _It is_ Theobald.

[232] _Tell me, sirrah_] _Now tell me, sirrah_ Capell.

_sirrah, but tell me true_] _but tell me true, sirrah_ Hanmer.

[236] _gentleman_] _gentlemen_ F2.

[241, 242] _but how?_ King. _How_,] King. _But how, how_, Malone
conj.

[243] _gentleman_] Rowe. _Gent._ Ff.

[246] _knave._] _knave_, Ff. _knave_; Rowe.

[252] _But_] _What_! Capell conj.

[254] _than that, he_] F4. _then that_ _he_ F1 F2. _then that, he_ F3.

_loved her_:] _lov'd her_,--Capell.

[259] _which_] F1 F2. _that_ F3 F4.

[261-263] Collier prints as three lines ending _canst ... fine ...
aside._

[266] _nor I did not_] F1 F2. _nor did not_ F3 F4. _nor did I_
Theobald.

[270] _gave it_] _gave't_ S. Walker conj.

[281] _Jove_] _God_ Nicholson conj.

[To Lafeu. Hanmer.

[287] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_old_] om. Long MS.

[Pointing to Laf. Rowe.

[289] [Exit Widow.] Pope.

[298] Re-enter...] Capell. Enter Hellen and Widow. Ff.

[307] _And are_] Rowe. _And is_ Ff.

_This is done_] _This now is done_ Hanmer.

[315-317] Hanmer prints as three lines ending _handkerchief, ... with
thee: ... ones._

[315] [To Parolles] Rowe.

_Good ... handkercher_] as a verse in Ff. _Now good._... Hanmer.

_handkercher_] _handkerchief_ Rowe.

[316] _I thank_] _'thank_ Hanmer.

[320] [To Diana] Rowe.

[323] _Thou kept'st_] _Thou'st kept_ Anon. conj.

_kept'st_] _keptst_ F1. _keeptst_ F2. _keepest_ F3 F4. _keep'st_ Rowe
(ed. 1). _kep'st_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[324] _or_] _and_ Theobald.

[325] _Resolvedly_] F4. _Resoldvedly_ F1. _Resoldv'dly_ F2 F3.

[327] [Flourish.] Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

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; 5
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.
[_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

EPILOGUE.] Rowe. EPILOGUE spoken by the King. Pope. Advancing. Capell.

[4.] _strife_] _strift_ F1.

_exceeding_] _succeeding._ See note (XVIII).

NOTES.

NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. In the Folios Rousillon is spelt, almost without exception, 'Rossillion,' and Helena in the stage directions 'Hellen.' As the Clown's name occurs in the play we have introduced it among the 'Dramatis Personæ,' changing however the spelling from 'Lavatch' to 'Lavache.'

Violenta, whose name occurs in the stage direction at the beginning of