Ber. I think, she has : certain it is, I lik’d her,
And boarded her i’the 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 insuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdued me to her rate : she got the ring ;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

Dia. I must be patient;
You, that 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,)
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.
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. 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?

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?

Par. 'Faith, sir, he did love her, but bow?
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.

King. As thou art a knave, and no knave :-
What an equivocal companion is this i

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 ?
Par. ’Faith, I know more than I'll speak.
King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

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, and of furies, and I know not what: yet I was in that credit with them at the time, that I knew of their going to bed ; and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that 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 the 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?
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.

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.
To prison with her: and away with him.-
Unless thou tellst me where thou had'st 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.
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this

wbile?
Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty ;

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 ?

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?

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.

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?
Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak.
King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'st?

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, and of furies, and I know not what: yet I was in that credit with them at the time, that I knew of their going to bed; and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that 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 the 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?
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.

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.
To prison with her: and away with him.-
Unless thou tell’st me where thou had'st 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.
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this

while?
Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty;