Whose high respect and rich validity
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 fix preceding ancestors, that gem

Conferr'd by teftament to the fequent iffue,
Hath it been ow'd and worn.

That ring's a thousand proofs.

King. Methought, you faid,

This is his wife,

You faw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loth am to produce
So bad an inftrument; his name's Parolles.
Laf. I faw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber. What of him?

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,

With all the fpots o'the world tax'd and debofh'd,
Which nature fickens with: but to speak truth;
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, fhe 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 reftraint;
As all impediments in fancy's course,

1

Are

Validity is a very bad word for value, which yet I think is its meaning, unless it be confidered as making a contract valid.

Validity certainly means value. So in K. Lear:

No less in space, validity, and pleasure.

Again in Twelfth-night :

JOHNSON.

Of what validity and pitch foever. STEEVENS.

2-all impediments in fancy's course,

Are motives of more fancy :

Every thing that obftructs love is an occafion by which love is heigh

K

tened,

Are motives of more fancy: and in fine,
Her infuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdu'd me to her rate: fhe 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 fo noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet,

(Since you lack virtue, I will lofe 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 fame 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 falfe, you threw it him Out of a cafement.

Dia. I have spoke the truth.

Entor Parolles.

Ber. My lord, I do confefs, the ring was hers.

tened. And, to conclude, her folicitation concurring with her fashionable appearance, fhe got the ring.

I am not certain that I have attained the true meaning of the word modern, which, perhaps, fignifies rather meanly pretty.

JOHNSON.

I believe modern means common. The fenfe will then be this Her folicitation concurring with her appearance of being common, i. c. with the appearance of her being to be had as we fay at prefent. Shakespeare ufes the word frequently, though its fenfe cannot always be precifely determined."

fcorns a modern invocation. K. John.

Full of wife faws and modern inftances As you like it,
Trifes, fuch as we prefent modern friends with.

to make modern and familiar things fupernatural and
aufelefs. STEEVENS.

King. You boggle fhrewdly, every feather ftarts

you.

Is this the man you speak of?

Dia. It is, my lord.

King. Tell me, firrah, but tell me true, I charge you,

Not fearing the displeasure of your mafter, (Which, on your juft proceeding, I'll keep off) By him, and by this woman here, what know you? Par. So please your majefty, my mafter hath been an honourable gentleman. Tricks he hath had in him, which gentlemen have.

King. Come, come, to the purpofe? Did he love this woman?

Par. 'Faith, fir, he did love her: But how?
King. How, I pray you?

Par. He did love her, fir, as a gentleman loves a

woman.

King. How is that?

Par. He lov'd her, fir, and lov'd 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 majefty's command.

Laf. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty

orator.

Dia. Do you know, he promis'd me marriage? Par. 'Faith, I know more than I'll fpeak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou know'ft? Par. Yes, fo please your majefty. I did go between them, as I faid; but more than that, he loved her: for, indeed, he was mad for her, and talk'd 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 promifing her marriage, and things that

K 4

would

would derive me ill-will to fpeak of: therefore I will not fpeak what I know.

King. Thou haft fpoken all already, unless thou canft lay they are married: But thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore ftand afide. This ring, you fay, 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 did I 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 eafy glove, my lord; fhe goes off and on at pleasure.

King. The ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. Din. It might be yours, or hers, for aught I know, King. Take her away, I do not like her now; To prifon with her and away with him. Unless thou tell'ft me where thou hadst this ring, Thou dieft 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 fome common customer.
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you."
King. Wherefore haft thou accus'd him all this
while?

Dia. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty;
He knows, I am no maid, and he'll fwear to't:
I'll swear, I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great King, I am no ftrumpet, by my life;
I am either maid, or elie this cld man's wife.

[Pointing to Lafeu.

King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with her. Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal fir, [Exit Widow. The jeweller, that owes the ring, is fent for, And he shall furety me. But for this lord, [To Bert. Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, Tho' yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him. He knows himself, my bed he hath defil'd, And at that time he got his wife with child: Dead tho' fhe be, the feels her young one kick; So there's my riddle, One, that's dead, is quick. And now behold the meaning.

Enter Helena, and Widow.

King. Is there no exorcist 4

Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes?
Is't real, that I fee?

Hel. No, my good lord;

'Tis but a fhadow of a wife you see, The name, and not the thing.

Ber. Both, both; oh, pardon!

Hel. Oh, my good lord, when I was like this maid, I found you wond'rous kind. There is your ring, And look you, here's your letter: This it says, 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 fhe, my liege, can make me know this clearly, I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly.

3 He knows himself, &c.]

This dialogue is too long, fince the audience already knew the whole tranfaction; nor is there any reafon for puzzling the king and playing with his paffions; but it was much easier than to make a pathetical interview between Helen and her husband, her mother, and the king. JOHNSON.

exorcift] This word is ufed not very properly for encharter. JOHNSON.

Hel.