Page 801 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

As heaven shall work in me for thine avail,
To tell me truly.

HELENA
Good madam, pardon me.

COUNTESS
Do you love my son?

HELENA
Your pardon, noble mistress.

COUNTESS
Love you my son?

HELENA
Do not you love him, madam? [180]

COUNTESS
Go not about; my love hath in’t a bond
Whereof the world takes note. Come, come, disclose
The state of your affection, for your passions
Have to the full appeached.

HELENA

Then I confess,
Here on my knee, before high heaven and you, [185]
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son.
My friends were poor, but honest; so’s my love.

Be not offended, for it hurts not him
That he is loved of me. I follow him not [190]
By any token of presumptuous suit,

Nor would I have him till I do deserve him,
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope,
Yet in this captious and intenable sieve [195]