Page 861 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolved to carry her; let her in fine consent
As we’ll direct her how ’tis best to bear it. [20]
Now his important blood will naught deny

That she’ll demand. A ring the County wears
That downward hath succeeded in his house
From son to son some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it. This ring he holds [25]

In most rich choice, yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will it would not seem too dear,
Howe’er repented after.

WIDOW
Now I see
The bottom of your purpose.

HELENA
You see it lawful then. It is no more [30]
But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,

Herself most chastely absent. After,
To marry her I’ll add three thousand crowns [35]
To what is passed already.

WIDOW
I have yielded.
Instruct my daughter how she shall persever

That time and place with this deceit so lawful
May prove coherent. Every night he comes
With musics of all sorts, and songs composed [40]

To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists
As if his life lay on’t.

HELENA
Why then tonight
Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,