Page 900 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

As she had made the overture, she ceased
In heavy satisfaction, and would never [100]
Receive the ring again.

KING
Plutus himself,
Than 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 called 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.

BERTRAM
She never saw it.

KING
Thou speakest 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]
My fore-past proofs, howe’er the matter fall,

Shall tax my fears of little vanity,
Having vainly feared too little. Away with him.
We’ll sift this matter further.

BERTRAM
If you shall prove
This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy [125]