ACT III SCENE VII | Florence. The Widow's house. | |
[Enter HELENA and Widow] |
HELENA | If you misdoubt me that I am not she, |
| I know not how I shall assure you further, |
| But I shall lose the grounds I work upon. |
Widow | Though my estate be fallen, I was well born, |
| Nothing acquainted with these businesses; | 5 |
| And would not put my reputation now |
| In any staining act. |
HELENA | Nor would I wish you. |
| First, give me trust, the count he is my husband, |
| And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken | 10 |
| Is so from word to word; and then you cannot, |
| By the good aid that I of you shall borrow, |
| Err in bestowing it. |
Widow | I should believe you: |
| For you have show'd me that which well approves | 15 |
| You're great in fortune. |
HELENA | Take this purse of gold, |
| And let me buy your friendly help thus far, |
| Which I will over-pay and pay again |
| When I have found it. The count he wooes your daughter, | 20 |
| 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. |
| Now his important blood will nought deny |
| That she'll demand: a ring the county wears, | 25 |
| 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 |
| In most rich choice; yet in his idle fire, |
| To buy his will, it would not seem too dear, | 30 |
| Howe'er repented after. |
Widow | Now I see |
| The bottom of your purpose. |
HELENA | You see it lawful, then: it is no more, |
| But that your daughter, ere she seems as won, | 35 |
| Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter; |
| In fine, delivers me to fill the time, |
| Herself most chastely absent: after this, |
| To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns |
| To what is passed already. | 40 |
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 | 45 |
| 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 to-night |
| Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed, | 50 |
| Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed |
| And lawful meaning in a lawful act, |
| Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact: |
| But let's about it. |
[Exeunt] |