Shakespeare Portal

Act 3, Scene 7

Florence. A room in the WIDOW'S house.

  1. [Enter HELENA and Widow.]
  2. Helena
  3. 1663 If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
  4. 1664 I know not how I shall assure you further,
  5. 1665 But I shall lose the grounds I work upon.
  6. The Widow
  7. 1666 Though my estate be fallen, I was well born,
  8. 1667 Nothing acquainted with these businesses;
  9. 1668 And would not put my reputation now
  10. 1669 In any staining act.
  11. Helena
  12. 1670 Nor would I wish you.
  13. 1671 First give me trust, the count he is my husband,
  14. 1672 And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
  15. 1673 Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,
  16. 1674 By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
  17. 1675 Err in bestowing it.
  18. The Widow
  19. 1676 I should believe you;
  20. 1677 For you have show'd me that which well approves
  21. 1678 You're great in fortune.
  22. Helena
  23. 1679 Take this purse of gold,
  24. 1680 And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
  25. 1681 Which I will over-pay, and pay again
  26. 1682 When I have found it. The count he woos your daughter
  27. 1683 Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
  28. 1684 Resolv'd to carry her: let her in fine, consent,
  29. 1685 As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
  30. 1686 Now his important blood will naught deny
  31. 1687 That she'll demand: a ring the county wears,
  32. 1688 That downward hath succeeded in his house
  33. 1689 From son to son, some four or five descents
  34. 1690 Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
  35. 1691 In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
  36. 1692 To buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
  37. 1693 Howe'er repented after.
  38. The Widow
  39. 1694 Now I see
  40. 1695 The bottom of your purpose.
  41. Helena
  42. 1696 You see it lawful then: it is no more
  43. 1697 But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
  44. 1698 Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
  45. 1699 In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
  46. 1700 Herself most chastely absent; after this,
  47. 1701 To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns
  48. 1702 To what is pass'd already.
  49. The Widow
  50. 1703 I have yielded:
  51. 1704 Instruct my daughter how she shall persever,
  52. 1705 That time and place, with this deceit so lawful,
  53. 1706 May prove coherent. Every night he comes
  54. 1707 With musics of all sorts, and songs compos'd
  55. 1708 To her unworthiness: it nothing steads us
  56. 1709 To chide him from our eaves; for he persists,
  57. 1710 As if his life lay on 't.
  58. Helena
  59. 1711 Why, then, to-night
  60. 1712 Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
  61. 1713 Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
  62. 1714 And lawful meaning in a lawful act;
  63. 1715 Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
  64. 1716 But let's about it.
  65. [Exeunt.]