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Enter HELEN and WIDOW.
Enter HELEN and WIDOW.
HELEN
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.
HELEN
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 fall’n, I was well born,
5
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.
WIDOW
Though my estate be fall’n, I was well born,
5
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.
HELEN
Nor would I wish you.
First give me trust the Count he is my husband,
10
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.
HELEN
Nor would I wish you.
First give me trust the Count he is my husband,
10
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
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,
15
For you have showed me that which well approves
   You’re great in fortune.
WIDOW
I should believe you,
15
For you have showed me that which well approves
   You’re great in fortune.
HELEN
Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will overpay and pay again
20
When I have found it. The Count he woos your
daughter,
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.
25
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
30
In most rich choice. Yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will it would not seem too dear,
Howe’er repented after.
HELEN
Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will overpay and pay again
20
When I have found it. The Count he woos your
daughter,
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.
25
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
30
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.
WIDOW
Now I see the bottom of your purpose.
HELEN
You see it lawful, then. It is no more
35
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
40
To what is passed already.
HELEN
You see it lawful, then. It is no more
35
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
40
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
45
With musics of all sorts and songs composed
To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists
As if his life lay on ’t.
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
45
With musics of all sorts and songs composed
To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists
As if his life lay on ’t.
HELEN
Why then tonight
50
Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,
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.
HELEN
Why then tonight
50
Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,
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.
They exit.
They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter HELEN and WIDOW.
Enter HELEN and WIDOW.
HELEN
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.
HELEN
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 fall’n, I was well born,
5
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.
WIDOW
Though my estate be fall’n, I was well born,
5
Nothing acquainted with these businesses,
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.
HELEN
Nor would I wish you.
First give me trust the Count he is my husband,
10
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
Is so from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
Err in bestowing it.
HELEN
Nor would I wish you.
First give me trust the Count he is my husband,
10
And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken
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,
15
For you have showed me that which well approves
   You’re great in fortune.
WIDOW
I should believe you,
15
For you have showed me that which well approves
   You’re great in fortune.
HELEN
Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will overpay and pay again
20
When I have found it. The Count he woos your
daughter,
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.
25
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
30
In most rich choice. Yet, in his idle fire,
To buy his will it would not seem too dear,
Howe’er repented after.
HELEN
Take this purse of gold,
And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I will overpay and pay again
20
When I have found it. The Count he woos your
daughter,
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.
25
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
30
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.
WIDOW
Now I see the bottom of your purpose.
HELEN
You see it lawful, then. It is no more
35
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
40
To what is passed already.
HELEN
You see it lawful, then. It is no more
35
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
40
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
45
With musics of all sorts and songs composed
To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists
As if his life lay on ’t.
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
45
With musics of all sorts and songs composed
To her unworthiness. It nothing steads us
To chide him from our eaves, for he persists
As if his life lay on ’t.
HELEN
Why then tonight
50
Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,
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.
HELEN
Why then tonight
50
Let us assay our plot, which, if it speed,
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.
They exit.
They exit.
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