Fifth section

Question 1

Wretched florentine-capilet-pitied

Answer 1

I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
derived from the ancient Capilet.
My suit, as I do understand, you know
and therefore know how far I may be pitied

Question 2

strangely

Answer 2

Why do you look so strangely upon your wife?

Question 3

marry-hand-heaven-myself-embodied-both or none

Answer 3

If you shall marry,
you give away this hand, and that is mine;
you give away heaven’s vows, and those are mine;
you give away myself, which is known mine;
for I by vow am so embodied yours
that she which marries you must marry me,
either both or none.

Question 4

oath-virginity

Answer 4

Good my lord,
ask him again upon his oath if he does think
He had not my virginity

Question 5

wrong-common price-behold-rich validity-commoner

Answer 5

He does me wrong, my lord. If I were so,
he might have bought me at a common price.
Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,
whose high respect and rich validity
did lack a parallel. Yet for all that
He gave it to the commoner o’ th’ camp
If i be one.

Question 6

loath-instrument

Answer 6

I did my lord, but loath am to produce
so bad an instrument. His name’s Parolles.

Question 7

Patient-noble wife-diet-virtue-return it-mine

Answer 7

I must be patient.
you that have turned off a first noble wife
may justly diet me. I pray you yet -
since you lack virture, I will lose a husband -
send for your ring. I will return it home,
and give me mine again.

Question 8

same-finger

Answer 8

sir, much like the same upon your finger

Question 9

gave-abed

Answer 9

and this was it I gave him, being abed.

Question 10

truth

Answer 10

I have spoke the truth

Question 11

Lord

Answer 11

Ay, my lord.

Question 12

promised?

Answer 12

do you know he promised me marriage?

Question 13

lord

Answer 13

ay, my lord

Question 14

given-buy

Answer 14

it was not given me, nor I did not buy it

Question 15

lent

Answer 15

it was not lent to me neither

Question 16

found

Answer 16

I found it not.

Question 17

gave

Answer 17

I never gave it him

Question 18

aught

Answer 18

it might be yours or hers for ought I know

Question 19

never tell

Answer 19

I’ll never tell you

Question 20

bail

Answer 20

I’ll put in bail, my liege

Question 21

Jove-man

Answer 21

by Jove, if ever I knew man, ‘twas you.

Question 22

guilty-no maid-knows not-strumpet-old man’s wife

Answer 22

Because he’s guilty and he is not guilty.
He knows I am no maid, and he’ll swear to ‘t.
I’ll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
great king, I am no strumpet. By my life,
I am either maid or else this old man’s wife.

Question 23

fetch bail-jeweler-abuse-I quit him-defiled-with child-young-riddle-behold

Answer 23

good mother, fetch my bail. -widow exits- stay, royal sir.
the jeweler that owes the ring is sent for,
and he shall surety me. but for this lord
who hath abused me as he knows himself,
though yet he never harmed me, here I quit him.
he knows himself my bed he hath defiled,
and at that time he got his wife with child.
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick.
so there’s my riddle: one that’s dead is quick.
and now behold the meaning: