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. WIDOW
Though my estate be fall’n, I was well born,
Nothing acquainted with these businesses, 5
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,
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 showed me that which well approves 15
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
When I have found it. The Count he woos your 20
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.
Now his important blood will naught deny 25
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
In most rich choice. Yet, in his idle fire, 30
To buy his will it would not seem too dear,
Howe’er repented after. WIDOW
Now I see the bottom of your purpose. HELEN
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,
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. HELEN Why then tonight
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. They exit. | Over at Diana's place, Helen has been busy trying to convince the Widow that she's not just some random pilgrim—she's actually Bertram's estranged wife. She has a plan to get her husband back and she wants the Widow's help. The Widow is just a tad skeptical, so Helen whips out a big bag of gold to help convince her that she is who she says she is. Helen wants the Widow's daughter (Diana) to pretend she's into Bertram and imply that she'll sleep with him if he'll give her his ring. Then she needs to set up a time and place to meet up. Of course, it won't be Diana that shows up to do the deed. Instead, Helen will sneak into Diana's bed at the last minute, taking her place and tricking Bertram into having sex with her in the dark. Helen sweetens the pot by saying that she'll even give Diana 3,000 crowns (coins) for her wedding dowry if the plan goes off without a hitch. The widow agrees that this is a win-win situation. Plus, it's completely lawful since Helen and Bertram are married. |