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SCENE V.- Rousillon. A Room in the
Countess's Palace.

Enter COUNTESS, LAFEU, and CLOWN.
Laf. No, no, your son was misled with a snipt,

taffata fellow there; whose villainous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his color: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour and your son here at home, more advanced by the king, than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of.

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loved a great fire; and the master I speak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, sure, he is the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in his court. am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some, that humble themselves, may; but the many will be too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flowery way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire.

Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of then, and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks.

Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the [Exit.

law of nature.

Lof. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy. Count. So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himself much sport out of him; by his authority he sauciness; and, indeed, he has no pace, but runs remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his

where he will.

Count. I would, I had not known him! it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that about to tell you. Since I heard of the good lady's Luf. I like him well; 'tis not amiss: and I was ever nature had praise for creating: if she had par-death, and that my lord your son was upon his retaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.

Luf. "Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand salads, ere we light on such another herb.

Clo. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad, or, rather, the herb of grace."

Lof. They are not salad-herbs, you knave, they

are nose-herbs.

Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have not much skill in grass.

Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave or a fool?

Clo. A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a inan's.

Laf. Your distinction?

Clo. I would cozen the man of his wife, and do

his service.

Laf. So you were a knave at his service, indeed. Clo. And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, to do her service.

Lf. I will subscribe for thee; thou art both

knave and fool.

Clo. At your service.

Luf. No, no, no.

Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.

Luf. Who's that? a Frenchman?

Clo. Faith, sir, he has an English name: but his phishomy is more hotter in France, than there. Juf. What prince is that?

C. The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; clias, the devil.

Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse; I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still.

Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always

turn home, I moved the king my master, to speak in the behalf of my daughter: which in the minorrity of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious promised me to do it: and, to stop up the displea remembrance, did first propose: his highness hath sure he hath conceived against your son, there is no How does your ladyship like it? I wish it happily effected. Count. With very much content, my lord, and

fitter matter.

as able body as when he numbered thirty; he will Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of in such intelligence hath seldom failed. be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that

Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here to-night I shall beseech your lordship, to remain

with me till they meet together.

Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might safely be admitted.

Count. You need but plead your honorable priv

ilege.

but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold character;

Re-enter Clown.

Clo. O madam yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under it, or no, the velvet knows: but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honor! so, belike, is that.

Clo. But it is your carbonadoeds face. to talk with the young noble soldier. Laf. Let us go see your son. I pray you; I long

Clo. 'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head and nod at every man. [Exeunt

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Marseilles. A Strect. Enter HELENA, Widow, and DIANA, with two Attendants.

Hel. But this exceeding posting, day and night,
Must wear your spirits low: we cannot help it:
But since you have made the days and nights as one,
To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs,
Be bold, you do so grow in my requital,
As nothing can unroot you. In happy time;-
Enter a gentle Astringer.

This man may help me to his majesty's ear,
If he would spend his power-God save you, sir.
Gent. And you.

Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France.
Gent. I have been sometimes there.

Hel. I do presume, sir, that you are not fallen

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Gent. Marry, as I take it, to Rousillon;
Whither I am going.

Hel.
I do beseech you sir,
Since you are like to see the king before me,
Commend the paper to his gracious hand;
Which, I presume, shall render you no blame,
But rather make you thank your pains for it:
I will come after you, with what good speed
Our means will make us means.

Gent.

This I'll do for you.
Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well
thank'd,

Whate'er falls more.-We must to horse again;-
Go, go, provide.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-Rousillon. The inner Court of the
Countess's Palace.

Enter Clown and PAROLLES.

Par. Good monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafeu this letter: I have, ere now, sir, been better known to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's moat, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

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Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will thenceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering.— Prythee, allow the wind.

Pur. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor.

Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor.Prythee, get thee further.

Pur. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper.

Clo. Foh! prythee, stand away: A paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself.

Enter LAFEU.

Here is a pur of fortune, sir, or of fortune's cat,
(but not a musk-cat,) that has fallen into the unclean
fishpond of her displeasure, and, as he says, is mud-
died withal: Pray you, sir, use the carp as you may;
for he looks like a poor, decayed, ingenious, foolish,
rascally knave. I do pity his distress in my smiles
of comfort, and leave him to your lordship.
[Exit Clown.
Par. My lord. I am a man whom fortune hath
cruelly scratched.

King.

Natural rebellion, done i' the blaze of youth;
When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force,
O'erbears it, and burns on.
My honor'd lady,
I have forgiven and forgotten all;
Though my revenges were high bent upon hin,
And watch'd the time to shoot.
This I must say,-

Lof.
But first I beg my pardon,-The young lord
Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady,
Offence of mighty note; but to himself
The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife,
Whose beauty did astonish the survey
Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive;
Whose dear perfection, hearts that scorned to serve,
Humbly call'd mistress.
King.
Praising what is lost,
Makes the remembrance dear. Well, call b
We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill
hither-
All repetition-Let him not ask our pardon;
And deeper than oblivion do we bury
The nature of his great otlence is dead,
The incensing relics of it: let him approach,
A stranger, no offender; and inform him,
So'tis our will he should.

Gent.

I shall, my liege.
Eri Gentleman
King. What says he to your daughter? have you
spoke!

Laf. All that he is hath reference to your highness.
King. Then shall we have a match. I have let-
ters sent me,
That set him high in fame.

Laf.

Enter BERTRAM.

He looks well on't.
King. I am not a day of season,
For thou mayst see a sunshine and 3 hail
In me at once: But to the brightest beams
Distracted clouds give way; so stand thou forth,
The time is fair again.
My high reputed blames,
Dear sovereign, pardon to me.
King.

Ber.

All is whole;
Not one word more of the consunard time.
Let's take the instant by the forward top;
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals ere we can effect them: You remember
The daughter of this lord?

Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her! There's a quart d' ecu for you: Let the justices make you and fortune friends: I am for other business. Par. I beseech your honor to hear me one sin-Scorn'd a fair color, or express'd it stol'n; gle word.

Luf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.

Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Luf. You beg more than one word, then. - Cox' my passion! give me your hand:-How does your drum?

Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me.

Luf. Was 1, in sooth? and I was the first that lost thee.

Pur. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out.

Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sunt. The king's coming, I know by his trumpets.-Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat: go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you.

[Exeunt.
SCENE III-A Room in the Countess's Palace.
Flourish. Enter King, Countess, LAFEU, Lords,
Gentlemen, Guards, &c.

King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem
Was made much poorer by it: but your son,
As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know
Her estimation home.

Count.

'Tis past, my liege:

And I beseech your majesty to make it

Reckoning or estimate. Completely, in its full extent.

Ber. Admiringly, my liege: at first
I struck my choice upon her, ere my heart
Durst make too bold a herald of iny tongue:
Where the impression of mine eye infixing,
Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me,
Which warp'd the line of every other favor;
Extended or contracted all proportions,
To a most hideous object: Thence it came,
That she, whom all men prais'd, and whom myself
Since I have lost, have lov'd was in mine eye
The dust that did oflend it.
King.
Well excus'd:
That thou didst love her, strikes some scores away
From the great compt: But love, that comes too late
Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried,
To the great sender turns a sour offence,
Crying, That's good that's gone: our rash faults
Make trivial price of serious things we have,
Not knowing them, until we know their grave:
Oft our displeasures, to ourselves unjust,"
Destroy our friends, and after weep their dust:
Our own love waking cries to see what's done,
While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon.
Be this sweet Helen's knell, and now forget her.
Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudliny,
The main consents are had; and here we'll stay
To see our widower's second marriage-day.
Count. Which better than the first, O dear heaver
bless!

Or, ere they meet, in me, O nature, cease!
Laf. Come on, my son, in whom my house's name
Must be digested, give a favor from you,
To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter.
That she may quickly come.-Ry my old beard,
And every hair that's on't, Helen, that's dead,
Was a sweet creature; such a ring as this,
The last that e'er I took her leave at court,
I saw upon her finger!

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Count.

Son, on my life, I have seen her wear it; and she reckon❜d it At her life's rate. Luf. I am sure, I saw her wear it. Ber. You are deceiv'd, my lord, she never saw it: In Florence was it from a casement thrown me, Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the name Of her that threw it: noble she was, and thought I stood engag'd: but when I had subscrib'd' To mine own fortune, and inform d her fully, I could not answer in that course of honor, As she had made the overture, she ceas'd,' In heavy satisfaction, and would never Receive the ring again.

King. Plutus himself, That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine, Hath not in nature's mystery more science, Than I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's, Whoever gave it you: Then, if you know, That you are well acquainted with yourself, Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcement You got it from her: she call'd the saints to surety, That she would never put it from her finger, Unless she gave it to yourself in bed, (Where you have never come,) or sent it us Upon her great disaster.

Ber.

She never saw it.

King. Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honor;

And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me
Which I would fain shut out: If it should prove
That thou art so inhuman,-'twill not prove so
And yet I know not:-thou didst hate her deadly,
And she is dead; which nothing, but to close
Her eyes myself, could win me to believe,
More than to see this ring.-Take him away.-
[Guards seize BERTRAM.
My fore-past proofs, howe'er the matter fall,
Shall tax my fears of little vanity,

Having vainly fear'd too little.-Away with him;-
We'll sift this matter further.

Ber.

If you shall prove This ring was ever hers, you shall as easy Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence, Where yet she never was.

Exit BERTRAM, guarded. Enter a Gentleman.

King. I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings. Gent. Gracious sovereign, Whether I have been to blame, or no, I know not; Here's a petition from a Florentine, Who hath for four or five removes, come short To tender it herself. I undertook it, Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech Of the poor suppliant, who by this, I know, Is here attending: her business looks in her With an important visage; and she told me, In a sweet verbal brief, it did concern Your highness with herself.

King. (Reads.] Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wife was dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the count Rousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and my honor's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leav, and I follow him to his country for justice: Gant it me, O king; in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poor maid is undone. DIANA CAPULET. Laf. I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and

toll him: for this, I'll none of him.

King. The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu,

To bring forth this discovery.-Seek these suitors: Go, speedily, and bring again the count.

[Exeunt Gentleman and some Attendants.
The Philosopher's stone.
Pay toll for him.

In the sense of unengaged.
Post-stages.

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you,

King. I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to And that you fly them as you swear them lordship Yet you desire to marry.-What woman's that?" Re-enter Gentleman, with Widow and DIANA Dia. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine, Derived from the ancient Capulet;

My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied
Both suffer under this complaint we bring,
Wi. I am her mother, sir, whose age and honor
And both shall cease, without your remedy.
King. Come hither, count: Do you know these
women?

marry,

Ber. My lord, I neither can, nor will deny But that I know them: Do they charge me further? Dia. Why do you look so strange upon your wife? Ber. She's none of mine, my lord. Dia. If you shall 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; That she, which marries you, must marry me, For I by vow am so embodied yours, Either both or none.

Laf. Your reputation [To BERTRAM] comes too short for my daughter; you are no husband for her. Ber. My lord, this is a fond and desperate creature,

Whom sometime I have laugh'd with: let your high

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He blushes, and 'tis it: Of six preceding ancestors, that gem Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue, Hath it been ow'd and worn. This is his wife; That ring's a thousand proofs.

King.

Methought, you said,
You saw one here in court could witness it.
Dia. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument; his name's Parolles.
Laf. I saw the man to-day, if man he be.
King. Find him, and bring him hither.
Ber.
What of him!

He's quoted for a most perfidious slave,
With all the spots o' the world tax'd and debosh'd;
Whose nature sickens, but to speak a truth:
Am I or that, or this, for what he'll utter,
That will speak any thing?

King
She hath that ring of yours.
Ber. I think she has; certain it is, I liked her,
And boarded her, i' the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance, and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine.
Her insuit coming with her modern grace,
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that, which any inferior might
At market price have bought.

• Decease, die. Gamester, when applied to a female, then meant a common woman. • Noted. Debauch'd. 1 Love. Her solicitation concurring with her appearance of being common.

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Dia. Do you know, he promised me marriage? Pur. 'Faith, I know more than I'll speak. King. But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest? Pur. Yes, so please your majesty; I did go between them, as I said: but more than that, he loved her, for indeed he was mad for her, and talked of Satan, and of limbo, and of furies, and 1 know not what yet I was in that credit with them at that time, that I knew of their going to bed; and of other motions, as promising her marriage, and things that would derive me ill will to speak of, therefore I will not speak what I know.

Dia.

King. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say they are married: But thou art too fine in thy evidence; therefore stand aside This ring, you say, was yours? Ay, my good lord. King. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you. Dia. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it. King. Who lent it you? Dia. It was not lent me neither. King. Where did you find it then? Dia. I found it not. King. If it were yours by none of all these ways. How could you give it him? Dia.

I never gave it him. Luf. This woman's an easy glove, my lord; she goes off and on at pleasure.

King. This ring was mine, I gave it his first wife. Dia. It might be yours or hers for aught I know. King. Take her away, I do not like her now: To prison with her, and away with him.

Uniess thou tell'st me where thou naast this ring,
Thou diest within this nour.
Dra.
I'll never tell you.

King. Take her away.
Dia.
I'll put in bail, my lege.
King. I think thee now some common customer
Dia. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.
King. Wherefore hast thou accused him all this
while?

Din. 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.
[Pointing to LAFEU.]
King. She does abuse our ears; to prison with

her.

Dia. Good mother, fetch my bail.-Stay, royal sir; Exit Widow. The jeweler, that owes the ring, is sent for,. And he shall surety me. But for this lord, Who hath abus'd me, as he knows himself, Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him: He knows himself, my bed he hath defil ́d; 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.

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Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes! Is't real, that I see?

Hel. No, my good lord; "Tis but the shadow of a wife you see, The name, and not the thing.

Ber.

Both, both; O, pardon! Hel. O, my good lord, when I was like this maid, I found you wondrous kind. There is your ring, And, look you, here's your letter; This it says, When from my finger you can get this ring, And are by me with child, &c.-This is done: Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?

Ber. If she, my liege, can make ine know this clearly,

I'll love her dearly, ever dearly.

Hel. If it appear not plain, and prove untrue, Deadly divorce step between me and you!0, my dear mother, do I see you living?

Laf. Mine eyes smell onions, I shall weep anon: Good Tom Drum, [TO PAROLLES,] lend me a handkerchief: So, I thank thee: wait on me home, I'll make sport with thee: Let thy courtesies alone, They are scurvy ones.

To make the even truth in pleasure flow:-
King. Let us from point to point this story know,
If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower,
Choose thou thy husband, and I'll pay thy doer
[TO DIANA.
For I can guess, that, by thy honest aid,
Thou kept'st a wife herself, thyself a maid.-
Of that, and all the progress, more and less,
Resolvedly more leisure shall express:
All yet seems well; and if it end so meet,
The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.

Advancing.

Flourish.

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SCENE I-Before an alehouse on a heath.
Enter HOSTESS and SLY.

Sly. I'll pheese' you, in faith.
Host. A pair of stocks, you rogue!

Sly. Y'are a baggage; the Slies are no rogues. Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conquerer. Therefore paucas pallabris; let the world slide: Sessa!"

Host. You will not pay for the glasses you have

burst?

Sty. No, not a denier: Go by, says Jeronimo;Go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.

Host. I know my remedy; I must go fetch the third borough..

Sly. Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I'll answer him by law: I'll not budge an inch, boy; let him come, and kindly.

[Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Wind horns. Enter a Lord from hunting, with Huntsman and Servants.

Lord. Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my

hounds;

Brach Merriman, the poor cur is emboss'd,
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?

I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.
1 Hunt. Why, Belman is as good as he, my lord;
He cried upon it at the merest loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent:
Trust me, I take him for the better dog.

Lord. Thou art a fool; if Echo were as fleet,
I would esteem him worth a dozen such.
But sup them well, and look unto them all;
To morrow I intend to hunt again.

1 Hunt. I will, my lord.

Lord. What's here? one dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe?

2 Hunt. He breathes, my lord: Were he not warm'd with ale,

This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly.
Lord. O monstrous beast! how like a swine he

lies!

Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,

1 Beat or knock. Few words • Be quiet. This line and scrap of Spanish is used in burlesque rom an old play called Hieronymo, or the Spanish Tragdy.

An officerwhose authority equals that of a constable. • Bitch. Strained.

And brave attendants near him when he wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself?

1 Hunt. Believe me, lord, I think he cannot choose.

2 Hunt. It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd.

Lord. Even as a flattering dream, or worthless

fancy.

Then take him up, and manage well the jest:-
Carry him gently to my fairest chamber,
And hang it round with all my wanton pictures:
And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet
Balm his foul head with warm distilled waters,
Procure me music ready when he wakes,
To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound;
And if he chance to speak, be ready straight,
And, with a low submissive reverence
Say, What is it your honor will command?
Let one attend him with a silver bason,
Full of rose-water, and bestrew'd with flowers;
Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper,
And say,-Will't please your lordship cool your
Some one be ready with a costly suit,
hands?
And ask him what apparel he will wear;
And that his lady mourns at his disease:
Another tell him of his hounds and horse,

Persuade him that he hath been lunatic;
And, when he says he is,-say that he dreams,
This do, and do it kindly, gentle sirs;
For he is nothing but a mighty lord.
It will be pastime passing excellent,
If it be husbanded with modesty.

1 Hunt. My lord, I warrant you, we'll play our part,

As he shall think, by our true diligence,
He is no less than what we say he is.
Lord. Take him up gently, and to bed with him,
And each one to his office when he wakes.

[Some bear out SLY. A trumpet sounds. Sirrah, go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds: [Exit Servant Belike, some noble gentleman; that means, Traveling some journey, to repose him here.

Re-enter a Servant.

How now? who is it?
Serv.
An it please your honor
Players that offer service to your lordship.
Lord. Bid them come near:-
Enter Players.

Now, fellows, you are welcome.
1 Play. We thank your honor.
Lord. Do you intend to stay with me to-night
2 Play. So please your lordship to accept ur duty

• Moderation

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