There might have been, I am very glad on't. Queen. To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir!- Pis. I humbly thank your highness. SCENE III-A public place. 1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-A room in Cymbeline's palace. Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shore's o'the haven, And question'dst every sail: if he should write, Pis. Pis. Imo. Thou should'st have made him Pis. Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but To look upon him; till the diminution Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle; Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from The smallness of a gnat to air; and then Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good Pi Have I hurt him? sanio, 2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. When shall we hear from him? [Aside. Pis. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable car-With his next vantage.3 cass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt. 2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the backside the town. [Aside. Clo. The villain would not stand me. 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward [Aside 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground. your face. 2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool [Aside. you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me! 2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [Aside. 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.2 2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. (1) Her beauty and sense are not equal. (2) To understand the force of this idea, it should be remembered that anciently almost every sign had a motto, or some attempt at a witticism, underneath it. I Be assur'd, madam, Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had am in heaven for him; or ere I could lach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy. he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove, so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, help of admiration; though the catalogue of his en-I would abate her nothing; though I profess mydowments had been tabled by his side, and I to self her adorer, not her friend.8 peruse him by items. Iach. As fair, and as good (a kind of hand-inPhi. You speak of him when he was less furnish-hand comparison,) had been something too fair, and ed,2 than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within. French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he. lach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter. French. And then his banishment: Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acquaintance? Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life: Enter Posthumus. Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech you all, be better known to this gentleman; whom I commend to you, as a noble friend of mine: How worthy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing. French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans. Post Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still. French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atones my countryman and you; It had been pity, you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature. Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller; rather shunn'd to go even with what heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but, upon my mended judgment (if I offend not to say it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether slight. French. Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded? one the other, or have fallen both. Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference? French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses: This gentleman at that time vouching (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constantqualified, and less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in France. too good, for any lady in Britany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. Post. I praised her, as I rated her: so do I my stone. Iach. What do you esteem it at? Post. More than the world enjoys. lach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's out-priz'd by a trifle. Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given; if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift: the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods. Jach. Which the gods have given you? Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress; if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring. Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first. Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress: make her go back, even to the yielding; had I admittance, and opportunity to friend. Post. No, no. Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too. Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted. Iach. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke. Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Jach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think, stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats Iach That lady is not now living; or this gentle-to your ring, that, commend me to the court where man's opinion, by this, worn out. Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. (1) Increasing in fame. (2) Accomplished. (3) Forms him. (4) Praise. (5) Reconcile. (6) Importunity, instigation. (7) Destroyed. your lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring (8) Lover,-1, speak of her as a being I reverence, not as a beauty whom I enjoy. (9) Overcome. (10) Deceived. (11) Proof. from thence that honour of hers, which you imagine so reserved. Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my_ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it. Iach. You are a friend, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve it from tainting: But, I see, you|| have some religion in you, that you fear. Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope. Iach. I am the master of my speeches; and would undergo what's spoken, I swear. Post. Will you?—I shall but lend my diamond till your return:-Let there be covenants drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. Phi. I will have it no lay. lach. By the gods it is one :-If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours; so is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours:-provided, I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment. Post. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles betwixt us:--only, thus far you shall answer. If you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to understand you have prevailed, I am no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate: if she remain unseduced (you not making it appear otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword. lach. Your hand; a covenant: We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain; lest the bargain should catch cold, and starve: I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed. [Exe. Posthumus and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. us follow 'em. Pray, let [Exeunt. SCENE VI-Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace. Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius. Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers; Make haste: Who has the note of them? Which are the movers of a languishing death; Queen. I do wonder, doctor, Thou ask'st me such a question: Have I not been Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn'd me how To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so, That our great king himself doth woo me oft For my confections? Having thus far proceeded (Unless thou think'st me devilish,) is't not meet That I did amplify my judgment in Other conclusions ?2 I will try the forces Of these thy compounds on such creatures as We count not worth the hanging (but none human,) (2) Experiments. (1) Recommendation. Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, Then afterward up higher; but there is Until I send for thee. Cor. No further service, doctor, I humbly take my leave. [Exit. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think, in time She will not quench ;3 and let instructions enter [The Queen drops a box: Pisanio takes it up. That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master; (3) i. e. Grow cool. (4) To change his abode. Imo. What is the matter, trow? The hand fast to her lord. I have given him that, || Not so allur'd to feed. Re-enter Pisanio, and Ladies. To taste of too. So, so;-well done, well done : But when to my good lord I prove untrue, Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false; That hath her husband banish'd:-O, that husband! As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome; Iach. Imo. [Presents a letter. You are kindly welcome. If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare, Imo. [Reads.]-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindness I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your truest LEONATUS. What! are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes The cloyed will (That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, Imo. What, dear sir, Thus raps you? Are you well? [To Pisanio. Pis. I was going, sir, Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, 'beseech you? lach. Well, madain. Lamentable! What! Imo. To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop 'Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and Imo. You do seem to know Contemn with mows2 the other: Nor i'the judg-Something of me, or what concerns me; 'Pray What both you spur and stop. Iach. Had I this cheek To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, Whose every touch, would force the feeler's soul To the oath of loyalty; this object, which Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye, Fixing it only here: should I (damn'd then,) Slaver with lips as common as the stairs That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands Made hard with hourly falsehood (falsehood, as With labour;) then lie peeping in an eye, Base and unlustrous as the smoky light That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit, That all the plagues of hell should at one time Encounter such revolt. Let me hear no more. Imo. With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady With tomboys,3 hir'd with that self-exhibition4 Which your own coffers yield! with diseas'd ventures, That play with all infirmities for gold, As well might poison poison! Be reveng'd; Imo. Reveng'd! How should I be reveng'd? If this be true Iach. In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it. Imo. What ho, Pisanio! Iach. Let me my service tender on your lips. Thee and the devil alike.-What ho, Pisanio!- (1) What you seem anxious to utter, and yet withhold. (2) Sovereign command. (3) Wantons. Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness Iach. He sits 'mongst men, like a descended god : He hath a kind of honour sets him off, More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry, Most mighty princess, that I have adventur'd To try your taking of a false report; which hath Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment In the election of a sir so rare, Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear him Made me to fans you thus; but the gods made you, Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon. Imo. All's well, sir: Take my power i'the court for yours. lach. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot To entreat your grace but in a sinall request, And yet of moment too, for it concerns Your lord; myself, and other noble friends, Are partners in the business. Imo. Which I, the factor for the rest, have done Willingly; Imo. And pawn mine honour for their safety: since My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them my bed-chamber. Iach. In They are in a trunk, |