Clot. Yes, and a gentlewoman's fon.

Lady. That's more

Than fome, whofe taylors are as dear as yours, Can juftly boaft of. What's your Lordship's plea-fure?

Clot. Your lady's perfon. Is he ready?

Lady. Ay, to keep her chamber.

Clot. There is gold for you; fell me your good

report.

Lady. How, my good name? or to report of you What I fhall think is good? The princefs

Enter Imogen.

Glot. Good-morrow, faireft. Sifter, your fweet

hand.

Imo. Good-morrow, Sir. You lay out too much pains

For purchafing but trouble; the thanks I give,
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.

Glot. Still, I fwear, I love you.

Imo. If you but faid fo, 'twere as deep with me; If you fwear ftill, your recompence is still That I regard it not.

Clot. This is no answer.

Imo. But that you fhall not fay I yield, being

lent,

-'faith

I would not speak. I pray you spare me

Ifhall unfold equal difcourtefy

To your best kindnefs: one of your great knowing

Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

Clot. To leave you in your madness, 'twere my

I will not.

Imo. Fools cure not mad folks.

Clet. Do you call me, fool?

Imo. As I am mad, I do..

[fin..

If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much forry, Sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being fo verbal and learn now for all,
That I, who know my heart, do here pronounce
By the very truth of it, I care not for you:

And am fo near the lack of charity,

T'accufe myself I hate you: which I had rather You felt, than make my boast.

Clot. You fin against

Obedience, which you owe your father; for
The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
One bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes,
With fcrapes o' th' court, it is no contract, none:
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,
Yet who than be more mean? to knit their fouls
On whom there is no more dependency

But brats and beggary, in self-figur'd knot † :
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The confequence o' th' crown; and must not foil
The precious note of it with a bafe flave,
A hilding for a livery, a fquire's cloth;
A pantler; not fo eminent

Imo. Profane fellow !

Wert thou the fon of Jupiter, and no more
But what thou art, befides, thou wert too bafe
To be his groom: thou wert dignify'd enough,
Ev'n to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues to be ftil'd

The under hangman of his realm; and hated
For being preferr'd fo well.

Clot. The fouth-fog rot him!

Imo. He never can meet more mifchance, than

come.

To be but nam'd of thee. His meaneft garment,
That ever hath but clipt his body, 's dearer
In my respect, then all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made fuch men. How now, Pifanio?

Enter Pifanio.

Clot. His garment? now, the devil

Imo. To Dorothy, my wonian, hie thee presently. Clot His garment?

Imo. I am iprighted with a fool,

Frighted, and angred worfe.-Go, bid my woman

↑ A felf-figured knot is a knot formed by yourselves.

Search for a jewel, that too cafually
Hath left mine arin-it was thy mafter's.
If I would lofe it for a revenue

Of any king of Europe. I do think
I faw't this morning; confident I am,
Last night 'twas on my arm; I kiffed it.
I hope it be not gone, to tell my Lord
That I kiss aught but him.

Pif. 'Twill not be loft.

Imo. I hope fo. Go, and fearch.
Clot. You have abus'd me.

His meaneft garment

Imo. Ay, I faid fo, Sir;"

Shrew [me

If you will make 't an action, call witness to 't.

Clot. I will inform your father.

Imo. Your mother too;

She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,

But the worth of me.

So I leave you, Sir,

To th' worst of difcontent.

Clot. I'll be reveng'd.

[Exit.

His meanest garment?

-well.

[Exit,

SCENE V.

Changes to Rome.

Enter Pofthumus and Philario.

Poft. Fear it not, Sir. I would I were fo fure To win the king, as I am bold her honour Will reinain hers.

Phil. What means do you make to him?

Poft.. Not any, but abide the change of time; Quake in the prefent winter's ftate, and wifh That warmer days would come; in thefe fear'd I barely gratify your love; they failing, [hopes, I muft die much your debtor.

Phil. Your very goodness, and your company, O'erpays all I can do. By this, your King Hath heard of great Auguftus; Caius Lucius Will do 's commiffion throughly. And, I think, He'll grant the tribute; send th' arrearages,

F'er look upon our Romans, whofe remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.
Poft. I do believe,

Statit though I am none, nor like to be,

That this fhall prove a war; and you thall hear
The legions, now in Gallia, fooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæfar
Stail'd at their lack of kill, but found their courage
Worthy of frowning at. Their difcipline,
Now mingled with their courages, will make known
To their approvers * they are people fuch
That mend upon the world.

SCENE

Enter Jachimo.

Phil. See, Iachimo.

VI.

Poft. Sure, the fwift harts have pofled you by And winds of all the corners kifs'd your fails, [land, To make your veffel nimble.

Phil. Welcome, Sir.

Poft. I hope the briefnefs of your anfwer made The fpeedinefs of your return.,

Iach. Your lady

Is of the fairest I e'er look'd upon.

Poft. And therewithal the bett; or let her beauty Look through a cafement to allure falle hearts, And be falfe with them.

Jach. Here are letters for you.

Poft. Their tenour good, I trust.

Jach. 'Tis very like.

Poft. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain Court

When you were there?

Iach. He was expected then,

But not approach'd.

Post. All is well yet."

Sparkles this ftone as it was wont, or is't pot
Too dull for your good wearing?

i. to those who try them. Warburton.

Iach. If I've loft it,

I fhould have loft the worth of it in gold;
I'll make a journey twice as far, t' enjoy
A fecond night of fuch fweet fhortnefs, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Poft. The ftone's too hard to come by.
Iach. Not a whit,

Your lady being so easy.

Poft. Make not, Sir,

Your lofs your fport. I hope you know that we Muft not continue friends.

Iach. Good Sir, we must,

If you keep covenant. Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question farther; but I now
Profefs myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring, and not the wronger
Of her or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.

Poft. If you can make 't apparent

That you have tasted her in bed, my hand
And ring is yours; if not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honour, gains or lofes
Your fword or mine, or masterless leaves both
To who fhall find them.

Iach. Sir, my.circumstances

Being fo near the truth, as I will make them,
Muft first induce you to believe; whofe ftrength
I will confirm with oath, which, I doubt not,
You'll give me leave to fpare, when you fhall find
You need it not.

Poft. Proceed.

Iach. Firft, her bed-chamber,

Where, I confefs, I flept not, but profefs

Had that was well worth watching, it was hang'd
With tapestry of filk and filver; the ftory,
Proud Cleopatra, when he met her Roman,
And Cydnus fwell'd above the banks, or for
The prefs of boats, or pride.-A piece of work
So bravely done, fo rich, that it did strive
In workmanship and value; which I wonder'd,
Could be fo rarely and exactly wrought,
VOL. IX.
N