[Exeunt.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:

lach. 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 judgement, 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.

Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's out-prized 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.

Iach. Which the gods have given you?
Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep.

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 oth er 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; notwith

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

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 bet-standing I fear not my ring.
ter 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 atone 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. 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 op portunity to friend.

Post. No, no.

Iach. I dare, thereon, pawn the moiety of my es tate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'er-values it something: But I make iny wager rather against your confidence, than her reputation; and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller; rather shunned to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' expe- || riences: but, upon my mended judgement, (if I offend Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a per not to say it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogeth-suasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're er 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?

worthy of, by your attempt.

Iach. What's that?

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.

Iuch. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neigh

French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell outbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke. 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, constant-qualified, || and less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Iach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think, stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring, that, commend me to the court where your lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring from thence that

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentle-honour of hers, which you imagine so reserved. man's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. Iach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. As fair, and as good, fa kind of hand-in-hand
comparison,) had been something too fair, and too
good, for any lady in Britany. If she went before
others I have seen, as that diamond of
yours out-lus-
tres 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.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.

lach. 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.

lach. 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 bugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring.

Phi. I will have it no lay.

Iach. By the gods it is one :-If I bring yu no suf-”

ficient 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: det 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.

French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us fellow 'em. [Exeunt.

Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think, she
has

Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damn'd nature: Those, she has,
Will stupify and dull the sense a while:
Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and dogs;
Then afterward up higher: but there is
No danger in what slew of death it makes,
More than the locking up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd
With a most false effect; and I the truer,
So to be false with her.

Queen,

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; and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work;
When thou shalt bring me word, she loves my son,
[Exeunt Post. and Iach. I'll tell thee, on the instant, thou art then
As great as is thy master: greater; for
His fortunes all tie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp: Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being,
Is to exchange one misery with another;
And every day, that comes, comes to decay
A day's work in him: What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans?
Who cannot be new built; nor has no friends,

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? 1 Lady.

Queen. Despatch.

madam:

I, madama. [Exeunt Ladies.

Now, master doctor; have you brought those drugs?
Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are,
[Presenting a small box.
But I beseech your grace, (without offence;
My conscience bids me ask,) wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds,
Which are the movers of a languishing death;
But, though slow, deadly?

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 judgement in
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as

We count not worth the hanging, (but none human,)
To try the vigour of them, and apply
Allayments to their act; and by them gather
Their several virtues, and effects.

Cor.

Your highness Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

[The queen drops a box: Pisanio takes it up.
So much as but to prop him?-Thou tak'st up
Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour:
It is a thing I made, which hath the king
Five-times redeem'd from death: I do not know
What is more cordial :-Nay, I pr'ythee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do't, as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on; but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee: I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment, such

As thou❜lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound

To load thy merit richly. Call my women:
Think on my words. [Exit Pis.]—A sly and constant
knave;

Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold
The hand fast to her lord.-I have given him that,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
Re-enter Pisanio, and Ladies.

To taste of too.-So, so ;-well done, well done:
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,

Bear to my closet:-Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies,
Pis.
And shall do:
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you.

Queen.

O, content thee.-
Enter Pisanio.

[Exit.

Take your own way.

Imogen.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false;
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

So far I read aloud:

But even the very middle of my heart

Is warm'd by the rest, and takes it thankfully.—
You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

Have words to bid you ; and shall find it so,
In all that I can do

Thanks, fairest lady.

Iach.
What! are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes
To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop
Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above, and the twinn'd stones
Upon the number'd beach? and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious
"Twixt fair and foul?

Imo.
What makes your admiration?
Iach. It cannot be i'the eye; for apes and monkeys,
"Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and
Contern with mows the other: Nori'the judgement;
For idiots, in this case of favour, would
Be wisely definite: Nor i'the appetite;
Sluttery, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed.

Imo. What is the matter, trow?
Iach.

The cloyed will,

(That satiate yet unsatisfied desire,
That tub both fill'd and running,) ravening first
The lamb, longs after for the garbage.

Imo.

Thus raps you? Are you well?

He did ineline to sadness; and oft-times

Not knowing why.

Iach.

I never saw him sad.
There is a Frenchman his companion, one
An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home: he furnaces

The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Britan
(Your lord, I mean,) laughs from 's free lungs, cries, O!
Can my sides hold, to think, that man,-who knows
By history, report, or his own proof,
What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be will his free hours languish for
Assured bondage?

To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace
I'the dungeon by a snuff?

Imo.
I pray you, sir,
Deliver with more openness your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?
Iach. That others do,

I was about to say, enjoy your—Bat
It is an office of the gods to "venge it,
Not mine to speak on't.

Imo.
You do seem to know
Something of me, or what concerns me; 'pray you,
(Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more
Than to be sure they do: for certainties
Either are past remedies; or, timely knowing,
The remedy then born) discover to me
What both you spur and stop.

Jach.
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,
What, dear sir, 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 falschool, (falsehood, 21
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.

Iach. Thanks, madam, well :-'Beseech, you, sir, de-
sire
[To Pisanio.

My man's abode where I did leave him: he

Is strange and peevish.

Pis.

I was going, sir,

To give him welcome.

you?

[Exit.

Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, 'beseech