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ACT I
Sc. IV

POST. Which, by their graces, I will keep.
IACH. You may wear her in title your's; but, you know,
strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your
ring may be stolen too: so, your brace of unprizable
estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual;
a cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplish'd courtier,
would hazard the winning both of first and last.
POST. Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd a courtier
to convince1 the honour of my mistress; if, in the hold-
ing 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.

88

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.

ΤΟΣ

IACH. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'ervalues it something: but I make my 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. You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt.

IACH. What's that?

III

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 !

120

POST. What lady would you choose to assail?
IACH. Your's; whom in constancy you think stands so safe.
2 proof.

1 overcome. !

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 con-
ference, and I will bring from thence that honour of
her's which you imagine so reserv'd.

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.1 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.

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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's: 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.

141

IACH. By the Gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are your's; 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 your's; provided I have your commendation for my more free entertainment.

150

POST. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles
betwixt us. Only thus far
Only thus far you shall answer: If you
make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to
understand you have prevail'd, I am no further your
enemy; she is not worth our debate: if she remain
unseduc'd (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.
IACH. 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.

1 an allusion to the declaration of Posthumus, lines 63-4.

158

ACT I

Sc. IV

ACT I

Sc. IV

I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded.

POST. Agreed.

[Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO.

FRENCH. Will this hold, think you?

PHI. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em.

[exeunt.

SCENE V. Britain. A Room in CYMBELINE'S Palace.

Enter the QUEEN, Ladies, and CORNELIUS.

QUEEN. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those
flowers;

Make haste: who has the note of them?
FIRST LADY.

QUEEN. Dispatch.

I, Madam. [Exeunt Ladies.

Now, Master Doctor, have you brought those drugs? COR. Pleaseth your Highness, ay; here they are, Madam : [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 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? 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:

ΤΟ

20

Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

QUEEN.

O, content thee.

[aside.] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him

Will I first work: he's for his master,

And enemy to my son.

ACT I
Sc. V

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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 stupefy and dull the sense awhile;

Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats and
dogs,

Then afterward up higher: but there is

No danger in what show 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,

40

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,

I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then

As great as is thy master; greater; for

His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp: return he cannot, nor

50

1 allay her grief.

ACT I

Sc. V

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,

60

[The QUEEN drops the 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 chance1 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 70

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 PISANIO.

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 liegers2 for her Sweet; and which she after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
To taste of too.

Re-enter PISANIO and Ladies.

So, so; well done, well done :

The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,

Bear to my closet.

Think on my words.

PIS.

Fare thee well, Pisanio;

80

[Exeunt QUEEN and Ladies. And shall do:

But when to my good Lord I prove untrue,

I'll choke myself; there's all I'll do for you.

1 what an occurrence; viz. the banishment of Posthumus.

[exit.

2 ambassadors.

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