ACT I POST. Which, by their graces, I will keep. 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? 1 overcome. ! I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring, that, POST. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring 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. 132 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 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 Make haste: who has the note of them? 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 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 Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, A drug of such damn'd nature. Those she has Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats and Then afterward up higher: but there is No danger in what show of death it makes, 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 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 50 1 allay her grief. ACT I Sc. V Continue where he is: to shift his being Is to exchange one misery with another; Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends, 60 [The QUEEN drops the box; PISANIO takes it up. 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 Of liegers2 for her Sweet; and which she after, 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. |