Imo. No; I rather added A lustre to it. O thou vile one! Sir, It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus: A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus Cym. Not after our command. Away with her, comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-Have I hurt him? 2 Lora. No, faith; not so much as his patience. [Aside. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, 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. [A side. Clo. The villain would not stand me. 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground. 2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured Queen. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace, Dear lady daughter, peace;-Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself | how long a fool you were upon the ground. Out of your best advice t. [some comfort Cym. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, Die of this folly! Enter PISANIO. [Exit. Pis. My lord your son drew on my master. No harm, I trust, is done? There might have been, Queen. I am very glad on't. + Consideration. [Aside Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me! 2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true e'ec tion, 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 wits. 2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done! 2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us? 1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. [Aside, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Room in Cymbeline's Pa lace. Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO. And question'dst every sail : if he should write, Pis. [I!- • Cattle-kceper. Her beauty and sense are not equal. $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. Imo. Thou shouldst have made him that weep this lamentable divorce, under her As little as a crow, or less, ere left To after-eye him. Pis. Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; To look upon him; till the diminution With his next vantage *. Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, [him, 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 The shes of Italy should not betray night, To encounter me with orisons+, for then I am in heaven for him: or ere I could And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north, pay, and yet pay still. French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness I was glad I did atone** my countrymen 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 I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but, upon my mended judgment, (if I offend not to say [despatch'd.it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether Madam, I shall. slight. Lady. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Rome. An Apartment in Phi lario's House. French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbiwould, by all likelihood, have confounded # trement of swords; and by such two, that one the other, or have fallen both. lach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference? Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard. Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in French. Safely, I think : 'twas a contention Britain: he was then of a crescent note, ex- in public, which may, without contradiction, pected to prove so worthy, as since he hath suffer the report. It was much like an argubeen allowed the name' of: but I could then ment that fell out last night, where each of us have looked on him without the help of ad- fell in praise of our country mistresses: This miration; though the catalogue of his endow-gentleman at that time vouching, (and upon ments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items. Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished 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. Jach. 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:- 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. lach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman'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 . luch. As fair, and as good, (a kind of hand + Meet me with reciprocal prayer. Increasing in fame, T Praise him. ý Lover,-I speak of her as a being I reverence, not as a beauty whom I enjoy. in-hand comparison,) had been something to the court where your lady is, with no more too fair, and too good, for any lady in Bri- advantage than the opportunity of a second tany. If she went before others I have seen, conference, and I will bring from thence that as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I honour of hers which you imagine so reserved. have behold, I could not but believe she ex- Post. I will wage against your gold, gold celled many but I have not seen the most to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'ti precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. part of it. Post. I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone. : Tach. What do you esteem it at? 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. Iuch. 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 Jack. Which the gods have given you? drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep.goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinkIach. You may wear her in title yoursing: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. but, you know, strange fowl light upon neigh- Phi. I will have it no lay. bouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: lach. By the gods it is one :-If I bring so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, you no sufficient testimony that I have enthe one is but frail, and the other casual; ajoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, cuLning thief, or a that way accomplished my ten thousand ducats are yours; so is your courtier, would hazard the winning both of diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in first and last. such honour as you have trust in, she your Post. Your Italy contains none so ac- jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are complished a courtier, to convince the yours:-provided I have your commendahonour of my mistress; if, in the holding or tion § for my more free entertainment. loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing Post. I embrace these conditions; let us doubt, you have store of thieves; notwith-have articles betwixt us:-only, thus far you standing I fear not my ring. Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. Iach. With five times so much conversation, Jach. I dare, thereon, 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 abused + in too bold a persuasion and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt. luch. 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. 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? 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. Iach. Your hand; a covenant: We wili 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. [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO. SCENE VI. Britain. A Room in Cymbeline's Enter Queen, Ladies, and CORNELIUS. Make haste: who has the note of them? I, madam, 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 [pounds, Commanded of me these most poisonous comWhich 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 [how Thy pupil long? Has thou not learn'd me To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so, That our great king himself doth woo me oft For my confections? Having thus far proceeded, [meet (Unless thou think'st me devilish,) is't not 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 Your highness Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: Besides, the seeing these effects will be [Aside. Will I first work: he's for his master, Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, Then afterward up higher; but there is I humbly take my leave. [Exit. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think in time [enter She will not quencht; and let instructions 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 * Experiments Is at last gasp: Return he cannot, nor So much as but to prop him?-Thou takest up Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour: It is a thing I made, which hath the king What is more cordial :--Nay, I pr'ythee, take 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 Not to be shaked: the agent for his master; The violets, cowlips, and the primroses, [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. [Exit. SCENE VII. Another Room in the same. Enter IMOGEN. Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false; A foolish suitor to a wedded lady, That hath her husband banish'd;-0, that husband! [peated My supreme crown of grief! and those reVexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen, As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable Is the desire that's glorious: Blessed be those, How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills, Which seasons comfort.-Who may this be? Fie! Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO. Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome; Comes from my lord with letters. Iuch. To change his abode. Change you, madam? Ambassadors. The worthy Leonatus is in safety, Imo. You are kindly welcome. lach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich! [Aside. If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare, Imo. [Reads.]-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your truest So far I read aloud: LEONATUS. But even the very middle of my heart Thanks, fairest lady.What! are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop Imo. What makes your admiration? Iach. It cannot be i'the eye; for apes and monkeys, [and "Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, Contemu with mows the other: Nor i'the Judgment; For idiots, in this case of favour, would Imo. What is the matter, trow ? 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. What, dear sir, Thus raps you? Are you well? Iach. Thanks, madam; well:-'Beseech, you, sir, desire [TO PISANIO. My man's abode where I did leave him: he Is strange and peevish †. Pis. I was going, sir, So merry and so gamesome; he is called He did incline to sadness; and oft-times Iach. (Your lord, I mean,) laughs from's free lungs, Can my sides hold, to think, that man,— who knows By history, report, or his own proof, Some men are much to blame. Be used more thankfully. much In himself, 'tis [lents,In you,-which I count his, beyond all taWhilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound To pity too. Imo. What do you pity, sir? Iach. Two creatures, heartily. Imo. Am I one, sir? You look on me; What wreck discern you in Deserves your pity? [me, Lamentable! What! To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace I'the dungeon by a snuff? Iach. Imo. I was about to say, enjoy your--But Imo. (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 1. lach. Had I this cheek To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, [soul Whose every touch would force the feeler's Base and unlustrous as the smoky light * Making mouths. What you seem anxious to utter, and yet withhold. |