Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him? Sec. Lord. [Aside] No, 'faith; not so much as his patience. 9 First 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. Sec. Lord. [Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town. Clo. The villain would not stand me. Sec. Lord. [Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. First Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground. 20 Sec. Lord. Aside] As many inches as you have oceans. Puppies! [us. Clo. I would they had not come between Sec. Lord. [Aside] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow and refuse me ! Sec. Lord. [Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. 30 First 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 wit. Sec. Lord. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done! Sec. Lord. [Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us? First Lord. I'll attend your lordship. 40 [Exeunt. Pis. Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I! And that was all? Pis. No, madam; for so long As he could make me with this eye or ear Distinguish him from others, he did keep 10 The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief, Still waving, as the fits and stirs of 's mind Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, How swift his ship. Imo. Thou shouldst have made him 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; crack'd them, but To look upon him, till the diminution Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle, When shall we hear from him? With his next vantage. Be assured, madam, Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but Iach. Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain he was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of; but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments 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. 10 French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he. Iach. 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. Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this lamentable divorce under her colors 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 less 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. Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality. Enter POSTHUMUS. 30 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 you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still. 40 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. 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' experiences: but upon my mended judgment-if I offend not to say it is mended-my quarrel was not altogether slight. 51 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? French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out 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, constantqualified and less attemptable than any the rarest of our ladies in France. Iuch. 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. 71 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-a kind of handin-hand comparison-had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres 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. Jach. What do you esteem it at? Post. More than the world enjoys. Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outprized 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 neighboring 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 accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honor of my mistress, if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring. 109 Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. 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 Í admittance and opportunity to friend. Post. No, no. 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 abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt. fach. 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 neighbor's on the approbation of what I have spoke! 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 honor of hers which you imagine so reserved. 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 afraid, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve it from tainting: but see you have some religion in you, that you fear. 149 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. 159 Iach. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient 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 honor 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; let 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. 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: I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed. 181 [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior lachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em. [Exeunt. SCENE V. 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? I, madam. Queen. Dispatch. [Exeunt Ladies Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam : [Presenting a small bor. But I beseech your grace, without offence,My conscience bids me ask-wherefore you have Commanded of me those most poisonous com pounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death; But though slow, deadly? Queen. I wonder, doctor, 10 Thou ask'st me such a question. Have I not been [Aside] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him Will I first work: he's for his master, Cor. [Aside] I do suspect you, madam ; But you shall do no harm. Queen. [To Pisanio] Hark thee, a word. 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 has Queen. No further service, doctor, Until I send for thee. Cor. 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, 50 I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then To be depender on a thing that leans, Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labor: It is a thing I made, which hath the king know What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, 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 70 To any shape of thy preferment such Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her 79 Re-enter PISANIO and Ladies So, so: well done, well done⚫ The violets, cowslips, and the primroses, You're kindly welcome. [Presents a letter. Thanks, good sir: Iach. [Aside] All of her that is out of door most rich! 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 trustLEONATUS.' |