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, constant-qualified, and less attemptible, than any, the rarest of our ladies in France.

Iach. 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.*

Iach. As fair, and as good (a 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 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.
Iach. What do you esteem it at ?

Post. More than the world enjoys.

Tach. Either your unparagon'd 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 neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen, too: so, of your brace of unprizeable 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 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; notwithstanding I fear not my ring.

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 I admittance, and opportunity to friend.

Post. No, no.

Iach. I dare thereon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'er-values 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.

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. 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?

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 honour 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, 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.

Tach. 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 hugeness 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 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 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; 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 prevail'd, 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.

* Deceived.

[Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO. + Proof.

Recommendation.

French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em. [Exeunt.

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. Í, madam.

Queen. Despatch.

[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 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 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:
Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

Queen. O, content thee.

Enter PISANIO.

Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him

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

[Aside.

And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisanio?

Doctor, your service for this time is ended;

Take your own way.

Cor. I do suspect you, madam;

But you shall do no harm.

Queen. Hark thee, a word.

[Aside.

[TO PISANIO.

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 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. 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,

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
Continue where he is: to shift his being, t
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,

[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 PISA.]-A sly and constant knave:

Not to be shaked: the agent for his master;

And the remembrancer of her, to hold

The handfast 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 assured

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

* I. e. grow cool.
+ Contract.

+ Change his abode.
Ambassadors.

Bear to my closet;-Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words.

Pis. And shall do:

[Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES.

But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you.

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;-O, that husband!
My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated
Vexations 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.
Iach. Change you, Madam?

The worthy Leonatus is in safety,
And greets your highness dearly.
Imo. Thanks, good Sir:

You are kindly welcome.

[Exit.

[Presents a letter.

[Aside.

Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich!

If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,

She is alone the Arabian bird; and I

Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend!

Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!

Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;
Rather, directly fly.

Imo. [reads].-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindness I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you

value your truest

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.

Iach. Thanks, fairest lady.—

LEONATUS.

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,