Iach.

Should he make me

20

Lie, like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets,
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps,

In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it.
I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure;
More noble than that runagate to your bed;
And will continue fast to your affection,

Iach. Let me my service tender on your lips. Imo. Away! I do condemn mine ears that have So long attended thee. If thou wert honourable, Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not

For such an end thou seek'st, as base as strange.
Thou wrong'st a gentleman who is as far

From thy report as thou from honour; and

Solicit❜st here a lady that disdains

Thee and the Devil alike. What ho, Pisanio ! —

The King my father shall be made acquainted
Of thy assault if he shall think it fit,
A saucy stranger, in his Court, to mart
As in a Romish 21 stew, and to expound
His beastly mind to us, he hath a Court
He little cares for, and a daughter who
He not respects at all. - What, ho, Pisanio!
Iach. O happy Leonatus! I may say :

The credit that thy lady hath of thee

Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness
Her assured credit. - Blessèd live you long!

20 A pretty bold ellipsis. The meaning is, "If I were

&c.

you, should he,"

Diana's priests were maiden priests. So, in Pericles, v. 2, Diana says, "When my maiden priests are met together."

21 Romish for Roman was the language of the time. To mart is to trade or traffic. See vol. xiv. page 148, note 25.

A lady to the worthiest sir that ever

Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only
For the most worthiest fit! Give me your pardon.

I have spoke this, to know if your affiance

Were deeply rooted; and shall make your lord,

That which he is, new o'er: and he is one
The truest-manner'd; such a holy witch,
That he enchants societies unto him;

Half all men's hearts are his.

Imo.

You make amends.

Iach. He sits 'mongst men like a descended god;
He hath a kind of honour sets him off,

More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,
Most mighty Princess, that I have adventured
To try your taking of a false report; which hath
Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment
In the election of a sir so rare,

22 the love I bear him

Which you know cannot err :
Made me to fan you thus; but the gods made you,
Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon.
Imo. All's well, sir: take

my power i' the Court for yours.
Iach. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot
T'entreat your Grace but in a small request,
And yet of moment too, for it concerns
Your lord; myself and other noble friends
Are partners in the business.

Imo.

Pray, what is't?

Iach. Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord, – The best feather of our wing, — have mingled sums To buy a present for the Emperor;

Which I, the factor for the rest, have done

22 Which, in this clause, probably refers to judgment, and the sense of cannot err is limited to the particular matter in hand: "Which cannot be wrong or in error as to the character of your husband."

In France: 'tis plate of rare device, and jewels
Of rich and exquisite form; their values great;
And I am something curious, being strange,23
To have them in safe stowage : may it please you
To take them in protection?

And pawn mine honour for their safety: since
My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them

my

In

Iach.

bedchamber.

They are in a trunk,

Attended by my men: I will make bold

To send them to you, only for this night;
I must aboard to-morrow.

O, I must, madam :

Iach.
Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please
To greet your lord with writing, do't to-night:
I have outstood my time; which is material
To th' tender of our present.

I will write.

Imo.
Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept,
And truly yielded you. You're very welcome.

[Exeunt.

28 Curious, here, is scrupulous or particular. Strange, again, for stranger.

- Britain.

ACT II.

Court before CYMBELINE'S Palace.

Enter CLOTEN and two Lords.

Clo. Was there ever man had such luck? when I kiss'd the jack, upon an up-cast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on't. And then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

I Lord. What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl.

2 Lord. [Aside.] If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

Clo. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?

2 Lord. No, my lord ;- [Aside.] nor crop the ears of

them.

Clo. Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he had been one of my rank!

2 Lord. [Aside.] To have smelt like a fool.

Clo. I am not vex'd more at any thing in the Earth. A pox on't! I had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the Queen my mother: every Jack-slave hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match.

1 He is describing his fate at bowls. The jack is the small bowl at which the others are aimed: he who is nearest to it wins. "To kiss the jack" is a state of great advantage. Cloten's bowl was hit away by the upcast of another bowler. So Rowley, in A Woman never Vexed: "This city bowler has kiss'd the mistress at the first cast." The jack was also called mistress. See vol. xvi. page 262, note 7.

2 Lord. [Aside.] You are cock and capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on.2

Clo. Sayest thou?

2 Lord. It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion 3 that you give offence to.

Clo. No, I know that: but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors.

2 Lord. Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.

Clo. Why, so I say..

I Lord. Did you hear of a stranger that's come to Court to-night?

Clo. A stranger, and I not know on't!

2 Lord. [Aside.] He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not.

I Lord. There's an Italian come; and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus' friends.

Clo. Leonatus ! a banish'd rascal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger?

I Lord. One of your lordship's pages.

Clo. Is it fit I went to look upon him? is there no derogation in't?

I Lord. You cannot derogate, my lord.

Clo. Not easily, I think.

2 Lord. [Aside.] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being foolish, do not derogate.

Clo. Come, I'll go see this Italian: what I have lost today at bowls I'll win to-night of him. Come, go.

2 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.

[Exeunt CLOTEN and First Lord.

That such a crafty devil as is his mother

2 Meaning, probably, "you are a coxcomb." A cock's comb was one of the badges of the professional Fool, and hence the compound came to mean a simpleton.

3 Companion was often used in contempt, as fellow is now.