so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon im- your confidence, than her reputation: and, to bar
portance of so slight and trivial a nature.
your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against
Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young any lady in the world.
traveller; rather shunned to go even with what I Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a
heard, than in my every action to be guided by persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're
others' experiences: but, upon my mended judg-worthy of, by your attempt.
ment, (if I offend not to say it is mended,) my
quarrel was not altogether slight.

Iach. What's that?

Co

But

My

Con

Wh

But

The

Thy

Post. A repulse: though your attempt, as you French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement call it, deserves more; a punishment too. of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likeli- Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too hood, have confounded one the other, or have fal-suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted.

len both.

Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

Iach. 'Would, I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke. French. Safely, I think; 'twas a contention in public, Post. What lady would you choose to assail? which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. Iach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think, stands It was much like an argument, that fell out last night, so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your where each of us fell in praise of our country mis-ring, that, commend me to the court where your tresses. This gentleman at that time vouching, (and lady is, with no more advantage, than the opporupon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more tunity of a second conference, and I will bring from fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant-qualified, and thence that honour of hers, which you imagine so less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in reserved. 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, 1 would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my
ring I hold as dear, as my finger; 'tis part of it.
lach. 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

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 till your return. Let there be covenants drawn others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-between us. My mistress exceeds in goodness the lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to she excelled many but I have not seen the most this match: here's my ring. precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. Post. I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone. Iuch. What do you esteem it at? Post. More than the world enjoys.

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.

-

Phi. I will have it no lay. Iach. By the gods it is one. If I bring you 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 o and leave her in such honour, as you have trust 18, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours:- provided, I have your commendation, fer my more free entertainment.

Post. I embrace these conditions; let us have Iach.Which the gods have given you? articles betwixt us:-only, thus far you shall a Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. swer. If you make your voyage upon her, and give Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you me directly to understand you have prevailed, I am know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate: Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of if she remain unseduced, (you not making it appear unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the assault you other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-way-accom- have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with plished courtier, would hazard the winning both of your sword.

first and last.

Iach. Your hand; a covenant. We will have these Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a things set down by lawful counsel, and straight awa courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress; if, for Britain; lest the bargain should catch cold, and in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. Istarve: I will fetch my gold, and have our two do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; not- wagers recorded. withstanding, 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.

Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachine
French. Will this hold, think you?
Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, lets
follow 'em!

Tach. With five times so much conversation, ISCENE VI.— Britain. A room in CYMBELINE's palace.
should get ground of your fair mistress: make her
go back, even to the yielding; had I admittance,
and opportunity to friend.

To

The

For

Un

Tha

Oth

Of

To

A

Th

Sh

Be

B

Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, It is an earnest of a further good
madam!
[Presenting a small box.
But I beseech your grace, (without ollence;
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 papil 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

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 con-
stant knave;

Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: Think on my words!

Besides, the secing these effects will be
Both noisome and infectious.

Queen. O, content thee!

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. [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;

band!

O, that hus

[Aside. My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated [To Pisanio. Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen,

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,
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?-Thon 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 pry'thee, take it;

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? Fye!
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. [Presents a letter.
Imo. Thanks, good sir:

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!-
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?

Something of me, or what concerns me. 'Pray you,
(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.

Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, beseech you?

An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home, he furnaces
The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton
(Your lord, I mean,) laughs from's free lungs, cries, O!
who knows
Can my sides hold, to think, that man,·
By history, report, or his own proof,
What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be,will his free hours languish for
Assured bondage?

Iach. Ay, madam; with his eyes in flood with Must not in haste abuse,) if it be true,

And hear him mock the Frenchman: but heavens Live like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets; know,

them at my pleasure.

1 Lord. What got me by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl.

Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness | borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend
Her assur'd credit! - Blessed live you long!
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 adventur'd
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,

Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him
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.

lach. My humble thanks! I had almost forgot
To 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
In France: 'tis plate, of rare device: and jewels,
Of rich and exquisite form; their values great;
And I am something curious, being strange,

To have them in safe stowage. May it please you
To take them in protection?

Imo. Willingly;

And pawn mine honour for their safety: since

My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them

In my bed-chamber.

Iach. 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.

Imo. O, no, no!

Jach. Yes, I beseech; or I shall short my
By length'ning my return. From Gallia

I cross'd the seas on purpose, and on promise
To see your grace.

Imo. I thank you for your pains!

But not away to-morrow?

Iach. O, I must, madam!

2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have ran all out. [Aside. 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! nor [Aside.] crop the ears

of them.

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

[Aside.

2 Lord. To have smelt like a fool. Clo. I am not more vexed 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 belly full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock, that nobody can match.

2 Lord. You are a cock and capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on. [Aside. Clo. Sayest thou?

Lord. It is not fit, your lordship should under-
tke every companion that you give offence to.
lo. 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.

1 Lord. Did you hear of a stranger, that's come to court to-night?

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

it not.

2 Lord. He's a strange fellow himself, and knows [Aside. 1 Lord. There's an Italian some; and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus' friends.

Clo. Leonatus! a banished rascal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger? 1 Lord. One of your lordship's pages.

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

1 Lord. You cannot derogate, my lord!
Clo. Not easily, I think.

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

[Aside. Clo. Come, I'll go see this Italian! What I have lost to-day at bowls, I'll win to-night of him. Come, go! 2 Lord. I'll attend your lordship!

[Exeunt Cloten and first Lord.
word,That such a crafty devil as is his mother
Should yield the world this ass! a woman, that
Bears all down with her brain; and this her son
Cannot take two from twenty for his heart,.
And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,
Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'st!
Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd;
A mother hourly coining plots; a wooer,
More hateful, than the foul expulsion is
Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act
Of the divorce he'd make! The heavens hold firm
The walls of thy dear honour; keep unshak'd
That temple, thy fair mind; that thou may'st stand,
To enjoy thy banish'd lord, and this great land!
[Exit.
SCENE II. 4 bed-chamber; in one part of it a
trunk.

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 the tender of our present.

Imo. I will write.

Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept,
And truly yielded you! You are very welcome!
[Exeunt.

Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin thus
Did softly press the rushes, ere he waken'd
The chastity he wounded.-Cytherea,
How bravely thou becom'st thy bed! fresh lily!
And whiter than the sheets! That I might touch!
But kiss; one kiss! - Rubies unparagon'd,
How dearly they do't!-'Tis her breathing that
Perfumes the chamber thus. The flame o'the taper
Bows toward her; and would underpeep her lids,
To see the enclosed lights, now canopied
Under these windows. White and azure, lac'd
With blue of heavens' own tinct. But my design?
To note the chamber:-I will write all down:-
Such, and such, pictures. There the window:
such

-

SONG.

Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
And Phoebus 'gins arise,

His steeds to water at those springs
On chalic'd flowers that lies:
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes;
With every thing that pretty
My lady sweet, arise!
Arise, arise!

bin:

So, get you gone! If this penetrate, I will consider
your music the better; if it do not, it is a vice in
her ears, which horse-hairs, and cat-guts, nor the
voice of unpaved eunuch to boot, can never amend.
[Exeunt Musicians.
Enter CYMBELINE and Queen.

2 Lord. Here comes the king!
Clo. I am glad, I was up so late; for that's the
reason I was up so early. He cannot choose but take
this service I have done, fatherly.
Good morrow

to your majesty, and to my gracious mother!
Cym. Attend you here the door of our stern
daughter?

The adornment of her bed; the arras, figures,
Why, such, and such: - and the contents o'the story,
Ah, but some natural notes about her body,
Above ten thousand meaner moveables
Would testify, to enrich mine inventory:
O sleep, thou ape of death, lie dull upon her!
And be her sense but as a monument,
Thus in a chapel lying! Come off, come off!--
[Taking off her bracelet.
As slippery, as the Gordian knot was hard!-
"Tis mine; and this will witness outwardly,
As strongly, as the conscience does within,
To the madding of her lord. On her left breast
A mole cinque-spotted, like the crimson drops
I'the bottom of a cowslip. Here's a voucher,
Stronger than ever law could make: this secret
Will force him think I have pick'd the lock, and ta'en
The treasure of her honour. No more!-To what end?
Why should I write this down, that's rivetted,
Screw'd to my memory? She hath been reading late
The tale of Tereus; here the leaf's turn'd down,
Where Philomel gave up; I have enough.
To the trunk again, and shut the spring of it.
Swift, swift, you dragons of the night!-that dawning
May bare the raven's eye: I lodge in fear;
Though this a heavenly angel, hell is here.
One, two, three, — Time, time!

SCENE III.

Will she not forth?

Clo. I have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafes no notice.

[Clock strikes.

Cym. The exile of her minion is too new;
She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
Must wear the print of his remembrance out,
And then she's yours.

[Goes into the trunk. The scene closes.
An antichamber adjoining IMOGEN'S
apartment.

Enter CLOTEN and Lords.

Queen. You are most bound to the king;
Who lets go by no vantages, that may
Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself
To orderly solicits; and be friended
With aptness of the season: make denials
Increase your services: so seem, as if
You were inspir'd to do those duties, which
You tender to her; that you in all obey her,
Save when command to your dismission tends,
Aud therein you are senseless.

1 Lord. Your lordship is the most patient man
in loss, the most coldest that ever turned up ace.
Clo. It would make any man cold to lose.
1 Lord. But not every man patient, after the noble
temper of your lordship; you are most hot, and fu-
rious, when you win.

Clo. Winning would put any man into courage. If
I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold
enough. It's almost morning, is't not?

1 Lord. Day, my lord!

Clo. I would this music would come: I am advis-
ed to give her music o'mornings; they say, it will

Clo. Senseless? not so.

Enter a Messenger.
Mess. So like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome;
The one is Caius Lucius.
Cym. A worthy fellow,

Come on, tune! If you can penetrate her with your
fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none will

Albeit he comes on angry purpose now;
But that's no fault of his. We must receive him
According to the honour of his sender;
And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us,
We must extend our notice. Our dear son,
When you have given good morning to
your

tress,

Attend the queen, and us; we shall have need
To employ you towards this Roman.
queen!

Come, our [Exeunt Cym. Queen, Lords, and Mess Clo. If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not, Let her lie still, and dream. By your leave ho![Knocks

I

know her women are about her; what If I do line one of their hands? 'Tis gold, Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up Their deer to the stand of the stealer; and 'tis geld Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the