Enter a Lady.

Lady. The Queen, madam, Defires your highnefs' company.

Imo. Thofe things bid you do, get them difpatch'd. I will attend the Queen,

Pif. Madam, I fhall,

[Exeunt.

Iach.

SCENE VI.

ROME.

Enter Philario, Iachimo, and a French man. B Elieve it, Sir, I have feen him in Britain; he was then but crefcent, none expected him to prove fo worthy as fince he hath been allowed the name of. But I could then have look'd on him, without the help of admiration, though the ca alogue of his endowments had been tabled by his fide, and I to perufe him by Items.

Phil. You fpeak of him when he was lefs furnish'd than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within.

French. I have feen him in France; we had very many there could behold the fun 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

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of thofe that weep this lamentable divorce under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortifie her judgment, which elfe an eafie battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it he is to fojourn with you? how creeps acquain tance?

Phil.

:

Phil. His father and I were foldiers together, të whom I have been often bound for no lefs than my life.

Enter Pofthumus.

Here comes the Britain, ‹ Let him be fo entertained amongst you, as fuits with gentlemen of your knowing, to a ftranger of his quality. I befeech you all be better known to this gentleman, whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine. How wor thy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than Rory him in his own hearing.

French. Sk, we have been known together in Or leans.

Poft. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtefies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay kill,

French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness; I was glad I did atone my countryman and you, it had been pity you fhould have been put together with so mortal a purpofe, as then each bore, upon importance of fo flight and trivial a nature.

Poft. By your pardon, Sir, I was then a young tra veller; rather fund to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by other experiences; but upon my mended judgment, (if I offend not to fay it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether flight.

French. Faith yes, to be put to the arbitrement of fwords; and by fuch two, that woud by all likelyhood have confounded one the other, or have faln both.

Pach. Can we with manners ask what was the dif ference?

French. Safely, I think; 'twas a contention in pu blick, which may without contradiction fuffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praife of our country-miftreffes. This gentleman at that time vouching, and upon warrant of blood affirmation, his to

ble

be more fair, virtuous, wife, chaft, conftant, qualified, and lefs attemptable than any the rareft of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion by this worn out.

Poft. She holds her virtue ftill, and I my mind. Iach. You must not fo far prefer her, 'fore ours of Italy.

Poft. Being fo far provok'd as I was in France, I would abate her nothing, tho' I profefs my felf her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. As fair, and as good; a kind of hand-in-hand comparison had been fomething too fair and too good for any lady in Britany: if fhe went before others I have feen, as that diamond of yours out-lufters many I have beheld, I could not believe fhe excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

Poft. I prais'd her, as I rated her; fo do I my stone. Jach. What do you esteem it at ?

Poft. More than the world enjoys.

Iach. Either your paragon'd mistress is dead, or fhe's out-priz'd by a trifle.

Poft. You are mistaken; the one may be fold or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift. The other is not a thing for fale, and only the gift of the gods,

Iach. Which the gods have given you?

Poft. Which by their graces I will keep.

Iach. You may wear her in title yours; but, you know, ftrange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be ftoln too; fo your brace of unprizeable eftimations, the one is but frail and the other cafual. A cunning thief, or a (that way) accom plifh'd courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and laft.

Poft. Your Italy contains none fo accomplish'd a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress; if in the holding or lofs of that, you term her frail; I do nothing doubt you have ftore of thieves, notwithftanding I fear not my ring..

Phil.

Phil. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

Poft. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy fignior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me, we are familiar at first.

Iach. With five times fo much converfation, I fhould get ground of your fair miftrefs; make her go back, even to the yielding: had I admittance, and opportunity to friend.

Poft. No, no.

lach. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my eftate to your ring, which in my opinion o'er-values it fomething but I make my wager rather against your confidence, than her reputation. And to bar your offence herein too, I durft attempt it against any lady in the world.

Poft. You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a perfwafion; and I doubt not you'd fuftain what you're worthy of, by your attempt.

Iach. What's that:

Poft. A repulfe; though your attempt, as you call it, deferves more; a punishment too.

Phil. Gentlemen, enough of this, it came in too fuddenly, let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.

Iach. Would I had put my eftate and my neighbour's, on th'approbation of what I have spoke. Poft. What lady would you chufe to affail?

Lach. Yours; who in conftancy you think stands fo fafe. 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 fecond conference, I will bring from thence that honour of hers, which you imagine fo referv'd.

Peft. I will wage againft your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger, 'tis part of it.

Iach. You are a friend, and therein the wifer; it you buy ladies flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preferve it from tainting. But I fee you have fome religion in you, that you fear.

Poft.

Poft. This is but a cuftom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope.

lach. I am the mafter of my fpeeches, and would undergo what's fpoken, I fwear.

Poft. Will you? I fall but lend my diamond 'till your return; let there be covenants drawn between us. My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugenefs of your unworthy thoughts. I dare you to this match; here's my ring.

Phil. I will have it no lay. lach. By the gods it is one. If I bring you not fufficient teftimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your miftrefs, my ten thousand ducats are yours: fo is your diamond too; if I come off, and leave her in fuch honour as you have truft in; fhe your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours; provided I have your commendation, for my more entertainment.

Poft. I embrace thefe conditions; let us have artieles betwixt us; only thus far you fhall anfwes; if you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to understand you have prevail'd, I am no further your enemy, fhe is not worth our debate. If the re main unfeduc'd, you not making it appear otherwife, for your ill opinion, and th' affault you have made to her chastity, you fhall anfwer me with your fword.

Iach. Your hand, a covenant; we will have these things fet down by lawful counfel, and ftraight away for Britain, left the bargain fhould catch cold, and ftarve. I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded.

Poft. Agreed.

French. Will this hold, think you?

Phil. Signior Iachime will not from it. Pray let us follow 'em.

[Exeunt

SCENE