Post. No, no.

Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more—a punisment too.

Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, 1 pray you, be better acquainted.

lach. 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. Your's; 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 her's, 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. Jack. 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.

Jach. I am the master of my speeches; and would undergo what's spoken, I swear.

Post. Will you?-1 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.

lach. 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 your's; so is your diamond 100. 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 your's :-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.

lach. 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 two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed.

[Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior lachimo 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, ga. ther those flowers;

1 Lady. I, 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 Commanded of me these most poisonous com. pounds,

bave

Which are the inovers of a languishing death; But, though slow, deadly?

Queen. I do wonder, doctor,

Thou ask'st me such a question: Have 1 not been

Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn'd me how To make perfumes ? distil? preserve? ea, 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

Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him
Will I first work: he's for his master,

[Aside. And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisauio ?— Doctor, your service for this time is ended; Take your own way.

Cor. I do suspect you, madam; But you shall do no harm.

[Aside.

Queen. Hark thee, a word. [TO PISANIO. Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth

think she bas 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.

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
To any shape of thy preferment, such [king
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 shak'd: the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold

The hand fast 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 assur'd

Re-enter PISANIO, and LADIES.

To taste of too. So, so ;-well done, well done:
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet ;-Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words.

[Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES.

Pis. And shall do: 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, [band! That hath her husband banish'd-O that husMy 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.
lach. Change you, madam?
The worthy Leonatus is in safety,
And greets your highness dearly.

Imo. Thanks, good Sir:

You are kindly welcome.

[Presents a Letter.

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

[Aside.

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:

LEONATUS.

But even the very middle of my heart

• Ambassadors.

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?

Imo. What makes your admiration?

Iach. It cannot be i'the eye; for apes and

monkeys,

Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and Contemn with mows the other: Nor i'the judgment;

For idiots, in this case of favour, would
Be wisely definite: Nor i'the appetite;
Sluttery, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed.

Imo. What is the matter, trow?
Iach. The cloyed will,

(That satiate yet unsatisfied desire,

That tub both fill'd and running,) ravening first
The lamb, longs after for the garbage.
Imo. What, dear Sir,

Thus raps you? Are you well?

Iach. Thanks, madam; well :-'Beseech you,
Sir, desire
[To PISANIO.

My man's abode where I did leave him : he
Is strange and peevish. +

Pis. I was going, Sir,
To give him welcome.

[Exit PISANIO.

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

Iach. Well, madam.

Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope he is. Iach. Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger

there

So merry and so gamesome: he is call'd
The Briton reveller.

Imo. When he was here,

He did incline to sadness; and oft-times
Not knowing why.

Iach. I never saw him sad.

There is a Frenchman his companion, one
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!

Can my sides hold, to think, that man,—who

knows

me,

Deserves your pity?

lach. Lamentable! What!

To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace l'the dungeon by a snuff?

Imo. I pray you, Sir,

Deliver with more openness your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?
Lach. That others do,

I was about to say, enjoy your--But
It is an office of the gods to venge it,
Not mine to speak on't.

Imo. You do seem to know

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. *

Jach. Had I this cheek

To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, Whose every touch, would force the feeler's soal

To the oath of loyalty; this object, which
Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye,
Fixing it only here: should I (damn'd then,)
Slaver with lips as common as the stairs
That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands
Made hard with hourly falsehood (falsehood, as
With labour;) then lie peeping in an eye,
Base and unlustrous as the smoky light
That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit,
That all the plagues of hell should at one time
Encounter such revolt.

Imo. My lord, I fear,

Has forgot Britain.

Jach. And himself. Not I,

fuclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce

The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces That, from any mutest couscience, to my tongue, Charms this report out.

Imo. Let me hear no more.

luch. O dearest soul! your cause doth strike my heart

With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady
So fair, and fasten'd to an empery,

Would make the great'st king double! to be

partner'd

Still close, as sure,

Imo. What ho, Pisanio!

Iach. Let me my service tender on your lips.

Imo. Away!-I do condemn mine ears, that have

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 stew, and to expound
His beastly mind to us; he hath a court
He little cares for, and a daughter whom
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 good-

ness

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 par.
dou.

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 boly witch,
That he enchants societies unto him:
Half all men's hearts are bis.

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 judg-
inent

In the election of a Sir so rare,

Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear

him

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;

• What you seem anxious to utter, and yet withhold. Sovereign command. t Wantens. Allowance, peusion.

Iach. O I must, madam :

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.

To fan, is to winnow.

↑ A stranger.

Though this a heavenly angel, hell is here. [Clock strikes. One, two, three,-Time, time! * [Goes into the Trunk. The Scene closes. SCENE III.-An Antechamber adjoining IMOGEN'S Apartment.

Enter CLOTEN and LORDS.

Cym. A worthy fellow,

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 mistress,

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 furious 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 advised to give her music o' mornings; they say, it will penetrate.

Enter MUSICIANS.

Come on; tune: If you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain; but I'll never give o'er. First a very excellent good-conceited thing; after a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it, and then let her consider.

SONG.

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

[sings,

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 bin;
My lady sweet, arise;
Arise, arise.

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 cats-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 Will she not forth? [daughter? Clo. I have assailed her with music, but she Vouchsafes no notice.

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 your's.

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 inspired to do those duties which You tender to her that you in all obey her, Save when command to your dismission tends, And therein you are senseless.

Clo. Senseless? Not so.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. So like you, Sir, ambassadors from Rome;

The one is Caius Lucius.

• Imogen's maid has just told her mistress that it is twelve o'clock, so that three hours are dispatched 'a a twinkling! Will pay you more for it. With solicitations not only proper but well-timed.

[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
gold

Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the thief;

Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man :

What

Can it not do, and undo? I will make One of her women lawyer, to me; for yet not understand the case myself. By your leave.

Enter a LADY.

Lady. Who's there, that knocks? Clo. A gentleman.

Lady. No more ?

Clo. Yes, and a gentlewoman's son. Lady. That's more

[Knocks.

Than some, whose are tailors as dear as your's, Can justly boast of: What's your lordship's pleasure ?

Clo. Your lady's person: Is she ready?
Lady. Ay,

To keep her chamber.

Clo. There's gold for you: sell me your good report.

you

Lady. How! my good name? or to report of What I shall think is good ?-The princess-▬▬▬▬▬ Enter IMOGEN.

Clo. Good-morrow, fairest sister: Your sweet hand.

Imo. Good-morrow, Sir: You lay out too much pains

Is telling you that I am poor of thanks
For purchasing but trouble: the thanks I give,
And scarce can spare them.

Clo. Still, I swear I love you.

Imo. If you but said so, 'twere as deep with