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I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: i'faith, I shall unfold equal discourtesy

To your best kindness; one of your great knowing Should learn, being taught, forbearance,

Clo. To leave you in your madness, 'twere my sin: I will not.

Imo. Fools are not mad folks.

Clo.

Imo. As I am mad, I do :

Do you call me fool?

If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being so verbal*; and learn now, for all,
That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for
And am so near the lack of charity

you;

(To accuse myself), 1 hate you: which I had rather You felt, than make't my boast.

Clo. You sin against Obedience, which you owe your father. For The contract you pretend with that base wretch, (One, bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes, With scraps o'the court), it is no contract, none: And though it be allow'd in meaner parties, (Yet who, than he, more mean?) to knit their souls (On whom there is no more dependency

But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knott;
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o'the crown; and must not soil
The precious note of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth,

A pantler, not so eminent.

Imo.

Profane fellow!

Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more,
But what thou art, besides, thou wert too base
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,

* So verbose, so full of talk.

+ In knots of their own tying.

A low fellow, only fit to wear a livery.

Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated
For being preferr'd so well.

Clo.

The south-fog rot him! Imo. He never can meet more mischance, than

come

To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer,
In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men.-How now, Pisanio?

Enter Pisanio.

Clo. His garment? Now, the devil

Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently:Clo. His garment?

Imo.

I am sprighted* with a fool;

Frighted, and anger'd worse :-Go, bid my woman Search for a jewel, that too casually

Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew me, If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think,

I saw't this morning: confident I am,
Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but he.

Pis.

Imo. I hope so: go, and search.

Clo.

His meanest garment?

Imo.

If

you

'Twill not be lost.

[Exit Pis.

You have abus'd me:

Ay; I said so, sir.

will make't an action, call witness to't.

Clo. I will inform your father.

Imo.

Your mother too:

[Exit.

She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,

To the worst of discontent.

• Haunted.

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Post. Fear it not, sir: I would, I were so sure To win the king, as I am bold, her honour Will remain hers.

Phi.

What means do you make to him?

Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish

That warmer days would come: In these fear'd hopes,

I barely gratify your love; they failing,

I must die much your debtor.

Phi. Your very goodness, and your company, O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will do his commission throughly: And, I think, He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages, Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance Is yet fresh in their grief.

I do believe

Post. (Statist though I am none, nor like to be), That this will prove a war; and you shall hear The legions, now in Gallia, sooner landed In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline

* Statesman.

(Now mingled with their courages) will make known To their approvers*, they are people, such That mend upon the world.

Phi.

Enter Iachimo.

See! Iachimo?

Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land: And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails,

To make your vessel nimble.

Phi.

Welcome, sir.

Post. I hope, the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return.

Iach.

Your lady

Is one the fairest that I have look'd upon.

Post. And, therewithal, the best; or let her

beauty

Look through a casement to allure false hearts,
And be false with them.

Iach.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

When you were there?

Iach.

But not approach'd.

Post.

Here are letters for you.

'Tis very like.

He was expected then,

All is well yet.

Sparkles this stone as it was wout? or is't not
Too duil for your good wearing?

If I have lost it,

lach.
I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Post. The stone's too hard to come by.

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Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that we Must not continue friends.

Iach.

Good sir, we must,

grant

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home,
We were to question further: but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but

By both your wills.

Post. If you can make't apparent That you have tasted her in bed, my hand, And ring, is yours: If not, the foul opinion You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses, Your sword, or mine; or masterless leaves both To who shall find them.

Iach.

Sir, my circumstances,

Being so near the truth, as I will make them,
Must first induce you to believe: whose strength
I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not,
You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall find
You need it not.

Post.

lach.

Proceed.

First, her bed chamber

(Where, I confess, I slept not; but, profess, Had that was well worth watching), It was hang'd With tapestry of silk and silver; the story, Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman, * And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for The press of boats, or pride: A piece of work So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive In workmanship, and value; which, I wonder'd, Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,

Since the true life on't was

Post.

This is true;

And this you might have heard of here, by me,

Or by some other.

lach.

More particulars

Must justify my knowledge.

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