Clo. His garment?

Imo.
I am sprighted with a fool;7
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.

If you will mak't an action, call witness to't.

Clo. I will inform your father.

Imo.

Your mother too:

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.

[Exit.

Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO.

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;

7 I am sprighted with a fool ;] i. e. I am haunted by a fool, as by a

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.

Post.

8

I do believe,

(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

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

Enter IACHIMO.

See! Iachimo?

Phi.

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.

Statist- i. e. Statesman.

• To their approvers,] i. e. To those who try them.

Post. And, therewithal, the best; or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts,

And be false with them.

Iach.

Here are letters for you.

'Tis very like.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

When

you were there?*

Iach.

He was expected then,

But not approach'd.

Post.

All is well yet.

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

Iach.

If I have lost it,

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.
Iach.

Your lady being so easy.

Post.

Not a whit,

Make not, sir,

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

Iach.

Good sir, we must,

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought

The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
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 mak❜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.

Iach.

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 pride1: 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,

The chimney

Or do your honour injury.

Iach.
Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece,
Chaste Dian, bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves: the cutter

And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for

The press of boats, or pride:] Iachimo's language is such as a skilful villain would naturally use, a mixture of airy triumph and serious deposition. His gaiety shows his seriousness to be without anxiety, and his seriousness proves his gaiety to be without

art.

2 So likely to report themselves:] So near to speech. The Italians call a portrait, when the likeness is remarkable, a speaking picture.

Was as another nature, dumb3; outwent her,
Motion and breath left out.

Post.

. This is a thing,

Which you might from relation likewise reap;

Being, as it is, much spoke of.

The roof o'the chamber

Iach.
With golden cherubins is fretted: Her andirons
(I had forgot them,) were two winking Cupids
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands.4

Post.

This is her honour !

Let it be granted you have seen all this, (and praise
Be given to your remembrance,) the description

Of what is in her chamber, nothing saves

The wager you have laid.

Iach.

Then, if you can,

[Pulling out the Bracelet.

Be pale; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See!—
And now 'tis up again: It must be married

To that your diamond; I'll keep them.

Post.

Once more let me behold it: Is it that
Which I left with her?

Jove!

3 Was as another nature, dumb;] The meaning is this: The sculp tor was as nature, but as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives, but breath and motion. In breath is included speech.

Depending on their brands.] Here seems to be a kind of tautology. Brands may be a part of the andirons, on which the wood for the fire was supported, as the upper part, in which was a kind of rack to carry a spit, is more properly termed the andiron. These irons, on which the wood lies across, generally called dogs, are here termed brands.

5 This is her honour! —

Let it be granted, you have seen all this, &c.] The expression is ironical. Iachimo relates many particulars, to which Posthumus answers with impatience :

"This is her honour!"

That is, And the attainment of this knowledge is to pass for the corruption of her honour. JOHNSON.