Iach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so your brace of unprizable estimations; the one is but frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a 100 that way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Post. Your Italy contains none SO accomplished a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, 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. Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress, make her go back, even to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend. Post. No, no. Iach. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'ervalues it something: but I make my wager 120 rather against your confidence than her reputation and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world. Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt. 99. unprizable, invaluable. 3 122. herein too, so F, and 48 F1, 2 have herein to. 124. abused, deceived. Iach. What's that? Post. A repulse: though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too. Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted. Iach. 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. Yours; 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 hers 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. Iach. You are afraid, 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. 130 140 Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; 150 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 till your return: let there be covenants drawn between's my mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. 134. approbation, proof. 146. afraid; Theobald's emendation of Ff a Friend. 149. religion, conscientious scruple. 152. am the master of, control and am responsible for. 153. undergo, carry out. Phi. I will have it no lay. Iach. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you 160 no 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 off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours: 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 170 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. Iach. 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 180 have our two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em. 166. commendation, letter of introduction to procure me a more cordial reception. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Britain. A room in Cymbeline's Enter QUEEN, Ladies, and CORNELIUS. Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers; Make haste: who has the note of them? First Lady. Queen. Dispatch. I, madam. [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 have Commanded of me these most poisonous com pounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death; I wonder, doctor, Queen. Other conclusions? I will try the forces 2. the note, the recipe of the poison, enumerating the flowers required. ΤΟ 20 18. conclusions, experiments. Allayments to their act, and by them gather Cor. Your highness Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: Besides, the seeing these effects will be Both noisome and infectious. Queen. O, content thee. Enter PISANIO. [Aside] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him And enemy to my son. How now, Pisanio! Cor. [Aside] I do suspect you, madam; But you shall do no harm. Queen. [To Pisanio] Hark thee, a word. Cor. [Aside] I do not like her. She doth think she has Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, A drug of such damn'd nature. Those she has Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats and Then afterward up higher: but there is 30 40 |