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And am so near the lack of charity—

To accuse myself—I hate you; which I had rather You felt than make 't my boast.

For

Clo.
You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father.
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-figured knot;
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,
Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styled
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

121. in meaner parties, in the case of lowlier persons.

124. self-figured, formed by themselves, at their own choice.

125. enlargement, liberty.

126. The consequence o' the crown, the considerations implied in royalty.

127. note, fame, honour. 128. hilding, mean fellow,

120

130

128. a squire's cloth is in apposition to livery.

129. pantler, keeper of the pantry.

136. The south-fog rot him; the moist south and south-west winds were held to be fruitful of disease. To be blistered with the south-west is one of Caliban's threats.

To be but named 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 pre sently

Clo. His garment !'

Imo.

I am sprited 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.

"Twill not be lost.

Imo. I hope so: go and search.

Clo.

'His meanest garment!'

Imo.

If

[Exit Pisanio.

You have abused me:

Ay, I said so, sir:

you will make '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.

Clo.

'His meanest garment!' Well.

140

150

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[Exit.

144. sprited, haunted.

SCENE IV. Rome.

Philario's house.

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, 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's 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.

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
Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at their discipline,
Now mingled with their courages, will make known

3. What means, what steps are you taking to win him.

6. fear'd hopes, hopes fraught with fears.

15. Is yet fresh in their grief,

ΙΟ

20

i.e. is kept green by their grief for the losses the Romans had inflicted.

16. Statist, statesman.

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 of 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.

Here are letters for you.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.

'Tis very like.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court

When you were there?

Iach.

But not approach'd.

Post.

He was expected then,

All is well yet.

30

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

Iach.

If I had 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

25. their approvers, those who put them to the test.

30. your answer, the answer you received.

37, 38. Ff give this speech to

40

Posthumus. But Posthumus is just occupied with Imogen's letter, which he finishes at v. 39 with All is well yet.' Capell therefore transferred the speech to Philario.

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 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.

Sir, my circumstances,

Iach.
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 bedchamber,

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

50

60

70

61. circumstances, detailed 71. Cydnus, a river in Asia

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