So to be false with her.

Queen. No further service, doctor,

Until I send for thee.

Cor. I humbly take my leave.

[Exit.

Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou ? Dost thou

think, in time

540

She will not quench; and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work :
When thou shalt bring me word, she loves my son,
I'll tell thee, on the instant, thou art then
As great as is thy master: greater; for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp: Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is : to shift his being,
Is to exchange one misery with another;
And every day, that comes, comes to decay
A day's work in him: What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans?
Who cannot be new built; nor has no friends,

[The Queen drops a Phial: PISANIO takes it up.
So much as but to prop him?-Thou tak'st up 550
Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour :
It is a thing I make, which hath the king
Five times redeem'd from death; I do not know
What is more cordial: ---Nay, I pry'thee, 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,

C.

3

Who

Who shall take notice of thee: I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment, such
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 :

564

[Exit PISANIO.

Think on my words. -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 leigers for her sweet; and which she, after, 570
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,

closet:-Fare thee well, Pisanio;

Bear to my closet:

Think on my words.

Pis. And shall do:

[Exeunt Queen, and Ladies.

But when to my good lord I prove untrue,

I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you. [Exit,

SCENE VII.

IMOGEN'S Apartment. Enter IMOGEN.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false; A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

Cij

580 That That hath her husband banish'd;-0, that husband ! My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen,

1

As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable
Is the desire that's glorious: Blessed be those,
How mean soeler, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort-Who may this be? Fic!

Enter PISANIO, and IACHIMO.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,

Comes from my lord with letters.

You are kindly welcome.

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

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.

IMOGEN reads.

1

[Aside.

600

He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your trust.

So far I read aloud :

But even the very middle of my heart

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.

lach. Thanks, fairest lady.

610

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?

[Aside.

620

Imo. What makes your admiration? lach. It cannot be i' the eye; for apes and mon

keys,

'Twixt two such she's, would chatter this way, and Contemn with mows the other: Nor i' the judg

ment;

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?

lach. The cloyed will

(That satiate yet unsatisfy'd desire,

That tub both fill'd and running), ravening first

Ciij

The

The lamb, longs after for the garbage..
Imo. What, dear sir,

Thus raps you? Are you well ?

lach. Thanks, madam; well:-'Beseech you, sir,

[TO PISANIO.

Desire my man's abode where I did leave him:

He's strange, and peevish.

Pis. I was going, sir,...

To give him welcome.

640

Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, 'beseech

you?

Iach. Well, madam.

Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope, he is.

lach. 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

lach. I never saw him sad.

There is a Frenchman his companion, one

650

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
By history, report, or his own proof,

What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be-will his free hours languish

For