Poft. By your pardon, Sir, I was then a young traveller; rather fhun'd to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences; but upon my mended judgment, (if I offend not to fay, it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether flight. French. Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of fwords; and by fuch two, that would by all likelihood have confounded one the other, or have faln both. Iach. Can we with manners ask, what was the difference? French. Safely, I think; 'twas a contention in publick, which may without contradiction fuffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praife of our Country miftreffes This Gentleman at that time vouching, (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wife, chafte, conftant, qualified, and lefs attemptable than any the rareft of our ladies in France. Iach. That Lady is not now living; or this Gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out. Poft. She holds her virtue ftill, and I my mind. Iach. You must not fo far prefer her, 'fore ours of Italy. Poft. Being fo far provok'd, as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; tho' I profefs myself her adorer, not her friend. Iach. As fair, and as good, a kind of hand-in-hand comparison, had been fomething too fair and too good for any Lady in Britany. If the went before others I have feen, as that diamond of yours out-luftres many I have beheld, I could not believe, the excelled many; but I have not feen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the Lady. Poft. I prais'd her, as I rated her; fo do I my ftone. Tach. Either your unparagon'd Mistress is dead or she's out-priz'd by a trifle. Poft. You are mistaken; the one may be fold or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift. The other is not a thing for fale, and only the gift of the Gods. Iach. Which the Gods have given you : Peft. Which, by their graces, I will keep. lach. You may wear her in title yours; but, you know, ftrange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be ftoln too; fo, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other cafual. A cunning thief, or a that way-accomplish'd courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Poft. Your Italy contains none fo accomplish'd a Courtier to convince the honour of my mistress; if in the holding or lofs of that, you term her frail, I do nothing doubt, you have ftore of thieves, notwithftand'ng I fear not my ring. Phil. Let us leave here, Gentlemen. Poft. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior, I thank him, makes no firanger of me; we are familiar at first. Iach. With five times fo much converfation, I should get ground of your fair Miftrefs; make her go back, even to the yielding: had I admittance, and opportunity to friend. Poft. No, no. Iach. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my eftate to your ring, which, in my opinion, o'er-values it fomething but I make my wager rather against your confidence, than her reputation : And to bar your offence herein too, I durft attempt it against any Lady in the world. Paft. You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a perfuafion; and, I doubt not, you'd fustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt. Jach. What's That? Poft. A repulfe; though your attempt, as you call it, deferves more; a punishment too. Phil. Gentlemen, enough of this; it came in too fuddenly, let it die as it was born; and I pray you, be better acquainted. lach. Would, I had put my eftate and my neighbour's, on th' approbation of what I have spoke. Poft. What Lady would you chufe to affail? Iach. Yours; who in conftancy, you think, ftands fo fafe. 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 fecond conference, I will bring from thence that honour of hers, which you imagine fo referv'd. Poft. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: (4) my ring I hold dear as my finger, 'tis part of it. Iach. You are afraid, and therein the wifer; if you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preferve it from tainting. But, I see, you have some Religion in you, that you fear. Poft. This is but a cuftom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope. lach. I am the mafter of my Speeches, and would undergo what's spoken, I swear. Poft. Will you? I fhall but lend my diamond 'till your Return ; let there be covenants drawn between us. My Mistress exceeds in goodness the hugenefs of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match; here's my ring. Phil. I will have it no Lay. (4) part of it. -my Ring I bold dear as my Finger, 'tis Iach. You are a Friend, and therein the wifer.] I am fure, Jacbimo talks like none of the wifeft, in this kind of Reasoning. But what Ideas, in the Name of Nonsense, could the Editors entertain of Poftbumus being a Friend, because he would not venture to wager his Ring? I correct with Certainty; You are afraid, and therein the wifer. What Iachimo fays, in the Clofe of his Speech, determines This to have been our Poet's Reading. But, I fee, you have fome Religion in you, that you fear. lach. Iach. By the Gods it is one. If I bring you not fufficient teftimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours: fo is your diamond too; if I come off, and leave her in fuch honour as you have trust in, fhe your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours; provided, I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment. Poft. I embrace thefe conditions; let us have articles betwixt us; only, thus far you fhall answer; if you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to underftand you have prevail'd, I am no further your enemy, fhe is not worth our debate. If the remain unfeduc'd, you not making it appear otherwife; for your ill opinion, and th' affault you have made to her chastity, you shall anfwer me with your fword. Iach. Your hand, a covenant; we will have these things fet down by lawful counfel, and ftraight away for Britaine, left the bargain fhould catch cold, and ftarve. I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded. Poft. Agreed. [Exeunt Pofth. and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you? Phil. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Cymbeline's Palace in Britaine. Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius with a Viol. Queen, thofe flowers: 7HILE yet the dew's on ground, gather WHI Make hafte.. Who has the note of them? 1 Lady. I, Madam. Queen. Dispatch. [Exeunt Ladies Now, mafter Doctor, you have brought thofe drugs? But I beseech your Grace, without offence, Which are the movers of a languishing death; Queen. I do wonder, Doctor, Thou ask'ft me fuch a question; have I not been Other conclufions? I will try the forces Allayments to their act; and by them gather Cor. Your Highness Shall from this practice but make hard your heart; Both noyfome and infectious. Queen. O, content thee. Enter Pifanio. him Here comes a flatt'ring rafcal, upon Cor. I do fufpect you, But you fhall do no harm. [Afide, Madam : [Afide. [To Pifanio, Queen. Hark thee, a word. Cor. I do not like her. She doth think, fhe has Strange ling'ring poifons; I do know her fpirit, And will not truft one of her malice with A drug of fuch damn'd nature. Those, she has, Which firft, perchance, fhe'll prove on cats and dogs, Το |