Have turn’d mine eye, and wept. But, good Pisanio,
When shall we hear from him?
PISANIO Be assur’d, madam,
With his next vantage.
IMOGEN I did not take my leave of him, but had
25
Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him
How I would think on him at certain hours,
Such thoughts, and such: or I could make him swear
The shes of Italy should not betray
Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg’d him,
30
At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
T’encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him; or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father,
35
And like the tyrannous breathing of the north,
Shakes all our buds from growing.
Enter a Lady.
LADY The queen, madam,
Desires your highness’ company.
IMOGEN
Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch’d. –
I will attend the queen.
PISANIO Madam, I shall. Exeunt.
40
1.5 Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Dutchman and a Spaniard.
IACHIMO Believe it sir, I have seen him in Britain; he
was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so
worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of. But
I could then have look’d on him without the help of
admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments
5
had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by
items.
PHILARIO You speak of him when he was less furnish’d
than now he is with that which makes him both
without and within.
10
FRENCHMAN I have seen him in France: we had very
many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as
he.
IACHIMO This matter of marrying his king’s daughter,
wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than
15
his own, words him (I doubt not) a great deal from the
matter.
FRENCHMAN And then his banishment.
IACHIMO Ay, and the approbation of those that weep
this lamentable divorce under her colours are
20
wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her
judgement, which else an easy battery might lay flat,
for taking a beggar without less quality. But how
comes it he is to sojourn with you? how creeps
acquaintance?
25
PHILARIO His father and I were soldiers together, to
whom I have been often bound for no less than my life.
– Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained
amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your
knowing, to a stranger of his quality.
30
Enter POSTHUMUS.
I beseech you all be better known to this gentleman,
whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine.
How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter,
rather than story him in his own hearing.
FRENCHMAN Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
35
POSTHUMUS Since when I have been debtor to you for
courtesies which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.
FRENCHMAN Sir, you o’er-rate my poor kindness: I was
glad I did atone my countryman and you: it had been
pity you should have been put together, with so mortal
40
a purpose as then each bore, upon importance of so
slight and trivial a nature.
POSTHUMUS By your pardon, sir, I was then a young
traveller, rather shunn’d to go even with what I heard
than in my every action to be guided by others’
45
experiences: but upon my mended judgement (if I
offend not to say it is mended) my quarrel was not
altogether slight.
FRENCHMAN Faith yes, to be put to the arbitrement of
swords, and by such two, that would by all likelihood
50
have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.
IACHIMO Can we with manners ask what was the
difference?
FRENCHMAN Safely, I think: ’twas a contention in
public, which may (without contradiction) suffer the
55
report. It was much like an argument that fell out last
night, where each of us fell in praise of our country
mistresses; this gentleman at that time vouching (and
upon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more
fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant, qualified and less
60
attemptable than any the rarest of our ladies in France.
IACHIMO That lady is not now living; or this
gentleman’s opinion, by this, worn out.
POSTHUMUS She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.
IACHIMO You must not so far prefer her ’fore ours of
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Italy.
POSTHUMUS Being so far provok’d as I was in France, I
would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her
adorer, not her friend.
IACHIMO As fair, and as good – a kind of hand-in-hand
70
comparison – had been something too fair, and too
good for any lady in Britany. If she went before others
I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres many
I have beheld, I could not believe she excelled many:
but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is,
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nor you the lady.
POSTHUMUS I prais’d her as I rated her: so do I my
stone.
IACHIMO What do you esteem it at?
POSTHUMUS More than the world enjoys.
80
IACHIMO Either your unparagon’d mistress is dead, or
she’s outpriz’d by a trifle.
POSTHUMUS You are mistaken: the one may be sold or
given, or if there were wealth enough for the purchase,
or merit for the gift. The other is not a thing for sale,
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and only the gift of the gods.
IACHIMO Which the gods have given you?
POSTHUMUS Which by their graces I will keep.
IACHIMO You may wear her in title yours: but you know
strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your
90
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 (that way) accomplished courtier,
would hazard the winning both of first and last.
POSTHUMUS Your Italy contains none so accomplish’d
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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; notwith-
standing, I fear not my ring.
PHILARIO Let us leave here, gentlemen.
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POSTHUMUS Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior,
I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar
at first.
IACHIMO With five times so much conversation, I
should get ground of your fair mistress; make her go
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back, even to the yielding, had I admittance, and
opportunity to friend.
POSTHU
MUS No, no.
IACHIMO I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my
estate, to your ring, which in my opinion o’ervalues it
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something: but I make my wager rather against your
confidence than her reputation. And to bar your
offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady
in the world.
POSTHUMUS You are a great deal abus’d in too bold a
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persuasion, and I doubt not you sustain what you’re
worthy of by your attempt.
IACHIMO What’s that?
POSTHUMUS A repulse: though your attempt (as you
call it) deserve more; a punishment too.
120
PHILARIO Gentlemen, enough of this, it came in too
suddenly, let it die as it was born, and I pray you be
better acquainted.
IACHIMO Would I had put my estate and my
neighbour’s on th’approbation of what I have spoke!
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POSTHUMUS What lady would you choose to assail?
IACHIMO 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
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second conference, and I will bring from thence that
honour of hers, which you imagine so reserv’d.
POSTHUMUS I will wage against your gold, gold to it:
my ring I hold dear as my finger, ’tis part of it.
IACHIMO You are a friend, and therein the wiser. If you
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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.
POSTHUMUS This is but a custom in your tongue: you
bear a graver purpose I hope.
140
IACHIMO I am the master of my speeches, and would
undergo what’s spoken, I swear.
POSTHUMUS 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
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unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match: here’s
my ring.
PHILARIO I will have it no lay.
IACHIMO By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no
sufficient testimony that I have enjoy’d the dearest
150
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
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entertainment.
POSTHUMUS I embrace these conditions, let us have
articles betwixt us. Only, thus far you shall answer: if
you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly
to understand you have prevail’d, I am no further your
160
enemy; she is not worth our debate. If she remain
unseduc’d, you not making it appear otherwise, for
your ill opinion, and th’assault you have made to her
chastity, you shall answer me with your sword.
IACHIMO Your hand, a covenant: we will have these
165
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 have our two wagers
recorded.
POSTHUMUS Agreed. Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.
170
FRENCHMAN Will this hold, think you?
PHILARIO Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray let us
follow ’em. Exeunt.
1.6 Enter QUEEN, Ladies and CORNELIUS.
QUEEN
Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those
flowers;
Make haste. Who has the note of them?
1 LADY I, madam.
QUEEN Dispatch. Exeunt Ladies.
Now master doctor, have you brought those drugs?
CORNELIUS
Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam:
5
[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
compounds,
Which are the movers of a languishing death:
But though slow, deadly.
QUEEN I wonder, doctor,
10
Thou ask’st me such a question. Have I not been
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn’d me how
To make perfumes? Distil? Preserve? Yea so,
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 105
