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 laft night, where each of us fell in praise of our Country miftreffes: This Gentleman at that time vouching, (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wife, chaft, 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. Post. Being fo far provok'd, as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; tho' I profess my self 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. 3 If fhe went before others I have feen, as that diamond of yours out-lufters many I have beheld, I could believe, fhe excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the Lady. Poft. I prais'd her, as I rated her: fo do I my ftone. Poft. More than the world enjoys. Iach. Either your unparagon'd Mistress is dead, or fhe's out-priz'd by a trifle. 3 If he went before others I have feen, as that diamond of yours out-lufters many I have beheld, I could NOT believe she excelled many] What? if she did really excel others, could he not believe he did excel them? Nonfenfe. We muft ftrike out the negative, and the fenfe will be this, I can easily believe your miftrefs excels many, tho' fhe be not the most excellent; juft as I fee that diamond of yours is of more value than many I have beheld, tho' I know there are other diamonds of much greater value. Poft. 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 : Poft. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours; but, you know, ftrange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stoln 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 firft and laft. Poft. Your Italy contains none fo accomplish'd a Courtier 4 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, notwithftanding 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 stranger of me; we are familiar at first. Iach. With five times fo much converfation, I should get ground of your fair Mistress; make her go back, even to the yielding: had I admittance, and opportu nity 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. Poft. You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a per 4 to convince the honour of my mistress;] Convince, for over come. R 3 fwafion; fwafion; and, I doubt not, you'd sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt. lach. What's That? Poft. A repulfe; though your attempt, as you call it, deserves 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. Iach. 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 so reserv❜d. Poft. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: 5 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 fee, you have fome Religion in you, that you fear. Poft. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope. Iach. 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 hugeness of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match; here's my ring. 5 -my ring I hold dear as my finger, 'tis part of it. Iach. You are a Friend, and therein the wifer;] I correct it, You are afraid, and therein the wiser. What lachimo fays, in the close of his fpeech, determines this to have been our Poet's reading. But, I fee, you have fome Religion in you, that you fear. Phil. I will have it no Lay. Iach. By the Gods it is one. "If I bring you fufficient teftimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are mine; fo is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in fuch honour as you have truft 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 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 enemy, fhe is not worth our debate. If fhe remain unfeduc'd, you not making it appear otherwife; for your ill opinion, and th' affault you have made to her chastity, you fhall anfwer me with your fword. Iach. Your hand, a covenant; we will have these things fet down by lawful counfel, and straight away for Britaine, left the bargain fhould catch cold, and ftarve. I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded. 6 Iach. 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, &c. Polt. I embrace thefe conditions, &c.] This was a wager between the two fpeakers. Iachimo declares the conditions of it; and Pofthumus embraces them as well he might; for Iachimo mentions only that of the two conditions, which was favourable to Pofthumus, namely, that if his wife preserved her honour he fhould win concerning the other, (in cafe fhe preserved it not) Iachimo, the accurate expounder of the wager, is filent. To make him talk more in character, for we find him sharp enough in the prosecution of his bet, we fhould ftrike out the negative, and read the rest thus, If I bring you fufficient teftimony that I bave enjoy'd, &c. my ten thousand ducats are MINE; fo is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in fuch honour, &c. She your jewel, &c. and my gold are yours. R 4 Poft. Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Pofthumus and Iachimo. [Exeunt. SCE NE VII. Changes to Cymbeline's Palace in Britaine. Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius with a Viol. Queen. WHILE yet the dew's on ground, gather Make hafte. flowers: Who has the note of them? 1 Lady. I, Madam. Queen. Dispatch. [Exeunt Ladies. Now, mafter Doctor, you have brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your Highness, ay; here they are, Madam ; But I beseech your Grace, without offence, (My confcience bids me ask) wherefore you have 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. |