your ring, which in my opinion o’ervalues it something97: but
I make my wager rather against your confidence than her
reputation. And to bar your offence99 herein too, I durst
attempt it against any lady in the world.
POSTHUMUS You are a great deal abused101 in too bold a
persuasion, and I doubt not you sustain what you’re worthy102
of by your attempt.
IACHIMO What’s that?
POSTHUMUS A repulse, though your attempt, as you call it,
deserve more: a punishment too.
PHILARIO Gentlemen, enough of this, it came in107 too suddenly.
Let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.
IACHIMO Would I had put my estate109 and my neighbour’s on
th’approbation110 of what I have spoke.
POSTHUMUS What lady would you choose to assail?
IACHIMO Yours, whom in constancy you think stands so safe.
I will lay you ten thousand ducats113 to your ring, that
commend114 me to the court where your lady is, with no more
advantage than the opportunity of a second conference115, and
I will bring from thence that honour of hers which you
imagine so reserved.117
POSTHUMUS I will wage118 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 wiser120: if you buy
ladies’ flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve121 it from
tainting. But I see you have some religion in you, that122 you
fear.
POSTHUMUS This is but a custom in your tongue124: you bear a
graver125 purpose I hope.
IACHIMO I am the master of my speeches, and would undergo126
what’s spoken, I swear.
POSTHUMUS Will you? I shall but lend my diamond till your
return: let there be covenants drawn between’s.129 My mistress
exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy
thinking. I dare you to this match: here’s my ring.
PHILARIO I will have it no lay.132
IACHIMO By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient
testimony134 that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your
mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours, so is your
diamond too. If I come off136, 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 commendation138 for my more
free entertainment.139
POSTHUMUS I embrace these conditions, let us have articles140
betwixt us. Only thus far you shall answer: if you make your141
voyage upon her and give me directly to understand you
have prevailed, I am no further your enemy, she is not worth
our debate. If she remain unseduced, 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 covenant148: we will have these things
set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain,
lest the bargain should catch cold and starve150: I will fetch my
gold and have our two wagers recorded.
POSTHUMUS Agreed.
[Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo]
FRENCHMAN Will this hold153, think you?
PHILARIO Signior Iachimo will not from it.154 Pray let us follow
’em.
Exeunt
Act 1 Scene 5
running scene 3
Enter Queen, Ladies and Cornelius
QUEEN Whiles yet the dew’s on ground1, gather those flowers.
Make haste. Who has the note2 of them?
LADY I, madam.
Exeunt Ladies
QUEEN Dispatch.4
Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs?
CORNELIUS Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam:
Presents a small box
But I beseech your grace, without offence7 —
My conscience bids me ask — wherefore8 you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds9,
Which are the movers of a languishing10 death:
But though slow, deadly?11
QUEEN I wonder, doctor,
Thou ask’st me such a question: have I not been
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learned14 me how
To make perfumes? Distil? Preserve? Yea so15,
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections?17 Having thus far proceeded —
Unless thou think’st me devilish — is’t not meet18
That I did amplify my judgement in19
Other conclusions? I will try the forces20
We count not worth the hanging, but none human,
To try the vigour23 of them, and apply
Allayments to their act24, and by them gather
Their several25 virtues and effects.
CORNELIUS Your highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart:
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
Both noisome and infectious.29
QUEEN O, content thee.30—
Enter Pisanio
Aside
Here comes a flattering rascal, upon him
Will I first work: he’s for his master,
And enemy to my son.— How now, Pisanio?—
Doctor, your service for this time is ended,
Take your own way.
Aside
CORNELIUS I do suspect you, madam,
But you shall do no harm.
To Pisanio
QUEEN Hark thee, a word.
Aside
CORNELIUS I do not like her. She doth think she has
Strange ling’ring poisons40: I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damned nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,
Which first, perchance, she’ll prove44 on cats and dogs,
Then afterward up higher45: but there is
No danger in what show46 of death it makes,
More than the locking-up the spirits a time47,
To be more fresh, reviving.48 She is fooled
With a most false effect: and I the truer
So to be false with her.
QUEEN No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
CORNELIUS I humbly take my leave.
Exit
QUEEN Weeps she still, say’st thou? Dost thou think in time
She will not quench, and let instructions55 enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work56:
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 name60
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being62
Is to exchange one misery with another,
And every day that comes comes to decay64
A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect
To be depender on a thing that leans?66
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends
So much as but to prop him?
She drops the box and Pisanio picks it up
Thou takest up
Thou know’st not what: but take it for thy labour,
It is a thing I made, which hath the king
Five times redeemed from death. I do not know
What is more cordial.73 Nay, I prithee, take it,
It is an earnest74 of a farther good
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her: do’t, as from thyself76;
Think what a chance thou changest on77, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still, to boot78, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee. I’ll move the king79
To any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou’lt desire: and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert82, am bound
To load83 thy merit richly. Call my women.
Think on my words.—
Exit Pisanio
A sly and constant84 knave,
Not to be shaked85: the agent for his master,
And the remembrancer86 of her to hold
The handfast87 to her lord. I have given him that,
Which if he take, shall quite unpeople her88
Of liegers89 for her sweet: and which she after,
Except she bend her humour90, shall be assured
To taste of too.—
Enter Pisanio and Ladies
With flowers
So, so: well done, well done:
The violets, cowslips and the primroses
Bear to my closet.93— Fare thee well, Pisanio.
Think on my words.
Exeunt Queen and Ladies
PISANIO And shall do:
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I’ll choke myself: there’s all I’ll do for you.
Exit
Act 1 Scene 6
running scene 3 continues
Enter Innogen alone
INNOGEN A father cruel and a stepdame1 false,
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,
That hath her husband banished3: O, that husband,
My supreme crown of grief, and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol’n5,
As my two brothers, happy: but most miserable
Is the desire that’s glorious.7 Blest be those,
How mean soe’er, that have their honest wills8,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!9
Enter Pisanio and Iachimo
PISANIO Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,
Comes from my lord with letters.
IACHIMO Change you12, madam:
The worthy Leonatus is in safety
Presents a letter
And greets your highness dearly.
INNOGEN Thanks good sir,
You’re kindly welcome.
Aside
IACHIMO All of her that is out of door17 most rich!
If she be furnished with a mind so rare18,
She is alone th’Arabian bird19, and I
Have lost the wager. Boldness21 be my friend:
Arm me audacity21 from head to foot,
Or like the Parthian I shall flying fight22,
Rather, directly fly.23
INNOGEN Reads ‘He is one of the noblest note24, to whose
kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect25 upon him
accordingly, as you value your trust.26 Leonatus.’
So far27 I read aloud.
But even the very middle of my heart
Is warmed by th’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.
IACHIMO Thanks, fairest lady.—
What, are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes
To see this vaulted arch35 and the rich crop
Of sea and land, which36 can distinguish ’twixt
The fiery orbs above and the twinned37 stones
Upon th’unnumbered38 beach, and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious39
’Twixt fair and foul?
INNOGEN What makes your admiration?41
IACHIMO It cannot be i’th’eye: for apes and monkeys,
’Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way43 and
Contemn with mows44 the other. Nor i’th’judgement:
For idiots in this case of favour would45
Be wisely definite. Nor i’th’appetite46:
Sluttery, to such neat47 excellence opposed,
Should make desire vomit emptiness48,
Not so allured to feed.49
INNOGEN What is the matter, trow?50
IACHIMO The cloyèd will51,
That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub
Both filled and running, ravening53 first the lamb,
Longs after for the garbage.54
INNOGEN What, dear sir,
Thus raps56 you? Are you well?
To Pisanio
IACHIMO Thanks, madam, well.— Beseech you, sir,
Desire my man’s abode58 where I did leave him:
He’s strange and peevish.59
PISANIO I was going, sir,
To give him welcome.
Exit
INNOGEN Continues well my lord? His health, beseech you?
IACHIMO Well, madam.
INNOGEN Is he disposed to mirth? I hope he is.
IACHIMO Exceeding pleasant: none a stranger there
So merry and so gamesome66: he is called
The Briton reveller.
INNOGEN When he was here
He did incline to sadness69, and oft-times
Not knowing why.
IACHIMO I never saw him sad.
There is a Frenchman his companion, one72
An eminent monsieur, that it seems much loves
A Gallian girl at home. He furnaces74
The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton —
Your lord, I mean — laughs from’s free lungs76: cries ‘O,
Can my sides hold, to think that man, who knows
By history, report or his own proof78,
What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be, will’s free hours languish
For assurèd bondage?’
INNOGEN Will my lord say so?
IACHIMO Ay, madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter:
It is a recreation to be by
And hear him mock the Frenchman. But, heavens know,
Some men are much to blame.
INNOGEN Not he, I hope.
IACHIMO Not he: but yet heaven’s bounty towards him might88
Be used more thankfully. In himself ’tis89 much;
In you, which I account his, beyond all talents.90
Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound
To pity too.
INNOGEN What do you pity, sir?
IACHIMO Two creatures heartily.
INNOGEN Am I one, sir?
You look on me: what wreck discern you in me
Deserves your pity?
IACHIMO Lamentable! What,
To hide me99 from the radiant sun, and solace
I’th’dungeon by a snuff?100
INNOGEN I pray you, sir,
Deliver with more openness your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?
IACHIMO That others do —
I was about to say, enjoy105 your — but
It is an office of the gods to venge106 it,
Not mine to speak on’t.
INNOGEN You do seem to know
Something
of me, or what concerns me; pray you,
Since doubting things go ill110 often hurts more
Than to be sure they do — for certainties
Either are past remedies, or, timely knowing112,
The remedy then born — discover to me113
What both you spur and stop.
IACHIMO Had I115 this cheek
To bathe my lips upon: this hand, whose touch,
Whose every touch, would force the feeler’s117 soul
To th’oath of loyalty: this object118, which
Takes prisoner the wild motion119 of mine eye,
Firing120 it only here: should I, damned then,
Slaver with lips as common as the stairs121
That mount the Capitol122: join grips with hands
Made hard with hourly falsehood — falsehood, as123
With labour — then by-peeping124 in an eye
Base and illustrous125 as the smoky light
That’s fed with stinking tallow: it were fit126
That all the plagues of hell should at one time
Encounter such revolt.128
INNOGEN My lord, I fear,
Has forgot Britain.
IACHIMO And himself. Not I131
Inclined to this intelligence pronounce
The beggary of his change: but ’tis your graces
That from my mutest conscience to my tongue
Charms this report out.
INNOGEN Let me hear no more.
IACHIMO O dearest soul: your cause doth strike my heart
With pity that doth make me sick. A lady
So fair, and fastened to an empery139
Would make the great’st king double, to be partnered140
With tomboys hired with that self-exhibition141
Which your own coffers yield: with diseased ventures142
That play with all infirmities143 for gold
Which rottenness can lend nature: such boiled stuff144
As well might poison poison. Be revenged,
Or she that bore you was no queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.147
INNOGEN Revenged?
How should I be revenged? If this be true —
As I have such a heart that both mine ears
Must not in haste abuse — if it be true,
How should I be revenged?
IACHIMO Should he make me
Live like Diana’s priest, betwixt cold154 sheets,
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps155,
In your despite, upon your purse156 — revenge it.
I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure,