dainely, let it dye as it was borne, and I pray you be better acquainted.

Iach. Would I had put my Estate, and my Neighbors on th'approbation1 of what I have spoke, lattestation Post. What Lady would you chuse to assaile? 128 Iach. Yours, whom in constancie you thinke stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousands Duckets to your Ring, that commend me to the Court where your Lady is, with no more advantage then the opportunitie of a second conference, and I will bring from thence, that Honor of hers, which you imagine so reserv'd.

Posthmus. I will wage against your Gold, Gold to it: My Ring I holde deere as my finger, 'tis part of it.

Iach. You are a Friend, and there in the wiser: if you buy Ladies flesh at a Million a Dram, you cannot presevre it from tainting; but I see you have some Religion you, that you feare.

in

141 Posthu. This is but a custome in your tongue: you beare a graver purpose I hope.

Iach. I am the Master of my speeches, and would under-go what's spoken, I sweare.

Posthu. Will you? I shall but lend my Diamond till your returne: let there be Covenants drawne between's. My Mistris exceedes in goodnesse, the hugenesse of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match: heere's my Ring.

Phil. I will have it no lay.

150

Iach. By the Gods it is one: if I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoy'd the deerest bodily part of your Mistris: my ten thousand Duckets are yours,

130. thousands: thousand-3-4F.

138. a Friend: afraid-THEOBALD. 139-40. presevre: preserve-2-4F.

so is your Diamond too: if I come off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust in; Shee your Jewell, this your Jewell, and my Gold are yours: provided, I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment.

Post. I embrace these Conditions, let us have Articles betwixt us: onely thus farre you shall answere, if you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to understand, you have prevayl'd, I am no further your Enemy, shee is not worth our debate. If shee remaine unseduc'd, you not making it appeare otherwise: for your ill opinion, and th'assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your Sword.

Iach. Your hand, a Covenant: wee will have these things set downe by lawfull Counsell, and straight away for Britaine, least the Bargaine should catch colde, and sterve: I will fetch my Gold, and have our two Wagers recorded.

171

Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.] French. Will this hold, thinke you.

Phil. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray let us follow 'em.

Scena Sexta.

Exeunt

[Scene v. Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace.]

Enter Queene, Ladies, and Cornelius.

Qu. Whiles yet the dewe's on ground,

Gather those Flowers,

Now Master Doctor, have you brought those drugges? Cor. Pleaseth your Highnes, I: here they are, Madam: [Presenting a small box.] But I beseech your Grace, without offence

10

(My Conscience bids me aske) wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poysonous Compounds,
Which are the moovers of a languishing death:
But though slow, deadly.

Qu. I wonder, Doctor,

Thou ask'st me such a Question: Have I not bene
Thy Pupill long? Hast thou not learn'd me how
To make Perfumes? Distill? Preserve? Yea so,
That our great King himselfe doth woo me oft
For my Confections? Having thus farre proceeded, 20
(Unlesse thou think'st me divellish) is't not meete
That I did amplifie my judgement in

Other Conclusions? 1 I will try the forces 1 experiments
Of these thy Compounds, on such Creatures as

We count not worth the hanging (but none humane)
To try the vigour of them, and apply

Allayments to their Act, and by them gather
Their severall vertues, and effects.

Cor. Your Highnesse

Shall from this practise, but make hard your

Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noysome, and infectious.

Qu. O content thee.

Enter Pisanio.

heart: 30

[Aside] Heere comes a flattering Rascall, upon him

Will I first worke: Hee's for his Master,

And enemy to my Sonne.

25. bumane: human-RowE.

How now Pisanio?

Doctor, your service for this time is ended,
Take your owne way.

But

Cor. [Aside] I do suspect you, Madam, you shall do no harme.

Qu. [To Pisanio] Hearke thee, a word.

40

Cor. [Aside] I do not like her. She doth thinke she

ha's |

Strange ling'ring poysons: I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice, with

A drugge of such damn'd Nature. Those she ha's,
Will stupifie and dull the Sense a-while,

Which first (perchance) shee'l prove on Cats and Dogs,
Then afterward up higher: but there is
No danger in what shew of death it makes,
More then the locking up the Spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving.

She is fool'd

With a most false effect: and I, the truer,

So to be false with her.

Qu. No further service, Doctor,

Untill I send for thee.

Cor. I humbly take my leave.

Qu. Weepes she still (saist thou?)

Dost thou thinke in time

50

Exit.

1 become cool

She will not quench,1 and let instructions enter
Where Folly now possesses? Do thou worke:

60

When thou shalt bring me word she loves my Sonne, Ile tell thee on the instant, thou art then

As great as is thy Master: Greater, for

His Fortunes all lye speechlesse, and his name

Is at last gaspe. Returne he cannot, nor

Continue where he is: To shift his being,2 2 dwelling Is to exchange one misery with another,

59-60. 1 1.-Rowe.

And every day that comes, comes to decay

A dayes worke in him. What shalt thou expect 70
To be depender on a thing that leanes?

Who cannot be new built, nor ha's no Friends
So much, as but to prop him?

[The Queen drops the box; Pisanio takes it up.] Thou tak'st up | Thou know'st not what: But take it for thy labour, It is a thing I made, which hath the King

Five times redeem'd from death. I do not know
What is more Cordiall.1 Nay, I prythee take it,
It is an earnest of a farther good 1 reviving to the spirits
That I meane to thee. Tell thy Mistris how
The case stands with her: doo't, as from thy selfe; 80
Thinke what a chance thou changest on, but thinke
Thou hast thy Mistris still, to boote, my Sonne,
Who shall take notice of thee. Ile move the King
To any shape of thy Preferment, such

As thou'lt desire: and then my selfe, I cheefely,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound

To loade thy merit richly.

Call my women.

Exit Pisa. |

89

Thinke on my words. A slye, and constant knave,
Not to be shak'd: the Agent for his Master,
And the Remembrancer 2 of her, to hold 2 he who reminds
The hand-fast 3 to her Lord. I have given him that,
Which if he take, shall quite unpeople her

Of Leidgers for her Sweete: and which, she after
Except she bend her humor, shall be assur'd

To taste of too.

3 engagement

Enter Pisanio, and Ladies.

So, so: Well done, well done:

4 ambassadors

The Violets, Cowslippes, and the Prime-Roses

93. Leidgers: liegers-HANMER.

98. Prime-Roses: primroses-Capell.