jewel, and my gold are yours; provided I have
your commendation for my more free entertain-
ment.

Post. 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 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 170
and the assault you have made to her chastity,
you shall answer me with your sword.

Iach. Your hand; a covenant: we will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away from Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and starve: I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded.

Post. Agreed.

[Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.

French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray let us 180

follow 'em.

Scene V.

[Exeunt.

Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius.

Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those

flowers;

Make haste: who has the note of them?

First Lady.

Queen. Dispatch.

I, madam.

[Exeunt Ladies.

Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs?

Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam: [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.

Cor.

ΙΟ

I wonder, doctor,
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
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,—
Unless thou think'st me devilish-is 't not meet
That I did amplify my judgement in
Other conclusions? I will try the forces.

Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging, but none human,
To try the vigour of them and apply.

Allayments to their act, and by them gather

Their several virtues and effects.

Your highness

Shall from this practice but make hard your heart:
Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

21

Queen.

O, content thee.

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;

30

Cor.

Take your own way.

[Aside] I do suspect you, madam; But you shall do no harm.

Queen.

[To Pisanio] Hark thee, a word.

Cor. [Aside] I do not like her. She doth think she has
Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with

A drug of such damn'd nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile;

40

Which first, perchance, she 'll prove on cats and dogs,
Then afterward up higher: but there is
No danger in what show of death it makes.
More than 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.

Qucen.

Cor.

Until I send for thee.

No further service, doctor,

I humbly take my leave. [Exit. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think in

time

She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work:
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 name
Is at last gasp: return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
And every day that comes comes to decay
A day's work in him. What shalt thou expect,

50

To be depender on a thing that leans,

Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends,

So much as but to prop him! [The Queen drops the
box: Pisanio takes it up.] Thou takest up 60
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 cordial: nay, I prithee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do 't as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on; but think
Thou hast thy mistress still, to boot, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee: I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou 'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women:

Think on my words.

71

[Exit Pisanio.

A sly and constant knave;

Not to be shaked: the agent for his master;

And the remembrancer of her to hold

The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her

Of liegers for her sweet; and which she after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assured
To taste of too.

Re-enter Pisanio with Ladies.

So, so; well done, well done:

The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet. Fare thee well, Pisanio;

80

Think on my words.

Pis.

[Exeunt Queen and Ladies.

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.

The same.

Scene VI.

Another room in the palace.

Enter Imogen alone.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false;
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

That hath her husband banish'd;-O, that husband!
My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,

As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable
Is the desire that 's glorious: blest be those,
How mean soe'er, that hath their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

Enter Pisanio and Iachimo.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,
Comes from my lord with letters.

Iach.

Imo.

ΙΟ

Change you, madam?

The worthy Leonatus is in safety,
And greets your highness dearly. [Presents a letter.
Thanks, good sir:

You're kindly welcome.

Iach. [Aside] All of her that is out of door most rich!
If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,
She is alone the Arabian bird, and I
Have lost the wager. Boldness be my
Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!

friend!