Iach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your 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 100 that way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished 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; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring.

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy 110 signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first.

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress, make her go back, even to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend.

Post. No, no.

Iach. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'ervalues it something: but I make my wager 120 rather against your confidence than her reputation: and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.

Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt.

Iach. What's that?

Post. A repulse: though your attempt, as you

call it, deserve more; a punishment too.

Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in 130 too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted.

Iach. Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on the approbation of what I have spoke !

Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Iach. 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 140 the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring from thence that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it : my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.

Iach. You are afraid, and therein the wiser. If you 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.

Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; 150 you bear a graver purpose, I hope.

Iach. I am the master of my speeches, and would undergo what 's spoken, I swear.

Post. 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 unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring.

Phi. I will have it no lay.

Iach. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you 160

no sufficient testimony 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 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 entertainment.

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 170 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 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 for Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and starve: I will fetch my gold and 180 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,

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. Britain. A room in Cymbeline's
palace

Enter QUEEN, Ladies, and CORNELIUS.

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

Make haste: who has the note of them ?

those flowers;

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 com-

pounds,

Which are the movers of a languishing death;
But though slow, deadly?

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,

20

To try the vigour of them and apply

Allayments to their act, and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects.

Cor.

Your highness

Shall from this practice but make hard your

heart:

Besides, the seeing these effects will be
Both noisome and infectious.

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

Take your own way.

Cor.

[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 stupify and dull the sense awhile;
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.

Queen.

Until I send for thee.
Cor.

No further service, doctor,

I humbly take my leave. [Exit.

40