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The press of boats, or pride:1 A piece of work
So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive

In workmanship, and value; which, I wonder'd,
Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,

Since the true life on't was

Post.

This is true;

And this you might have heard of here, by me,

Or by some other.

Fach...

Must justify my knowledge.

Post.

Or do

Iach.

More particulars

So they must,

The chimney

your honour injury.

Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece,
Chaste Dian, bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves: the cutter
Was as another nature, dumb;3 outwent her,
Motion and breath left out.

Post:

This is a thing,

Which you might from relation likewise reap;
Being, as it is, much spoke of.

Iach..

The roof o'the chamber With golden cherubins is fretted: Her andirons (I had forgot them,) were two winking Cupids Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely

1 And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for

The press of boats, or pride:] Iachimo's language is such as a skilful villain would naturally use, a mixture of airy triumph and serious deposition. His gaiety shows his seriousness to be without anxiety, and his seriousness proves his gaiety to be without art.

So likely to report themselves:] So near to speech. The Italians call a portrait, when the likeness is remarkable, a speaking picture. 3 Was as another nature, dumb;] The meaning is this: The sculptor was as nature, but as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives, but breath and motion. In breath is included speech.

Depending on their brands.*

Post.

This is her honour !

Let it be granted, you have seen all this,' (and praise
Be given to your remembrance,) the description
Of what is in her chamber, nothing saves

The wager you have laid.

Iach.

you can,

Then, if [Pulling out the Bracelet. Be pale; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See!And now 'tis up again: It must be married To that your diamond; I'll keep them.

Post.

Once more let me behold it: Is it that

Which I left with her?

Iach.

Jove!

Sir, (I thank her,) that: She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;

Her pretty action did outsell her gift,

And yet enrich'd it too: She gave it me, and said,

She priz'd it once.

Post.

To send it me.

Iach.

May be, she pluck'd it off,

She writes so to you? doth she?

Post. O, no, no, no; 'tis true. Here, take this

too;

It is a basilisk unto mine

nicely

eye,

[Gives the Ring.

Depending on their brands.] Here seems to be a kind of tautology. Brands may be a part of the andirons, on which the wood for the fire was supported, as the upper part, in which was a kind of rack to carry a spit, is more properly termed the andiron. These irons, on which the wood lies across, generally called dogs, are here termed brands.

5 This is her honour!

Let it be granted, you have seen all this, &c.] The expression is ironical. Iachimo relates many particulars, to which Posthumus answers with impatience:

"This is her honour !"

That is, And the attainment of this knowledge is to pass for the corruption of her honour. JOHNSON.

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Kills me to look on't:-Let there be no honour, Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance;

love,

Where there's another man: The vows of women Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Than they are to their virtues; which is nothing:O, above measure false !

Phi.

Have patience, sir, And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won:

It may be probable, she lost it; or,

Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted, Hath stolen it from her.

Post.

Very true;

And so, I hope, he came by't:-Back my ring;-
Render to me some corporal sign about her,
More evident than this; for this was stolen.
Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.,

Post. Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears. 'Tis true;-nay, keep the ring-'tis true: I am sure, She would not lose it: her attendants are

All sworn, and honourable:-They induc'd to steal

it!

And by a stranger?-No, he hath enjoy'd her:
The cognizance of her incontinency

6

Is this, she hath bought the name of whore thus

dearly.

There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hell
Divide themselves between you!

Phi.

This is not strong enough to be believ❜d

Of one persuaded well of

Post.

She hath been colted by him.

Iach.

Sir, be patient:

Never talk on't;

If you seek

For further satisfying, under her breast

6 The cognizance-] The badge; the token; the visible proof.

(Worthy the pressing,) lies a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging: By my life,
I kiss'd it; and it gave me present hunger
To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain upon her?

Post.
Ay, and it doth confirm
Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.

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If

you

I'll be sworn,

No swearing.

lie;

will swear you have not done't, you And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny Thou hast made me cuckold.

I will deny nothing.

Iach.
Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-

meal!

I will go there, and do't; i'the court; before
Her father:-I'll do something-

Phi.

Exit.

Quite besides The government of patience!-You have won: Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath? He hath against himself.

Iach.

With all my heart.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The same. Another Room in the same.

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Post. Is there no way for men to be, but women Must be half-workers? We are bastards all;

pervert the present wrath-] for avert.

And that most venerable man, which I
Did call my father, was I know not where
When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his tools
Made me a counterfeit: Yet my mother seem'd
The Dian of that time: so doth my wife
The nonpareil of this.-O vengeance, vengeance!
Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with
A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on't

Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought her

As chaste as unsunn'd snow:-O, all the devils !-
This yellow Iachimo, in an hour,-was't not?—
Or less, at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,
Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,
Cry'd, oh! and mounted: found no opposition
But what he look'd for should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I find out
The woman's part in me! For there's no motion
That tends to vice in man, but I affirm
It is the woman's part: Be it lying, note it,
The woman's; flattering, hers; deceiving, hers;
Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain,
Nice longings, slanders, mutability,

All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows,
Why, hers, in part, or all; but, rather, all:
For ev'n to vice

They are not constant, but are changing still
One vice, but of a minute old, for one

Not half so old as that. I'll write against them,
Detest them, curse them:-Yet 'tis greater skill
In a true hate, to pray they have their will:
The very devils cannot plague them better.

[Exit.

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