Cymbeline Page 5

  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

  Of these thy compounds on such creatures as

  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,