swords; and by such two that would, by all likelihood, have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.

IACH. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

LEWIS. Safely, I think: 't was a contention in public, which may without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses; this gentleman at that time vouching, (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant-qualified, and less attemptable, than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

IACH. That lady is not now living, or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

POST. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. IACH. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

POST. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

IACH. (R. C.) As fair, and as good, (a kind of handin-hand comparison) had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

POST. I praised her as I rated her; so do I my stone. IACH. What do you esteem it at?

POST. More than the world enjoys.

IACH. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outprized by a trifle.

POST. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift; the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.

but you

know

IACH. Which the gods have given you? POST. Which, by their graces, I will keep. IACH. You may wear her in title yours; how 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 that-way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

POST. (Crosses, c.) Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the holding or the loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring.

PHILAR. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

POST. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy 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 rather against your confidence than her reputation; and, to bar your offense 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.

[Places his hand on his sword. PHILAR. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in 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 the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring from thence that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved.

POST. I will wager 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; 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 us. My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking; I dare you to this match; here's my ring.

[Advancing, c.

PHILAR. I will have it no lay. IACH. By the gods it is one. If I bring you 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 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 on 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 have our two wagers recorded. POST. Agreed.

[Exeunt Posthumus, Iachimo and Lewis, R.

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE FIRST.-Britain. A Room in Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter QUEEN, LADIES, and CORNELIUS, L.

QUEEN. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers;

Make haste: Who has the note of them?

FIRST LADY.

I, madam.

QUEEN. Despatch.

[Exeunt ladies, R.

Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs? CORNE. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, [Presenting a small box. But I beseech your grace, (without offence

madam:

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. 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? 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.

CORNE. 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.

(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!

Enter PISANIO, L.

Doctor, your service for this time is ended;

Take your own way.

CORNE. (Aside.) I do suspect you,

But you shall do no harm.

madam;

QUEEN. Hark thee, a word. [Speaks to Pisanio, R. C. CORNE. (Aside.) I do not like her. She doth think she has

Strange ling'ring poisons: 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; 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.

[Exit, L.

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:

[The Queen drops a 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 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:

[Exit Pisanio, R.

A sly and constant knave,

Think on my words.

Not to be shak'd; the agent for his master,

And the remembrancer of her, to hold

The handfast to her lord.-I have given him that