so worthy as since he hath been allowed the name
of: but I could then have looked on him without
the help of admiration, though the catalogue of
his endowments had been tabled by his side and
I to peruse him by items.

Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished
than now he is with that which makes him both
without and within.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter,
wherein he must be weighed rather by her value
than his own, words him, I doubt not, a great
deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment.
Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those that weep
this lamentable divorce under her colours are
wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify
her judgement, which else an easy battery might
lay flat, for taking a beggar without less quality.
But how comes it he is to sojourn with you?
how creeps acquaintance?

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to
whom I have been often bound for no less than
my life. Here comes the Briton: let him be so
entertained amongst you as suits, with gentlemen
of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.

Enter Posthumus.

I beseech you all, be better known to this
gentleman; whom I commend to you as a

ΙΟ

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noble friend of mine: how worthy he is I will
leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him
in his own hearing.

French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for
courtesies, which I will be ever to pay and yet
pay still.
French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was
glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had
been pity you should have been put together
with so mortal a purpose as then each bore, upon
importance of so slight and trivial a nature.
Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young

traveller; rather shunned to go even with what
I heard than in my every action to be guided by
others' experiences: but upon my mended
judgement-if I offend not to say it is mended-
my quarrel was not altogether slight.
French. Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of
swords, and by such two that would, by all like-
lihood, have confounded one the other, or have
fallen both.

Iach. Can we with manners ask what was the difference?

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50

French. Safely, I think: 'twas 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 60 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 70 would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. As fair and as good-a kind of hand-in-hand
comparison-had been something too fair and
too good for any lady in Britany. If she went
before others 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.

Iach. Which the gods have given you!

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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 that way accomplished courtier, would hazard
the winning both of first and last.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a 100
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 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 110 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'er-values it something: but I make my wager 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 per- 120 suasion, 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 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 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; 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

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your return: let there be covenants drawn be- 150
tween'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 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 160