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Imo. I beseech you, sir,

Harm not yourself with your vexation; I

Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare1
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym. Past grace? obedience?

Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen!

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Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer back. Why came you from your master?
Pisan. On his command: He would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven: left these notes
5 Of what commands I should be subject to,
When it pleas'd you to employ me.

10

Queen. This hath been

Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour,
He will remain so.

Pisan. I humbly thank your highness.

Queen. Pray, walk a while.

Imo. About some half hour hence, pray you speak with me:

You shall, at least, go see my lord aboard:

Imo. Oblest, that I might not! I chose an eagle, 15 For this time, leave me.

And did avoid a puttoek2.

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne

A seat for baseness.

Imo. No; I rather added

A lustre to it.

Cym. O thou vile one!

Imo. Sir,

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is
A man worth any woman; over-buys me

Almost the sum he pays.

Cym. What?-art thou mad?

[I were

Would

Imo. Almost,sir:--Heaven restore me!
A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus

Our neighbour shepherd's son!

Re-enter Queen.

Cym. Thou foolish thing!

They were again together: you have done

SCENE III.

Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

[Exeunt

Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; 20the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes ins there's none abroad so wholesome as that you

vent.

Clot. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it.→→ 25 Have I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. [Aside. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcase, if he be not hurt: it is a thorough-fare for 30 steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o' the back-side of the town.

Clot. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward [Aside.

[To the Queen. 35 your face.

Not after our command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

Queen. Beseech your patience:-Peace,
Dear lady daughter, peace!-Sweet sovereign,
Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some 40

comfort

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1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clot. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, 'till you had measur'd how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clot. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is danın’d. [Aside.

Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign 50 but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

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2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Exeunt.

I would they were in Africk both together;

A touch more rare, may mean a nobler passion, or a more exquisite feeling, a superior sensation. 2 A kite. 3 Sign here means fair outward shew. Mr. Steevens adds, that to understand the whole force of Shakspeare's idea, it should be remembered, that anciently almost every sign had a motto, or some attempt at a witticism, underneath it.

SCENE

SCENE IV.

Imogen's Apartments.

Enter Imogen, and Pisaniò.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o' 5

the haven,

And question'dst ev'ry sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost

As offer'd mercy is'. What was the last

That he spake to thee?

Pisan. 'Twas, His

· queen, his queen Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief? Pisan. And kiss'd it, madam.

!

Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!— And that was all?

Pisan. No, madam; for so long

As he could inake me with this eye, or ear,
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

Imo. Thou shouldst have made him
As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.

Pisan. Madam, so I did.

Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings;
crack'd them, but

To look upon him; till the diminution
Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle:
Nay, follow'd him, 'till he had inelted from
The smallness of a gnat to air; and then [nio,
Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good Pisa-
When shall we hear from him?

Pisan. Be assur'd, madam,
With his next vantage'.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him

swear,

[him,

That she's of Italy should not betray
Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd
At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
To encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him; or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father,
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north,
Shakes all our buds from growing.

Enter a Lady.

Lady. The queen, madam, Desires your highness' company.

[patch'd.

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An Apartment in Philario's House. Enter Philario, Iachimo, and a Frenchman. Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Bri tain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he has been allowed the name of: but I could then have look'd on him 10 without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items.

Phil. You speak of him when he was less furnish'd than now he is, with that which makes 15him 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 dangh 20ter (wherein he must be weigh'd 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 approbations of those, that 25 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 more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with 30 you?-How creeps acquaintance?

Phil. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

Enter Posthumus.

35 Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality. I beseech you a 1, be better known to this gentleman; whom commend to you, as a 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 Or

40

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leans.

Post. Since when I have been debtor to you 45 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 toge50ther 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 shunn'd 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) [Exeunt. my quarrel was not altogether slight.

Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them dis-55 I will attend the queen.

Pisan. Madam, I shall.

3

The meaning is, that the loss of that paper would prove as fatal to her, as the loss of a pardon to a condemned criminal. 2 Dr. Johnson remarks, that the diminution of space, is the diminution of which space is the cause.-Trees are killed by a blast of lightning, that is, by blasting, not blasted lightning. i.e. next opportunity. * Make is here used in the sense in which we say, This will make or mar you. i. e. makes the description of him very distant from the truth. i.e. by her influence. To atone signifies in this place to reconcile. That is, I was then willing to take for my direction the experience of others, more than such intelligence as Í had gathered myself.

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French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in publick, 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 10 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 attemptible, 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. Jach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

Post. Being so far provok'd as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

her go back, even to the yielding; had I admit-
tance, and opportunity to friend.
Post. No, no.

lach. 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 offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.

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

a

Iach. What's that?

Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you 15 call it, deserves more; a punishment too.

20

Tach. As fair, and as good, (a kind of hand-in-
hand comparison) had been something too fair, 25
and too good, for any lady in Britany. If she
went before others I have seen, as that diamond
of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could
not believe she excelled many: but I have not
seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you 30
the lady.
[stone.

Post. I praised her, as I rated her; so do I my
Jach. What do you esteem it at?
Post. More than the world enjoys.
Iach. Either your unparagon'd mistress is dead, 35
or she's out-priz'd 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.

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Jach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Jach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your 45 brace of unprizeable estinations, the one is but frail, and the other casual: a cunning thief, or a that-way accomplish'd courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd 50 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.

Phil. 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.

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

4

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? Jach Yours; who 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 reserv'd.

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 a friend, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a drachm, 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.

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

-If I bring you

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. Phil. I will have it no lay. Tach. By the gods, it is one:no sufficient testimony that I have enjoy'd 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 55 articles betwixt us:-only thus far you shall answer. If you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to understand you have prevail'd, Tam no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate: if she remain unseduc'd, (you not making it appear otherwise) for your ill opinion, and the ? Convince for overcome. 1i. e. deceiv'd.

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress: make 60

That is, Which, undoubtedly, may be publicly told. i. e. proof. The meaning is, "You are a friend to the lady, and therein the wiser, as you will not expose her to hazard; and that you fear, is a proof of your religious fidelity." 3 M

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assault

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 have our two wagers recorded.

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Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.
French. Will this hold, think you?

5

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 a while: [dogs
Which first, perchance, she 'll prove on cats, and
Then afterward up higher: but there is
No danger in what shew 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,

Phil. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, 10 So to be false with her.

let us follow 'em.

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[Exeunt.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius.

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

those flowers;

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15

[Exeunt Ladies. 20

Now, master doctor; have you brought those drugs?

[madam:

Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are,
But I beseech your grace, (without offence;
My conscience bids me ask) wherefore you have 25
Commanded of me these most poisonous com-
pounds,

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

Queen. I wonder, doctor,

Queen. No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.

Cor. I humbly take my leave.

[Exit.

Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou
think, in time

She will not quench; and let instruction 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: greater; for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp: Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being',
Is to exchange one misery with another;
And every day that comes, comes to decay
A day's work in him: What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans'?

Who cannot be new built; nor has no friends,

[The Queen drops a phial: Pisanio takes it up. 30 So much as but to prop him?-Thou tak'st up Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour: It is a thing I make, which hath the king Five times redeem'd from death; I do not know What is more cordial :-Nay, I pr'ythee, take it; It is an earnest of a further good

35

Thou ask'st me such a question: Have I not been
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn'd me how
To make perfumes? distill? preserve? yea, 90
"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 hu-40
To try the vigour of them, and apply [man)
Allayments to their act; and by them gather
"Their several virtues and effects.

Cor. Your highness

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 'It 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.
Think on my words.A sly and constant knave;
Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold
The hand fast to her lord.—I have given him that,
50 Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of leigers' for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
Re-enter Pisanio, and Ladies.

Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: 45
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
But noisome and infectious.

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To taste of too. So, so; well done, well done :
55 The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet: Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen, and Ladies.
Pisan. And shall do:

But when to my good lord I prove untrue, Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, (60 I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you. [Exit.

That is, other experiments. fall. The meaning is, "Think change your present service," "mote his master's interest.

i. e. to change his abode. 'i. e. that inclines towards its with what a fair prospect of mending your fortunes you now A leiger ambassador is one that resides at a foreign court to pro

SCENE

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Imogen's Apartment.
Enter Imogen.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false;
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady, [band! 5
That hath her husband banish'd;-O, that hus-
My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen,
As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable
Is the desire that's glorious: Blessed be those,
How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort'.-Who may this be?
Fie!

Enter Pisanio, and Iachimo.

10

'Twixt two such she's, would chatter this way, and Contema with mows the other: Nor i' the judge

ment;

For idiots, in this case of favour, would
Be wisely definite: Nor i' the appetite;
Sluttery, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed".

Imo. What is the matter, trow?
Iach. The cloyed will,

(That satiate yet unsatisfied desire,

That tub both fill'd and running) ravening first
The lamb, longs after for the garbage.
Imo. What, dear sir,

Pisan. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome 15 Thus raps you? Are you well?

Comes from my lord with letters.

Jach. Change you, madam?

And greets your highness dearly. [Gives a letter.

Iach. Thanks, madam; well:-Beseech you, [To Pisanio.

sir,

Desire my man's abode where I did leave him:
He's strange', and peevish.

To give him welcome.

The worthy Leonatus is in safety,

Imo. Thanks, good sir;

20

Pisan. I was going, sir,

You are kindly welcome.

['beseech you?

fach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich! If she be furnished with a mind so rare, [Aside. She is alone the Arabian bird; and I.

Imo. Continues well, my lord? His health,
Iach. Well, madam.

Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope, he is.

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Iach. Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger there
So merry and so gamesome: he is call'd
The Briton reveller.

Imo. When he was here,

He did incline to sadness; and oft-times

Iach. I never saw him sad.

"He is one of the noblest note, to whose 30 Not knowing why. "kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your trust. "LEONATUS."

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There is a Frenchman his companion, one

An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home; he furnaces

35 The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton
(Your lord, I mean) laughs from 's free lungs,
cries! "O!
[knows
"Can my sides hold, to think, that man,-who
"By history, report, or his own proof,

40" What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
"But must be,-will his free hours languish
"For assur'd bondage?"

Iach. Ay, madam; with his eyes in flood with

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Imo. What makes your admiration? lach. It cannot be i' the eye; for apes and 50 Be us'd more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much; nionkeys,

In you,—which I account his, beyond all talents,-

2

That is, according to Warburton, "who are beholden only to the seasons for their support and nourishment; so that, if those be kindly, such have no more to care for or desire." The crop of sea and land means the productions of either element. Dr. Johnson says, he knows not well how to regulate this passage. Number'd is perhaps numerous.-Twinn'd stones he does not understand. Twinn'd shells, or pairs of shells, are very common."-Mr. Steevens adds, that the pebbles on the seashore are so much of the same size and shape, that twinn'd may mean as like as twins.-Dr. Farmer thinks we may read the umbered, the shaded beach. Dr. Johnson explains this passage thus: "Iachimo, in this counterfeited rapture, has shewn how the eyes and the judgement would determine in favour of Imogen, comparing her with the present mistress of Posthumus, and proceeds to say, that appetite too would give the same suffrage. Desire, says he, when it approached sluttery, and considered it in comparison with such neat excellence, would not only be not so allured to feed, but, seized with a fit of loathing, would vomit emptiness, would feel the convulsions of disgust, though, being nafed, it had nothing to eject." Strange here seems to signify shy or backward.

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