(One, bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes,
With scraps o' the court), it is no contract, none:
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,
(Yet who, than he, more mean?) to knit their souls
(On whom there is no more dependency

But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot1o;
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o'the crown; and must not soil
The precious note of it with a base slave,

A hilding 11 for a livery, a squire's cloth,
A pantler, not so eminent.

Imo.
Profane fellow!
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more,
But what thou art, besides, thou wert too base
To be his groom; thou wert dignified enough,
Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues 12, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated
For being preferr❜d so well.

Clo.

The south-fog rot him!

Imo. He never can meet more mischance than

come

To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer,
In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men.-How now, Pisanio?
Enter PISANIO.

Clo. His garment? Now, the devil

10 In knots of their own tying.

11 A low fellow only fit to wear a livery. See vol. iii. p. 375, note 3.

12 If you were to be dignified only in comparison to your virtues, the under hangman's place is too good for you.'

Johnson says, that the rudeness of Cloten is not much undermatched' in that of Imogen; but he forgets the provocation her gentle spirit undergoes by this persecution of Cloten's addresses, and the abuse bestowed upon the idol of her soul.

Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently :Clo. His garment?

Imo.

I am sprighted 13 with a fool; Frighted, and anger'd worse :-Go, bid my woman Search for a jewel, that too casually

Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew me,
If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think,
I saw't this morning: Confident I am,
Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but he.

Pis.

"Twill not be lost.

Imo. I hope so: go, and search.

Clo.

His meanest garment?

Imo.

If

you

[Exit PIs.

You have abus'd me:

Ay; I said so, sir.

will make't an action, call witness to't. Clo. I will inform your father.

Imo.

Your mother too:

She's my good lady 14; and will conceive, I hope,

But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,

To the worst of discontent.

[Exit.

Clo.

I'll be reveng'd:

His meanest garment?-Well.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House.

Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO..

Post. Fear it not, sir: I would, I were so sure To win the king, as I am bold, her honour

Will remain hers.

13 i.e. haunted by a fool as by a spright.

14 This is said ironically. My good lady' is equivalent to 'my good friend.' See vol. v. p. 346, note 5.

Phi.

What means do you make to him? Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish That warmer days would come: in these fear'd hopes, I barely gratify your love; they failing, I must die much your debtor.

Phi. Your very goodness, and your company, O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will do his commission throughly: And, I think, He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages, Or1 look upon our Romans, whose remembrance Is yet fresh in their grief.

Post.

2

I do believe

(Statist though I am none, nor like to be),
That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions now in Gallia, sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar
Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline
(Now mingled with their courages) will make known
To their approvers 3, they are people, such
That mend upon the world.

Phi.

Enter IACHIMO.

See! Iachimo?

Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land:

1 Or stands here for ere. See vol. iv. p. 409, note 3. Respecting the tribute here alluded to, see the Preliminary Remarks.

2 i. e. statesmen. See Hamlet, Act v. Sc. 2, note 8.

3 That is, to those who try them.' The old copy, by a common typographical error in the preceding line, has wingled instead of mingled, which odd reading Steevens seemed inclined to adopt, and explains it,' their discipline borrowing wings from their courage.'

And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails,
To make your vessel nimble.

Phi.

Welcome, sir.

Post. I hope, the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return.

Iach.

Your lady Is one of the fairest that I have look'd upon. Post. And, therewithal, the best; or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts, And be false with them.

Iach.

'Here are letters for you.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.

'Tis very like.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

When you were there 1?

Iach.

But not approach'd.

Post.

He was expected then,

All is well yet.

Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't not
Too dull for your good wearing?

Iach.
If I have lost it,
I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.

Post. The stone's too hard to come by.
Iach.

Your lady being so easy.

Post.

Not a whit,

Make not, sir,

Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that we

Must not continue friends.

Iach.

Good sir, we must,

4 This speech is given to Posthumus in the old copy; but Posthumus was employed in reading his letters, and was too much interested in the end of Iachimo's journey to put an indifferent question of this nature. It was transferred to Philario

at the suggestion of Steevens.

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question further: but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but

By both your wills.

Post.

If you can make't apparent That you have tasted her in bed, my hand, And ring is yours: if not, the foul opinion You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses, Your sword, or mine; or masterless leaves both To who shall find them.

Iach. Sir, my circumstances, Being so near the truth, as I will make them, Must first induce you to believe: whose strength I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not, You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall find You need it not.

Post.

Iach.

Proceed.

First, her bed-chamber

(Where, I confess, I slept not; but, profess,
Had that was well worth watching 5), It was hang'd
With tapestry of silk and silver? the story
Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for
The press of boats, or pride: 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 6-

5 i. e. that which was well worth watching or lying awake [for].' See the preceding scene, note 5.

6 Mason proposes to read:

Such the true life on't was.'

It is a typographical error easily made: and the emendation deserves a place in the text.

Johnson observes, that 'Iachimo's language is such as a skil