Post.

This is true;

And this you might have heard of here, by me,

Or by some other.

More particulars

So they must,

The chimney

Or do your honour injury.

Iach.
Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece,
Chaste Dian, bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves: the cutter
Was as another nature, dumb"; outwent her,
Motion and breath left out.

Post.

This is a thing,

Which you might from relation likewise reap;
Being, as it is, much spoke of.

Iach. The roof o' the chamber With golden cherubins is fretted. Her andirons (I had forgot them), were two winking Cupids

ful villain would naturally use; a mixture of airy triumph and serious deposition. His gaiety shows his seriousness to be without anxiety, and his seriousness proves his gaiety to be without art.'

7 i. e. so near speech. A speaking picture is a common figurative mode of expression. The meaning of the latter part of the sentence is: The sculptor was as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives but breath and motion. In breath is included speech:'

8 Steevens says, 'this tawdry image occurs in King Henry VIII.:

their dwarfish pages were

As cherubins all gilt.'

By the very mention of cherubins his indignation is moved. The sole recommendation of this Gothick idea (says he), which is critically repeated by modern artists, seems to be, that it occupies but little room on canvass or marble; for chubby unmeaning faces, with ducks' wings tucked under them, are all the circumstances that enter into such infantine and absurd representations of the choirs of heaven.'

Of silver), each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands 9.

Post.

This is her honour!

Let it be granted, you have seen all this (and praise
Be given to your remembrance), the description
Of what is in her chamber, nothing saves

The wager you have laid.

Iach.

Then, if you can, [Pulling out the Bracelet.

Be pale 10; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See!— And now 'tis up again: it must be married

To that your diamond; I'll keep them.

Post.

Once more let me behold it: Is it that

Which I left with her?

Iach.

Jove!

Sir (I thank her), that:

She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;

Her pretty action did outsell her gift,

And yet enrich'd it too: She gave it me, and said,

She priz❜d it once.

Post.

To send it me.
Iach.

May be, she pluck'd it off,

She writes so to you? doth she?

9 It is well known that the andirons of our ancestors were sometimes costly pieces of furniture; the standards were often, as in this instance, of silver, and representing some terminal figure or device; the transverse or horizontal pieces, upon which the wood was supported, were what Shakspeare here calls the brands, properly brandirons. Upon these the Cupids which formed the standards nicely depended, seeming to stand on one foot. 10 The meaning seems to be, If you ever can be pale-be pale now with jealousy.'

'Pale jealousy, child of insatiate love.'

Not, as Johnson says, 'forbear to flush your cheek with rage.' Mr. Boswell's conjecture that it meant, If you can control your temper, if you can restrain yourself within bounds,' is surely inadmissible.

Post. O, no, no, no; 'tis true.

too;

It is a basilisk unto mine eye,

Here, take this [Gives the Ring.

Kills me to look on't:-Let there be no honour, Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love, Where there's another man: The vows of women Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Than they are to their virtues: which is nothing:O, above measure false!

Phi.

Have patience, sir,
And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won:
It may be probable, she lost it; or,

Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted,
Hath stolen it from her.

Post.

Very true;

And so, I hope, he came by't;-Back my ring;-
Render to me some corporal sign about her,
More evident than this; for this was stolen.
Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.

Post. Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears. 'Tis true;—nay, keep the ring-'tis true: I am sure, She would not lose it: her attendants are

11

All sworn 11 and honourable:-They induc'd to steal it!

And by a stranger?-No, he hath enjoy'd her.
The cognizance 12 of her incontinency

Is this, she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly.

There, take thy hire: and all the fiends of hell
Divide themselves between you!

11 It was anciently the custom for the servants of great families (as it is now for the servants of the king) to take an oath of fidelity on their entrance into office. See Percy's Northumberland Household Book, p. 49.

12 The badge, the token, the visible proof. So in King Henry VI. Part I.:

'As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate.'

Phi.

Sir, be patient:

Never talk on't;

This is not strong enough to be believ'd

Of one persuaded well of

Post.

She hath been colted by him.

Iach.

If you seek
For further satisfying, under her breast
Worthy the pressing), lies a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging: By my life,
I kiss'd it: and it gave me present hunger
To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain upon her?

Post.
Ay, and it doth confirm
Another stain, as big as hell can hold,

Were there no more but it.

If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;
And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny

Thou hast made me cuckold.

I will deny nothing.

Iach. Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal! I will go there, and do't; i'the court; before Her father:-I'll do something

Phi.

[Exit.

Quite besides The government of patience!-You have won: Let's follow him, and pervert 13 the present wrath He hath against himself.

Iach.

With all my heart.

[Exeunt.

13 i. e. avert his wrath from himself, prevent him from injuring

himself in his rage.

SCENE V.

The same. Another Room in the same.

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Post. Is there no way for men to be, but women Must be half-workers1? We are bastards all; And that most venerable man, which I

Did call my father, was I know not where .
When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his tools
Made me a counterfeit2: Yet my mother seem'd
The Dian of that time: so doth my wife

The nonpareil of this. O vengeance, vengeance!
Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with
A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on't

Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought her

As chaste as unsunn'd snow;-O, all the devils!—
This yellow Iachimo, in an hour,—was't not?—
Or less, at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,
Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,

1 Milton was probably indebted to this speech for one of the sentiments which he has imputed to Adam, Par. Lost, b. x. :— O, why did God,

Creator wise, that peopled highest heaven

With spirits masculine, create at last

This novelty on earth, this fair defect
Of nature, and not fill the world at once
With men, as angels, without feminine,
Or find some other way to generate
Mankind?'

See Rhodomonte's invective against women in the Orlando Furioso; and above all a speech which Euripides has put into the mouth of Hippolytus, in the tragedy of that name.

2 We have the same image in Measure for Measure :Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image In stamps that are forbid.'

See Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, Part III. Sect 3.