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 and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior (achimo will not from it. Pray, let as follow 'em,

(Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius.

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

those flowers; Make haste: Who has the pote of them? 1 Lady.

I, madam. Queen. Despatch.

(Exeunt Ladies. Now, master doctor; have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam:

[Presenting a small box. But I beseech your grace, (without offence; 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 do 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 ? Having thus far proceeded (Unless thou think'st me devilishı), is't not meet That I did amplify iny 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 human),
To try the vigour of them, and apply
Allayments to their act; and by them gather
Their several virtues, and effects.
Cor.

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.

Enter Pisanio.

Here comes a flattering rascal ; upon him [Aside.
Will I first work: he's for his master,
And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisanio?-
Doctor, your service for this time is ended;
Take your own way.
Cor.

I do suspect you, madam;
But you shall do no harm.

(Aside. Queen.

Hark thee, a word.

[To Pisanio. Cor. (Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think,

she has
Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damnd nature: Those, she has,
Will stupify and dull the sense awhile;
Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and

dogs;
Then afterward up higher; 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.

* Experiments.

Queen.

No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
Cor.
I humbly take my leave.

[Erit. 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: greater; for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name.
Is at last gasp : Return he cannot, nor
Coutinue where he is : to shift his being ta
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 bor: Pisanio takes it up.
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 made, which hath the king
Five times redeem'd from death : I do not know
What is more cordial :- Nay, I prythee, 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 :
Think on my words. (Exit Pisa.L-A sly and cok-

stant knave;

. i.e. Grow cool.

* To change his abode.

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,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers* for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd

Re-enter Pisanio, and Ladies. To taste of too.-So, so;-well done, well done: The violets, cowslips, and the primroses, Bear to my closet: l'are thee well, Pisanio; Think on my words. [Ereunt Queen and Ladies. Pis.

And shall do: But when to my good lord I prove untrue, I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you. [Erit.

SCENE VII.

Another room in the same.

Enter Imogen. Imo. A father cruel, and a step.dame false; A foolish suitor to a wedded lady, That hath her husband banish'd:-0, that husband! 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? Fye!

Enter Pisanio and Iachimo.
Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome;
Comes from my lord with letters.

# Ambassadors.

Iach.

Change you, madam? The worthy Leonatus is in safety, And greets your highness dearly.

[Presents a letter. Imo.

Thanks, good sir : You are kindly welcome. Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich!

[Aside. If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare, She is alone the Arabian bird; and I Have lost the wager. Boldness be iny friend ! Arm me, audacity, from head to foot! Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight; Rather, directly fly.

Imo. [Reads.]-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindness I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your truest

LEONATUS, So far I read aloud: But even tlie very middle of my heart Is warm'd by the rest, and takes it thankfullyYou are as welcome, worthy sir, as I Have words to bid you; and shall find it so, In all that I can do. lach.

Thanks, fairest lady.-What! are men mad? Hath vature given them eyes To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop Of sea and land, which can distingnish 'twixt The fiery.orbs above, and the twivn'd stones Upon the number'd beach ? and can we not Partition make with spectacles so precious 'I'wixt fair and foul? Imo.

What makes your admiration ? lach. It cannot be i'the eye; for apes and mon

keys, 'Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way,

and Contemn with mows* the other : Nor i'the judge