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_ ACT I. SCENE IV.
Rome. PHILARIO'S house.
[Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO,
a FRENCHMAN, a DUTCHMAN, and a SPANIARD.]
IACHIMO.
Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain.
He was then of a crescent note, expected
to prove so worthy as since he
hath been allowed the name of. But
I could then have look'd 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.
PHILARIO.
You speak of him when he was less furnish'd than now
he is with that which makes him both without and within.
FRENCHMAN.
I have seen him in France; we had very many there
could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.
IACHIMO.
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.
FRENCHMAN.
And then his banishment.
IACHIMO.
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 judgment, 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?
PHILARIO.
His father and I were soldiers together, to whom I
have been often bound for no less than my life.
[Enter POSTHUMUS.]
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 all be better known to this gentleman,
whom I 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.
FRENCHMAN.
Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
POSTHUMUS.
Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies,
which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still.
FRENCHMAN.
Sir, you o'errate 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.
POSTHUMUS.
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 judgment- if
I offend not to say it is mended- my quarrel was
not altogether slight.
FRENCHMAN.
Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords,
and by such two that would by all likelihood have
confounded one the other or have fall'n both.
IACHIMO.
Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?
FRENCHMAN.
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 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.
IACHIMO.
That lady is not now living, or this gentleman's
opinion, by this, worn out.
POSTHUMUS.
She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.
IACHIMO.
You must not so far prefer her fore ours of Italy.
POSTHUMUS.
Being so far provok'd as I was in France, I would
abate her nothing, though I profess myself her
adorer, not her friend.
IACHIMO.
As fair and as good- a kind of hand-in-hand
comparison- had been something too fair and
too good for any lady in Britain. If she went
before others I 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.
POSTHUMUS.
I prais'd her as I rated her. So do I my stone.
IACHIMO.
What do you esteem it at?
POSTHUMUS.
More than the world enjoys.
IACHIMO.
Either your unparagon'd mistress is dead, or she's
outpriz'd by a trifle.
POSTHUMUS.
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.
IACHIMO.
Which the gods have given you?
POSTHUMUS.
Which by their graces I will keep.
IACHIMO.
You may wear her in title yours; but you
know strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds.
Your ring may be stol'n too. So your brace of
unprizable estimations, 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.
POSTHUMUS.
Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd 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.
PHILARIO.
Let us leave here, gentlemen.
POSTHUMUS.
Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank
him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first.
IACHIMO.
With five times so much conversation I should get
ground of your fair mistress; make her go back even
to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend.
POSTHUMUS.
No, no.
IACHIMO.
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.
POSTHUMUS.
You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a
persuasion, and I doubt not you sustain
what y'are worthy of by your attempt.
IACHIMO.
What's that?
POSTHUMUS.
A repulse; though your attempt, as you call it,
deserve more - a punishment too.
PHILARIO.
Gentlemen, enough of this. It came in too suddenly;
let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.
IACHIMO.
Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on th'
approbation of what I have spoke!
POSTHUMUS.
What lady would you choose to assail?
IACHIMO.
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 reserv'd.
POSTHUMUS.
I will wage against your gold, gold to it. My ring I
hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.
IACHIMO.
You are a friend, 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.
POSTHUMUS.
This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a
graver purpose, I hope.
IACHIMO.
I am the master of my speeches,
and would undergo what's spoken, I swear.
POSTHUMUS.
Will you? I Shall but lend my diamond till your
return. Let there be covenants drawn between's.
My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your
unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match:
here's my ring.
PHILARIO.
I will have it no lay.
IACHIMO.
By the gods, it is one. If I bring you 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.
POSTHUMUS.
I embrace these conditions; let us have 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, I
am 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 th' assault you have made to her
chastity you shall answer me with your sword.
IACHIMO.
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.
POSTHUMUS.
Agreed.
[Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO.]
FRENCHMAN.
Will this hold, think you?
PHILARIO.
Signior Iachimo will not from it.
Pray let us follow 'em.
[Exeunt.] _
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