Cymbeline (Folio 1, 1623)
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Cymbeline.
389
¶You neede it not.
1225Post. Proceed.
¶Had that was well worth watching) it was hang'd
¶With Tapistry of Silke, and Siluer, the Story
1230Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
¶And Sidnus swell'd aboue the Bankes, or for
¶In Workemanship, and Value, which I wonder'd
1235Could be so rarely, and exactly wrought
¶Since the true life on't was---
¶Post. This is true:
¶And this you might haue heard of heere, by me,
¶Or by some other.
1240Iach. More particulars
¶Or doe your Honour iniury.
¶Iach. The Chimney
1245Is South the Chamber, and the Chimney-peece
¶So likely to report themselues; the Cutter
¶Was as another Nature dumbe, out-went her,
¶Motion, and Breath left out.
1250Post. This is a thing
¶Which you might from Relation likewise reape,
¶Being, as it is, much spoke of.
¶With golden Cherubins is fretted. Her Andirons
1255(I had forgot them) were two winking Cupids
¶Of Siluer, each on one foote standing, nicely
¶Depending on their Brands.
¶Post. This is her Honor:
1260Be giuen to your remembrance) the description
¶Of what is in her Chamber, nothing saues
¶The wager you haue laid.
¶Iach. Then if you can
¶Be pale, I begge but leaue to ayre this Iewell: See,
1265And now 'tis vp againe: it must be married
¶To that your Diamond, Ile keepe them.
¶Post. Ioue----
¶Once more let me behold it: Is it that
¶Which I left with her?
1270Iach. Sir (I thanke her) that
¶Her pretty Action, did out-sell her guift,
¶And yet enrich'd it too: she gaue it me,
¶To send it me.
¶Post. O no, no, no, 'tis true. Heere, take this too,
¶It is a Basiliske vnto mine eye,
1280Killes me to looke on't: Let there be no Honor,
¶Where there is Beauty: Truth, where semblance: Loue,
¶Where there's another man. The Vowes of Women,
¶Of no more bondage be, to where they are made,
¶Then they are to their Vertues, which is nothing:
¶Phil. Haue patience Sir,
¶And take your Ring againe, 'tis not yet wonne:
¶Who knowes if one her women, being corrupted
1290Hath stolne it from her.
¶Post. Very true,
¶And so I hope he came by't: backe my Ring,
¶More euident then this: for this was stolne.
1295Iach. By Iupiter, I had it from her Arme.
¶'Tis true, nay keepe the Ring; 'tis true: I am sure
¶She would not loose it: her Attendants are
1300And by a Stranger? No, he hath enioy'd her,
¶The Cognisance of her incontinencie
¶Is this: she hath bought the name of Whore, thus deerly
¶There, take thy hyre, and all the Fiends of Hell
¶Diuide themselues betweene you.
1305Phil. Sir, be patient:
¶This is not strong enough to be beleeu'd
¶Of one perswaded well of.
¶Post. Neuer talke on't:
¶She hath bin colted by him.
¶Of that most delicate Lodging. By my life
1315To feede againe, though full. You do remember
¶This staine vpon her?
¶Post. I, and it doth confirme
¶Another staine, as bigge as Hell can hold,
¶Were there no more but it.
1320Iach. Will you heare more?
¶Post. Spare your Arethmaticke,
¶Neuer count the Turnes: Once, and a Million.
1325If you will sweare you haue not done't, you lye,
¶And I will kill thee, if thou do'st deny
¶Thou'st made me Cuckold.
¶Iach. Ile deny nothing.
¶Post. O that I had her heere, to teare her Limb-meale:
1330I will go there and doo't, i'th'_Court, before
Exit._
¶The gouernment of Patience. You haue wonne:
¶Let's follow him, and peruert the present wrath
¶
Enter Posthumus.
¶Post. Is there no way for Men to be, but Women
1340And that most venerable man, which I
¶Did call my Father, was, I know not where
¶When I was stampt. Some Coyner with his Tooles
¶Made me a counterfeit: yet my Mother seem'd
¶The Dian of that time: so doth my Wife
1345The Non-pareill of this. Oh Vengeance, Vengeance!
¶And pray'd me oft forbearance: did it with
¶Might well haue warm'd olde Saturne;
1350That I thought her
¶As Chaste, as vn-Sunn'd Snow. Oh, all the Diuels!
¶This yellow Iachimo in an houre, was't not?
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