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Cymbeline (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Jennifer Forsyth
Peer Reviewed

[2.4]

Enter Posthumus and Philario
Posthumus Fear it not, sir. I would I were so sure
1145To win the King as I am bold her honor
Will remain hers.
Philario
What means do you make to him?
Posthumus Not any, but abide the change of time,
Quake in the present winter's state and wish
1150That warmer days would come. In these feared hopes
I barely gratify your love; they failing,
I must die much your debtor.
Philario Your very goodness and your company
O'erpays all I can do. By this your King
1155Hath heard of Great Augustus; Caius Lucius
Will do's commission throughly. And I think
He'll grant the tribute, send th'arrearages,
Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.
1160Posthumus
I do believe,
Statist though I am none, nor like to be,
That this will prove a war, and you shall hear
The legion now in Gallia sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings
1165Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more ordered than when Julius Caesar
Smiled at their lack of skill but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at. Their discipline,
Now wing-led with their courages, will make known
1170To their approvers they are people such
That mend upon the world.
Enter Iachimo
Philario
See Iachimo.
Posthumus The swiftest harts have posted you by land,
And winds of all the corners kissed your sails
1175To make your vessel nimble.
Philario
Welcome, sir.
Posthumus I hope the briefness of your answer made
The speediness of your return.
Iachimo
Your lady
1180Is one of the fairest that I have looked upon.
Posthumus And therewithal the best, or let her beauty
Look through a casement to allure false hearts
And be false with them.
Iachimo
Here are letters for you.
1185Posthumus
Their tenor good, I trust.
Iachimo
'Tis very like.
Posthumus Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court
When you were there?
Iachimo
He was expected then,
1190But not approached.
Posthumus
[Aside] All is well yet. --
Sparkles this stone as it was wont, or is't not
Too dull for your good wearing?
Iachimo
If I have lost it,
1195I should have lost the worth of it in gold;
I'll make a journey twice as far t'enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness which
Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.
Posthumus
The stone's too hard to come by.
1200Iachimo
Not a whit,
Your lady being so easy.
Posthumus
Make not, sir,
Your loss, your sport. I hope you know that we
Must not continue friends.
1205Iachimo
Good sir, we must
If you keep covenant. Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question farther; but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honor,
1210Together with your ring, and not the wronger
Of her or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.
Posthumus
If you can make't apparent
That you have tasted her in bed, my hand
1215And ring is yours. If not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honor gains or loses
Your sword or mine, or masterless leave both
To who shall find them.
Iachimo
Sir, my circumstances
1220Being 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.
1225123012351240124512501255126012651270127512801285129012951300130513101315132013251330133513401345135013551360136513701380138513901395140014051410141514201425143014351440144514501455[Shows bracelet]
[Gives ring]
[Takes bracelet and possibly ring from Iachimo]
[Returns bracelet to Iachimo]
Exit
Exeunt
Enter Posthumus
Exit
Enter in state, Cymbeline, Queen, Clotten, and Lords at 1375one door, and at another, Caius Lucius and Attendants
Lucius
Let proof speak.
Where I confess I slept not, but profess
Had that was well worth watching. It was hanged
With tapestry of silk and silver; the story,
1230Proud Cleopatra when she met her Roman
And Cydnus swelled 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 wondered
1235Could be so rarely and exactly wrought
Since the true life on't was --
Posthumus
This is true,
And this you might have heard of here by me
Or by some other.
1240Iachimo
More particulars
Must justify my knowledge.
Posthumus
So they must,
Or do your honor injury.
Iachimo
The chimney
1245Is 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.
1250Posthumus
This is a thing
Which you might from relation likewise reap,
Being, as it is, much spoke of.
Iachimo
The roof o'th' chamber
With golden cherubins is fretted. Her andirons --
1255I had forgot them -- were two winking Cupids
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands.
Posthumus
This is her honor!
Let it be granted you have seen all this (and praise
1260Be given to your remembrance), the description
Of what is in her chamber nothing saves
The wager you have laid.
Iachimo
Then if you can
Be pale, I beg but leave to air this jewel: [Shows bracelet]
See,
1265And now 'tis up again. It must be married
To that your diamond. I'll keep them.
Posthumus
Jove --
Once more let me behold it. Is it that
Which I left with her?
1270Iachimo
Sir, I thank her that
She stripped it from her arm; I see her yet.
Her pretty action did outsell her gift,
And yet enriched it, too. She gave it me
And said she prized it once.
1275Posthumus
Maybe she plucked it off
To send it me.
Iachimo
She writes so to you? Doth she?
Posthumus Oh, no, no, no, 'tis true. Here, take this, too;
[Gives ring]
It is a basilisk unto mine eye,
1280Kills me to look on't. Let there be no honor
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.
1285Oh, above measure false!
Philario
Have patience, sir,
And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won.
It may be probable she lost it, or
Who knows if one her women, being corrupted,
1290Hath stolen it from her.
Posthumus
Very true,
And so I hope he came by't. Back, my ring.
[Takes bracelet and possibly ring from Iachimo]
Render to me some corporal sign about her
More evident than this, for this was stolen.
1295Iachimo By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
Posthumus 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
All sworn and honorable: they induced to steal it?
1300And by a stranger? No; he hath enjoyed her.
The cognizance 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.
[Returns bracelet to Iachimo]
1305Philario
Sir, be patient.
This is not strong enough to be believed
Of one persuaded well of.
Posthumus
Never talk on't:
She hath been colted by him.
1310Iachimo
If you seek
For further satisfying, under her breast
(Worthy her pressing) lies a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging. By my life
I kissed it, and it gave me present hunger
1315To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain upon her?
Posthumus
Aye, and it doth confirm
Another stain as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.
1320Iachimo
Will you hear more?
Posthumus Spare your arithmetic; never count the turns:
Once, and a million.
1325If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;
And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny
Thou'st made me cuckold.
Iachimo
I'll deny nothing.
Posthumus Oh, that I had her here to tear her limb-meal;
1330I will go there and do't i'th' court, before
Her father. I'll do something.
Exit
Philario
Quite besides
The government of patience. You have won.
Let's follow him and pervert the present wrath
1335He hath against himself.
Iachimo
With all my heart.
Exeunt