316Iach. Beleeue it Sir, I haue seene him in Britaine; hee

317was then of a Cressent note, expected to proue so woor-

318thy, as since he hath beene allowed the name of. But I

319could then haue look'd on him, without the help of Ad-

320miration, though the Catalogue of his endowments had

321bin tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by Items.

322Phil. You speake of him when he was lesse furnish'd,

323then now hee is, with that which makes him both with-

324out, and within.

325French. I haue seene him in France: wee had very ma-

326ny there, could behold the Sunne, with as firme eyes as

327hee.

328Iach. This matter of marrying his Kings Daughter,

329wherein he must be weighed rather by her valew, then

330his owne, words him (I doubt not) a great deale from the

331matter.

332French. And then his banishment.

333Iach. I, and the approbation of those that weepe this

334lamentable diuorce vnder her colours, are wonderfully

335to extend him, be it but to fortifie her iudgement, which

336else an easie battery might lay flat, for taking a Begger

337without lesse quality. But how comes it, he is to soiourne

338with you? How creepes acquaintance?

339Phil. His Father and I were Souldiers together, to

340whom I haue bin often bound for no lesse then my life.

342Heere comes the Britaine. Let him be so entertained a-

343mong'st you, as suites with Gentlemen of your knowing,

344to a Stranger of his quality. I beseech you all be better

345knowne to this Gentleman, whom I commend to you,

346as a Noble Friend of mine. How Worthy he is, I will

347leaue to appeare hereafter, rather then story him in his

348owne hearing.

349French. Sir, we haue knowne togither in Orleance.

350Post. Since when, I haue bin debtor to you for courte-

351sies, which I will be euer to pay, and yet pay still.

352French. Sir, you o're-rate my poore kindnesse, I was

353glad I did attone my Countryman and you: it had beene

354pitty you should haue beene put together, with so mor-

355tall a purpose, as then each bore, vpon importance of so

356slight and triuiall a nature.

357Post. By your pardon Sir, I was then a young Trauel-

358ler, rather shun'd to go euen with what I heard, then in

359my euery action to be guided by others experiences: but

360vpon my mended iudgement (if I offend to say it is men-

361ded) my Quarrell was not altogether slight.

362French. Faith yes, to be put to the arbiterment of

363Swords, and by such two, that would by all likelyhood

364haue confounded one the other, or haue falne both.

365Iach. Can we with manners, aske what was the dif-

366ference?

367French. Safely, I thinke, 'twas a contention in pub-

368licke, which may (without contradiction) suffer the re-

369port. It was much like an argument that fell out last

370night, where each of vs fell in praise of our Country-

371Mistresses. This Gentleman, at that time vouching (and

372vpon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more

373Faire, Vertuous, Wise, Chaste, Constant, Qualified, and

374lesse attemptible then any, the rarest of our Ladies in

375Fraunce.

376Iach. That Lady is not now liuing; or this Gentle-

377mans opinion by this, worne out.

378Post. She holds her Vertue still, and I my mind.

379Iach. You must not so farre preferre her, 'fore ours of

380Italy.

381 Posth. Being so farre prouok'd as I was in France: I

382would abate her nothing, though I professe my selfe her

383Adorer, not her Friend.

384Iach. As faire, and as good: a kind of hand in hand

385comparison, had beene something too faire, and too

386good for any Lady in Britanie; if she went before others.

387I haue seene as that Diamond of yours out-lusters many

388I haue beheld, I could not beleeue she excelled many:

389but I haue not seene the most pretious Diamond that is,

390nor you the Lady.

391Post. I prais'd her, as I rated her: so do I my Stone.

392Iach. What do you esteeme it at?

393Post. More then the world enioyes.

394Iach. Either your vnparagon'd Mistirs is dead, or

395she's out-priz'd by a trifle.

396Post. You are mistaken: the one may be solde or gi-

397uen, or if there were wealth enough for the purchases, or

398merite for the guift. The other is not a thing for sale,

399and onely the guift of the Gods.

400Iach. Which the Gods haue giuen you?

401Post. Which by their Graces I will keepe.

402Iach. You may weare her in title yours: but you

403know strange Fowle light vpon neighbouring Ponds.

404Your Ring may be stolne too, so your brace of vnprizea-

405ble Estimations, the one is but fraile, and the other Casu-

406all;. A cunning Thiefe, or a (that way) accomplish'd

407Courtier, would hazzard the winning both of first and

408last.

409Post. Your Italy, containes none so accomplish'd a

410Courtier to conuince the Honour of my Mistris: if in the

411holding or losse of that, you terme her fraile, I do no-

412thing doubt you haue store of Theeues, notwithstanding

413I feare not my Ring.

414Phil. Let vs leaue heere, Gentlemen?

415Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior I

416thanke him, makes no stranger of me, we are familiar at

417first.

418Iach. With fiue times so much conuersation, I should

419get ground of your faire Mistris; make her go backe, e-

420uen to the yeilding, had I admittance, and opportunitie

421to friend.

422Post. No, no.

423Iach. I dare thereupon pawne the moytie of my E-

424state, to your Ring, which in my opinion o're-values it

425something: but I make my wager rather against your

426Confidence, then her Reputation. And to barre your of-

427fence heerein to, I durst attempt it against any Lady in

428the world.

429Post. You are a great deale abus'd in too bold a per-

430swasion, and I doubt not you sustaine what y'are worthy

431of, by your Attempt.

432Iach. What's that?

433Posth. A Repulse though your Attempt (as you call

434it) deserue more; a punishment too.

435Phi. Gentlemen enough of this, it came in too so-

436dainely, let it dye as it was borne, and I pray you be bet-

437ter acquainted.

438Iach. Would I had put my Estate, and my Neighbors

439on th' approbation of what I haue spoke.

440Post. What Lady would you chuse to assaile?

441Iach. Yours, whom in constancie you thinke stands

442so safe. I will lay you ten thousands Duckets to your

443Ring, that commend me to the Court where your La-

444dy is, with no more aduantage then the opportunitie of a

445second conference, and I will bring from thence, that

446Honor of hers, which you imagine so reseru'd.

447Posthmus. I will wage against your Gold, Gold to

448it: My Ring I holde deere as my finger, 'tis part of

449it.

450Iach. You are a Friend, and there in the wiser: if you

451buy Ladies flesh at a Million a Dram, you cannot pre-

452seure it from tainting; but I see you haue some Religion

453in you, that you feare.

454Posthu. This is but a custome in your tongue: you

455beare a grauer purpose I hope.

456Iach. I am the Master of my speeches, and would vn-

457der-go what's spoken, I sweare.

458Posthu. Will you? I shall but lend my Diamond till

459your returne: let there be Couenants drawne between's.

460My Mistris exceedes in goodnesse, the hugenesse of your

461vnworthy thinking. I dare you to this match: heere's my

462Ring.

463Phil. I will haue it no lay.

464Iach. By the Gods it is one: if I bring you no suffi-

465cient testimony that I haue enioy'd the deerest bodily

466part of your Mistris: my ten thousand Duckets are yours,

467so is your Diamond too: if I come off, and leaue her in

468such honour as you haue trust in; Shee your Iewell, this

469your Iewell, and my Gold are yours: prouided, I haue

470your commendation, for my more free entertainment.

471Post. I embrace these Conditions, let vs haue Articles

472betwixt vs: onely thus farre you shall answere, if you

473make your voyage vpon her, and giue me directly to vn-

474derstand, you haue preuayl'd, I am no further your Ene-

475my, shee is not worth our debate. If shee remaine vnse-

476duc'd, you not making it appeare otherwise: for your ill

477opinion, and th' assault you haue made to her chastity, you

478shall answer me with your Sword.

479Iach. Your hand, a Couenant: wee will haue these

480things set downe by lawfull Counsell, and straight away

481for Britaine, least the Bargaine should catch colde, and

482sterue: I will fetch my Gold, and haue our two Wagers

483recorded.

484Post. Agreed.

485French. Will this hold, thinke you.

486Phil. Signior Iachimo will not from it.

487Pray let vs follow 'em. Exeunt