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- Edition: Cymbeline
Cymbeline (Modern)
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313[1.5]
Believe it, sir; I have seen him in Britain. He 317was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so 318worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of. But I 319could then have looked on him without the help of 320admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments had 321been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items.
You speak of him when he was less furnished 323than now he is with that which makes him both 324without and within.
I have seen him in France; we had very 326many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as 327he.
This matter of marrying his King's daughter, 329wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than 330his own, words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the 331matter.
And then his banishment.
Aye, and the approbation of those that weep this 334lamentable divorce under her colors are wonderfully 335to extend him, be it but to fortify her judgment which 336else an easy battery might lay flat for taking a beggar 337without less quality. But how comes it he is to sojourn 338with you? How creeps acquaintance?
His father and I were soldiers together, to 340whom I have been often bound for no less than my life.
1.5.10342[To Iachimo, Frenchman, Dutchman, and Spaniard] Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained 343amongst you as suits with gentlemen of your knowing 344to a stranger of his quality.
[Posthumus joins them]
[To Iachimo, Frenchman, Dutchman, and Spaniard] I beseech you all be better 345known to this gentleman, whom I commend to you 346as a noble friend of mine. How worthy he is I will 347leave to appear hereafter rather than story him in his 348own hearing.
Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
Since when I have been debtor to you for 351courtesies which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.
Sir, you o'errate my poor kindness. I was 353glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had been 354pity you should have been put together with so 355mortal a purpose as then each bore, upon importance of so 356slight and trivial a nature.
By your pardon, sir, I was then a young 358traveler: rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in 359my every action to be guided by others' experiences; but 360upon my mended judgment (if I offend not to say it is 361mended) my quarrel was not altogether slight.
Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrament of 363swords, and by such two that would by all likelihood 364have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.
Can we with manners ask what was the 366difference?
Safely, I think. 'Twas a contention in 368public, which may (without contradiction) suffer the 369report. It was much like an argument that fell out last 370night, where each of us fell in praise of our 371countrymistresses, this gentleman at that time vouching, and 372upon warrant of bloody affirmation, his to be more 373fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant, qualified, and 374less attemptable than any the rarest of our ladies in 375France.
That lady is not now living, or this 377gentleman's opinion by this worn out.
She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.
You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of 380Italy.
Being so far provoked as I was in France, I 382would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her 383adorer, not her friend.
"As fair" and "as good," a kind of hand-in-hand 385comparison, had been something too fair and too 386good for any lady in Brittany. If she went before others 387I have seen as that diamond of yours outlusters many 388I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many; 389but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, 390nor you the lady.
I praised her as I rated her; so do I my stone.
What do you esteem it at?
More than the world enjoys.
Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or 395she's outprized by a trifle.
You are mistaken. The one may be sold or 397given, or if there were wealth enough for the purchase or 398merit for the gift; the other is not a thing for sale, 399and only the gift of the gods.
Which the gods have given you?
Which by their graces I will keep.
You may wear her in title yours, but you 403know strange fowl light upon neighboring ponds. 404Your ring may be stolen too; so, your brace of 405unprizable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other 406casual. A cunning thief or a that-way accomplished 407courtier would hazard the winning both of first and 408last.
Your Italy contains none so accomplished a 410courtier to convince the honor of my mistress, if in the 411holding or loss of that you term her frail. I do 412nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, 413I fear not my ring.
Let us leave here, gentlemen.
Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I 416thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at 417first.
With five times so much conversation, I should 419get ground of your fair mistress, make her go back, 420even to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity 421to friend.
No, no.
I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my 424estate to your ring, which in my opinion o'ervalues it 425something, but I make my wager rather against your 426confidence than her reputation. And, to bar your 427offense herein to, I durst attempt it against any lady in 428the world.
You are a great deal abused in too bold a 430persuasion, and I doubt not you sustain what y'are worthy 431of by your attempt.
What's that?
A repulse, though your attempt, as you call 434it, deserve more: a punishment too.
Gentlemen, enough of this. It came in too 436suddenly; let it die as it was born, and I pray you be 437better acquainted.
Would I had put my estate and my neighbor's 439on th'approbation of what I have spoke!
What lady would you choose to assail?
Yours, whom in constancy you think stands 442so safe. I will lay you ten thousands ducats to your 443ring that, commend me to the court where your 444lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a 445second conference, and I will bring from thence that 446honor of hers which you imagine so reserved.
You are a friend, and therein the wiser. If you 451buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot 452preserve it from tainting; but I see you have some religion 453in you, that you fear.
This is but a custom in your tongue; you 455bear a graver purpose, I hope.
I am the master of my speeches and would 457undergo what's spoken, I swear.
Will you? I shall but lend my diamond till 459your return; let there be covenants drawn between's. 460My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your 461unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match; here's my 462ring.
I will have it no lay.
By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no 465sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily 466part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours, 467so is your diamond too; if I come off and leave her in 468such honor as you have trust in, she your jewel, this 469your jewel, and my gold are yours, provided I have 470your commendation for my more free entertainment.
I embrace these conditions. Let us have articles 472betwixt us; only, thus far you shall answer: if you 473make your voyage upon her and give me directly to 474understand you have prevailed, I am no further your 475enemy; she is not worth our debate. If she remain 476unseduced, you not making it appear otherwise, for your ill 477opinion and th'assault you have made to her chastity, you 478shall answer me with your sword.
Your hand; a covenant. We will have these 480things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away 481for Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and 482starve. I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers 483recorded.
Agreed.
1.5.54[Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo]
Will this hold, think you?
Signior Iachimo will not from it. 487Pray let us follow 'em.
1.5.57Exeunt