TPTT Cymbeline: ACT I
Introduction
ACT I
SCENE I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline's palace.
SCENE II. The same. A public place.
SCENE III. A room in Cymbeline's palace.
SCENE IV. Rome. Philario's house.
SCENE V. Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace.
SCENE VI. The same. Another room in the palace.
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
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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 looked on him without the help of
5     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 furnished 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
10    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
15    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
20    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.
      Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained
25    amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your
      knowing, to a stranger of his quality.

Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

      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
30    hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.
Frenchman
      Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      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'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I
35    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 LEONATUS
      By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;
40    rather shunned 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,
45    and by such two that would by all likelihood have
      confounded one the other, or have fallen 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.
50    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,
55    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 LEONATUS
      She holds her virtue still and I my mind.
IACHIMO
60    You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Being so far provoked 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
65    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
70    precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone.
IACHIMO
      What do you esteem it at?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      More than the world enjoys.
IACHIMO
      Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's
75    outprized by a trifle.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      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
80    Which the gods have given you?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      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 stolen too: so your brace of unprizable
85    estimations; the one is but frail and the other
      casual; a cunning thief, or a that way accomplished
      courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier
      to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the
90    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 LEONATUS
      Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I
95    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 LEONATUS
      No, no.
IACHIMO
100   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
105   lady in the world.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      You are a great deal abused in too bold a
      persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're
      worthy of by your attempt.
IACHIMO
      What's that?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
110   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
115   Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on the
      approbation of what I have spoke!
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      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,
120   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 reserved.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring
125   I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.
IACHIMO
      You are afraid, 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 LEONATUS
130   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 LEONATUS
      Will you? I shall but lend my diamond till your
135   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
140   sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed 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
145   yours: provided I have your commendation for my more
      free entertainment.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      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
150   to understand you have prevailed, I am no further
      your enemy; she is not worth our debate: if she
      remain unseduced, you not making it appear
      otherwise, for your ill opinion and the assault you
      have made to her chastity you shall answer me with
155   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
160   wagers recorded.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Agreed.
Exeunt POSTHUMUS LEONATUS 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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