Imo. But that you shall not fay I yield, being filent,
‣ I would not speak. I pray you, fpare me : 'faith,
I fhall unfold equal discourtesy

To your best kindness: one of your great knowing
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

Clo. To leave you in your madness, 'twere my fin:
I will not.

Imo. Fools are not mad folks.

Clo.

Do you

call me fool?

Imo. As I am mad, I do:
If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad ;
That cures us both. I am much forry, fir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,

By being fo verbal and learn now, for all,

:

That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;

And am fo near the lack of charity,

(To accufe myself) I hate you: which I had rather You felt, than make 't my boast.

Clo. You fin against Obedience, which you owe your father. For The contract you pretend with that base wretch, (One, bred of alms, and fofter'd with cold dishes, With scraps o' the court,) it is no contract, none: And though it be allow'd in meaner parties, (Yet who, than he, more mean?) to knit their fouls (On whom there is no more dependency

But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot;

Yet

you are curb'd from that enlargement by

The confequence o' the crown; and must not foil
The precious note of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery, a fquire's cloth,
A pantler, not fo eminent.

Imo,

Profane fellow!

Wert

D 3

Wert thou the fon of Jupiter, and no more,
But what thou art, befides, thou wert too base
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,
Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated
For being preferr'd so well.

Clo.

The fouth-fog rot him!

Imo. He never can meet more mischance, than come To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment, That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer, In my respect, than all the hairs above thee, Were they all madé such men.—How now, Pifanio?

Enter PISANIO.

Clo. His garment? Now, the devil—

Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently :-
Clo. His garment ?

Imo.

I am fprighted with a fool;
Frighted, and anger'd worse :-Go, bid my woman
Search for a jewel, that too cafually

Hath left mine arm; it was thy mafter's: 'fhrew me,
If I would lofe it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think,
I faw 't this morning: confident I am,

Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord

That I kifs aught but he.

Imo.

If you

Ay; I faid fo, fir.

will make 't an action, call witness to 't. Clo. I will inform your father.

Imo.

Your mother too:

She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, fir,

To the worst of discontent.

Cle.

[Exit.

His meanest garment?-Well.

SCENE IV.

Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House.

Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO.

Poft. Fear it not, fir: I would, I were so fure To win the king, as I am bold, her honour Will remain hers.

Phi.
Poft. Not

any;

What means do you make to him?

but abide the change of time;

Quake in the prefent winter's state, and wish

That warmer days would come: In these fear'd hopes, I barely gratify your love; they failing,

I must die much your debtor.

Phi. Your very goodness, and your company,
O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king

Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius
Will do his commiffion throughly: And, I think,
He'll grant the tribute, fend the arrearages,
Or look upon our Ronians, whofe remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.

(Statift though I am none, nor like to be,)

That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions, now in Gallia, fooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæfar
Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline

(Now mingled with their courages) will make known
To their approvers, they are people, fuch

That mend upon the world.

Phi.

Enter IACHIMO.

See! Iachimo!

Poft. The swiftest harts have posted you by land;
And winds of all the corners kifs'd your fails,
To make your veffel nimble.

Phi.

Welcome, fir.

Poft. I hope, the briefnefs of your anfwer made The speediness of your return.

Iach.

Your lady

Is one the fairest that I have look'd upon.

Poft. And, therewithal, the best; or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts,

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

When you were there?

Sparkles this ftone as it was wont ? or is 't not
Too dull for your good wearing?

Iach.

If I have loft it,
I should have loft the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
A fecond night of fuch sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Poft. The ftone's too hard to come by.
Iach.

Your lady being so easy.

Poft.

Not a whit,

Make not, fir,

Your lofs your fport: I hope, you know that we
Muft not continue friends.

Iach.

Good fir, we must,

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question further: but I now
Profefs myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but

By both your wills.

Poft.
If you can make 't apparent
That you have tasted her in bed, my hand,
And ring, is yours: If not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses,
Your fword, or mine; or masterless leaves both
To who fhall find them.

Iach.
Sir, my circumftances,
Being fo near the truth, as I will make them,
Muft 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.

Poft.

Proceed.

lach.