Iach. I am the master of my speeches ; and would undergo what's spoken, I swear.

Post. Will you ?-I shall but lend my diamond till your return :-Let there be covenants drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring.

Phi. I will have it no lay.

Iach. By the gods it is one:-If I bring you no 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 yours: --provided, I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment.

Post. 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 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 your sword.

Iach. 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

wagers recorded.

Post, Agreed.

[Exeunt PosTHUMUS and IACHIMO: French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Britain. A Room in Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and CORNELIUS. Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those

flowers; Make haste: Who has the note of them? 1 Lady.

I, madam. Queen. Despatch.-

[Exeunt Ladies. Now, master doctor ; have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay : here they are, madam:

[Presenting a small Bar. But I beseech your grace, (without offence; My conscience bids me ask;) wherefore you have Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death; But, though slow, deadly? Queen.

I do wonder, doctor, Thou ask'st me such a question: Have I not been Thy pupil long ? Hast thou not learn'd me how To make perfumes ? distil? preserve ? yea, so, That our great king himself doth woo me oft For my confections? Having thus far proceeded, (Unless thou think'st me devilish,) is't not meet That I did amplify my judgment in Other conclusions ? 3 I will try the forces

Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging, (but none human,)
To try the vigour of them, and apply
Allayments to their act; and by them gather
Their several virtues, and effects.
Cor.

Your highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart:
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
Both noisome and infectious.
Queen.

O, content thee.

Enter PISANIO.

Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him [Aside.
Will I first work : he's for his master,
And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisanio?
Doctor, your service for this time is ended;
Take your own way.
Cor.

I do suspect you, madam ; But you shall do no harm.

[Aside. Queen.

Hark thee, a word.

[To PISANIO, Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think,

she has Strange lingering poisons : I do know her spirit, And will not trust one of her malice with A drug of such damn'd nature: Those, she has, Will stupify and dull the sense awhile : Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and dogs, Then afterward up higher; but there is No danger in what show of death it makes, More than the locking up the spirits a time, To be more fresh, reviving. She is foolid

With a most false effect'; and I the truer,
So to be false with her.
Queen.

No further service, doctor,
Until I send for thee.
Cor.
I humbly take my leave.

[Exit. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou ? Dost thou

think, in time She will not quench; 4 and let instructions enter Where folly now possesses ? Do thou work ; When thou shalt bring me word, she loves my son, I'll tell thee, on the instant, thou art then As great as is thy master : greater ; for His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name Is at last gasp : Return he cannot, nor Continue where he is : to shift his being, s Is to exchange one misery with another; And every day, that comes, comes to decay A day's work in him: What shalt thou expect, To be depender on a thing that leans ? Who cannot be new built; nor has no friends,

[The Queen drops a Bor : PISANIo takes it up. So much as but to prop him ?-Thou tak’st up Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour: It is a thing I made, which hath the king Five times redeem'd from death : I do not know What is more cordial :-Nay, I pr’ythee, take it; It is an earnest of a further good That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how The case stands with her ; do't, as from thyself.

5

Think what a chance thou changest on; but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee : I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women :
Think on my words. [Exit Pisa.]-A sly and constant

knave;
Not to be shak'd : the agent for his master ;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold
The hand fast to her lord.— I have given him that,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers6 for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd

Re-enter PISANIO, and Ladies.
To taste of too.-So, so ;-well done, well done :
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet :-Fare thee well, Pisanio ;
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies.
Pis.

And shall do:
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you.

[Exit.

Ambassadors