Rome.

Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, and a Frenchman.

B

Iachimo.

ELIEVE it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: I could then have look'd on him without the help of admiration.

Phi. You speak of him when he was less fùrnish'd, than nòw.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter (wherein he must be weighed rather by hèr value, than his own), words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment

Tach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; but how comes it, he is to sojourn with you?

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together.

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Here comes the Briton: 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 hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.

French. Sir, we have been known together in Orleans.

Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for

courtesies, which I will be ever tò pay, and still.

yet pay

French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did attone my countryman and you; it had been pity, you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose, upon difference of so slight and trivial a nature.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a yoùng traveller: rather shunn'd to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but, upon my mènded judgement (if I offend not to say it is mended), my quarrel was not altogether slight.

French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.

Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what wàs the difference?

French. 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 his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant, and less attemptible, than any, the rarest, of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. Tach. As fair, and às good (a kind of hand-inhand comparison), had been something too fair, and too good, for any lady in Brittany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the mòst precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

Post. I praised her, as I rated her so do I my

stone.

Iach. What do you esteem it at?

Post. More than the world enjoys.

Iach. Either your unparagon'd mistress is dead, or she's outpriz'd by a trifle.

Post. 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.

Iach. Which the gods have given you?

Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep.

Iach. You may wear her in tìtle yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stòlen too; so, of your brace of unprizeable 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.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress ; if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; notwithstanding I fear not my ring.

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me: we are familiar at first.

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress; and make her go back, even to the yielding.

Post. No, no.

Iach. I dare, thereon, 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 lady in the world.

Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you'd sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt.

Iach. What's that?

Post. A repùlse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a pùnishment too.

Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this.

Iach. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke. Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Iach. Yoùrs; whom in constancy, you think, stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring, 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.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.

Iach. 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.

Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope.

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

Post. Will you? 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, my ten thousand ducats 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 prevàiled, 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. A covenant: I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded.

Post. Agreed.

[Exeunt.

Imogen's Apartment.

Enter IMOGEN.

Imogen.

FATHER cruel, and a step-dame false;
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

That hath her husband banish'd :—O, that

husband!

My supreme crown of grief! Had I been stolen, As my two brothers, happy! Bless'd be those, How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills, Which seasons comfort.-Who may this be? Fye! Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome Comes from my lord with letters. [Exit Pisanio. Change you, madam ? The worthy Leonatus is in safety,

Iach.