That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;
And am so near the lack of charity,—

T'accuse myself, I hate you; which I had rather
You felt than make't my boast.

Clo.
You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch,-
One bred of alms, and foster'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 souls
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 consequence o' the crown; and must not soil
The precious note of it with a base slave,

A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth,

A pantler, not so eminent.

Profane fellow !

Imo.
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more
But what thou art besides, 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 south-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 made such men.

Clo. 66

Enter PISANIO.

How now, Pisanio!

His garment"! Now, the devil

Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently-Clo. "His garment"!

Imo.

I am sprited with a fool; Frighted, and anger'd worse: - - go bid my woman Search for a jewel that too casually

Hath left mine arm : it was thy master's; shrew me,
If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think

I saw'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 kiss aught but he.

Pis.

'Twill not be lost.

Imo. I hope so: go and search.
Clo.

"His meanest garment"!

[Exit Pisanio.

You have abus'd me:

Ay, I said so, sir:

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

Imo.

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

To the worst of discontent.

Clo.

Your mother too :

[Exit.

[Exit,

I'll be reveng'd:—

"His meanest garment "!- Well.

SCENE IV. Rome. An apartment in PHILARIO'S

house.

Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO.

Post. Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure

To win the king, as I am bold her honor

Will remain hers.

Phi.

What means do you make to him?

Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish

That warmer days would come in these sear'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's commission throughly: and I think
He'll grant the tribute, send th' arrearages,
Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.

Post.

I do believe

Statist though I am none, nor like to be-
That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions now in Gallia sooner landed

In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd than when Julius Cæsar
Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at: their discipline

Now mingled with their courage will make known
To their approvers they are people such

That mend upon the world.

Phi.

See! Iachimo!

Enter IACHIMO.

Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land; And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails, To make your vessel nimble.

Phi.

Welcome, sir.

Post. I hope the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return.

Iach.

Your lady

Is one of the fairest that I've look'd upon.

Post. And therewithal the best; or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts, And be false with them.

Iach.

Here are letters for you.

'Tis very like.

Post. Their tenor good, I trust.

Iach.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court

When you were there?

Iach.

But not approach'd.

Post.

He was expected then,

All is well yet.—

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

Iach.

If I had lost it,

I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, t' enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Post. The stone's too hard to come by.

Iach.

Not a whit,

Make not, sir,

Your lady being so easy.

Post.

Your loss your sport: I hope you know that we
Must not continue friends.

Iach.

Good sir, 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
Profess myself the winner of her honor,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.

Post.
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 honor gains or loses
Your sword or mine, or masterless leaves both
To who shall find them.

Iach.
Sir, my circumstances,
Being so near the truth as I will make them,
Must 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.

Post.

Iach.

Proceed.

First, her bedchamber,

it was hang'd

Where, I confess, I slept not; but profess
Had that was well worth watching,
With tapestry of silk and silver; the story
Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for
The press of boats or pride: a piece of work
So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive
In workmanship and value; which I wonder'd
Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,
Since the true life on't was

Post.

This is true;

And this you might have heard of here, by me
Or by some other.

Iach.

More particulars

Must justify my knowledge.

Post,

Or do your honor injury.

Iach.

So they must,

The chimney

Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece
Chaste Dian bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves: the cutter
Was as another nature, dumb; outwent her,
Motion and breath left out.

This is a thing

Post.
Which you might from relation likewise reap,
Being, as it is, much spoke of.

The roof o' the chamber

Iach.
With golden cherubins is fretted her andirons
I had forgot them were two winking Cupids
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands.

Post.

This is her honor!

Let it be granted you have seen all this, and praise
Be given to your remembrance,— the description
Of what is in her chamber nothing saves
The wager you have laid.

Iach.

Then, if you can,

[Pulling out the bracelet. Be pale: I beg but leave to air this jewel; see! — And now 'tis up again: it must be married

To that your diamond; I'll keep them.

Post.

Once more let me behold it is it that

Which I left with her?

Jove!

Sir, I thank her, that:

-

Iach.
She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;
Her pretty action did outsell her gift,

And yet enrich'd it too: she gave it me, and said
She priz'd it once.

Post.

To send it me.

Iach.

May be she pluck'd it off

She writes so to you, doth she?

Post. O, no, no, no! 'tis true. Here, take this too;

It is a basilisk unto mine eye,

[Gives the ring.

Kills me to look on't.- Let there be no honor

Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; lovc,