Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Poft. By your Pardon, Sir, I was then a young Traveller; rather, shun'd to go even with that I heard, than in my every Action to be guided by other experiences: but upon my mended Judgment, if I offend not to say it is mended, any Quarrel was not altogether flight.

French. Faith yes, to be put to the arbitrement of Swords; and by such two, that would by all likelyhood have confounded one the other, or have faln both.

Iach. Can we with manners, ask what was the Difference?

French. Safely, I think, 'twas a contention in publick, which may, without contradiction, fuffer the report. 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, Wife, Chaft, Conftant, Qualified, and less attemptable 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.

Poft. She holds her Virtue still, and I my Mind.

Iach. You must not so far prefer her, 'fore ours of Italy.

Poft. Being fo far provok'd as I was in France; I would abate her nothing, tho' I profess my felf her Adorer, not her Friend.

Iach. As fair, and as good; a kind of Hand in Hand comparison, had been something too fair, and too good for any Lady in Britany: if the went before others, I have seen; as that Diamond of yours out-lusters many I have beheld. I could not believe the excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious Diamond that is, nor you the Lady. Post. I prais'd her, as Irated her; so do I my Stone. lach. What do you esteem it at? Poft. More than the World enjoys.

Iach. Either your paragon'd Mistress is dead, or she's out-priz'd by a Trifle.

Poft. You are mistaken; the one may be fold or giver, 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?
Poft. Which by their Graces I will keep.

lach. You may wear her in title yours; but, you know, strange Fowl light upon neighbouring Ponds. Your Ring may be stoln too; so your Brace of unprizeable Estimations, the one is but frail, and the other cafual. A cunning Thief, or a, that way, accomplish'd Courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Poft. Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd 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.

Phil. Let us leave here, Gentlemen.

Poft. Sir, with all my Heart. This worthy Signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me, we are familiar at

first.

lach. 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.

4

Poft. No, no.

Iach. I dare thereupon pawn the Moiety of my Estate, to your Ring, which in my Opinion o'er-values 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.

Poft. You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a perfwafion; and I doubt not you'd sustain what you're worthy of, by your Attempt.

Iach. What's that??

[ocr errors]

Poft. A Repulse; though your Attempt, as you call it, deferves more; a Punishment too.

Phil. Gentlemen, enough of this, it came in too fuddenly, let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.

Iach. Would I had put my Estate, and my Neighbours, on th' approbation of what I have spoke.

Poft. What Lady would you chuse to affail?

Iach. Yours; whom in constancy you think stands fo

fafe. I will lay you ten thousand Duckets to your Ring,

that

[ocr errors]

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 referv'd.

Poft. I will wage against your Gold, Gold to it: My Ring I hold dear as my Finger, 'tis part of it.

Lach. You are a Friend, and therein the wifer; if you buy Ladies flesh at a Million a Dram, you cannot preferve it from tainting; but I see you have some Religion in you, that you fear.

Poft. 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 fwear.

Poft. Will you? I shall but lend my Diamond 'till your return; let there be Covenants drawn between's. My Mistress exceeds in goodness, the hugeness of your unworthy things. I dare you to this match; here's my Ring.

Phil. I will have it no lay.

Iach. By the Gods it is one; if I bring you not fufficient Testimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your Mistress; my ten thousand Duckets 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 entertainment.

Poft. 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 prevail'd, I am no further your Enemy, she is not worth our Debate. If the remain unseduc'd, you not rmaking it appear otherwife; for your ill Opinion, and th' affault you have made to her Chastity, you shall answer me with your Sword.

Iach. Your Hand, a Covenant; we will have these things fet down by lawful Counsel, and straight away for Britain, left the Bargain should catch cold, and starve; I will fetch my Gold, and have our two Wagers recorded.

Poft. Agreed.

French. Will this hold, think you ?
Phil. Signior Iachimo will not from it.

Pray let us follow 'em.

[Exeunt. SCENE

SCENE III. Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius with a Viol.

Queen. While yet the Dew's on Ground gather those Flowers.

Make hafte. Who has the Note of them?

Ladies. I, Madam.

Queen. Dispatch.

[Exeunt Ladies.

Now Master Doctor, have you brought those Drugs?

Cor. Pleaseth your Highness, Ay; here they are, Madam;

But I befeech your Grace, without Offence
My Confcience bids me ask, wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous Compounds,
Which are the movers of a languishing Death;
But though flow, deadly.

Queen. I wonder, Doctor,

Thou ask'st me such a Question; have I not been
Thy Pupil long? haft thou not learn'd me how
To make Perfumes ? Difstil? Preserve ? Yea so,
That our great King himself doth woe me oft
For my Confections ? Having thus far proceeded,
Unless thou think'st me devilish, is it not meet
That I did amplifie my Judgment in
Other Conclufions? 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 Vigor 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 feeing these Effects will be

Both noysome and infectious.

Queen. O content thee.

Enter Pifanio.

Here comes a flattering Rascal, upon him

Will I first work; he's for his Master,

And Enemy to my Son. How now, Pifanio?
Doctor, your Service for this time is ended,

Take your own way.

VOL. VI.

H

[Afide

Cor.

Cor. I do suspect you, Madam.

But you shall do no harm.

Afide.

[To Pifanio.

Queen. Hark thee a word..
Cor. I do not like her. She doth think the has
Strange ling'ring Poifons; 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 stupifie and dull the Sense a while,
Which first perchance she'll prove on Cats and Dogs,
Then afterward up higher; but there is
No Danger in what thew of Death it makes,
More than the locking up the Spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd
With a most false effect; and I the truer,
So to be false with her.

Queen. No further Service, Doctor,

Until I fend for thee.

Cor. I humbly take my leave.

[Exit.

Queen. Weeps she still, sayest thou ? Dost thou think in

time

She will not quench, 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 lye speechless, and his Name
Is at last Gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is; to shift his being,
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

So much, as but to prop him? thou takest up

[Pisanio looking on the Viol.

Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy Labour,
It is a thing I make, which hath the King
Five times redeem'd from Death; I do not know
What is more Cordial. Nay I prethee take it,
It is an earnest of a farther good

That

« EdellinenJatka »