Rome. Philario’s house.
[Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman,
a Dutchman, and a Spaniard]
IACHIMO Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain:
he was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so
worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of;
but I could then have looked on him without the help
of admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments
had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items.
PHILARIO You speak of him when he was less furnished
than now he is with that which makes him both
without and within.
Frenchman I have seen him in France: we had very many
there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.
IACHIMO This matter of marrying his king’s daughter,
wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than his
own, words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.
Frenchman And then his banishment.
IACHIMO Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this
lamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfully
to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment,
which else an easy battery might lay flat, for
taking a beggar without less quality. But how comes
it he is to sojourn with you? How creeps
acquaintance?
PHILARIO His father and I were soldiers together;
to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life.
Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained
amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your
knowing, to a stranger of his quality.
[Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS]
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.
Frenchman Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS Since when I have been debtor
to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay
and yet pay still.
Frenchman Sir, you o’er-rate my poor kindness:
I was glad I did atone my countryman and you;
it had been pity you should have been put together
with so mortal a purpose as then each bore, upon
importance of so slight and trivial a nature.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS By your pardon, sir,
I was then a young traveller; rather shunned to go
even with what I heard than in my every action to be
guided by others’ experiences: but upon my mended
judgment–if I offend not to say it is mended
–my quarrel was not altogether slight.
IACHIMO Can we, with manners,
ask what was the difference?
Frenchman Safely, I think: ’twas a contention in public,
which may, without contradiction, suffer 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, wise,
chaste, constant-qualified and less attemptable
than any the rarest of our ladies in France.
IACHIMO That lady is not now living,
or this gentleman’s opinion by this worn out.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS She holds her virtue still
and I my mind.
IACHIMO You must not so far prefer her ‘fore ours of Italy.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS Being so far provoked as I was
in France, I would abate her nothing, though I profess myself
her adorer, not her friend.
IACHIMO As fair and as good–a kind of hand-in-hand
comparison–had been something too fair and too good
for any lady in Britain. If she went before others
I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres
many I have beheld. I could not but believe she
excelled many: but I have not seen the most
precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS I praised her as I rated her:
so do I my stone.
IACHIMO What do you esteem it at?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS More than the world enjoys.
IACHIMO Either your unparagoned mistress is dead,
or she’s outprized by a trifle.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS 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.
IACHIMO Which the gods have given you?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS Which, by their graces, I will keep.
IACHIMO You may wear her in title yours: but, you know,
strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your
ring may be stolen too: so your brace of unprizable
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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS 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.
PHILARIO Let us leave here, gentlemen.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS Sir, with all my heart.
This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me;
we are familiar at first.
IACHIMO 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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS No, no.
IACHIMO I dare thereupon 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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS You are a great deal abused
in too bold a persuasion.
PHILARIO Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too
suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you,
be better acquainted.
IACHIMO Would I had put my estate and my neighbour’s
on the approbation of what I have spoke!
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS What lady would you
choose to assail?
IACHIMO Yours; 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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS I will wage against your gold,
gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; ’tis part of it.
IACHIMO 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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
This is but a custom in your tongue;
you bear a graver purpose, I hope.
IACHIMO I am the master of my speeches,
and would undergo what’s spoken, I swear.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS 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 thinking: I dare you to this match:
here’s my ring.
PHILARIO I will have it no lay.
IACHIMO 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.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS 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.
IACHIMO 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…
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