Imo. Let me hear no more. Iach. O dearest soul! your cause doth strike my heart With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady Would make the great'st king double! to be partner'd With tomboys+, hir'd with that self-exhibition t Which your own coffers yield! with diseas'd ventures, That play with all infirmities for gold Which rottenness can lend nature! such boil'd stuff, Imo. Reveng❜d! How should I be reveng'd? If this be true Iach. Should he make me Live like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets; In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it. Imo. What ho, Pisanio ! Iach. Let me my service tender on your lips. Thee and the devil alike.-What ho, Pisanio !- * Sovereign command. + Wantons. Allowance, pension. VOL. IX. D Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit, Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only That he enchants societies unto him: You make amends. Imo. Iach. He sits 'mongst men, like a descended god: He hath a kind of honour sets him off, More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry, Most mighty princess, that I have adventur'd To try your taking a false report; which hath Honour'd with confirmation your great judgement In the election of a sir so rare, Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear him Made me to fan* you thus ; but the gods made you, Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon. Imo. All's well, sir: Take my power i'the court for yours. Iach. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot Your lord; myself, and other noble friends, Imo. Pray, what is't? Iach. Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord (The best feather of our wing,) have mingled sums, *To fan, is to winnow. To buy a present for the emperor ; In France: 'Tis plate, of rare device; and jewels Imo. Willingly; And pawn mine honour for their safety: since My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them In my bed-chamber. Iach. They are in a trunk, Attended by my men: I will make bold Imo. O, no, no. Iach. Yes, I beseech; or I shall short my word, By length'ning my return. From Gallia I cross'd the seas on purpose, and on promise Imo. I thank you for your pains; But not away to-morrow? Iach. O, I must, madam ; Therefore, I shall beseech you, if you please To greet your lord with writing, do't to-night: I have outstood my time; which is material To the tender of our present. I will write. Imo. Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept, And truly yielded you: You are are very welcome. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Court before Cymbeline's palace. Enter Cloten, and two Lords. Clo. Was there ever man had such luck! when I kissed the jack upon an up-cast †, to be hit away! * A stranger. He is describing his fate at bowls: the jack is the small bowl at which the others are aimed. I had a hundred pound on't: And then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure. 1 Lord. What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl. 2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out. [Aside. Clo. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths: Ha? 2 Lord. No, my lord; nor [Aside.] crop the ears of them. Clo. Whoreson dog!-I give him satisfaction ? 'Would, he had been one of my rank! 2 Lord. To have smelt like a fool. [Aside. Clo. I am not more vexed at any thing in the earth. A pox on't! I had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the queen my mother: every jack-slave hath his belly full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match. 2 Lord. You are a cock and capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on. [Aside. Clo. Sayest thou? 1 Lord. It is not fit, your lordship should undertake every companion* that you give offence to. Clo. No, I know that: but it is fit, I should commit offence to my inferiors. 2 Lord. Ay, it is fit for your lordship only. 1 Lord. Did you hear of a stranger, that's come to court to-night? Clo. A stranger! and I not know on't! 2 Lord. He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not. [Aside. 1 Lord. There's an Italian come; and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus' friends. Clo. Leonatus? a banished rascal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger? * Fellow. 1 Lord. One of your lordship's pages. Clo. Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation in't? 1 Lord. You cannot derogate*, my lord. 2 Lord. You are a fool granted; therefore your issues being foolish, do not derogate. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll go see this Italian: What I have 'lost to-day at bowls, I'll win to night of him. Come, go. 2 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. [Exeunt Cloten and first Lord. That such a crafty devil as is his mother Should yield the world this ass! a woman, that SCENE II. A bed-chamber; in one part of it a trunk. Imogen reading in her bed; a Lady attending. Imo. Who's there? my woman Helen? Lady. Please you, madam. Almost midnight, madam. i. e. Degrade yourself. |