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ours of Italy.

      POSTHUMUS.

       Being so far provok’d 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.

       I prais’d her as I rated her. So do I my stone.

      IACHIMO.

       What do you esteem it at?

      POSTHUMUS.

       More than the world enjoys.

      IACHIMO.

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

      POSTHUMUS.

       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.

       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 stol’n too. So your brace of unprizable estimations, the one is but frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplish’d courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

      POSTHUMUS.

       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.

      PHILARIO.

       Let us leave here, gentlemen.

      POSTHUMUS.

       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.

       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.

       You are a great deal abus’d in too bold a persuasion, and I doubt not you sustain what y’are worthy of by your attempt.

      IACHIMO.

       What’s that?

      POSTHUMUS.

       A repulse; though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too.

      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 th’ approbation of what I have spoke!

      POSTHUMUS.

       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 reserv’d.

      POSTHUMUS.

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

      IACHIMO.

       You are a friend, 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.

       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.

       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 enjoy’d 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.

       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 she remain unseduc’d, you not making it appear otherwise, for your ill opinion and th’ 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. I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers recorded.

      POSTHUMUS.

       Agreed.

      [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.]

      FRENCHMAN.

       Will this hold, think you?

      PHILARIO.

       Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray let us follow ’em.

      [Exeunt.]

      SCENE VI. Britain. Cymbeline’s palace.

      Enter Queen, Ladies and Cornelius.

      QUEEN.

       Whiles yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers;

       Make haste; who has the note of them?

      LADY.

       I, madam.

      QUEEN.

       Dispatch.

      [Exeunt Ladies.]

      Now, Master Doctor, have you brought those drugs?

      CORNELIUS.

       Pleaseth your Highness, ay. Here they are, madam.

      [Presenting a box.]

      But I beseech your Grace, without offence,

       (My conscience bids me ask) wherefore you have

       Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds

       Which are the movers of a languishing death,

       But, though slow, deadly?

      QUEEN.

       I wonder, Doctor,

       Thou

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