Post. 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.

Iach. 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.

Post. Agreed.

[Exeunt PosT. and IACH. French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Seignior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Britain. A Room in 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?

1 Lady. I, madam.

Queen. Despatch.

[Exeunt Ladies.

Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, [Presenting a small box. But I beseech your grace, (without offence;

madam ;

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 do wonder, doctor,

Thou ask'st me such a question; have I not been
Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learned me how

To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so,
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? Having thus far proceeded,
(Unless thou think'st me devilish,) is't not meet
That I did amplify my judgment in

Other conclusions? 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 seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

Queen.

O, content thee.—

Enter PISANIO.

Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him [Aside.
Will I first work; he's for his master,

And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisanio?—
Doctor, your service for this time is ended;

Hark thee, a word.-
[TO PISANIO.

Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think

she has

Strange, lingering poisons; I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with

A drug of such damned nature. Those she has,
Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile;

Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and dogs;
Then afterward up higher; but there is
No danger in what show of death it makes,
More than the locking up the spirits a time,

To be more fresh, reviving. She is fooled
With a most false effect; and I the truer,

So to be false with her.

Queen.

Until I send for thee.

Cor.

No further service, doctor,

I humbly take my leave.

[Exit.

Queen. Weeps she still, say'st 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 lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp.
Return he cannot, nor

Continue where he is; to shift his being,2
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?3
Who cannot be new-built; nor has no friends,

[The Queen drops a box; PISANIO takes it up.
So much as but to prop him?-Thou tak'st up
Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labor.
It is a thing I made, which hath the king
Five times redeemed from death; I do not know
What is more cordial :-Nay, I pr'ythee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do't, as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on; but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,

1 i. e. grow cool.

3 That inclines towards its fall.

2 To change his abode.

4 Think with what a fair prospect of mending your fortunes you now change your present service." It has been proposed to read :

and,

"Think what a chance thou chancest on;"

"Think what a change thou chancest on."

But there seems to be no necessity for alteration.

Who shall take notice of thee. I'll move the king
Το any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women;
Think on my words. [Exit PISA.]-A sly and con-
stant knave;

Not to be shaked; the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold

The hand fast to her lord.—I have given him that,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers1 for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humor, shall be assured

Re-enter PISANIO and Ladies.

To taste of too.—So, so ;-well done, well done.
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet.-Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies.
And shall do; 2

Pis.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself; there's all I'll do for

you. [Exit.

SCENE VII. Another Room in the same.

Enter IMOGEN.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false; A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

That hath her husband banished;-O, that husband! My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen,

As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable

1 A lieger ambassador is one that resides in a foreign court to promote his master's interest.

2 Some words, which rendered this sentence less abrupt, and perfected the metre of it, appear to have been omitted in the old copies.

Is the desire that's glorious.' Blessed be those,
How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort.—Who may this be? Fie!

Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome, Comes from my lord with letters.

Iach.

Change you, madam?

The worthy Leonatus is in safety,
And greets your highness dearly.

Imo.

You are kindly welcome.

[Presents a letter.

Thanks, good sir;

Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich!

If she be furnished with a mind so rare,

She is alone the Arabian bird; and I

Have lost the wager. Boldness, be my friend!
Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!

Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;
Rather, directly fly.

[Aside.

Imo. [Reads.] He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect him accordingly, as you value your truest 2

upon

So far I read aloud;

But even the very middle of my heart

LEONATUS.

Is warmed by the rest, and takes it thankfully.

You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

Have words to bid you; and shall find it so,

In all that I can do.

Iach.

What! are men mad?

Thanks, fairest lady.

Hath nature given them eyes To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop

1 Imogen's sentiment appears to be, "Had I been stolen by thieves in my infancy, I had been happy. But how pregnant with misery is that station which is called glorious, and so much desired."

2 The old copy reads, trust. The emendation was suggested by Mason; is defended by Steevens; and opposed by Malone.