Imo.

I pray you, sir,

Deliver with more openness your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?
Iach. That others do,

I was about to say, enjoy your- -But
It is an office of the gods to venge it,
Not mine to speak on't.

Imo.

You do seem to know Something of me, or what concerns me; 'Pray you, (Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more Than to be sure they do: For certainties Either are past remedies; or, timely knowing, The remedy then born,) discover to me What both you spur and stop.9

Had I this cheek

Iach. To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, Whose every touch, would force the feeler's soul To the oath of loyalty; this object, which Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye, Fixing it only here: should I (damn'd then,) Slaver with lips as common as the stairs That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands Made hard with hourly falsehood (falsehood, as With labour;) then lie peeping in an eye, Base and unlustrous as the smoky light That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit, That all the plagues of hell should at one time Encounter such revolt.

Imo.

Has forgot Britain.

Iach.

My lord, I fear,

And himself. Not I,

Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce

The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces

9 What you seem anxious to utter, and yet withhold.

That, from my mutest conscience, to my tongue, Charms this report out.

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
So fair, and fasten'd to an empery,1

Would make the great'st king double! to be partner'd

With tomboys2, hir'd with that self-exhibition 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,

As well might poison poison! Be reveng'd;
Or she, that bore you, was no queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.

Imo.

Reveng'd!
How should I be reveng'd? If this be true,
(As I have such a heart, that both mine ears
Must not in haste abuse,) if it be true,
How should I be reveng'd?

Iach.

Should he make me

Live like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets;
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps,

In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it.
I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure;
More noble than that runagate to your bed;
And will continue fast to your affection,
Still close, as sure.

What ho, Pisanio!

Imo.

1 Sovereign command.
3 Allowance, pension.

2 Wantons.

Jach. Let me my service tender on your lips.
Imo. Away!-I do condemn mine ears, that have
So long attended thee.—If thou wert honourable,
Thou would'st have told this tale for virtue, not
For such an end thou seek'st; as base, as strange.
Thou wrong'st a gentleman, who is as far
From thy report, as thou from honour; and
Solicit❜st here a lady, that disdains

Thee and the devil alike.-What ho, Pisanio! -
The king my father shall be made acquainted
Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit,
A saucy stranger, in his court, to mart
As in a Romish stew, and to expound
His beastly mind to us; he hath a court
He little cares for, and a daughter whom
He not respects at all.—What ho, Pisanio!
Iach. O happy Leonatus! I may say;
The credit, that thy lady hath of thee,
Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness
Her assur'd credit!-Blessed live you long!
A lady to the worthiest sir, that ever

Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only
For the most worthiest fit! Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this, to know if your affiance
Were deeply rooted; and shall make your lord,
That which he is, new o'er: And he is one
The truest manner'd; such a holy witch,

That he enchants societies unto him:

Half all men's hearts are his.

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 judgment 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
To entreat your grace but in a small request,
And yet of moment too, for it concerns

Your lord; myself, and other noble friends,
Are partners in the business.

Imo.

Pray, what is't? Iach. Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord, (The best feather of our wing) have mingled sums, To buy a present for the emperor;

Which I, the factor for the rest, have done

In France: 'Tis plate, of rare device; and jewels,
Of rich and exquisite form; their values great;
And I am something curious, being strange, 5
To have them in safe stowage; May it please you
To take them in protection?

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
To send them to you, only for this night;

I must aboard to-morrow.

Imo.

Iach. Yes, I beseech; or I shall short my word,

O, no, no.

By length'ning my return.

From Gallia

4 To fan, is to winnow.

5 A stranger.

I cross'd the seas on purpose, and on promise
To see your grace.

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.

Imo. I will write. Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept, And truly yielded you: You 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! 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 ran all out.

[Aside. Clo. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths: Ha?

• He is describing his fate at bowls; the jack is the small bowl at which the others are aimed.