drawn between's. My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match; here's my ring. Phi. I will have it no lay.

Iach. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no suf- 160 ficient 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, 165 and my gold are yours; provided I have your commendation for my more free entertainment. 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 170 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 the assault you have made to her 175 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 180 gold and have our two wagers recorded.

Post. Agreed.

[Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.]

French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let

us follow 'em.

Exeunt.

SCENE V

[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?

6

But I beseech your Grace, without offence,
My conscience bids me ask wherefore you

have

Commanded of me these most poisonous com-
pounds,

Which are the movers of a languishing death,
But though slow, deadly.

Queen.

I wonder, doctor, 10

Thou ask'st me such a question. Have I not

been

Cor.

Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn'd me how
To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so
That our great king himself doth woo me oft
For my confections ? Having thus far pro-

ceeded, Unless thou think'st me devilish - is't not meet That I did amplify my judgement in

Other conclusions? I will try the forces

Of these thy compounds on such creatures as

15

We count not worth the hanging, but none

human

To try the vigour of them and apply

Allayments to their act, and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects.

20

Your Highness Shall from this practice but make hard your

heart.

Besides, the seeing these effects will be

Both noisome and infectious.

Queen.

25

O, content thee.

Enter Pisanio.

[Aside.] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon

him

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; 30
Take your own way.

Cor.

[Aside.] I do suspect you, madam;

But you shall do no harm.

Queen.

[To Pisanio.] Hark thee, a word.

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

has

Strange ling'ring poisons. I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with

A drug of such damn'd nature. Those she has
Will stupefy and dull the sense a while,

35

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 fool'd
With a most false effect; and I the truer,
So to be false with her.

Queen.

Until I send for thee.

40

No further service, doctor,

Cor.

I humbly take my leave. 45

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

50

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
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,

55

Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends So much as but to prop him? [The Queen drops the box: Pisanio takes it up.]

Thou tak'st up

Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour.

61

It is a thing I made, which hath the King
Five times redeem'd from death. I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

65

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, Who shall take notice of thee. I'll move the

King

To any shape of thy preferment such

As thou❜lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound

70