To employ you towards this Roman.--Come, our queen.
[Exeunt CYM., QUEEN, Lords, and Mess.
Clo. If she be up, I 'll speak with her; if not,
Let her lie still and dream.-By your leave, ho—
[Knocks.

I know her women are about her. What
If I do line one of their hands? "T is gold
Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes
Diana's rangers false a themselves, yield up

Their deer to the stand o' the stealer; and 't is gold
Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the thief;
Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man: What
Can it not do, and undo? I will make

One of her women lawyer to me; for

I yet not understand the case myself.
By your leave.

Enter a Lady.

Lady. Who's there that knocks?

Clo.

Lady.

[Knocks.

A gentleman.

No more?

That's more

Clo. Yes, and a gentlewoman's son.
Lady.

Than some, whose tailors are as dear as yours,

Can justly boast of: What's your lordship's pleasure? Clo. Your lady's person: Is she ready?

Lady.

To keep her chamber.

Ay,

Clo. There is gold for you; sell me your good report. Lady. How! my good name? or to report of you What I shall think is good?—The princess

Enter IMOGEN.

Clo. Good-morrow, fairest: sister, your sweet hand. Imo. Good-morrow, sir: You lay out too much pains For purchasing but trouble: the thanks I give

a Faise is here used as a verb. See Note in 'The Comedy of Errors,' Act II. Sc. 2.

Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.

Clo.

Still, I swear I love you. Imo. If you but said so 't were as deep with me: If you swear still, your recompence is still

That I regard it not.

Cio.

This is no answer.

Imo. But that you shall not say I yield, being silent,
I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: i' faith,
I shall unfold equal discourtesy

To your best kindness; one of your great knowing
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

Clo. To leave you in your madness, 't were my sin : I will not.

Imo. Fools are not mad folks.

Clo.

Do you call me fool?

Imo. As I am mad, I do :
If you 'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being so verbal:a and learn now, for all,
That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;
And am so near the lack of charity,

To accuse myself,) I hate you; which I had rather
You felt, than make 't my boast.

Clo.
You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
(One bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes,
With scraps o' the court,) it is no contract, none:
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,
(Yet who than he more mean?) to knit their souls
(On whom there is no more dependency

a So verbal. Imogen has been parrying her strange admirer; but she now resolves to speak plainly-to be verbal—and thus to forget a lady's manners.

But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot,
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o' the crown; and must not soil
The precious note of it with a base slave,

A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth,

A pantler, not so eminent.

Profane fellow !

Imo.
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more
But what thou art besides, thou wert too base
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,
Even to the point of envy, if 't were made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated
For being preferr'd so well.

Clo.

The south-fog rot him!

Imo. He never can meet more mischance than come

To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer,
In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,

Were they all made such men.-How now, Pisanio?

Enter PISANIO.

Clo. His garment? Now, the devil

Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently:
Clo. His garment?

Imo.

I am sprighted with a fool; Frighted, and anger'd worse :-Go, bid my woman

Search for a jewel, that too casually

Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew me, If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think

I saw 't this morning: confident I am

Last night 't was on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope it be not gone, to tell my lord

That I kiss aught but he.

"T will not be lost.

Pis.
Imo. I hope so: go and search.

[Exit Pis.

Clo.

Imo.

If you

His meanest garment?

You have abus'd me :

Ay; I said so, sir.

will make 't an action call witness to 't. Clo. I will inform your father.

Imo.

She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,

To the worst of discontent.

Clo.

Your mother too:

[Exit.

I'll be reveng'd:

[Exit.

His meanest garment ?-Well.

SCENE IV.-Rome. An Apartment in Philario's

House.

Enter POSTHUMUS and РHILARIO.

Post. Fear it not, sir; I would I were so sure To win the king, as I am bold her honour

Will remain hers.

Phi.

What means do you make to him?

Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish

That warmer days would come: In these sear'd hopes, I barely gratify your love; they failing,

I must die much your debtor.

Phi. Your very goodness, and your company,
O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king
Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius
Will do his commission throughly: And, I think,
He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages,
Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.

Post.

I do believe,

(Statist though I am none, nor like to be,)

She's my good lady. This phrase is used ironically. To "stand my good lord," is-to be my good friend.

That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions, now in Gallia, sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar
Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline

(Now mingled with their courages) will make known
To their approvers, they are people such
That mend upon the world.

Phi.

Enter IACHIMO.

See! Iachimo!

Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land: And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails,

To make your vessel nimble.

Phi.

Welcome, sir.

Post. I hope the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return.

Iach.

Your lady

Is one of the fairest that I have look'd upon.

Post. And therewithal the best: or let her beauty Look through a casement to allure false hearts, And be false with them.

Iach.

Here are letters for you.

'T is very like.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.

Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

When you were there?

Iach.

But not approach'd.

Post.

He was expected then,

All is well yet.

Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is 't not
Too dull for your good wearing?

Iach.
If I have lost it,
I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy