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The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare
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Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso
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27
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01_04
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1991-04-10
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211 lines
Rome. Philario's House.
Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a FRENCHMAN, a DUTCHMAN, and a SPANIARD.
Iachimo Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain. He was then of
a crescent note, expected to prove so worthy as since he
hath been allowed the name of. But I could then have looked
on him without the help of admiration, though the catalogue
of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to
peruse him by items.
Philario You speak of him when he was less furnished than now he is
with that which makes him both without and within.
Frenchman I have seen him in France; we had very many there could
behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.
Iachimo This matter of marrying his king's daughter, wherein he
must be weighed rather by her value than his own, words
him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.
Frenchman And then his banishment.
Iachimo Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this lamentable
divorce under her colours are wonderfully to extend him, be
it but to fortify her judgement, which else an easy battery
might lay flat, for taking a beggar without less quality.
But how comes it he is to sojourn with you? How creeps
acquaintance?
Philario His father and I were soldiers together, to whom I have
been often bound for no less than my life.
Enter POSTHUMUS.
Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained amongst
you as suits with gentlemen of your knowing to a stranger
of his quality. I beseech you all be better known to this
gentleman, whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine.
How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather
than story him in his own hearing.
Frenchman Sir, we have known together in Orleans.
Posthumus Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which
I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.
Frenchman Sir, you o'errate my poor kindness. I was glad I did atone
my countryman and you; it had be pity you should have been
put together with so mortal a purpose as then each bore,
upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature.
Posthumus By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller; rather
shunned to go even with what I heard than in my every
action to be guided by others' experiences; but upon my
mended judgement - if I offend not to say it is mended - my
quarrel was not altogether slight.
Frenchman Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords, and by
such two that would, by all likelihood, have confounded one
the other, or have fallen both.
Iachimo Can we with manners ask what was the difference?
Frenchman Safely, I think. 'Twas a contention in public which may
without contradiction suffer the report. It was much like
an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell
in praise of our country mistresses; this gentleman at that
time vouching - and upon warrant of bloody affirmation -
his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant,
qualified, and less attemptable, than any the rarest of our
ladies in France.
Iachimo That lady is not now living, or this gentleman's opinion by
this worn out.
Posthumus She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.
Iachimo You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.
Posthumus Being so far provoked 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 praised 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 unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's
outprized by a trifle.
Posthumus You are mistaken. The one may be sold or given, if there
were wealth enough for the purchases, 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 stolen too;
so your brace of unprizable estimations. The one is but
frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-way-
accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of
first and last.
Posthumus Your Italy contains none so accomplished 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 signor, 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 abused in too bold a persuasion, and I
doubt not you sustain what you're 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
reserved.
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 afraid, 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 enjoyed 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 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 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 Signor Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em.
[Exeunt.