The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare/Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso/shakes/text/27/01_04

Text File | 1991-04-10 | 8KB | 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.