Cymbeline

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
Aye, and the approbation of those that weep this lamentable divorce under her colors are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment, 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. Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.
 
[Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS]
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 LEONATUS
Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still.
 
FRENCHMAN
Sir, you ore-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had been 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 LEONATUS
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 judgment--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 LEONATUS
She holds her virtue still and I my mind.
 
IACHIMO
You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
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 outlusters 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 LEONATUS
I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone.
 
IACHIMO
What do you esteem it at?
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
More than the world enjoys.
 
IACHIMO
Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outprized by a trifle.
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase, 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 LEONATUS
Which, by their graces, I will keep.
 
IACHIMO
You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighboring 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 LEONATUS
Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honor 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 LEONATUS
Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, 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 LEONATUS
No, no.
 
IACHIMO
I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, orevalues it something: but I make my wager rather against your confidence than her reputation: and, to bar your offense herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
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 LEONATUS
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 neighbor's on the approbation of what I have spoke!
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
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 honor of hers which you imagine so reserved.
 
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
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 LEONATUS
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 LEONATUS
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 honor 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 LEONATUS
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 the 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 LEONATUS
Agreed.
 
[Exeunt POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and IACHIMO]
 
FRENCHMAN
Will this hold, think you?
 
PHILARIO
Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em.
 
[Exeunt]