Act II · Scene IV
Rome. Philario's house.
Hover a speech to translate it — or press play to hear it performed.
Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sureTo win the king as I am bold her honourWill remain hers.
PHILARIO
What means do you make to him?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Not any, but abide the change of time,Quake in the present winter's state and wishThat warmer days would come: in these sear'd hopes,I barely gratify your love; they failing,I must die much your debtor.
PHILARIO
Your very goodness and your companyO'erpays all I can do. By this, your kingHath heard of great Augustus: Caius LuciusWill do's commission throughly: and I thinkHe'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages,Or look upon our Romans, whose remembranceIs yet fresh in their grief.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
I do believe,Statist though I am none, nor like to be,That this will prove a war; and you shall hearThe legions now in Gallia sooner landedIn our not-fearing Britain than have tidingsOf any penny tribute paid. Our countrymenAre men more order'd than when Julius CaesarSmiled at their lack of skill, but foundtheir courageWorthy his frowning at: their discipline,Now mingled with their courages, will make knownTo their approvers they are people suchThat mend upon the world.
Enter IACHIMO
PHILARIO
See! Iachimo!
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
The swiftest harts have posted you by land;And winds of all the comers kiss'd your sails,To make your vessel nimble.
PHILARIO
Welcome, sir.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
I hope the briefness of your answer madeThe speediness of your return.
IACHIMO
Your ladyIs one of the fairest that I have look'd upon.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
And therewithal the best; or let her beautyLook through a casement to allure false heartsAnd be false with them.
IACHIMO
Here are letters for you.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Their tenor good, I trust.
IACHIMO
'Tis very like.
PHILARIO
Was Caius Lucius in the Britain courtWhen you were there?
IACHIMO
He was expected then,But not approach'd.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
All is well yet.Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't notToo dull for your good wearing?
IACHIMO
If I had lost it,I should have lost the worth of it in gold.I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoyA second night of such sweet shortness whichWas mine in Britain, for the ring is won.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
The stone's too hard to come by.
IACHIMO
Not a whit,Your lady being so easy.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Make not, sir,Your loss your sport: I hope you know that weMust not continue friends.
IACHIMO
Good sir, we must,If you keep covenant. Had I not broughtThe knowledge of your mistress home, I grantWe were to question further: but I nowProfess myself the winner of her honour,Together with your ring; and not the wrongerOf her or you, having proceeded butBy both your wills.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
If you can make't apparentThat you have tasted her in bed, my handAnd ring is yours; if not, the foul opinionYou had of her pure honour gains or losesYour sword or mine, or masterless leaves bothTo who shall find them.
IACHIMO
Sir, my circumstances,Being so near the truth as I will make them,Must first induce you to believe: whose strengthI will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not,You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall findYou need it not.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Proceed.
IACHIMO
First, her bedchamber,--Where, I confess, I slept not, but professHad that was well worth watching--it was hang'dWith tapesty of silk and silver; the storyProud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or forThe press of boats or pride: a piece of workSo bravely done, so rich, that it did striveIn workmanship and value; which I wonder'dCould be so rarely and exactly wrought,Since the true life on't was--
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
This is true;And this you might have heard of here, by me,Or by some other.
IACHIMO
More particularsMust justify my knowledge.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
So they must,Or do your honour injury.
IACHIMO
The chimneyIs south the chamber, and the chimney-pieceChaste Dian bathing: never saw I figuresSo likely to report themselves: the cutterWas as another nature, dumb; outwent her,Motion and breath left out.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
This is a thingWhich you might from relation likewise reap,Being, as it is, much spoke of.
IACHIMO
The roof o' the chamberWith golden cherubins is fretted: her andirons--I had forgot them--were two winking CupidsOf silver, each on one foot standing, nicelyDepending on their brands.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
This is her honour!Let it be granted you have seen all this--and praiseBe given to your remembrance--the descriptionOf what is in her chamber nothing savesThe wager you have laid.
IACHIMO
Then, if you can,
Showing the bracelet
IACHIMO
Be pale: I beg but leave to air this jewel; see!And now 'tis up again: it must be marriedTo that your diamond; I'll keep them.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Jove!Once more let me behold it: is it thatWhich I left with her?
IACHIMO
Sir--I thank her--that:She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;Her pretty action did outsell her gift,And yet enrich'd it too: she gave it me, and saidShe prized it once.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
May be she pluck'd it offTo send it me.
IACHIMO
She writes so to you, doth she?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
O, no, no, no! 'tis true. Here, take this too;
Gives the ring
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
It is a basilisk unto mine eye,Kills me to look on't. Let there be no honourWhere there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love,Where there's another man: the vows of womenOf no more bondage be, to where they are made,Than they are to their virtues; which is nothing.O, above measure false!
PHILARIO
Have patience, sir,And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won:It may be probable she lost it; orWho knows if one of her women, being corrupted,Hath stol'n it from her?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Very true;And so, I hope, he came by't. Back my ring:Render to me some corporal sign about her,More evident than this; for this was stolen.
IACHIMO
By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears.'Tis true:--nay, keep the ring--'tis true: I am sureShe would not lose it: her attendants areAll sworn and honourable:--they induced to steal it!And by a stranger!--No, he hath enjoyed her:The cognizance of her incontinencyIs this: she hath bought the name of whorethus dearly.There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hellDivide themselves between you!
PHILARIO
Sir, be patient:This is not strong enough to be believedOf one persuaded well of--
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Never talk on't;She hath been colted by him.
IACHIMO
If you seekFor further satisfying, under her breast--Worthy the pressing--lies a mole, right proudOf that most delicate lodging: by my life,I kiss'd it; and it gave me present hungerTo feed again, though full. You do rememberThis stain upon her?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Ay, and it doth confirmAnother stain, as big as hell can hold,Were there no more but it.
IACHIMO
Will you hear more?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
Spare your arithmetic: never count the turns;Once, and a million!
IACHIMO
I'll be sworn--
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
No swearing.If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;And I will kill thee, if thou dost denyThou'st made me cuckold.
IACHIMO
I'll deny nothing.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!I will go there and do't, i' the court, beforeHer father. I'll do something--
Exit
PHILARIO
Quite besidesThe government of patience! You have won:Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrathHe hath against himself.
IACHIMO
With an my heart.
Exeunt