She doth think she has

Strange ling’ring poisons40: I do know her spirit,

And will not trust one of her malice with

A drug of such damned nature. Those she has

Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,

Which first, perchance, she’ll prove44 on cats and dogs,

Then afterward up higher45: but there is

No danger in what show46 of death it makes,

More than the locking-up the spirits a time47,

To be more fresh, reviving.48 She is fooled

With a most false effect: and I the truer

So to be false with her.

QUEEN    No further service, doctor,

Until I send for thee.

CORNELIUS    I humbly take my leave.

Exit

QUEEN    Weeps she still, say’st thou? Dost thou think in time

She will not quench, and let instructions55 enter

Where folly now possesses? Do thou work56:

When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,

I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then

As great as is thy master: greater, for

His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name60

Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor

Continue where he is: to shift his being62

Is to exchange one misery with another,

And every day that comes comes to decay64

A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect

To be depender on a thing that leans?66

Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends

So much as but to prop him?

She drops the box and Pisanio picks it up

Thou takest up

Thou know’st not what: but take it for thy labour,

It is a thing I made, which hath the king

Five times redeemed from death. I do not know

What is more cordial.73 Nay, I prithee, take it,

It is an earnest74 of a farther good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how

The case stands with her: do’t, as from thyself76;

Think what a chance thou changest on77, but think

Thou hast thy mistress still, to boot78, my son,

Who shall take notice of thee. I’ll move the king79

To any shape of thy preferment, such

As thou’lt desire: and then myself, I chiefly,

That set thee on to this desert82, am bound

To load83 thy merit richly. Call my women.

Think on my words.—

Exit Pisanio

                       A sly and constant84 knave,

Not to be shaked85: the agent for his master,

And the remembrancer86 of her to hold

The handfast87 to her lord. I have given him that,

Which if he take, shall quite unpeople her88

Of liegers89 for her sweet: and which she after,

Except she bend her humour90, shall be assured

To taste of too.—

Enter Pisanio and Ladies

With flowers

                       So, so: well done, well done:

The violets, cowslips and the primroses

Bear to my closet.93— Fare thee well, Pisanio.

Think on my words.

Exeunt Queen and Ladies

PISANIO    And shall do:

But when to my good lord I prove untrue,

I’ll choke myself: there’s all I’ll do for you.

Exit

Act 1 Scene 6

running scene 3 continues

Enter Innogen alone

INNOGEN    A father cruel and a stepdame1 false,

A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

That hath her husband banished3: O, that husband,

My supreme crown of grief, and those repeated

Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol’n5,

As my two brothers, happy: but most miserable

Is the desire that’s glorious.7 Blest be those,

How mean soe’er, that have their honest wills8,

Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!9

Enter Pisanio and Iachimo

PISANIO    Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,

Comes from my lord with letters.

IACHIMO    Change you12, madam:

The worthy Leonatus is in safety

Presents a letter

And greets your highness dearly.

INNOGEN    Thanks good sir,

You’re kindly welcome.

Aside

IACHIMO    All of her that is out of door17 most rich!

If she be furnished with a mind so rare18,

She is alone th’Arabian bird19, and I

Have lost the wager. Boldness21 be my friend:

Arm me audacity21 from head to foot,

Or like the Parthian I shall flying fight22,

Rather, directly fly.23

INNOGEN    Reads ‘He is one of the noblest note24, to whose

kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect25 upon him

accordingly, as you value your trust.26 Leonatus.’

So far27 I read aloud.

But even the very middle of my heart

Is warmed by th’rest, and takes it thankfully.

You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

Have words to bid you, and shall find it so

In all that I can do.

IACHIMO    Thanks, fairest lady.—

What, are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes

To see this vaulted arch35 and the rich crop

Of sea and land, which36 can distinguish ’twixt

The fiery orbs above and the twinned37 stones

Upon th’unnumbered38 beach, and can we not

Partition make with spectacles so precious39

’Twixt fair and foul?

INNOGEN    What makes your admiration?41

IACHIMO    It cannot be i’th’eye: for apes and monkeys,

’Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way43 and

Contemn with mows44 the other. Nor i’th’judgement:

For idiots in this case of favour would45

Be wisely definite. Nor i’th’appetite46:

Sluttery, to such neat47 excellence opposed,

Should make desire vomit emptiness48,

Not so allured to feed.49

INNOGEN    What is the matter, trow?50

IACHIMO    The cloyèd will51,

That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub

Both filled and running, ravening53 first the lamb,

Longs after for the garbage.54

INNOGEN    What, dear sir,

Thus raps56 you? Are you well?

To Pisanio

IACHIMO    Thanks, madam, well.— Beseech you, sir,

Desire my man’s abode58 where I did leave him:

He’s strange and peevish.59

PISANIO    I was going, sir,

To give him welcome.

Exit

INNOGEN    Continues well my lord? His health, beseech you?

IACHIMO    Well, madam.

INNOGEN    Is he disposed to mirth? I hope he is.

IACHIMO    Exceeding pleasant: none a stranger there

So merry and so gamesome66: he is called

The Briton reveller.

INNOGEN    When he was here

He did incline to sadness69, and oft-times

Not knowing why.

IACHIMO    I never saw him sad.

There is a Frenchman his companion, one72

An eminent monsieur, that it seems much loves

A Gallian girl at home. He furnaces74

The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton —

Your lord, I mean — laughs from’s free lungs76: cries ‘O,

Can my sides hold, to think that man, who knows

By history, report or his own proof78,

What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose

But must be, will’s free hours languish

For assurèd bondage?’

INNOGEN    Will my lord say so?

IACHIMO    Ay, madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter:

It is a recreation to be by

And hear him mock the Frenchman. But, heavens know,

Some men are much to blame.

INNOGEN    Not he, I hope.

IACHIMO    Not he: but yet heaven’s bounty towards him might88

Be used more thankfully. In himself ’tis89 much;

In you, which I account his, beyond all talents.90

Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound

To pity too.

INNOGEN    What do you pity, sir?

IACHIMO    Two creatures heartily.

INNOGEN    Am I one, sir?

You look on me: what wreck discern you in me

Deserves your pity?

IACHIMO    Lamentable! What,

To hide me99 from the radiant sun, and solace

I’th’dungeon by a snuff?100

INNOGEN    I pray you, sir,

Deliver with more openness your answers

To my demands. Why do you pity me?

IACHIMO    That others do —

I was about to say, enjoy105 your — but

It is an office of the gods to venge106 it,

Not mine to speak on’t.

INNOGEN    You do seem to know

Something of me, or what concerns me; pray you,

Since doubting things go ill110 often hurts more

Than to be sure they do — for certainties

Either are past remedies, or, timely knowing112,

The remedy then born — discover to me113

What both you spur and stop.

IACHIMO    Had I115 this cheek

To bathe my lips upon: this hand, whose touch,

Whose every touch, would force the feeler’s117 soul

To th’oath of loyalty: this object118, which

Takes prisoner the wild motion119 of mine eye,

Firing120 it only here: should I, damned then,

Slaver with lips as common as the stairs121

That mount the Capitol122: join grips with hands

Made hard with hourly falsehood — falsehood, as123

With labour — then by-peeping124 in an eye

Base and illustrous125 as the smoky light

That’s fed with stinking tallow: it were fit126

That all the plagues of hell should at one time

Encounter such revolt.128

INNOGEN    My lord, I fear,

Has forgot Britain.

IACHIMO    And himself. Not I131

Inclined to this intelligence pronounce

The beggary of his change: but ’tis your graces

That from my mutest conscience to my tongue

Charms this report out.

INNOGEN    Let me hear no more.

IACHIMO    O dearest soul: your cause doth strike my heart

With pity that doth make me sick. A lady

So fair, and fastened to an empery139

Would make the great’st king double, to be partnered140

With tomboys hired with that self-exhibition141

Which your own coffers yield: with diseased ventures142

That play with all infirmities143 for gold

Which rottenness can lend nature: such boiled stuff144

As well might poison poison. Be revenged,

Or she that bore you was no queen, and you

Recoil from your great stock.147

INNOGEN    Revenged?

How should I be revenged? If this be true —

As I have such a heart that both mine ears

Must not in haste abuse — if it be true,

How should I be revenged?

IACHIMO    Should he make me

Live like Diana’s priest, betwixt cold154 sheets,

Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps155,

In your despite, upon your purse156 — revenge it.

I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure,

More noble than that runagate158 to your bed,

And will continue fast159 to your affection,

Still close as sure.

Calls

INNOGEN    What ho, Pisanio!

IACHIMO    Let me my service tender on your lips.162

INNOGEN    Away, I do condemn mine ears that have

So long attended thee.164 If thou wert honourable

Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not

For such an end thou seek’st, as base as strange.

Thou wrong’st a gentleman who is as far

From thy report as thou from honour, and

Solicit’st here a lady that disdains

Thee and the devil alike.— What ho, Pisanio!

The king my father shall be made acquainted

Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit,

A saucy stranger in his court to mart173

As in a Romish stew174, and to expound

His beastly mind to us175, he hath a court

He little cares for, and a daughter who

He not respects at all.— What ho, Pisanio!

IACHIMO    O happy Leonatus I may say,

The credit179 that thy lady hath of thee

Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness

Her assured credit. Blessèd live you long,

A lady to the worthiest sir that ever

Country called his; and you his mistress, only

For the most worthiest fit. Give me your pardon.

I have spoke this to know if your affiance185

Were deeply rooted, and shall make your lord

That which he is new o’er187: and he is one

The truest mannered, such a holy witch188

That he enchants societies into him:

Half all men’s hearts are his.

INNOGEN    You make amends.

IACHIMO    He sits ’mongst men like a descended god;

He hath a kind of honour sets him off

More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,

Most mighty princess, that I have adventured

To try your taking196 of a false report, which hath

Honoured with confirmation your great judgement

In the election of a sir so rare198,

Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him

Made me to fan200 you thus, but the gods made you,

Unlike all others, chaffless.201 Pray your pardon.

INNOGEN    All’s well, sir: take my power i’th’court for yours.

IACHIMO    My humble thanks. I had almost forgot

T’entreat your grace but204 in a small request,

And yet of moment205 too, for it concerns

Your lord: myself and other noble friends

Are partners in the business.

INNOGEN    Pray what is’t?

IACHIMO    Some dozen Romans of us and your lord —

The best feather of our wing — have mingled sums210

To buy a present for the emperor:

Which I, the factor212 for the rest, have done

In France: ’tis plate of rare device213, and jewels

Of rich and exquisite form, their value’s great,

And I am something curious, being strange215,

To have them in safe stowage: may it please you

To take them in protection?

INNOGEN    Willingly:

And pawn219 mine honour for their safety, since

My lord hath interest220 in them. I will keep them

In my bedchamber.

IACHIMO    They are in a trunk

Attended by my men: I will make bold

To send them to you, only for this night:

I must aboard tomorrow.

INNOGEN    O, no, no.

IACHIMO    Yes, I beseech: or I shall short227 my word

By length’ning my return. From Gallia228

I crossed the seas on purpose and on promise

To see your grace.

INNOGEN    I thank you for your pains:

But not away tomorrow.

IACHIMO    O, I must, madam.

Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please

To greet your lord with writing, do’t tonight.

I have outstood my time, which is material236

To th’tender237 of our present.

INNOGEN    I will write:

Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,

And truly yielded you. You’re very welcome.

Exeunt

Act 2 Scene 1

running scene 4

Enter Cloten and the two Lords

CLOTEN    Was there ever man had such luck? When I kissed1

the jack upon an upcast2, to be hit away! I had a hundred

pound on’t: and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me3

up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of4 him, and

might not spend them at my pleasure.5

FIRST LORD    What got he by that? You have broke his pate6 with

your bowl.

Aside

SECOND LORD    If his wit had been like him that broke it, it8

would have run all out.

CLOTEN    When a gentleman10 is disposed to swear, it is not for

any standers-by to curtail11 his oaths. Ha?

Aside

SECOND LORD    No my lord.—

Nor crop the ears of them.

CLOTEN    Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he

had been one of my rank.15

Aside

SECOND LORD    To have smelled like a fool.

CLOTEN    I am not vexed more at anything in th’earth: a pox17

on’t! I had rather not be so18 noble as I am: they dare not fight

with me, because of the queen my mother: every jack-slave19

hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like

a cock21 that nobody can match.

Aside

SECOND LORD    You are cock and capon22 too, and you crow,

cock, with your comb23 on.

CLOTEN    Sayest thou?24

SECOND LORD    It is not fit your lordship should undertake25 every

companion26 that you give offence to.

CLOTEN    No, I know that: but it is fit I should commit offence27

to my inferiors.

SECOND LORD    Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.29

CLOTEN    Why, so I say.

FIRST LORD    Did you hear of a stranger that’s come to court

tonight?

CLOTEN    A stranger, and I not know on’t?

Aside

SECOND LORD    He’s a strange fellow himself, and knows

it not.

FIRST LORD    There’s an Italian come, and ’tis thought one of

Leonatus’ friends.

CLOTEN    Leonatus? A banished rascal; and he’s another,

whatsoever39 he be. Who told you of this stranger?

FIRST LORD    One of your lordship’s pages.

CLOTEN    Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no

derogation42 in’t?

SECOND LORD    You cannot derogate43, my lord.

CLOTEN    Not easily, I think.

Aside

SECOND LORD    You are a fool granted, therefore your issues45,

being foolish, do not derogate.

CLOTEN    Come, I’ll go see this Italian: what I have lost today

at bowls I’ll win tonight of him.