Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 4

Rome. Philario's house.

  1. [Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO]
  2. Posthumus
  3. 1100 Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure
  4. 1101 To win the king as I am bold her honour
  5. 1102 Will remain hers.
  6. Philario
  7. 1103 What means do you make to him?
  8. Posthumus
  9. 1104 Not any, but abide the change of time,
  10. 1105 Quake in the present winter's state and wish
  11. 1106 That warmer days would come: in these sear'd hopes,
  12. 1107 I barely gratify your love; they failing,
  13. 1108 I must die much your debtor.
  14. Philario
  15. 1109 Your very goodness and your company
  16. 1110 O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king
  17. 1111 Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius
  18. 1112 Will do's commission throughly: and I think
  19. 1113 He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages,
  20. 1114 Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
  21. 1115 Is yet fresh in their grief.
  22. Posthumus
  23. 1116 I do believe,
  24. 1117 Statist though I am none, nor like to be,
  25. 1118 That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
  26. 1119 The legions now in Gallia sooner landed
  27. 1120 In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings
  28. 1121 Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
  29. 1122 Are men more order'd than when Julius Caesar
  30. 1123 Smiled at their lack of skill, but found
  31. 1124 their courage
  32. 1125 Worthy his frowning at: their discipline,
  33. 1126 Now mingled with their courages, will make known
  34. 1127 To their approvers they are people such
  35. 1128 That mend upon the world.
  36. [Enter IACHIMO]
  37. Philario
  38. 1129 See! Iachimo!
  39. Posthumus
  40. 1130 The swiftest harts have posted you by land;
  41. 1131 And winds of all the comers kiss'd your sails,
  42. 1132 To make your vessel nimble.
  43. Philario
  44. 1133 Welcome, sir.
  45. Posthumus
  46. 1134 I hope the briefness of your answer made
  47. 1135 The speediness of your return.
  48. Iachimo
  49. 1136 Your lady
  50. 1137 Is one of the fairest that I have look'd upon.
  51. Posthumus
  52. 1138 And therewithal the best; or let her beauty
  53. 1139 Look through a casement to allure false hearts
  54. 1140 And be false with them.
  55. Iachimo
  56. 1141 Here are letters for you.
  57. Posthumus
  58. 1142 Their tenor good, I trust.
  59. Iachimo
  60. 1143 'Tis very like.
  61. Philario
  62. 1144 Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court
  63. 1145 When you were there?
  64. Iachimo
  65. 1146 He was expected then,
  66. 1147 But not approach'd.
  67. Posthumus
  68. 1148 All is well yet.
  69. 1149 Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't not
  70. 1150 Too dull for your good wearing?
  71. Iachimo
  72. 1151 If I had lost it,
  73. 1152 I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
  74. 1153 I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
  75. 1154 A second night of such sweet shortness which
  76. 1155 Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.
  77. Posthumus
  78. 1156 The stone's too hard to come by.
  79. Iachimo
  80. 1157 Not a whit,
  81. 1158 Your lady being so easy.
  82. Posthumus
  83. 1159 Make not, sir,
  84. 1160 Your loss your sport: I hope you know that we
  85. 1161 Must not continue friends.
  86. Iachimo
  87. 1162 Good sir, we must,
  88. 1163 If you keep covenant. Had I not brought
  89. 1164 The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
  90. 1165 We were to question further: but I now
  91. 1166 Profess myself the winner of her honour,
  92. 1167 Together with your ring; and not the wronger
  93. 1168 Of her or you, having proceeded but
  94. 1169 By both your wills.
  95. Posthumus
  96. 1170 If you can make't apparent
  97. 1171 That you have tasted her in bed, my hand
  98. 1172 And ring is yours; if not, the foul opinion
  99. 1173 You had of her pure honour gains or loses
  100. 1174 Your sword or mine, or masterless leaves both
  101. 1175 To who shall find them.
  102. Iachimo
  103. 1176 Sir, my circumstances,
  104. 1177 Being so near the truth as I will make them,
  105. 1178 Must first induce you to believe: whose strength
  106. 1179 I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not,
  107. 1180 You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall find
  108. 1181 You need it not.
  109. Posthumus
  110. 1182 Proceed.
  111. Iachimo
  112. 1183 First, her bedchamber,—
  113. 1184 Where, I confess, I slept not, but profess
  114. 1185 Had that was well worth watching—it was hang'd
  115. 1186 With tapesty of silk and silver; the story
  116. 1187 Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
  117. 1188 And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for
  118. 1189 The press of boats or pride: a piece of work
  119. 1190 So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive
  120. 1191 In workmanship and value; which I wonder'd
  121. 1192 Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,
  122. 1193 Since the true life on't was—
  123. Posthumus
  124. 1194 This is true;
  125. 1195 And this you might have heard of here, by me,
  126. 1196 Or by some other.
  127. Iachimo
  128. 1197 More particulars
  129. 1198 Must justify my knowledge.
  130. Posthumus
  131. 1199 So they must,
  132. 1200 Or do your honour injury.
  133. Iachimo
  134. 1201 The chimney
  135. 1202 Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece
  136. 1203 Chaste Dian bathing: never saw I figures
  137. 1204 So likely to report themselves: the cutter
  138. 1205 Was as another nature, dumb; outwent her,
  139. 1206 Motion and breath left out.
  140. Posthumus
  141. 1207 This is a thing
  142. 1208 Which you might from relation likewise reap,
  143. 1209 Being, as it is, much spoke of.
  144. Iachimo
  145. 1210 The roof o' the chamber
  146. 1211 With golden cherubins is fretted: her andirons—
  147. 1212 I had forgot them—were two winking Cupids
  148. 1213 Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
  149. 1214 Depending on their brands.
  150. Posthumus
  151. 1215 This is her honour!
  152. 1216 Let it be granted you have seen all this—and praise
  153. 1217 Be given to your remembrance—the description
  154. 1218 Of what is in her chamber nothing saves
  155. 1219 The wager you have laid.
  156. Iachimo
  157. 1220 Then, if you can,
  158. [Showing the bracelet]
  159. Iachimo
  160. 1221 Be pale: I beg but leave to air this jewel; see!
  161. 1222 And now 'tis up again: it must be married
  162. 1223 To that your diamond; I'll keep them.
  163. Posthumus
  164. 1224 Jove!
  165. 1225 Once more let me behold it: is it that
  166. 1226 Which I left with her?
  167. Iachimo
  168. 1227 Sir—I thank her—that:
  169. 1228 She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;
  170. 1229 Her pretty action did outsell her gift,
  171. 1230 And yet enrich'd it too: she gave it me, and said
  172. 1231 She prized it once.
  173. Posthumus
  174. 1232 May be she pluck'd it off
  175. 1233 To send it me.
  176. Iachimo
  177. 1234 She writes so to you, doth she?
  178. Posthumus
  179. 1235 O, no, no, no! 'tis true. Here, take this too;
  180. [Gives the ring]
  181. Posthumus
  182. 1236 It is a basilisk unto mine eye,
  183. 1237 Kills me to look on't. Let there be no honour
  184. 1238 Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love,
  185. 1239 Where there's another man: the vows of women
  186. 1240 Of no more bondage be, to where they are made,
  187. 1241 Than they are to their virtues; which is nothing.
  188. 1242 O, above measure false!
  189. Philario
  190. 1243 Have patience, sir,
  191. 1244 And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won:
  192. 1245 It may be probable she lost it; or
  193. 1246 Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted,
  194. 1247 Hath stol'n it from her?
  195. Posthumus
  196. 1248 Very true;
  197. 1249 And so, I hope, he came by't. Back my ring:
  198. 1250 Render to me some corporal sign about her,
  199. 1251 More evident than this; for this was stolen.
  200. Iachimo
  201. 1252 By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
  202. Posthumus
  203. 1253 Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears.
  204. 1254 'Tis true:—nay, keep the ring—'tis true: I am sure
  205. 1255 She would not lose it: her attendants are
  206. 1256 All sworn and honourable:—they induced to steal it!
  207. 1257 And by a stranger!—No, he hath enjoyed her:
  208. 1258 The cognizance of her incontinency
  209. 1259 Is this: she hath bought the name of whore
  210. 1260 thus dearly.
  211. 1261 There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hell
  212. 1262 Divide themselves between you!
  213. Philario
  214. 1263 Sir, be patient:
  215. 1264 This is not strong enough to be believed
  216. 1265 Of one persuaded well of—
  217. Posthumus
  218. 1266 Never talk on't;
  219. 1267 She hath been colted by him.
  220. Iachimo
  221. 1268 If you seek
  222. 1269 For further satisfying, under her breast—
  223. 1270 Worthy the pressing—lies a mole, right proud
  224. 1271 Of that most delicate lodging: by my life,
  225. 1272 I kiss'd it; and it gave me present hunger
  226. 1273 To feed again, though full. You do remember
  227. 1274 This stain upon her?
  228. Posthumus
  229. 1275 Ay, and it doth confirm
  230. 1276 Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
  231. 1277 Were there no more but it.
  232. Iachimo
  233. 1278 Will you hear more?
  234. Posthumus
  235. 1279 Spare your arithmetic: never count the turns;
  236. 1280 Once, and a million!
  237. Iachimo
  238. 1281 I'll be sworn—
  239. Posthumus
  240. 1282 No swearing.
  241. 1283 If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;
  242. 1284 And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny
  243. 1285 Thou'st made me cuckold.
  244. Iachimo
  245. 1286 I'll deny nothing.
  246. Posthumus
  247. 1287 O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!
  248. 1288 I will go there and do't, i' the court, before
  249. 1289 Her father. I'll do something—
  250. [Exit]
  251. Philario
  252. 1290 Quite besides
  253. 1291 The government of patience! You have won:
  254. 1292 Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath
  255. 1293 He hath against himself.
  256. Iachimo
  257. 1294 With an my heart.
  258. [Exeunt]