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Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich! [Afide. If the be furnish'd with a mind fo rare,

She is alone th' Arabian bird; and I

Have loft the wager. Boldnefs be my friend!
Arm me, audacity, from head to foot:

Or like the Parthian I fhall flying fight,

Rather directly flye.

Imogen reads.

He is one of the nobleft note, to whofe kindnesses I am most infinitely tyed: Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your 'trueft,

9

So far I read aloud.

But even the very middle of my heart

Leonatus.

Is warmed by the reft, and takes it thankfully.
You are as welcome, worthy Sir, as I
Have words to bid you, and fhall find it fo
In all that I can do.

Iach. Thanks, faireft Lady.

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What, are men mad? hath nature giv'n them eyes
To fee this vaulted arch, and the rich crop
Of fea and land, which can diftinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above, and the twin ftones
Upon 'th'unnumber'd beach? and can we not
Partition make with fpectacles fo precious
'Twixt fair and foul?

Imo. What makes your admiration?

Iach. It cannot be i' th' eye; for apes and monkeys, 'Twixt two fuch She's, would chatter this way, and Contemn with mowes the other. Nor i' th' judgment; For Idiots in this cafe of favour would

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old edit. Theob, emend.

Be wifely definite. Nor in the appetite;
Slutt'ry to fuch neat excellence oppos'd
Should make defire vomit ev'n emptiness,
Not fo allure't to feed.

Imo. What is the matter, trow?

Iach. The cloyed will,

That fatiate, yet unfatisfy'd defire, that tub
Both fill'd and running; ravening first the lamb,
Longs after for the garbage.

Imo. What, dear Sir,

Thus raps you? are you well?
Iach. Thanks, Madam, well.
'Befeech you, Sir, defire my man's abode [To Pifanio.
Where I did leave him; he is ftrange and 'fheepish.`
Pif. I was juft going, Sir, to give him welcome.

2

[Exit Pifanio. Imo. Continues well my Lord? his health, 'befeech Jack. Well, Madam.

[you.

Imo. Is he difpos'd to mirth? I hope he is.

Iach. Exceeding pleafant; 'not a stranger there

So merry and fo gamefome; he is call'd

The Briton reveller.

Imo. When he was here

He did incline to sadness, and oft times
Not knowing why.

Iach. I never faw him fad.

There is a Frenchman his companion, one

An eminent monfieur, that it feems much loves

A Gallian girl at home: He furnaces

The thick fighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton,

(Your Lord I mean,) laughs from's free lungs, cries Ob!Can my fides bold, to think, that man who knows

By biftory, report, or his own proof,

What woman is, yea, what he cannot chufe
But must be, will bis free hours languish out
For affur'd bondage?

Imo. Will my Lord fay fo?

2 peevish. 3 was going,

4 none

Iach.

Iach. Ay, Madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter. It is a recreation to be by

And hear him mock the Frenchman: but heav'n knows Some men are much to blame.

Imo. Not he, I hope.

lach. Not he. But yet heav'n's bounty tow'rds him
might

Be us'd more thankfully: In himself 'tis much;
In you, whom I count his beyond all talents,
Whilft I am bound to wonder, I am bound
To pity too.

Imo. What do you pity, Sir?.

Iach. Two creatures heartily.

Imo. Am I one, Sir?

You look on me; what wreck difcern you in me

Deferves your pity?

Iach. Lamentable! what!

To hide me from the radiant fun, and folace
I' th' dungeon by a snuff?

Imo. I pray you, Sir,

Deliver with more opennefs your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?
Iach. That others do

I was about to fay, enjoy your

It is an office of the Gods to venge it,

Not mine to speak on't.

Imo. You do feem to know

but

Something of me, or what concerns me; pray you
(Since doubting things go ill often hurts more.
Than to be fure they do; for certainties
Or are paft remedies; or timely 'known,
The remedy's then born;) discover to me
What both you spur and stop.

Iach. Had I this cheek

5

To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whofe touch,
Whofe very touch wuold force the feeler's foul
To th' oath of loyalty, this object, which

1 4

5 knowing, The remedy then born,

Takes

Takes pris❜ner the wild motion of mine eye,
Fixing it only here; fhould I, damn'd then,
Slaver with lips as common as the stairs
That mount the Capitol? join gripes with hands
Made hard with hourly falfhood, as with labour?
Then glad my felf by peeping in an eye
Bafe and unluftrious as the fmoaky light
That's fed with ftinking tallow? it were fit
That all the plagues of hell fhould at one time
Encounter fuch revolt.

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Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce

The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces
That from my muteft confcience, to my tongue,
Charms this report out.

Imo. Let me hear no more.

Iach. O dearest foul! your caufe doth ftrike my heart With pity, that doth make me fick. A Lady

So fair, and faftned to an empery

Would make the great'ft King double, to be partner'd
With tomboys, hir'd with that felf-exhibition
Which your own coffers yield! with difeas'd ventures
That play with all infirmities for gold,
Which rottennefs lends nature! fuch boyl'd ftuff
As well might poifon poifon! Be reveng'd
Or fhe that bore you was no Queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.

Imo. Reveng'd, alas!

How fhould I be reveng'd, if this be true?
As I have fuch a heart, that both mine ears
Muft not in hafte abufe; if it be true,

How fhall I be reveng'd?

Iach. Should he make me

Live like Diana's 'prieftefs, 'twixt cold fheets ?
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps

6 prieft, betwixteld edit. Warb, emend,

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In your defpight, upon your purfe? revenge
I dedicate my felf to your fweet pleasure,
More noble than that runagate to your bed,
And will continue faft to your affection,
Still close as fure.

Imo. What ho, Pifanio!

it!

Iach. Let me my fervice tender on your lips.
Imo. Away, I do condemn mine ears, that have
So long attended thee. If thou wert honourable,
Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not
For fuch an end thou feek'ft, as bafe as ftrange:
Thou wrong'ft a gentleman, who is as far
From thy report, as thou from honour; and
Sollicit'ft here a Lady, that difdains

Thee, and the devil alike. What ho, Pifanio!
The King my father fhall be made acquainted
Of thy affault; if he fhall think it fit,
A fawcy ftranger in his Court to mart
As in a Romih stew, and to expound
His beaftly mind to us, he hath a Court
He little cares for, and a daughter whom
He not refpects at all. What ho, Pifanio!
Iach. O happy Leonatus, I may fay,
The credit that thy Lady hath, of thee
Deferves thy truft; and thy moft perfect goodness
Her affured credit: bleffed live you long,
A Lady to the worthieft Sir, that ever
Country call'd his; and you his mistress, only
For the moft worthy fit! Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this, to know if your affiance
Were deeply rooted; and fhall make your Lord,
That which he is, new o'er and he is one
The trueft-manner'd, fuch a holy witch,
That he inchants focieties 7 'unto him:
Half all mens hearts are his.

Imo. You make amends.

lach. He fits 'mongst men like a defcended God; He hath a kind of honour fets him off,

7 into

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