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her as I rated her。 So do I my stone。 IACHIMO。 What do you esteem it at？
POSTHUMUS。 More than the world enjoys。 IACHIMO。 Either your
unparagon'd mistress is dead； or she's outpriz'd by a trifle。 POSTHUMUS。
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。 Which by their graces I will keep。 IACHIMO。 You
may wear her in title yours； but you know strange fowl light upon
neighbouring ponds。 Your ring may be stol'n too。 So your brace of
unprizable estimations； the one is but frail and the other casual； a cunning
thief； or a that…way…accomplish'd courtier； would hazard the winning both
of first and last。 POSTHUMUS。 Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd
a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress； if in the holding or loss
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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。 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。 No； no。 IACHIMO。 I dare
thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring； which； in my
opinion； o'ervalues it something。 But I make my wager rather against your
confidence than her reputation； and； to bar your offence herein too； I durst
attempt it against any lady in the world。 POSTHUMUS。 You are a great
deal abus'd in too bold a persuasion； and I doubt not you sustain what y'are
worthy of by your attempt。 IACHIMO。 What's that？ POSTHUMUS。 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 neighbour's on th' approbation of what I have
spoke！ POSTHUMUS。 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 honour of hers which you
imagine so reserv'd。 POSTHUMUS。 I will wage against your gold； gold to
it。 My ring I hold dear as my finger； 'tis part of it。 IACHIMO。 You are a
friend； 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。 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。 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 enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your
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CYMBELINE
mistress； my ten thousand ducats are yours； so is your diamond too。 If I
come off； and leave her in such honour 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。 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 prevail'd； I am no further your enemy… she is not
worth our debate； if she remain unseduc'd； you not making it appear
otherwise； for your ill opinion and th' 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。
Agreed。 Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO FRENCHMAN。 Will this
hold； think you？ PHILARIO。 Signior Iachimo will not from it。 Pray let us
follow 'em。 Exeunt
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CYMBELINE
SCENE V。 Britain。 CYMBELINE'S palace
Enter QUEEN； LADIES； and CORNELIUS
QUEEN。 Whiles yet the dew's on ground； gather those flowers； Make
haste； who has the note of them？ LADY。 I； madam。 QUEEN。 Dispatch。
Exeunt LADIES Now； Master Doctor； have you brought those drugs？
CORNELIUS。 Pleaseth your Highness； ay。 Here they are； madam。
＇Presenting a box＇ But I beseech your Grace； without offence… My
conscience bids me ask… wherefore you have Commanded of me these
most poisonous compounds Which are the movers of a languishing death；
But； though slow； deadly？ QUEEN。 I wonder； Doctor； Thou ask'st me such
a question。 Have I not been Thy pupil long？ Hast thou not learn'd me how
To make perfumes？ distil？ preserve？ yea； so That our great king himself
doth woo me oft For my confections？ Having thus far proceeded… Unless
thou think'st me devilish… is't not meet That I did amplify my judgment in
Other conclusions？ I will try the forces Of these thy compounds on such
creatures as We count not worth the hanging… but none human… To try the
vigour of them； and apply Allayments to their act； and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects。 CORNELIUS。 Your Highness Shall from
this practice but make hard your heart； Besides； the seeing these effects
will be Both noisome and infectious。 QUEEN。 O； content thee。
Enter PISANIO
＇Aside＇ Here comes a flattering rascal； upon him Will I first work。
H