cymbeline(辛白林)-第3节
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quality。 But how comes it he is to sojourn with you？ How creeps
acquaintance？ PHILARIO。 His father and I were soldiers together； to
whom I have been often bound for no less than my life。
Enter POSTHUMUS
Here comes the Briton。 Let him be so entertained amongst you as
suits with gentlemen of your knowing to a stranger of his quality。 I
beseech you all be better known to this gentleman； whom I commend to
you as a noble friend of mine。 How worthy he is I will leave to appear
hereafter； rather than story him in his own hearing。 FRENCHMAN。 Sir；
we have known together in Orleans。 POSTHUMUS。 Since when I have
been debtor to you for courtesies； which I will be ever to pay and yet pay
still。 FRENCHMAN。 Sir； you o'errate my poor kindness。 I was glad I did
atone my countryman and you； it had been pity you should have been put
together with so mortal a purpose as then each bore； upon importance of
so slight and trivial a nature。 POSTHUMUS。 By your pardon； sir。 I was
then a young traveller； rather shunn'd to go even with what I heard than in
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my every action to be guided by others' experiences； but upon my mended
judgment… if I offend not to say it is mended… my quarrel was not
altogether slight。 FRENCHMAN。 Faith； yes； to be put to the arbitrement
of swords； and by such two that would by all likelihood have confounded
one the other or have fall'n both。 IACHIMO。 Can we； with manners； ask
what was the difference？ FRENCHMAN。 Safely； I think。 'Twas a
contention in public； which may； without contradiction； suffer the report。 It
was much like an argument that fell out last night； where each of us fell in
praise of our country mistresses； this gentleman at that time vouching… and
upon warrant of bloody affirmation… his to be more fair； virtuous； wise；
chaste； constant； qualified； and less attemptable； than any the rarest of our
ladies in France。 IACHIMO。 That lady is not now living； or this
gentleman's opinion； by this； worn out。 POSTHUMUS。 She holds her
virtue still； and I my mind。 IACHIMO。 You must not so far prefer her fore
ours of Italy。 POSTHUMUS。 Being so far provok'd as I was in France； I
would abate her nothing； though I profess myself her adorer； not her friend。
IACHIMO。 As fair and as good… a kind of hand…in…hand comparison… had
been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain。 If she went
before others I have seen as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have
beheld； I could not but believe she excelled many； but I have not seen the
most precious diamond that is； nor you the lady。 POSTHUMUS。 I prais'd
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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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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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
