Enter Imogen alone.IMOGEN A father cruel and a stepdame false, A foolish suitor to a wedded lady That hath her husband banished. O, that husband, My supreme crown of grief and those repeated5 Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol’n, As my two brothers, happy; but most miserable Is the ⌜desire⌝ that’s glorious. Blessed be those, How mean soe’er, that have their honest wills, Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!Enter Pisanio and Iachimo.PISANIO 10 Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome Comes from my lord with letters.IACHIMO Change you, madam? The worthy Leonatus is in safety15 And greets your Highness dearly.⌜He gives her a letter.⌝IMOGEN Thanks, good sir. You’re kindly welcome.IACHIMO, ⌜aside⌝ All of her that is out of door, most rich! If she be furnished with a mind so rare,20 She is alone th’ Arabian bird, and I Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend. Arm me, audacity, from head to foot, Or like the Parthian I shall flying fight— Rather, directly fly.IMOGEN reads: 25He is one of the noblest note, to whose
kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon
him accordingly as you value your trust.
Leonatus.
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So far I read aloud.30 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 35 Thanks, fairest lady.— What, are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes To see this vaulted arch and the rich crop Of sea and land, which can distinguish ’twixt The fiery orbs above and the twinned stones40 Upon the numbered beach, and can we not Partition make with spectacles so precious ’Twixt fair and foul?IMOGEN What makes your admiration?IACHIMO It cannot be i’ th’ eye, for apes and monkeys45 ’Twixt two such shes would chatter this way and Contemn with mows the other; nor i’ th’ judgment, For idiots in this case of favor would Be wisely definite; nor i’ th’ appetite— Sluttery to such neat excellence opposed50 Should make desire vomit emptiness, Not so allured to feed.IMOGEN What is the matter, trow?IACHIMO The cloyèd will, That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub55 Both filled and running, ravening first the lamb, Longs after for the garbage.IMOGEN What, dear sir, Thus raps you? Are you well?IACHIMO Thanks, madam, well.60 (⌜To Pisanio.⌝) Beseech you, sir, Desire my man’s abode where I did leave him. He’s strange and peevish.
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PISANIO I was going, sir, To give him welcome.He exits.IMOGEN 65 Continues well my lord? His health, beseech you?IACHIMO Well, madam.IMOGEN Is he disposed to mirth? I hope he is.IACHIMO Exceeding pleasant. None a stranger there So merry and so gamesome. He is called70 The Briton Reveler.IMOGEN When he was here He did incline to sadness, and ofttimes Not knowing why.IACHIMO I never saw him sad.75 There is a Frenchman his companion, one An eminent monsieur that, it seems, much loves A Gallian girl at home. He furnaces The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton— Your lord, I mean—laughs from ’s free lungs, cries “O,80 Can my sides hold to think that man who knows By history, report, or his own proof What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose But must be, will ’s free hours languish for Assurèd bondage?”IMOGEN 85 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 know90 Some men are much to blame.IMOGEN Not he, I hope.IACHIMO Not he—but yet heaven’s bounty towards him might Be used more thankfully. In himself ’tis much;
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In you, which I account his, beyond all talents.95 Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound To pity too.IMOGEN What do you pity, sir?IACHIMO Two creatures heartily.IMOGEN Am I one, sir?100 You look on me. What wrack discern you in me Deserves your pity?IACHIMO Lamentable! What, To hide me from the radiant sun and solace I’ th’ dungeon by a snuff?IMOGEN 105 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, enjoy your—but110 It is an office of the gods to venge it, Not mine to speak on ’t.IMOGEN You do seem to know Something of me or what concerns me. Pray you, Since doubting things go ill often hurts more115 Than to be sure they do—for certainties Either are past remedies, or, timely knowing, The remedy then born—discover to me What both you spur and stop.IACHIMO Had I this cheek120 To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, Whose every touch, would force the feeler’s soul To th’ oath of loyalty; this object which Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye, ⌜Fixing⌝ it only here; should I, damned then,125 Slaver with lips as common as the stairs That mount the Capitol, join gripes with hands Made hard with hourly falsehood—falsehood as With labor; then by-peeping in an eye
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Base and ⌜illustrous⌝ as the smoky light130 That’s fed with stinking tallow; it were fit That all the plagues of hell should at one time Encounter such revolt.IMOGEN My lord, I fear, Has forgot Britain.IACHIMO 135 And himself. Not I, 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.IMOGEN 140 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 empery Would make the great’st king double, to be partnered145 With tomboys hired with that self exhibition Which your own coffers yield, with diseased ventures That play with all infirmities for gold Which rottenness can lend nature; such boiled stuff As well might poison poison. Be revenged,150 Or she that bore you was no queen, and you Recoil from your great stock.IMOGEN Revenged? How should I be revenged? If this be true— As I have such a heart that both mine ears155 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 cold sheets, Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps,160 In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it. I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure, More noble than that runagate to your bed,
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And will continue fast to your affection, Still close as sure.IMOGEN 165 What ho, Pisanio!IACHIMO Let me my service tender on your lips.IMOGEN Away! I do condemn mine ears that have So long attended thee. If thou wert honorable, Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not170 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 honor, and Solicits here a lady that disdains Thee and the devil alike.—What ho, Pisanio!—175 The King my father shall be made acquainted Of thy assault. If he shall think it fit A saucy stranger in his court to mart As in a Romish stew and to expound His beastly mind to us, he hath a court180 He little cares for and a daughter who He not respects at all.—What ho, Pisanio!IACHIMO O happy Leonatus! I may say The credit that thy lady hath of thee Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness185 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 affiance190 Were deeply rooted, and shall make your lord That which he is, new o’er; and he is one The truest mannered, such a holy witch That he enchants societies into him. Half all ⌜men’s⌝ hearts are his.IMOGEN 195 You make amends.
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IACHIMO He sits ’mongst men like a ⌜descended⌝ god. He hath a kind of honor sets him off More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry, Most mighty princess, that I have adventured200 To try your taking of a false report, which hath Honored with confirmation your great judgment In the election of a sir so rare, Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him Made me to fan you thus, but the gods made you,205 Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon.IMOGEN All’s well, sir. Take my power i’ th’ court for yours.IACHIMO My humble thanks. I had almost forgot T’ entreat your Grace but in a small request, And yet of moment too, for it concerns.210 Your lord, myself, and other noble friends Are partners in the business.IMOGEN Pray, what is ’t?IACHIMO Some dozen Romans of us and your lord— The best feather of our wing—have mingled sums215 To buy a present for the Emperor; Which I, the factor for the rest, have done In France. ’Tis plate of rare device and jewels Of rich and exquisite form, their values great. And I am something curious, being strange,220 To have them in safe stowage. May it please you To take them in protection?IMOGEN Willingly; And pawn mine honor for their safety. Since My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them225 In my bedchamber.IACHIMO They are in a trunk Attended by my men. I will make bold
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To send them to you, only for this night. I must aboard tomorrow.IMOGEN 230 O no, no.IACHIMO Yes, I beseech, or I shall short my word By length’ning my return. From Gallia I crossed the seas on purpose and on promise To see your Grace.IMOGEN 235 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.240 I have outstood my time, which is material To th’ tender of our present.IMOGEN I will write. Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept And truly yielded you. You’re very welcome.They exit.
