The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated Clo. The south-fog rot him! Imo. He never can meet more mischance than come To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment, Pisanio? Enter PISANIO. Clo. His garment? Now, the devil- Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently:Clo. His garment? Imo. I am sprighted13 with a fool; Frighted, and anger'd worse:-Go, bid my woman Search for a jewel, that too casually Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew me, Of any king's in Europe. I do think, If you will make't an action, call witness to't. Clo. I will inform your father. Imo. Your mother too: She's my good lady14; and will conceive, I hope, 13. e. haunted by a fool as by a spright. 14 This is said ironically. My good lady' is equivalent to my good friend. See vol. v. p. 328, note 5. Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House. Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO. Post. Fear it not, sir: I would, I were so sure To win the king, as I am bold, her honour Will remain hers. Phi. What means do you make to him? Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish That warmer days would come: in these fear'd hopes, I barely gratify your love; they failing, I must die much your debtor. Phi. Your very goodness, and your company, O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will do his commission throughly: And, I think, He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages, Or1 look upon our Romans, whose remembrance Is yet fresh in their grief. I do believe Post. (Statist2 though I am none, nor like to be), 1 Or stands here for ere. See vol. iv. p. 379, note 3. Respecting the tribute here alluded to, see the Preliminary Remarks. 2 i. e. statesman. See Hamlet, Act v. Sc. 2, note 8. (Now mingled with their courages) will make known wingTo their approvers3, they are people, such That mend upon the world. Phi. Enter IACHIMO. See! lachimo? Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land: Phi. Welcome, sir. Post. I hope, the briefness of your answer made The speediness of your return. Iach. Your lady Iach. Here are letters for you. Post. Their tenour good, I trust. Iach. Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court, When you were there1? Iach. But not approach'd. Post. 'Tis very like. He was expected then, All is well yet.- Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't not Iach. If I have lost it, I should have lost the worth of it in gold. 3 That is, to those who try them.' The old copy, by a common typographical error in the preceding line, has wingled instead of mingled, which odd reading Steevens seemed inclined to adopt, and explains it, their discipline borrowing wings from their courage.' 4 This speech is given to Posthumus in the old copy; but Posthumus was employed in reading his letters, and was too much interested in the end of lachimo's journey to put an indifferent question of this nature. It was transferred to Philario at the suggestion of Steevens. VOL. IX. 3 Post. The stone's too hard to come by. Not a whit, Make not, sir, Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that we Must not continue friends. Iach. Good sir, we must, If you keep covenant: Had I not brought Post. Iach. Post. Iach. Proceed. First, her bed-chamber (Where, I confess, I slept not; but, profess, 5 i. e. 'that which was well worth watching or lying awake [for]. See the preceding scene, note 5. Could be so rarely and exactly wrought, Post. This is true; And this you might have heard of here, by me, Fach. Must justify my knowledge. Post. More particulars So they must, The chimney Or do your honour injury. Iach. Post. This is a thing, Which you might from relation likewise reap; The roof o'the chamber Iach. With golden cherubins is fretteds. Her andirons (I had forgot them), were two winking Cupids Mason proposes to read: Such the true life on't was.' It is a typographical error easily made: and the emendation deserves a place in the text. Johnson observes, that Iachimo's language is such as a skilful villain would naturally use; a mixture of airy triumph and serious deposition. His gaiety shows his seriousness to be without anxiety, and his seriousness proves his gaiety to be without art.' 7 i. e. so near speech. A speaking picture is a common figurative mode of expression. The meaning of the latter part of the sentence is: The sculptor was as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives but breath and motion. In breath is included speech. 8 Steevens says, this tawdry image occurs in King Henry VIII. : their dwarfish pages were As cherubins all gilt,' The By the very mention of cherubins his indignation is moved. sole recommendation of this Gothic idea (says he), which is critically repeated by modern artists, seems to be, that it occupies but little room on canvass or marble; for chubby unmeaning faces, with duck's wings tucked under them, are all the circumstances that enter into such infantine and absurd representations of the choirs of heaven.' |