Of silver), each on one foot standing, nicely Post. This is her honour! Let it be granted, you have seen all this (and praise The wager you have laid. Iach. Then, if you can, Be pale10; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See!-- Post. Once more let me behold it: Is it that Iach. Jove! Sir (I thank her), that: She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet; Her pretty action did outsell her gift, And yet enrich'd it too: She gave it me, and said, She priz'd it once. Post. To send it me. lach. May be, she pluck'd it off, She writes so to you? doth she? Post. O, no, no, no; 'tis true. Here, take this [Gives the Ring. too; It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't:-Let there be no honour, Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love, Where there's another man: The vows of women 9 It is well known that the andirons of our ancestors were sometimes costly pieces of furniture; the standards were often, as in this instance, of silver, and representing some terminal figure or device; the transverse or horizontal pieces, upon which the wood was supported, were what Shakspeare here calls the brands, properly brandirons. Upon these the Cupids which formed the standards nicely depended, seeming to stand on one foot. 10 The meaning seems to be, If you ever can be pale-be pale now with jealousy. Pale jealousy, child of insatiate love.' Mr. Not, as Johnson says, forbear to flush your cheek with rage.' Boswell's conjecture that it meant, If you can control your temper, if you can restrain yourself within bounds,' is surely inadmissible. Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Than they are to their virtues: which is nothing:O, above measure false ! Phi. Have patience, sir, And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won: It may be probable, she lost it; or, Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted, Hath stolen it from her. . Very true; And so, I hope, he came by't;-Back my ring;- Post. Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears. 'Tis true;-nay, keep the ring-'tis true: I am sure, She would not lose it: her attendants are All sworn 11 and honourable: - They induc'd to steal it! And by a stranger?—No, he hath enjoy'd her. Is this, she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly. There, take thy hire: and all the fiends of hell Divide themselves between you! Phi. This is not strong enough to be believ'd Of one persuaded well of Post. She hath been colted by him. Iach. Sir, be patient: Never talk on't; If you seek For further satisfying, under her breast (Worthy the pressing), lies a mole, right proud Of that most delicate lodging: By my life, 11 It was anciently the custom for the servants of great families (as it is now for the servants of the king) to take an oath of fidelity on their entrance into office See Percy's Northumberland Household Book, p. 49. 12 The badge, the token, the visible proof. So in King Henry VI. Part 1. ¡--- 'As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate.' I kiss'd it: and it gave me present hunger Post. Ay, and it doth confirm Will you hear more? Were there no more but it. Iach. If you will swear you have not done't, you lie; Thou hast made me cuckold. Iach. I will deny nothing. Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal! I will go there, and do't; i'the court; before Her father:-I'll do something- [Exit. Phi. Quite besides The government of patience!-You have won: Let's follow him, and pervert13 the present wrath He hath against himself. Post. Is there no way for men to be, but women Must be half-workers1? We are bastards all; 13 i. e. avert his wrath from himself, prevent him from injuring himself in his rage. ! Milton was probably indebted to this speech for one of the sentiments which he has imputed to Adam, Par. Lost, b. x. : And that most venerable` man, which I a Jarmen on Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought her All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows, They are not constant, but are changing still name on O, why did God, Creator wise, that peopled highest heaven See Rhodomonte's invective against women in the Orlando Furioso; 2 We have the same image in Measure for Measure:Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image In stamps that are forbid.' See Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, Part 11. Sect 3. Not half so old as that. I'll write against them, ACT III. SCENE I. Britain. A Room of State in Cymbeline's Palace. Enter CYMBELINE, Queen, CLOTEN, and Lords, at one Door; and at another, CAIUS LUCIUS, and Attendants. Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us? Luc. When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance yet Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues, Be theme, and hearing ever), was in this Britain, And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle (Famous in Caesar's praises, no whit less Than in his feats deserving it), for him, And his succession, granted Rome a tribute, Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately Is left untender'd. Queen. Shall be so ever. Clo. And, to kill the marvel, There be many Cæsars, Ere such another Julius. Britain is A world by itself; and we will nothing pay, Queen. That opportunity, Which then they had to take from us, to resume 3 God could not lightly do a man more vengeance, than in this world to grant him his own foolish wishes.'-Sir T. More's Comfort against Tribulation. |