Act 1, Scene 4

Rome. Philario's house.
 
Enter Philario, Iachimo, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard
Iachimo Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain: he 
was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so worthy 
as since he hath been allowed the name of; but I  
could then have looked on him without the help of  
admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments had 5
been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items. 

 
Philario You speak of him when he was less furnished than now 
he is with that which makes him both without and within.

 
Frenchman I have seen him in France: we had very
many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he. 10

 
Iachimo This matter of marrying his king's daughter, wherein
he must be weighed rather by her value than his own,
words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter. n.b.

 
Frenchman And then his banishment.

 
Iachimo Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this 15 n.b.
lamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfully
to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment,
which else an easy battery might lay flat, for
taking a beggar without less quality. But how comes
it he is to sojourn with you? How creeps 20
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 25 n.b.
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, 30
which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still.

 
Frenchman Sir, you o'er-rate 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 35
slight and trivial a nature.

 
Posthumus By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;
rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in n.b.
my every action to be guided by others' experiences:
but upon my mended judgment--if I offend not to say 40
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 fallen both.

 
Iachimo Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference? 45

 
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 50
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 55
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 provoked as I was in France, I would
abate her nothing, though I profess myself her 60
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 65
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 praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone.

 
Iachimo What do you esteem it at? 70

 
Posthumus More than the world enjoys.

 
Iachimo Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's
outprized by a trifle.

 
Posthumus You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given, if
there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit 75
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,  80
strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your 
ring may be stolen too: so your brace of unprizable 
estimations; the one is but frail and the other 
casual; a cunning thief, or a that way accomplished 
courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. 85

 
Posthumus Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier 
to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the 
holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do 
nothing doubt you have store of thieves; 
notwithstanding, I fear not my ring. 90

 
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  95
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 abused in too bold a  105
persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're 
worthy of by your attempt.

 
Iachimo What's that?

 
Posthumus A repulse: though your attempt, as you call it, 
deserve more; a punishment too. 110

 
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 the 
approbation of what I have spoke! 115

 
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  120
second conference, and I will bring from thence 
that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved.

 
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 afraid, and therein the wiser. If you buy  125
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. 130

 
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  135
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 enjoyed the dearest 
bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats  140
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. 145

 
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 prevailed, I am no further 
your enemy; she is not worth our debate: if she  150
remain unseduced, you not making it appear 
otherwise, for your ill opinion and the 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 155
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. 160
Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo
Frenchman Will this hold, think you?

 
Philario Signior Iachimo will not from it.
Pray, let us follow 'em.
Exeunt