Act I, Scene 4

Rome. Philario’s house.

[Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a] [p]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 325
  could then have looked on him without the help of
  admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments
  had 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. 330

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

• 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. 335

• Frenchman. And then his banishment.

• Iachimo. Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this
  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 340
  taking a beggar without less 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. 345
  Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained
  amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your
  knowing, to a stranger of his quality.
  [Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS]
  I beseech you all, be better known to this 350
  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 Leonatus. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, 355
  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 360
  slight and trivial a nature.

• Posthumus Leonatus. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;
  rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in
  my every action to be guided by others' experiences:
  but upon my mended judgment—if I offend not to say 365
  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? 370

• 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 375
  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 380
  opinion by this worn out.

• Posthumus Leonatus. She holds her virtue still and I my mind.

• Iachimo. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

• Posthumus Leonatus. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would
  abate her nothing, though I profess myself her 385
  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 390
  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 Leonatus. I praised her as I rated her: so do I my stone.

• Iachimo. What do you esteem it at? 395

• Posthumus Leonatus. More than the world enjoys.

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

• Posthumus Leonatus. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given, if
  there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit 400
  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 Leonatus. Which, by their graces, I will keep.

• Iachimo. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, 405
  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. 410

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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. 415

• Philario. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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 420
  to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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 425
  confidence than her reputation: and, to bar your
  offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any
  lady in the world.

• Posthumus Leonatus. You are a great deal abused in too bold a
  persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're 430
  worthy of by your attempt.

• Iachimo. What's that?

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

• Philario. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; 435
  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!

• Posthumus Leonatus. What lady would you choose to assail? 440

• 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 445
  that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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
  ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot 450
  preserve it from tainting: but I see you have some
  religion in you, that you fear.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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 455
  what's spoken, I swear.

• Posthumus Leonatus. 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. 460

• 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
  are yours; so is your diamond too: if I come off, 465
  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 Leonatus. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles 470
  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
  remain unseduced, you not making it appear 475
  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
  down by lawful counsel, and straight away for 480
  Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and
  starve: I will fetch my gold and have our two
  wagers recorded.

• Posthumus Leonatus. Agreed.

[Exeunt POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and IACHIMO]

• Frenchman. Will this hold, think you?

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

[Exeunt]