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conscience bids me ask… wherefore you have Commanded of me these
most poisonous compounds Which are the movers of a languishing death；
But； though slow； deadly？ QUEEN。 I wonder； Doctor； Thou ask'st me such
a question。 Have I not been Thy pupil long？ Hast thou not learn'd me how
To make perfumes？ distil？ preserve？ yea； so That our great king himself
doth woo me oft For my confections？ Having thus far proceeded… Unless
thou think'st me devilish… is't not meet That I did amplify my judgment in
Other conclusions？ I will try the forces Of these thy compounds on such
creatures as We count not worth the hanging… but none human… To try the
vigour of them； and apply Allayments to their act； and by them gather
Their several virtues and effects。 CORNELIUS。 Your Highness Shall from
this practice but make hard your heart； Besides； the seeing these effects
will be Both noisome and infectious。 QUEEN。 O； content thee。
Enter PISANIO
＇Aside＇ Here comes a flattering rascal； upon him Will I first work。
He's for his master； An enemy to my son。… How now； Pisanio！ Doctor；
your service for this time is ended； Take your own way。 CORNELIUS。
＇Aside＇ I do suspect you； madam； But you shall do no harm。 QUEEN。 ＇To
PISANIO＇ Hark thee； a word。 CORNELIUS。 ＇Aside＇ I do not like her。 She
doth think she has Strange ling'ring poisons。 I do know her spirit； And will
not trust one of her malice with A drug of such damn'd nature。 Those she
has Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile； Which first perchance she'll
prove on cats and dogs； Then afterward up higher； but there is No danger
in what show of death it makes； More than the locking up the spirits a time；
To be more fresh； reviving。 She is fool'd With a most false effect； and I the
truer So to be false with her。 QUEEN。 No further service； Doctor； Until I
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send for thee。 CORNELIUS。 I humbly take my leave。 Exit
QUEEN。 Weeps she still； say'st thou？ Dost thou think in time She
will not quench； and let instructions enter Where folly now possesses？ Do
thou work。 When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son； I'll tell thee
on the instant thou art then As great as is thy master； greater； for His
fortunes all lie speechless； and his name Is at last gasp。 Return he cannot；
nor Continue where he is。 To shift his being Is to exchange one misery
with another； And every day that comes comes to A day's work in him。
What shalt thou expect To be depender on a thing that leans； Who cannot
be new built； nor has no friends So much as but to prop him？ ＇The
QUEEN drops the box。 PISANIO takes it up＇ Thou tak'st up Thou know'st
not what； but take it for thy labour。 It is a thing I made； which hath the
King Five times redeem'd from death。 I do not know What is more cordial。
Nay； I prithee take it； It is an earnest of a further good That I mean to thee。
Tell thy mistress how The case stands with her； do't as from thyself。 Think
what a chance thou changest on； but think Thou hast thy mistress still； to
boot； my son； Who shall take notice of thee。 I'll move the King To any
shape of thy preferment； such As thou'lt desire； and then myself； I chiefly；
That set thee on to this desert； am bound To load thy merit richly。 Call my
women。 Think on my words。 Exit PISANIO A sly and constant knave； Not
to be shak'd； the agent for his master； And the remembrancer of her to hold
The hand…fast to her lord。 I have given him that Which； if he take； shall
quite unpeople her Of leigers for her sweet； and which she after； Except
she bend her humour； shall be assur'd To taste of too。
Re…enter PISANIO and LADIES
So； so。 Well done； well done。 The violets； cowslips； and the primroses；
Bear to my closet。 Fare thee well； Pisanio； Think on my words。 Exeunt
QUEEN and LADIES PISANIO。 And shall do。 But when to my good lord
I prove untrue I'll choke myself… there's all I'll do for you。 Exit
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SCENE VI。 Britain。 The palace
Enter IMOGEN alone
IMOGEN。 A father cruel and a step…dame false； A foolish suitor to a
wedded lady That hath her husband banish'd。 O； that husband！ My
supreme crown of grief！ and those repeated 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。 Madam； a noble gentleman of Rome Comes from my lord
with letters。 IACHIMO。 Change you； madam？ The worthy Leonatus is in
safety； And greets your Highness dearly。 ＇Presents 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 furnish'd with a
mind so rare； 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＇ 'He is
one of the noblest note； to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied。
Reflect upon him accordingly； as you value your trust。 LEONATUS。'
So far I read aloud； But even the very middle of my heart Is warm'd
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。
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 twinn'd stones Upon the
number'd 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 monkeys； 'Twixt two such
shes； would chatter this way and Contemn with mows the other； nor i' th'
judgment； For idiots in this case of favour would Be wisely definite； nor i'
th' appetite； Sluttery； to such neat excellence oppos'd； Should make desire
vomit emptiness； Not so allur'd to feed。 IMOGEN。 What is the matter；
trow？ IACHIMO。 The cloyed will… That satiate yet unsatisfied desire； that
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tub Both fill'd 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。… Beseech you； sir； Desire my man's
abode where I did leave him。 He's strange and peevish。 PISANIO。 I was
going； sir； To give him welcome。 Exit IMOGEN。 Continues well my lord？
His health beseech you？ IACHIMO。 Well； madam。 IMOGEN。 Is he
dispos'd to mirth？ I hope he is。 IACHIMO。 Exceeding pleasant； none a
stranger there So merry and so gamesome。 He is call'd The Britain reveller。
IMOGEN。 When he was here He did incline to sadness； and oft…times Not
knowing why。 IACHIMO。 I never saw him sad。 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； 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 Assured bondage？' IMOGEN。 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 know
Some men are much to blame。 IMOGEN。 Not he； I hope。 IACHIMO。 Not
he； but yet heaven's bounty towards him might Be us'd more thankfully。 In
himself； 'tis much； In you； which I account his； beyond all talents。 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？ You look
on me： what