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 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.

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.

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 judgement, 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 
	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 
	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, which 
	I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.

Frenchman	Sir, you o'errate my poor kindness. I was glad I did atone 
	my countryman and you; it had be pity you should have been 
	put together with so mortal a purpose as then each bore, 
	upon importance of so 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 my every 
	action to be guided by others' experiences; but upon my 
	mended judgement - if I offend not to say 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?

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 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 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 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 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?

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 purchases, or merit 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 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.

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.

Philario	Let us leave here, gentlemen.

Posthumus	Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signor, 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 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 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.

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 th' 
	approbation of what I have spoke!

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 remain unseduced, you not making 
	it appear otherwise, for your ill opinion and th' 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 Britain, lest the 
	bargain should catch cold and starve. I will fetch my gold, 
	and have our two wagers recorded.

Posthumus	Agreed.
										 [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO.
Frenchman	Will this hold, think you?

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