Cymbeline 1.IV

SCENE IV.
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 [increasing, like the waxing mooon, growing fame] note, expected to prove so worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of [He was given the name Leonatus]. { But I could then have look'd on him without the help of [] admiration [wonder], [] though [even if] the catalogue of his endowments had been [] tabled [listed] by his side, and I to peruse him by items. }

{But back then I could have looked at him without being impressed, even if his accomplishments were written all over him.}

[Belittle Posthumus]

PHILARIO. You speak of him when he was less furnish'd than now he is with that which makes him both without and within.

[Stand up for your friend]

FRENCHMAN. I have seen him in France; {we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.}

{We had many people in France just as good as him -- just as able to look into the sun (like the eagle, the king of birds)}

[Tear him down]

IACHIMO. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, wherein he must be weighed rather by her [] value [social rank] than his own, [] words [gives an account of] him, I doubt not, a great [] deal from the matter [distance from the truth].

[Doubt his worth]

FRENCHMAN. And then his banishment.

[Add more evidence]

IACHIMO. Ay, and the [] approbation [approval] of those that weep this lamentable [] divorce [forced separation] under [] her colours [her camp] are wonderfully to extend him, be it but to fortify her judgment, which [] else [otherwise] 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?

[Justify his praise / Gather intelligence]

PHILARIO. His father and I were soldiers together, to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life.

[Defend your honor]

Enter POSTHUMUS

Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained amongst you as suits with gentlemen of your [] knowing [discernment] 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.

[Set the tone, make the rules, keep peace, trumpet your friend]

FRENCHMAN. Sir, we have known together in Orleans.

[Remind, peek-a-boo, grab attention]

POSTHUMUS. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still.

[Bend over backwards to be polite]

FRENCHMAN. Sir, you o'errate my poor kindness. I was glad I did [] atone [reconcile] my countryman and you; it had been pity you should have been [] put together [pitted in a duel] with so [] mortal [fatal] a purpose as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature.

[Wave away the past (a form of belittling)]

POSTHUMUS. By your pardon, sir. I was then a young traveller; {rather shunn'd to [] go even [agree] 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 it is mended- my quarrel was not altogether slight.

{because I didn't want to seem as if I was listening to other people, I avoided agreeing with anyone}

[Apologize / Stand up for yourself]

FRENCHMAN. Faith, yes, to be put to the [] arbitrement [settlement] of swords, and by such two that would by all likelihood have [] confounded [killed] one the other or have fall'n both.

[Willfully misunderstand. P is saying, "it wasn't a trifle." Frenchman is saying, "Of course not. Someone could have gotten killed."]

IACHIMO. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

[Gather intelligence, feed the fire, give the Frenchman amunition]

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.

[Paint the picture, set the stage. How much are Iachimo and the Frenchman in league with each other. What, if anything, do they know about Imogen already? They clearly know about the banishment, because they spoke of it before P came in. But do they know how trusting P is? Have the worked out this con between them ahead of time? Or are they opportunists -- seizing the moment.]

IACHIMO. That lady is not now living, [] or [or is] this gentleman's opinion, [] by this [by now], worn out.

[feign puzzlement, try to solve a puzzle (faked)]

POSTHUMUS. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.

[stand up for yourself, for Imogen]

IACHIMO. You must not so far prefer her fore ours of Italy.

[warn, challenge]

POSTHUMUS. Being so far provok'd as I was in France, I would [] abate her nothing [not lesson my opinion of her], though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

[draw a line in the sand]

IACHIMO. As fair and as good -- a kind of hand-in-hand comparison -- had been [] something [somewhat] too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she [] went before [were better than] others I have seen as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld, I could [] not but [not help myself but] believe she excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

[reason, point out a flaw in his logic, trip him up]

POSTHUMUS. I prais'd her as I rated her. So do I my stone.

[stand your ground]

IACHIMO. What do you esteem it at?

[challenge]

POSTHUMUS. More than the world enjoys.

[answer honestly]

IACHIMO. Either your unparagon'd mistress is dead, or she's outpriz'd by a trifle.

[mock]

POSTHUMUS. You are mistaken: the one may be sold or given, if there were wealth enough for the purchase or merit for the gift; the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.

[correct, as a teacher correcting a foolish child]

IACHIMO. Which the gods have given you?

[feign incredulity]

POSTHUMUS. Which by their graces I will keep.

[stake a claim]

IACHIMO. You may wear her in title yours; but you know strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stol'n too. [] So your brace of unprizable estimations [Thus, your two objects of unestimable value], the one is but frail and the other [] casual [subject to chance or accident]; a cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplish'd courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

[bring him down to earth]

POSTHUMUS. Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd 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.

[stand ground]

PHILARIO. Let us [] leave here [stop this (before it goes too far)], gentlemen.

[put out the fire before it ends in tears]

POSTHUMUS. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first.

[show off your worldliness, make it known to all that you understand what's going on, look a tiger in the eye]

IACHIMO. With five times so much conversation I should get ground of your fair mistress; make her [] go back even to the yielding [make her lose the battle and yield to me sexually], had I admittance and opportunity to friend.

[boast]

POSTHUMUS. No, no.

[deny]

IACHIMO. I dare thereupon pawn the [] moiety [half] 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.

[up the ante]

POSTHUMUS. You are a great deal [] abus'd [deceived] in too bold a [] persuasion [opinion], and I doubt not you [] sustain [will receive] what y'are worthy of by your attempt.

[condescend, belittle, tear down]

IACHIMO. What's that?

[egg on]

POSTHUMUS. A repulse; though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more -- a punishment too.

[give him what he deserves, hit him with a zinger]

PHILARIO. Gentlemen, enough of this. It came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.

[Keep the peace, stop the madness, pull them apart]

IACHIMO. Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on th' [] approbation [proof] of what I have spoke!

[Curse (feigned -- really a challenge)]

POSTHUMUS. What lady would you choose to assail?

[Force him to show his hand]

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 reserv'd.

[Make the challenge]

POSTHUMUS. I will wage against your gold, gold to it. My ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.

[Accept (which is also a challenge -- "show me your worst")]

IACHIMO. You are a friend [of Imogen?], and therein the wiser [not to want to gamble with her ring?]. 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.

[taunt]

POSTHUMUS. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope.

[play for time, tread water, gather intelligence, give him an out]

IACHIMO. I am the master of my speeches, and would undergo what's spoken, I swear.

[stand ground]

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. [Does he give it to Philario or Iachimo? The next line suggest the former.]

[put the money on the table]

PHILARIO. I will have it no [] lay [wager].

[refuse to play, knock over the chess board]

IACHIMO. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoy'd 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 [a warm letter of introduction from you] for my more free entertainment.

[Accept, leap into the game / clarify the rules]

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 prevail'd, I am no further your enemy -- she is not worth our debate; if she remain unseduc'd, 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.

[Agree, accept, legalize / threaten, raise the stakes]

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.

[Accept the new stakes (which is also a challenge)]

POSTHUMUS. Agreed.

[Accept and finalize]

Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO

FRENCHMAN. Will this hold, think you?

[Gather intelligence]

PHILARIO. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray let us follow 'em.

[Put a stop to it. Or at least, that's the action I would play. He clearly doesn't succeed (judging from what follows), but he should leave the scene trying.]

Exeunt