Poft. This is true; And this you might have heard of here, by me, Or by fome other. Iach. More particulars Must justify my knowledge. Poft. So they must, Or do your honour injury. Iach. The chimney Is fouth the chamber; and the chimney-piece, Poft. This is a thing Which you might from relation likewife reap; Iach. The roof o' the chamber With golden cherubims is fretted: her andirons, Poft. 7 This is her honour! Let it be granted you have feen all this (and praise Be 5 So likely to report themselves :-) So near to speech. The Italians call a portrait, when the likeness is remarkable, a Speaking picture. JOHNSON. 6 WAS as another nature, DUMB, -) This nonsense should without question be read and pointed thus : HAS as another nature DONE; out-went her, i. e. Has worked as exquifitely, nay has exceeded her, if you will put motion and breath out of the question. WARE. This emendation I think needless. The meaning is this, The Sculptor was as nature, but as nuture dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives, but breath and motion. In breath is included speech. JOHNSON. 7 This is ber honour ! Let it be granted you have seen all this, &c.] Iachimo impudently pretends to have carried his point; and, in confirmation, is very minute in defcribing to the husband all the furniture Be given to your remembrance) the defcription The wager you have laid. Iach. Then, & if you can [Pulling out the bracelet. Be pale; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See! And now 'tis up again. It must be married To that your diamond. I'll keep them. Poft. Jove! Once more let me behold it. Is it that Iach. Sir (I thank her) that. Poft. May be, she pluck'd it off To fend it me. Iach. She writes so to you? Doth she? furniture and adornments of his wife's bed-chamber. But how is fine furniture any ways a princess's honour? It is an apparatus fuitable to her dignity, but certainly makes no part of her character. It might have been called her father's honour, that her allotments were proportioned to her rank and quality. I am perfuaded the poet intended Posthumus should fay: "This particular description, which you make, cannot " convince me that I have lost my wager: your memory is good; and fome of these things you may have learned from a third hand, or seen yourself; yet I expect proofs more " direct and authentic." I think there is little question but we ought to restore the place as I have done : What's this t' her honour? THEOBALD. This emendation has been followed by both the succeeding editors, but I think it must be rejected. The expreffion is ironical. Iachimo relates many particulars, to which Posthumus answers with impatience, This is her honour! That is, And the attainment of this knowledge is to pass for the corruption of her honour. JOHNSON. 8 if you can Be pale;-) If you can forbear to flush your cheek with rage. JOHNSON. Poft. Post. O, no, no, no! 'Tis true. Here, take this [Gives the ring. too: It is a basilisk unto mine eye, Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Phil. Have patience, Sir, And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won : It may be probable she loft it; or, Who knows, if one of her women, being corrupted, Hath stolen it from her. Poft. Very true; And fo, I hope, he came by't:-back my ring;- Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm. 'I'm fure 'Tis true;-nay, keep the ring 'tis true: * The cognizance of her incontinency 9 - The vows of women, &c.] The love vowed by women no more abides with him to whom it is vowed, than women adhere to their virtue. JOHNSON. 1 I'm sure She could not lose it: her attendants are All fworn and honourable. They induc'd to fteal it! And by a stranger! -no,-] The abfurd conclusions of jealousy are here admirably painted and exposed. Posthumus, on the credit of a bracelet, and an oath of the party concerned, judges against all appearances from the intimate knowledge of his wife's honour, that she was false to his bed; and grounds that judgment, at last, upon much less appearances of the honour of her attendants. WARBURTON. 2 The cognizance) The badge; the token; the visible proof. JOHNSON. Is Is this; she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly. There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hell Divide themselves between you! Phil. Sir, be patient : This is not ftrong enough to be believ'd Of one perfuaded well of Poft. Never talk on't: She hath been colted by him. Iach. If you feek For further fatisfying, under her breaft, 3 (Worthy the pressing) lies a mole, right proud Of that most delicate lodging:-by my life, Poft. Ay, and it doth confirm Another stain, as big as hell can hold, Iach. Will you hear more? Ne'er count the turns: once, and a million! Iach. I'll be fworn Poft. No fwearing : If you will fwear you have not done't, you lye; Thou hast made me cuckold. Iach. I will deny nothing. Poft. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal! I will go there, and do't; i' the court; before Her father:I'll do fomething Phil. Quite befides The government of patience! You have won: [Exit. 3 (Worthy the pressing)-) Thus the modern editions. The old folio reads, (Wortly her preffing) - JOHNSON. Let's Poft. Is there no way for men to be, but women 1 Must be half-workers? We are bastards all; her As chaste as unfunn'd snow. -Oh, all the devils! Is there no way, &c.] MILTON was very probably indebted to this speech for the sentiments which he has given to Adam, Paradise Lost, book x. STEEVENS, |