Poft. This is true; And this you might have heard of here, by me, Iach. More particulars Muft justify my knowledge. Is fouth the chamber; and the chimney-piece, 5 So likely to report themselves: the cutter 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 themfelves :-] So near to fpeech. The Italians call a portrait, when the likenefs is remarkable, a Speaking picture. JOHNSON. 6 WAS as another nature, DUMB, -] This nonfenfe should without question be read and pointed thus: HAS as another nature DONE; out-went her, Motion and breath left out. i. e. Has worked as exquifitely, nay has exceeded her, if you will put motion and breath out of the queftion. WARE. This emendation I think needlefs. The meaning is this, The Sculptor was as nature, but as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives, but breath and motion. In breath is included speech. JOHNSON. 7 This is her honour! Let it be granted you have feen 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 1 Be given to your remembrance) the defcription 8 Iach. Then, if you can [Pulling out the bracelet. Poft. Jove!. Once more let me behold it. Is it that Iach. Sir (I thank her) that. She stripp'd it from her arm: I fee her yet, Poft. May be, fhe pluck'd it off Iach. She writes fo to you? Doth she? But how It is an furniture and adornments of his wife's bed-chamber. 66 good; and fome of these things you may have learned from a third hand, or feen yourfelf; yet I expect proofs more "direct and authentic." I think there is little queftion 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 fucceeding editors, but I think it must be rejected. The expreffion is ironical. Iachimo relates many particulars, to which Pofthumus anfwers 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 with rage. JOHNSON. your cheek Poft. Poft. O, no, no, no! 'Tis true. Here, take this [Gives the ring. too: It is a bafilifk unto mine eye, Kills me to look on't: let there be no honour, Where there is beauty; truth, where femblance; love, Where there's another man. 9 The vows of women Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, Than they are to their virtues: which is nothing.O, above measure falfe! Phil. Have patience, Sir, And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won: Who knows, if one of her women, being corrupted, Poft. Very true; And fo, I hope, he came by't:-back my ring;- Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm. Poft. Hark you, he fwears; by Jupiter he fwears. 'Tis true;-nay, keep the ring-'tis true: 'I'm fure She could not lofe it: her attendants are All fworn and honourable.-They induc'd to steal it! And by a stranger!-no, he hath enjoy'd her. 2 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 fure 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 jealoufy are here admirably painted and expofed. Pofthumus, 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 falfe to his bed; and grounds that judgment, at laft, upon much lefs appearances of the honour of her attendants. WARBURTON. 2 The cognizance] The badge; the token; the vifible proof. JOHNSON. Is Is this; fhe hath bought the name of whore thus dearly. There, take thy hire; and all the fiends of hell This is not ftrong enough to be believ'd Poft. Never talk on't: She hath been colted by him. For further fatisfying, under her breast, 3 (Worthy the preffing) lies a mole, right proud To feed again, though full. You do remember Poft. Ay, and it doth confirm Were there no more but it. Iach. Will you hear more? Poft. Spare your arithmetic. Ne'er count the turns: once, and a million! If Iach. I'll be fworn Poft. No fwearing: you will fwear you have not done't, you lye; And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny Thou haft 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 Phil. Quite befides The government of patience! You have won : [Exit. 3 (Worthy the preffing)-] Thus the modern editions. The old folio reads, (Worthy her preffing) JOHNSON. Let's Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath He hath against himself. S CE [Exeunt. Enter Pofthumus. Poft. Is there no way for men to be, but women Must be half-workers? We are baftards all; And that moft venerable man, which I Did call my father, was I know not where When I was ftamp'd. Some coiner with his tools Made me a counterfeit: yet my mother feem'd The Dian of that time: fo doth my wife The non-pareil of this.-Oh vengeance, vengeance Me of my lawful pleasure she reftrain'd, And pray'd me oft forbearance: did it with A pudency fo rofy, the fweet view on't Might well have warm'd old Saturn;-that I thought her As chafte as unfunn'd fnow.-Oh, all the devils! All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows, Is there no way, &c.] MILTON was very probably indebted to this fpeech for the fentiments which he has given to Adam. Paradife Loft, book x. STEEVENS. |