CYMBELINE, King of BRITAIN. Ronans. QUEEN, Wife to CYMBELINE. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Scotboyer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE-Sometimes in BRITAIN; sometimes in ITALY. SCENE I.-Britain. The Garden behind Cymbe LINE's Palace. Enter two Gentlemen. 1 Gent. You do not meet a man, but frowns : our bloods No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers Still seem as does the king. 2 Gent. But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of 's kingdom, whom purpos’d to his wife's sole son, (a widow That late he married,) hath referr'd herself Unto a poor but worthy gentleman. She's wedded; Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all Is outward sorrow, though, I think, the king Be touch'd at very heart. 2 Gent. None but the king ? 1 Gent. He that hath lost her, too : so is the queen, That most desir'd the match; but not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowl at. 2 Gent. And why so ? 1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess is a thing Too bad for bad report; and he that hath her, (I mean, that married her,—alack, good man ! And therefore banish'd,) is a creature such As, to seek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be something failing In him that should compare. I do not think, So fair an outward, and such stuff within, Endows a man but he. He 2 Gent. You speak him far. A child that guided dotards : to his mistress, 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself For whom he now is banish'd, her own price Crush him together, rather than unfold Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue; His measure duly. By her election may be truly read 2 Gent. What's his name and birth? What kind of man he is. 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root. His father 2 Gent. I honour him, Was calla Sicilius, who did join his honour Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me Against the Romans with Cassibelan, Is she sole child to the king ? But had his titles by Tenantius, whom 1 Gent. His only child. He serv'd with glory and admir'd success; He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing, So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus : Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old, And had, besides this gentleman in question, I'the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time, Were stolen; and to this hour no guess in knowledge Died with their swords in hand; for which their father | Which way they went. (Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow, 2 Gent. How long is this ago? Chat he quit being; and his gentle lady, 1 Gent. Some twenty years. Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd 2 Gent. That a king's children should be so conAs he was born. The king he takes the babe vey'd, To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus; So slackly guarded, and the search so slow, Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber, That could not trace them! Puts to him all the learnings that his time 1 Gent. Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Could make him the receiver of; which he took, Or that the negligence may well be. laughed at, As we do air, fast as 'twas ministered, Yet is it true, sir. And in his spring became a harvest ; liv'd in court, 2 Gent. I do well believe you. (Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov’d; i Gent. We must forbear. Here comes the genA sample to the youngest, to the more mature, tleman, A glass that feated them; and to the graver, The queen, and princess. (Ereunt. SCENE II.-The Same. So soon as I can win th' offended king, Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. I will be known your advocate: marry, yet The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good, Queen. No, be assurd, you shall not find me, You lean'd unto his sentence, with what pacience daughter, Your wisdom may inform you. After the slander of most step-mothers, Post. Please your highness, Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but I will from hence to-day. Your jailer shall deliver you the keys Queen. You know the peril. That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, || I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying 14 The pangs of barr'd affections, though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together. [E.rit QUEEN. Imo. Odissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!—My dearest husband, I something fear my father's wrath ; but nothing (Always reservd my holy duty) what His rage can do on me. You must be gone ; And I shall here abide the hourly shot Of angry eyes; not comforted to live, But that there is this jewel in the world, That I may see again. Post. My queen! my mistress ! O, lady! weep no more, lest I give cause To be suspected of more tenderness Than doth become a man. I will remain The loyalist husband that did e'er plight troth: My residence in Rome at one Philario's; Who to my father was a friend, to me Known but by jouer, Thither write, my queen, And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send, Though ink be made of gall. Re-enter Queen. Queen. Be brief, 1 pray you: move him [Erit. Post. Should we be taking leave As long a term as yet we have to live, The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu ! Imo. Nay, stay a little : Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Such parting were too petty. Look here, love : This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart; I am gone. But keep it till you woo another wife, How! how! another ?- [Putting on the ring. While sense can keep it on. And sweetest, fairest, As I my poor self did exchange for you, To your so infinite loss, so in our trities I still win of you: for my sake, wear this: It is a manacle of love; I'll place it Upon this fairest prisoner. [Putting a bracelet on her arm. Imo. When shall we see again? Enter CYMBELINE and Lords. Post. Alack, the king! Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid ! hence, from my sight! If after this command thou fraught the court With thy unworthiness, thou diest. Away! The gods protect you, And bless the good remainders of the court ! [Erit. O disloyal thing! I beseech you, sir, [Pulting, the gods? rare Subdues all pangs, all fears. Past grace? obedience ? Imo. Past hope, and in despair ; that way, past grace. Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen. Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle, And did avoid a puttock. my throne were And pen Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made 2 Lord. [Asiule.] No, faith; not so much as his patience. A seat for baseness. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carImo. No; 1 rather added cass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for A lustre to it. steel, if it be not hurt. Cym. O thou vile one! 2 Lord. (Aside.] His steel was in debt; it went Imo. Sir, o the backside the town. It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus. Clo. The villain would not stand me. You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is 2 Lord. (Aside.] No; but he fled forward still A man worth any woman; overbuys me toward your face. Almost the sum he pays. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of Сут. What! art thou mad ! your own; but he added to your having, gave you Imo. Almost, sir: heaven restore me!-Would I some ground. 2 Lord. [Aside.] As many inches as you have A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus oceans.-Puppies ! Our neighbour shepherd's son! Clo. I would they had not come between us. Re-enter Queen. 2 Lord. [Aside.] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the Thou foolish thing !Сут. ground. They were again together: you have done Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and [ To the QUEEN. refuse me! Not after our command. Away with her, 2 Lord. [Aside.] If it be a sin to make a true her up. election, she is damned. Queen. Beseech your patience.—Peace! Dear lady daughter, peace !-Sweet sovereign, 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: she's a good sigo, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some but I have seen small reflection of her wit. comfort Out of your best advice. 2 Lord. (Aside.) She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. Cym. Nay, let her languish Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, had been some hurt done! Die of this folly! [Erit. 2 Lord. (Aside.] I wish not so; unless it had Enter PisaniO. been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Queen. Fie !-you must give way: Clo. You'll go with us? Here is your servant.-How now, sir! What news? 1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Pis. My lord your son drew on my master. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. Ha! [Ereunt. No harm, I trust, is done? Pis. There might have been, SCENE IV.-A Room in CYMBELINE's Palace. Enter IMOGEN and PISANJO. Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o' the haven, Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his And question’dst every sail : if he should write, part. And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost, As offer'd mercy is. What was the last That he spake to thee? Pis. The goer back.–Why came you from your master ? It was, “ his Quøen, his Queen!" Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchier? Pis. On his command. He would not suffer me Pis. To bring him to the haven: left these notes And kiss'd it, madam. Of what commands I should be subject to, Imo. Senseless linen, happier therein than 1!When 't pleas'd you to employ me. And that was all ? Pis. No, madam; for so long As he could make me with this eye or ear Distinguish him from others, he did keep The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief, Queen. Pray, walk a while. Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, How swift his ship. Pray you, speak with me. You shall, at least, Imo. Go see my lord aboard : for this time, leave me. Thou should'st have made him [E.reunt. As little as a crow, or less, ere left To after-eye him. Pis. Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings, crachid Enter Clotes, and Two Lords. them, but i Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt : To look upon him, till the diminution the violence of action hath made you reek as a sac- Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle; rifice. Where air comes out, air comes in ; there's Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. The smallness of a gnat to air ; and then Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it- Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good Pisanio, Have I hurt him? When shall we hear from him? а |