CYMBELINE. Einleitung. Shakspere's Cymbeline erschien zuerst gedruckt in der Gesammtausgabe aller Shakspere'schen Dramen olio (1623), wo The Tragedie of Cymbeline den Schluss der dritten Abtheilung des Bandes, der Trages, bildet. Die Acte und Scenen sind dort schon angegeben, aber ein Personenverzeichniss fehlt. Der Text der Dausgabe (Fol.) ist verhältnissmässig correct, und auch in der Versabtheilung und Interpunction haben die usgeber weniger zu ändern gefunden, als bei manchen anderen Dramen, welche unmittelbar aus einer Bühnenischrift in die Fol. übergingen. Die erste Erwähnung des Dramas findet sich in dem von Collier entdeckten Tage- und Notizenbuche eines issen Dr. Simon Forman, der bereits in der Einleitung zu Macbeth citirt worden ist. Forman giebt Inhalt des Schauspiels, das er darstellen sah, folgendermassen an: Remember, also, the story of Cymbeline, King of England, in Lucius' time: how Lucius came from mius Cæsar for tribute, and, being denied, after sent Lucius with a great army of soldiers, who landed Milford Haven, and after were vanquished by Cymbeline, and Lucius taken prisoner, and all by ns of three outlaws, of the which two of them were the sons of Cymbeline, stolen from him when they but two years old, by an old man whom Cymbeline had banished; and he kept them as his own sons ty years with him in a cave. And how one of them slew Cloten, that was the Queen's son, going to ford Haven to seek the love of Imogen the King's daughter, whom he had banished also for loving his jhter. And how the Italian that came from her love conveyed himself into a chest, and said it was a chest late sent from her love and others to be presented to the King. And in the deepest of the night, she g asleep, he opened the chest and came forth of it, and viewed her in her bed, and the marks of her , and took away her bracelet, and after accused her of adultery to her love, etc. And, in the end, how sme with the Romans into England, and was taken prisoner, and after revealed to Imogen, who had ed herself into man's apparel, and fled to meet her love at Milford Haven; and chanced to fall on are in the woods where her two brothers were: and how by eating a sleeping dram they thought she been dead, and laid her in the woods, and the body of Cloten by her, in her love's apparel that he left ad him, and how she was found by Lucius, etc. Das Datum der Aufführung des Cymbeline fehlt zwar in Forman's Booke of Plaies and Notes teof; da das Buch selbst jedoch aus den Jahren 1610-1611 stammt, so wird auch die Darstellung des tas, der er beigewohnt hat, dieser Zeit angehören, und für die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass Cymbeline damals nicht lange auf dem Shakspere'schen Theater erschienen war, sprechen in Ermangelung äusserer Gründe e des Styls und des Versbaus, welche auf die letzte Periode der dramatischen Thätigkeit des Dichters hinn. Auch die eingelegte Göttererscheinung (A. 5, Sc. 4) deutet auf eine Zeit hin, wo die Shakspere'sche Bühne igenfalls einen gewissen äusseren Prunk in Scenerie und Maschinerie aufzuwenden vermochte, der ihr in den ren Abschnitten der dichterischen Laufbahn Shakspere's wohl kaum zu Gebote stand. Die meisten Herausstimmen freilich darin überein, die erwähnte in Reimen eingefasste Episode als ein Un-Shakspere'sches Einbsel der Schauspieler zu verwerfen, so wenig finden sie des Dichters Styl und Kunst darin wieder; aber es te schwer sein, sie aus dem Stücke zu entfernen, ohne eine merkliche Lücke zu lassen. Der Dichter selbst ste diese Scene als zu der ganzen Anlage unentbehrlich mit entworfen und mit geschrieben haben, und zwar, darin auftretenden conventionellen mythischen Figuren gemäss, in einem andern Tone, als in dem er die draschen Personen seines Schauspiels reden lässt: in der conventionellen, opernhaften Redeweise, welche bei en, Masques genannten, mythologischen oder allegorischen Schaustellungen einmal eingeführt war. So mag abeline mit Shakspere's Tempest, in welchem eine ähnliche Masque dargestellt wird, einer und derselben en Periode unseres Dichters angehören, wahrscheinlich kurz vor der Zeit geschrieben sein, als Forman es ihren sah. Was nun die Quellen betrifft, aus denen Sh. den Stoff zu seinem Drama schöpfte, so fand er den historischen men in der von ihm so vielfach benutzten Chronik Holinshed's. Die Hauptstelle darin ist, mit Auslassung 3 vom Dichter bei Seite Gelassenen, die folgende: After the death of Cassibellane, Theomautius or Tenautius, the youngest son of Lud, was made g of Britain in the year of the world 3921, after the building of Rome 706, and before the coming of Theomaulius ruled the land in good quiet, and paid the tribute to the Romans which ist 45. Cassibellane had granted, and finally departed this life after he had reigned twenty-two years, and va buried at London. Kymbeline or Cymbeline, the son of Theomautius, was of the Britains made king, after the dec of his father, in the year of the world 3944, after the building of Rome 728, and before the birth of Saviour 33. This man (as some write) was brought up at Rome, and there made knight by Augus. Caesar, under whom he served in the wars, and was in such favour with him, that he was at liberty to pr his tribute or not. Touching the continuance of the years of Kymbeline's reign some writers vary, but the best approved affirm that he reigned thirty-five years and then died, and was buried London, leaving behind him two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus. But here is to be noted that, alth our histories do affirm that as well this Kymbeline, as also his father Theomautius, lived in quiet with Romans, and continually to them paid the tributes which the Britains had covenanted with Julius Cas to pay, yet we find in the Roman writers, that after Julius Cæsar's death, when Augustus had taken upus him the rule of the empire, the Britains refused to pay that tribute: whereat, as Cornelius Tacitus reporti Augustus (being otherwise occupied) was contented to wink; howbeit, through earnest calling upon to r cover his right by such as were desirous to see the uttermost of the British kingdom; at length, to wit the tenth year after the death of Julius Cæsar, which was about the thirteenth year of the said Ther maulius, Augustus made provision to pass with an army over into Britain, and was come forward his journey into Gallia Celtica, or, as we may say, into these hither parts of France. But here receiving advertisements that the Pannonians, which inhabited the country now cald Hungary, and the Dalmatians, whom now we call Slavons, had rebelled, he thought it best first to sui those rebels near home, rather than to seek new countries, and leave such in hazard whereof he had pre possession, and so, turning his power against the Pannonians and Dalmatians, he left off for a time wars of Britain, whereby the land remained without fear of any invasion to be made by the Romans the year after the building of the city of Rome 725, and about the nineteenth year of king Theoma reign, that Augustus with an army departed once again from Rome to pass over into Britain, the make war. But after his coming into Gallia, when the Britains sent to him certain ambassadors to with him of peace, he staid there to settle the state of things among the Galles, for that they were du very good order. And having finished there, he went into Spain, and so his journey into Britain was off till the next year, that is, the 726th after the building of Rome, which fell before the birth of Saviour 25, about which time Augustus eftsoons meant the third time to have made a voyage into Bri because they could not agree upon covenants. But as the Pannonians and Dalmatians had aforev staid him, when (as before is said) he meant to have gone against the Britains; so even now the Salasti (a people inhabiting about Italy and Switzerland), the Cantabrians and Asturians, by such rebellious 8 12 as they raised, withdrew him from his purposed journey. But whether this controversy, which appear to fall forth betwixt the Britains and Augustus, was occasioned by Kymbeline, or some other princ the Britains, I have not to avouch: for that by our writers it is reported that Kymbeline, being brou up in Rome, and knighted in the court of Augustus, ever showed himself a friend to the Romans, ca chiefly was loath to break with them, because the youth of the Britain nation should not be deprived benefit to be trained and brought up among the Romans, whereby they might learn both to behare the selves like civil men, and to attain to the knowledge of feats of war. But whether for this respect, that it pleased the Almighty God so to dispose the minds of men at that present, not only the Bric but in manner all other nations, were contented to be obedient to the Roman empire. That this was?« in the Britains, it is evident enough in Strabo's words, which are in effect as followeth: — „At this pres (saith he), certain princes of Britain, procuring by ambassadors and dutiful demeanours the amity emperor Augustus, have offered in the Capitol unto the gods presents or gifts, and have ordained the im isle in a manner to be appertinent, proper, and familiar to the Romans. They are burdened with st customs which they pay for wars, either to be sent forth into Gallia, or brought from thence, which commonly ivory vessels, shears, conches or earrings, and other conceits made of amber and glasses, cul such like manner of merchandise: so that now there is no need of any army or garrison of men of er keep the isle, for there needeth not past one legion of footmen, or some wing of horsemen, to gather up receive the tribute; for the charges are rated according to the quantity of the tributes: for otherwi should be needful to abate the customs, if the tributes were also raised; and if any violence should be w* it were dangerous lest they might be provoked to rebellion. Thus far Strabo. Auch die übrigen historischen Notizen, die sich hie und da eingestreut finden, wie z. B. die in A. 3, S von dem Siege Cassibelan's über Cäsar und der Siegesfeier in London (Lud's town), sowie ebendaselbst von d gesetzgebenden britischen Könige Mulmutius, entlehnte der Dichter aus Holinshed. An einer andern Stella Holinshed, wo von den Kriegen der Dänen und der Schotten berichtet wird, fand Shakspere einzelne Züge L Ausdrücke zu der Erzählung des Posthumns (A. 5, Sc. 3) von dem mannhaften Widerstande, den er mit Belaris und dessen Pflegesöhnen den verfolgenden Römern entgegengesetzt. Es wird dort von Lord Hay und seinen Soh berichtet: The Danes rushed forth with such violence upon their adversaries that first the right, and th after the left wing of the Scots was constreined to retire and flee back. Haie beholding the king, with most part of the nobles, fighting with great valiancie in the middle ward, now destitute of the wings th und: There was neere to the place of the battell, a long lane fensed on the sides with ditches and ra made of turfe, through the which the Scots which fled were beaten down by the enemies on heapes. He Haie with his sonnes supposing they might best staie the flight, placed themselves overthwart the law. beat them backe whom they might fleeing, and spared neither friend nor fo; but down they went all as came within their reach, wherewith divers hardie personages cried unto their fellowes to returne ba:" nto the battell etc. Wenn aber, wie das Obige zeigt, Holinshed die beiden Söhne Cymbeline's ebenso nennt, ie sie bei Shakspere heissen, so erwähnt er doch nichts von ihrer heimlichen Entführung, ihrem Leben in der Vildniss und ihrer Rückkehr an den Hof ihres Vaters. Alles das scheint Erfindung des Dichters zu sein. Die mit der Geschichte Cymbeline's und seiner Söhne verflochtenen Schicksale der Imogen sind, französisch nd englisch, in Poesie und Prosa, schon vor Shakspere vielfach behandelt, obwohl unser Dichter zuerst dieselben af eine von ihm geschaffene Tochter Cymbeline's, Imogen benannt, übertragen hat. Er lernte diesen Stoff vielicht aus Boccaccio's Decamerone (Giornata II., Novella 9.) kennen, sei es in englischer Bearbeitung, die tzt verloren gegangen ist, oder aus dem Original. Wie viel er im Einzelnen abgewichen ist, und andrerseits beiehalten hat, ergiebt sich aus der Novelle selbst, die hier in Skottowe's abgekürzter Uebertragung folgen mag: Several Italian merchants met accidentally in Paris at supper, and conversed freely of their absent ives. I know not," one jestingly remarked, „how my wife conducts herself in my absence; but of this I m certain, that whenever I meet with an attractive beauty, I make the best advantage I can of the pportunity." And so do I," quoth another; for whether I believe my wife unfaithful or not, she will be if she pleases." A third said the same, and all readily coincided in the licentious opinion, except Bernabo Lomellia, of Genoa, who maintained that he had a wife perfectly beautiful, in the flower of outh, and of such indisputable chastity, that he was convinced if he were absent for ten years she would reserve her fidelity. A young merchant of Piacenza, Ambrogiulo, was extremely facetious on the subject, nd concluded some libertine remarks by offering to effect the seduction of this modern Lucretia, provided portunity were afforded him. Bernabo answered his confident boast by the proposition of a wager, hich was instantly accepted. According to agreement, Bernabo remained at Paris, while Ambrogiulo set out for Genoa, where 's inquiries soon convinced him that Ginevra, the wife of Bernabo, had not been too highly praised, and at his wager would be lost without he could effect by stratagem what he had certainly no probability of taining by direct solicitation. Chance threw in his way a poor woman often employed in the house of inevra, whom he secured in his interest by a bribe. Pretending unavoidable absence for a few days, the man entreated Ginevra to take charge of a large chest till she returned. The lady consented, and the est, with Ambrogiulo secreted in it, was placed in Ginevra's bedchamber. When the lady retired to st, the villain crept from his concealment, and, by the light of a taper, took particular notice of the ctures and furniture, and the form and situation of the apartment. Advancing to the bed, he eagerly ight for some mark about the lady's person, and at last espied a mole and tuft of golden hair upon her ft breast. Then taking a ring, a purse, and other trifles, he returned to his concealment, whence he was released till the third day, when the woman returned, and had the chest conveyed home. Ambrogiulo hastily summoned the merchants in Paris, who were present when the wager was laid. sa proof of his success he produced the stolen trinkets; called them gifts from the lady, and described e furniture of the bed-room. Bernabo acknowledged the correctness of the account, and confessed that e purse and ring belonged to his wife; but added, that as Ambrogiulo might have obtained his account 'the room, and procured the jewels also, from some of Ginevra's servants, his claim to the money was t yet established. The proofs I have given, said Ambrogiulo, ought to suffice; but as you call on me for ore, I will silence your scepticism at once: Ginevra has a mole on her left breast. Bernabo's countenance stified the truth of this assertion, and he shortly acknowledged it by words: he then paid the sum he had gered, and instantly set out for Italy. Arriving near his residence, he despatched a messenger for inevra, and gave secret orders that she should be put to death upon the road. The servant stopped in a nely place, and declared his master's harsh instructions. The lady vehemently protested her innocence any crime against her husband, besought the compassion of her conductor, and promised to conceal rself in some distant and obscure abode. Her life was spared, and the servant returned to his master ith some of Ginevra's clothes, reporting that he had killed her, and left her body to the ferocity of beasts 'prey. Ginevra disguised herself in the garments of a man, and entered into the service of a Catalonian ntleman, who carried her to Alexandria. Here she was fortunate enough to attract the attention of the ultan, who solicited her from her master. She soon became a favourite, and, under the name of Sicurano, as appointed captain of the guard. For the security of both Christian and Turkish merchants, who rewrted to the fair of Acre, the Sultan annually sent an officer with a band of soldiers. Sicurano was nployed on this service, where, being in the shop of a Venetian merchant, she cast her eye upon a purse nd girdle, which she recognized as her own. Without declaring her discovery, she inquired to whom they longed, and whether they were for sale. Ambrogiulo, who had arrived with a stock of merchandise, now tepped forward, and replied, that the trinkets were his, and begged Sicurano, since he admired them, to cept of them. Sicurano asked him why he smiled; when Ambrogiulo related, that the purse and girdle ere presents to him from a married lady of Genoa, whose love he had enjoyed; and that he smiled at he folly of her husband, who had laid five thousand against one thousand florins, that the virtue of his fe was incorruptible. The jealousy and revenge of Bernabo were now explained to Ginevra, and the base artificer of her uin now stood before her. She feigned pleasure at Ambrogiulo's story, cultivated his acquaintance, and ook him with her to Alexandria. Her next care was to have Bernabo, now reduced to great distress, rought privately to Alexandria. Then, watching a favourable opportunity, she prevailed on the Sultan o compel Ambrogiulo to relate publicly every circumstance of his villany. Bernabo confessed that he had caused his wife to be murdered on the supposition of her guilt with Ambrogiulo. You perceive, said Sicurano to the Sultan, how little reason the unhappy lady had to be proud either of her gallant or her husband. If you, my lord, will punish the deceiver, and pardon the deceived, the traduced lady she appear in your presence. The Sultan assented; Sicurano fell at his feet, and, discarding her ass demeanour, declared herself to be Ginevra: the display of the mole on her breast banished every da Ambrogiulo was then put to a cruel death, and his immense wealth was given to Ginerra. The Sum pardoned Bernabo, and making Ginevra a princely donation of jewels and money, provided a ship, sa suffered her and her husband to depart for Genoa. Eine novellistische englische Bearbeitung desselben Stoffes, welche den Schauplatz der Scene jedoch ma England und in die Zeit Heinrich's VI. verlegt, soll nach der Meinung mehrerer Kritiker unserm Dichter eher Boccaccio's Behandlung des Gegenstandes vorgelegen haben. Indess erschien das Buch, in dem diese übrige roh und unkünstlerisch geschriebene Novelle enthalten ist, unter dem Titel Westward for Smelts erst im Jahre 1620, und Malone's unbewiesene Behauptung, dass schon im Jahre 1603 eine Ausgabe existirt habe, wi dadurch sehr unwahrscheinlich, dass Westward for Smelts erst 1619-1620 in die Register der Buchhändle gilde als ein zu publicirender Verlagsartikel eingetragen ist. Auch sind diejenigen Einzelnheiten, welche Shak spere mit dieser Bearbeitung, und nicht mit der des Boccaccio gemein hat, so geringfügig und zugleich so m dem Gegenstande selbst sich ergebend, dass auch, wenn Westward for Smelts wirklich 1603 vorhanden wesen wäre, eine Benutzung des Buches für Cymbeline nicht wahrscheinlicher sein würde. Dasselbe list i von einigen andern Zügen behaupten, die Shakspere nicht mit den erwähnten beiden Quellen, sondern mit rvs altfranzösischen Bearbeitungen desselben Stoffes, einer epischen und einer dramatischen, theilt, und auf die Collier zuerst hingewiesen hat. In einem französischen Mirakelspiel, herausgegeben unter dem Titel Un Miracle de Nostre-Dame, in Monmerqué's und Michel's Théâtre Français au Moyen-Age, spricht Berengitt ähnlich wie in Shakspere's Drama lachimo (A. 1, Sc. 5): Et vous dy bien que je me vant, Ebenso findet sich in dem genannten mittelalterlichen Drama schon Iachimo's Kunstgriff, Imogen's Eifer durch Verläumdung ihres Gemahls, den er der Untreue beschuldigt, zu erregen. So entsprechen einer Stei Shakspere's Cymbeline (A. 1, Sc. 7) folgende Worte Berengier's an die Denise, Shakspere's Imogen: De Romme vien, où j'ai laissié Beides sind Züge, die Shakspere freilich weder bei Boccaccio noch in Westward for Smelts fand, die er eben so wohl wie der französische Dichter erfinden konnte, wenn er sie nicht etwa aus einer andern Quelle lehnte, die sich bisher noch nicht wieder entdecken liess. |