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CYMBELINE.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Cymbeline, King of Britain.

Two British Captains.
Pisanio, servant to Posthumus.

Cloten, son to the Queen by a former husband.
Leonatus Posthumus, a gentleman, husband to Cornelius, a physician.

Imogen.

Belarius, a banished lord, disguised under the name

of Morgan.

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Two Gentlemen.

Two Gaolers.

Queen, wife to Cymbeline.
Imogen, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen.
Helen, woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy.

ACT I.

As he was born. The king, he takes the babe To his protection; calls him Posthumus;

SCENE I.-Britain. The Garden behind Cymbe- Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber :

line's Palace.

Enter Two Gentlemen.

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2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?

1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father

Was call d Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan,
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus :
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which, their
father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd

Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd :
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue ;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

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Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, Yet is it true, sir.

2 Gent.

I do well believe you.

8 Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the queen, and princess. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same.

Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and Imogen. Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, After the slander of most step-mothers, [daughter, Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

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I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing, (Always reserv'd 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

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The loyal'st 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 letter: 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, I pray you:
If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him
[Aside.

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
[Exit.
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;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post. How! how! another?—
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here
[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 trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

Imo.

[Putting a bracelet on her arm. O, the gods!

When shall we see again?

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[Exit. There cannot be a pinch in death More sharp than this is. Cym.

O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth; thou heapest
A year's age on me!

Imo.
I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym. Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace. [queen! Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my Imo. O bless'd, that I might not. I chose an And did avoid a puttock. [eagle, Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have A seat for baseness. [made my throne

Imo.

A lustre to it.
Cym.
Imo.

No; I rather added

O thou vile one!

Sir,

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I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk a while.

Imo.

About some half hour hence, I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least, Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me. [Exeunt.

SCENE III-A publick Place.

Enter Cloten and Two Lords.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift itHave I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. [Aside.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt: it went o'the backside the town. [Aside.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us.

2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and of: but I could then have looked on him without refuse me ! the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and 1 to peruse him by items.

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [Aside. 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. [Aside.

Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.

Clo. Nay, come, let's go together.

2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-A Room in Cymbeline's. Palace.

Enter Imogen and Pisanio.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o'the

haven,

And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost,
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?
Pis.
'Twas, His queen, his queen!
Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than
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,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

Imo.

Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment :

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judg ment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you ? How creeps acquaintance ?

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

Enter Posthumus.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your I!-you all, be better known to this gentleman; whom knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech 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.

Thou should'st have made him
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;

crack'd them, but

To look upon him; till the diminution
Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle:
Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from
The smallness of a gnat to air; and then
Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good

French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans.

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

French. Sir, you o'er rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had been pity, you should have been put together importance of so slight and trivial a nature. with so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller: rather shunned to go even with what) 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. [Pisanio, Be assur'd, madam,

When shall we hear from him?
Pis.

With his next vantage.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had
Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
How I would think on him, at certain hours,
Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him
The shes of Italy should not betray
[swear
Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd
him,

At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
To encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him; or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father,
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north,
Shakes all our buds from growing.

Enter a Lady.

Lady.
The queen, madam,
Desires your highness' company.
Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them de-
I will attend the queen.
[spatch'd.-
Pis.
Madam, I shall. [Exeunt.
SCENE V.-Rome. An Apartment in Philario's

House.

French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.

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

French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in the report. It was much like an argument that publick, which may, without contradiction, suffer 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 attemptible, than any

the rarest of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. Iach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

I would abate her nothing; though I profess myPost. Being so far provoked as I was in France, self her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. As fair, and as good, (a kind of hand-inhand comparison,) had been something too fair, and too good, for any lady in Britany. If she went beDutch-fore others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

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Post. I praised her as I rated her so do I my

stone.

Iach. What do you esteem it at ?
Post. More than the world enjoys.
Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead,
or she's outprized by a trifle.

Post. 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 unseduced, (you not making it appear otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the pur-assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword.

Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given; if there were wealth enough for the chase, or merit for the gift: the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods. Iach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-wayaccomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished 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.

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

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

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress: make her go back, even to the yielding; had I admittance, and opportunity to friend.

Post. No, no.

Iach. I dare, thereupon, pawn the moiety 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.

Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt.

Iach. What's that?

Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too." Phil. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted.

lach. 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.

Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.
French. Will this hold, think you?

Phi. Signior lachimo will not from it. Pray,
let us follow 'em.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Britain. A Room in Cymbeline's
Palace.

Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius.
Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather
those flowers;

Make haste: Who has the note of them?
1 Lady.

I, madam.
Queen. Despatch.-
[Exeunt Ladies.
Now, master doctor; have you brought those drugs?
Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay here they are,
madam:
[Presenting a small box.

But I beseech your grace, (without offence;
My conscience bids me ask ;) wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most poisonous com-
pounds,

Which are the movers of a languishing death; But, though slow, deadly? Queen. I do wonder, doctor, Thou ask'st me such a question: Have I not been Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn'd me how To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so, That our great king himself doth woo me oft For my confections? Having thus far proceeded, (Unless thou think'st me devilish,) is't not meet That I did amplify my judgment in Other conclusions? I will try the forces of these thy compounds on such creatures as We count not worth the hanging, (but none huIach. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neigh-To try the vigour of them, and apply [man, bour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke. Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Iach. 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 reserved.

Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it. Iach. You are a friend, and therein the wiser. 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.

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

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

Post. Will you ?-I shall but lend my diamond till your return-Let there be covenants drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring.

Phi. I will have it no lay.

Allayments to their act; and by them gather
Their several virtues, and effects.
Cor.
Your highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart:
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
Both noisome and infectious.
Queen.

O, content thee.

Enter Pisanio.
Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him [Aside.
Will I first work: he's for his master,
And enemy to my son.-How now, Pisanio ?-
Doctor, your service for this time is ended;
Take your own way.

Cor.

I do suspect you, madam ;
But you shall do no harm.
Queen.

[Aside. ¡To Pisanio.

Hark thee, a word.

Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think, she has

Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, And will not trust one of her malice with A drug of such damn'd nature: Those, she has, Will stupify and dull the sense awhile: Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and Iach. By the gods it is one :-If I bring you no Then afterward up higher; but there is [dogs; sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest No danger in what show of death it makes, bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand More than the locking up the spirits a time, ducats are yours; so is your diamond too. If I To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd come off, and leave her in such honour as you With a most false effect; and I the truer, have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and So to be false with her. my gold are yours:-provided, I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment.

Queen.

Until I send for thee.

No further service, doctor,

Cor.

I humbly take my leave. [Exit. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think, in time

She will not quench; and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work;
When thou shalt bring me word, she loves my son,
I'll tell thee, on the instant, thou art then
As great as is thy master: greater; for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp: Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being,
is to exchange one misery with another;
And every day, that comes, comes to decay
A day's work in him: What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans?
Who cannot be new built; nor has no friends,

[The Queen drops a box: Pisanio takes it up.
So much as but to prop him ?-Thou tak'st up
Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour:
It is a thing I made, which hath the king
Five times redeem'd from death: I do not know
What is more cordial :- Nay, I pr'ythee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do't, as from thyself.
Think what a chance thou changest on; but think
Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee: I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women:
Think on my words. [Exit Pisa.]-A sly and con-
stant knave;

Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold
The hand fast to her lord.-I have given him that,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of liegers for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
Re-enter Pisanio and Ladies.

To taste of too. So, so;-well done, well done:
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,
Bear to my closet:-Fare thee well, Pisanio;
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies.
And shall do:

Pis.
But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you. [Erit.
SCENE VII.-Another Room in the same.
Enter Imogen.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false: A foolish suitor to a wedded lady, [band! That hath her husband banish'd;-0, that hus. My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stolen, As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable Is the desire that's glorious: Blessed be those, How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills, Which seasons comfort.-Who may this be? Fye! Enter Pisanio and Iachimo.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome; Comes from my lord with letters.

Iach. Change you, madam ? The worthy Leonatus is in safety, And greets your highness dearly. [Presents a letter. Imo. Thanks, good sir:

You are kindly welcome.

Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich!

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So far I read aloud:

But even the very middle of my heart
Is warm'd by the rest, and takes it thankfully.-
You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I
Have words to bid you; and shall find it so,
In all that I can do.
Iach.
Thanks, fairest lady-
What! are men mad? Hath nature given them
To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop [eyes
Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above, and the twinn'd stones
Upon the number'd beach? and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious
'Twixt fair and foul?

Imo.
What makes your admiration ?
Iach. It cannot be i'the eye; for apes and mon-

keys,

ment;

Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and
Contemn with mows the other: Nor i’the judg-
For idiots, in this case of favour, would
Be wisely definite: Nor i'the appetite;
Sluttery, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed.

Imo. What is the matter, trow?
Iach.

The cloyed will,

(That satiate yet unsatisfied desire,
That tub both fill'd and running,) ravening first
The lamb, longs after for the garbage.
Imo.

What, dear sir,

Thus raps you? Are you well?
Iach. Thanks, madam; well :-'Beseech you,
sir, desire
[To Pisanio.

My man's abode where I did leave him: he
Is strange and peevish.

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When he was here,

He did incline to sadness; and oft-times
Not knowing why.

Iach.
I never saw him sad.
There is a Frenchman his companion, one
An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home: he furnaces

The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton (Your lord, I mean,) laughs from's free lungs, cries, O!

Can my sides hold, to think, that man,—who knows
By history, report, or his own proof,

What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be,-nill his free hours languish for
Assured bondage?

Will my lord say so?

Imo. Iach. Ay, madam; with his eyes in flood with It is a recreation to be by, [laughter. And hear him mock the Frenchman: But, heavens Some men are much to blame. [know, Imo. Not he, I hope. Iach. Not he: But yet heaven's bounty towards him might

Be us'd more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much;
In you,- which I count his, beyond all talents,
Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound
To pity too.

Imo.

What do you pity, sir? lach. Two creatures, heartily.

Imo.

Am I one, sir?

You look on me; What wreck discern you in me, Deserves your pity?

Iach.

Lamentable! What!

To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace I'the dungeon by a snuff?

Imo.

I pray you, sir, Deliver with more openness your answers To my demands. Why do you pity me? lach. That others do,

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