CYMBELINE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Cymbeline, King of Britain. Two British Captains. Cloten, son to the Queen by a former husband. Imogen. Belarius, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan. Two Gentlemen. Two Gaolers. Queen, wife to Cymbeline. 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. 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, (Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow, Puts him to all the learnings that his time 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, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet 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; But that there is this jewel in the world, Post. My queen! my mistress !_ O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause Than doth become a man! I will remain The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth. Re-enter Queen. Queen. To walk this way: I never do him wrong, Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Post. How! how! another?— Imo. [Putting a bracelet on her arm. O, the gods! When shall we see again? [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 Imo. 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. No; I rather added O thou vile one! Sir, 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, Pis. 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 Pis. Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but To look upon him; till the diminution 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? With his next vantage. Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, Enter a Lady. Lady. 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. Post. I praised her as I rated her so do I my stone. Iach. What do you esteem it at ? 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. Phi. Signior lachimo will not from it. Pray, SCENE VI. Britain. A Room in Cymbeline's Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius. Make haste: Who has the note of them? I, madam. But I beseech your grace, (without offence; 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 O, content thee. Enter Pisanio. Cor. I do suspect you, madam ; [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 [The Queen drops a box: Pisanio takes it up. That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master; To taste of too. So, so;-well done, well done: Pis. 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! So far I read aloud: But even the very middle of my heart Imo. keys, ment; Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and Imo. What is the matter, trow? The cloyed will, (That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, What, dear sir, Thus raps you? Are you well? My man's abode where I did leave him: he When he was here, He did incline to sadness; and oft-times Iach. 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 What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose 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; 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, |