That should'st repair my youth; thou heapest Imo. I beseech you, Sir, Harm not yourself with your vexation; I Ain 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. 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. + Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne A seat for baseness. Jme. No; I rather added A lustre to it. Cym. O thou vile one! It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus : Cym. What 1-art thou mad? Ima. Almost, Sir: Heaven restore me!- A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus Re-enter QUEEN. Cym. Thou foolish thing!— They were again together: you have done Not after our command. And pen her up. SCENE III-A Public Place. Enter CLOTEN, and two LORDS. 1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it 2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his pa- 2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the Clo. The villain would not stand me. 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward [Aside. your face. 1 Lord. Stand you! You had land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground. 2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans : [Aside. Puppies! Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you bad measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me ! 2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, [Aside. she is damned. 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a [To the QUEEN.good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit. + Away with her, Queen. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace, comfort Out of your best advice. Cya. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, Enter PISAN10. Queen. Fie !-you must give way: Here 2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the [Aside. reflection should hurt her. 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. is your servant.-How now, Sir? What Pis. My lord, your son drew on my master. No barm, I trust, is done? Pis. There might have been, Bat that my master rather play'd than fought, Queen. I am very glad on't. Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part. To draw upon an exile !-O brave Sir !- master ? Pis. On his command: He would not suffer me To bring him to the haven: left these notes Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour, Pis. I humbly thank your highness. Ime. About some half hour hence, I pray you speak with me: you shall, at least, my lord aboard: for this time leave [Exeunt. † A kite. [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Room in CYMBELINE'S Palace. Enter IMOGEN and PISANO. Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores And question'dst every sail: if he should write, As offered mercy is. What was the last Pis. 'Twas, His queen, his queen! Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than Pis. No, madam; for so long Imo. Thou should'st have made him Pis. Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; To look upon him; till the diminution ́ Her beauty and her sense are not equal. Anciently almost every sign had some attempt at a witticism underneath it. Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and Pisanio, When shall we hear from him? Pis. Be assur'd, madam, 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 swear The shes of Italy should not betray At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north, Enter a LADY. Lady. The queen, madam, Desires your highness' company. 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 with so mortal a purpose as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature. Post. By your pardon, Sir, I was then a young traveller: rather shunned to go even with what I 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. 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 public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them fell in praise of our country mistresses: This despatch'd. I will attend the queen. Pis. Madam, I shall. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Rome.-An Apartment in PHI- 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. Jach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion by this worn out. Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a FRENCHMAN, a mind. Iach. Believe it, Sir, I have seen bim in Britain he was then of a crescent note, expected lach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore our's of Italy. Post. Being so far provoked as I was in to prove so worthy, as since he hath been al-France, I would abate her nothing: though I prolowed the name of: but I could then have fess myself her adorer, not her friend. looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items. 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 :Jach. 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 judgment, 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 acquaint ance? Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life: Enter POSTHUMUS. hand comparison,) had been something too fair Iach. As fair and as good (a kind of hand-inand too good for any lady in Britany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of your's outlustres many I have bebeid, I could not but believe she excelled many but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. Post. I praised her, as I rated her: so do l my stone. Iach. What do you esteem it at ? Post. More than the world enjoys. lach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outpriz'd by a tride. Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given; if there were wealth enough for the purchase, 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? lach. You may wear her in title your's: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of unprizable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-way accomplished courtier, would bazard the winning both of first and last. Here comes the Briton: Let him be so enterPost. Your Italy contains none so accomtained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of quality.-I be- plished a courtier, to convince the honour of seech you all, be better known to this gentle-my mistress; if, in the holding or loss of that, man; whom I commend to you as a noble friend I do nothing doubt you of mine: How worthy he is, I will leave to aphave store of thieves; notwithstanding I fear pear hereafter, rather than story him in his own not my ring. hearing. French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans. Post. Since when I have been debtor to you her go back, even to the yielding; had I ad- Make haste: Who has the note of them? mittance, and opportunity to friend. Pest. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more-a punisment too. Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted. lach. 'Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on the approbation of what I have spoke. Post. What lady would you choose to assail? Jack. Your's; 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 her's, which you imagine so reserved. Past. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it. lach. 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. Pest. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope. lach. 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 hugeuess of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. Phi. I will have it no lay. lech. By the gods it is one :-If I bring you Do sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten theasand ducats are your's; so is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in such honear as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are your's :-provided I bave your commendation, § for my more free entertainment. 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 prevailed, I am no further your enemy, she is Bot worth our debate: if she remain unseduced, (you not making it appear otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your gword. Jach. 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 two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed. [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and IACHIMO. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior lachimo will not from it. Pray, [Exeunt. SCENE VI-Britain.-A Room in CYMBELINE'S Palace. let us follow 'em. 1 Lady. I, madam. Queen. Despatch. [Exeunt LADIES. Now, master doctor; have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madain: [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 compounds, 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 try the vigour of them, and apply Shall from this practice but make hard your heart: Besides, the seeing these effects will be Enter PISANIO. Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him [Aside. 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. [Aside. Queen. Hark thee, a word.- [TO PISANIO. Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think she bas Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, And will not trust one of her malice with A drug of such damu'd nature: Those, she has, Will stupify and dull the sense awhile: Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats and dogs; Then afterward up higher; but there is No danger in what show of death it makes, More than the locking up the spirits a time, To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd With a most false effect; and I the truer, So to be false with her. Queen. No further service, doctor, Until I send for thee. [Exit. Cor. I humbly take my leave. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think, in time She will not quench; + and let instructions enter I'll tell thee, on the instant, thou art then 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 Thou hast thy mistress still; to boot, my son, Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master; 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 ber humour, shall be assur'd Re-enter PISANIO, and LADIES. To taste of too. So, so ;-well done, well done: [Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES. Pis. And shall do: But when to my good lord I prove untrue, I'll choke myself: there's all I'll do for you. [Exit. 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-O that husMy 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? Fie! Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO. Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome Imo. Thanks, good Sir: [Presents a Letter. Iach. All of her, that is out of door, most rich ! [Asidc. If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare, Imo. [Reads.]-He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindness I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value LEONATUS. your truest So far I read aloud: But even the very middle of my heart • Ambassadors. monkeys, Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and Contemn with mows the other: Nor i'the judgment; For idiots, in this case of favour, would Imo. What is the matter, trow? (That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, That tub both fill'd and running,) ravening first Thus raps you? Are you well? Jach. Thanks, madam; well :-'Beseech you, [To PISANIO. Sir, desire My man's abode where I did leave him: he Is strange and peevish. † Pis. I was going, Sir, To give him welcome. [Exit PISANIO. Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, 'beseech you ? Iach. Well, madam. Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope he is. lach. Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger there So merry and so gamesome: he is call'd Imo. When he was here, He did incline to sadness; and oft-times Jach. 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,-whe knows Scene VII. CYMBELINE. You look on me: What wreck discern you in Thou wrong'st a gentleman, who is as far me, Deserves your pity? Jack. Lamentable! What! To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace Ime. I pray you, Sir, Deliver with more openness your answers To my demands. Why do you pity me? I was about to say, enjoy your--But Imo. You do seem to know Something of me, or what concerns me: 'Pray you, (Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more lach. Had I this cheek To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, To the oath of loyalty; this object, which Imo. My lord, I fear, Has forgot Britain. Jack. And himself. Not I, Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces Imo. Let me hear no more. Jack. O dearest soul! your cause doth strike With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady Would make the great'st king double to be partner'd With tomboys, hir'd with that self-exhibition ventures, That play with all infirmities for gold stuff, As well might poison poison! Be reveng'd; Imo. Reveng'd! How should I be reveng'd? If this be true, lach. Should he make me Live like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets; la your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it. Ise. What ho, Pisanio! Jach. Let me my service tender on your lips. have From thy report, as thou from honour; and Thee and the devil alike.-What ho, Pisanio!- ness Her assur'd credit !-Blessed live you long! I have spoke this, to know if your affiance Imo. You make amends. Iach. He sits 'mongst men, like a descended He hath a kind of honour sets him off, ment In the election of a Sir so rare, Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear him Made me to fan you thus; but the gods made you, Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon. court for your's. Iach. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot Imo. Pray, what is't? Iach. Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord, (The best feather of our wing) have mingled sums, To buy a present for the emperor; jewels, Of rich and exquisite form; their value's great; Imo. Willingly; And pawn mine honour for their safety: since Iach. They are in a trunk, Attended by my men: I will make bold To send them to you, only for this night; I must aboard to-morrow. Imo. O no, no. lach. Yes, I beseech; or I shall short my word, By length'ning my return. From Gallia I cross'd the seas on purpose, and on promise Imo. I thank you for your pains; So long attended thee.-If thou wert honour-But not away to-morrow? Iach. O I must, madam: Therefore, I shall beseech you, if you please To fan, is to winnow. ↑ A stranger. 2 M |