If I discover'd not which way she was gone,
It was my instant death: By accident,
I had a feigned letter of my master's
Then in my pocket; which directed him
To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;
Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments,
Which he inforc'd from me, away he posts
With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
My lady's honour: what became of him,
I further know not.

Gui.

I slew him there.

Cym.

Let me end the story:

Marry, the gods forfend!

I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.

Gui.

I have spoke it, and I did it. Cym. He was a prince.

Gui. A most uncivil one: The wrongs he did me Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me With language that would make me spurn the sea, If it could so roar to me: I cut off's head;

And am right glad, he is not standing here
To tell this tale of mine.

Cym.

I am sorry for thee: By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must Endure our law: Thou art dead.

Imo.

I thought had been my lord.

Cym.

That headless man

Bind the offender,

Stay, sir king:

And take him from our presence.
Bel.

This man is better than the man he slew,
As well descended as thyself; and hath
More of thee merited, than a band of Clotens
Had ever scar for.-Let his arms alone;

[To the Guard.

They were not born for bondage.

Cym.

Why, old soldier, Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for, By tasting of our wrath? How of descent

As good as we?

Aro.

We will die all three:

In that he spake too far,
Cym. And thou shalt die for't.
Bel.
But I will prove, that two of us are as good
As I have given out him.--My sons, I must,
For mine own part, unfold a dangerous speech,
Though, haply, well for you.

Aro.

Ours.

Gui. And our good his.

Bel.

Your danger is

Have at it then.

By leave;-Thou hadst, great king, a subject, who

Was call'd Belarius.

Cym.

A banish'd traitor.

Bel.

What of him? he is

He it is, that hath

Assum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man;

I know not how, a traitor.

Cym.

Take him hence;

Not too hot:

The whole world shall not save him.

Bel.

First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;
And let it be confiscate all, so soon

As I have receiv'd it.

Cym.
Nursing of my sons?
Bel. I am too blunt, and saucy: Here's my
Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons;

knee;

Then, spare not the old father. Mighty sir,
These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
And blood of your begetting.

Cym.
Hów! my issue?
Bel. So sure as you your father's. I, old Morgan,
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd:
Your pleasure was my mere offence,' my punishment
Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd,

Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
(For such, and so they are,) these twenty years
Have I train'd up: those hearts they have, as I
Could put into them; my breeding was, sir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,
For that which I did then: Beaten for loyalty
Excited me to treason: Their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world :--
The benediction of these covering heavens

Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.

Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st.2 The service, that you three have done, is more Unlike than this thou tell'st: I lost my children; If these be they, I know not how to wish

A pair of worthier sons.

Bel.

Be pleas'd a while. This gentleman, whom I call Polydore, Most worthy prince, as yours, is true, Guiderius:

Your pleasure was my mere offence, &c.] My crime, my pu nishment, and all the treason that I committed, originated in, and were founded on, your caprice only.

2

Thou weep'st, and speak'st.] "Thy tears give testimony to the sincerity of thy relation; and I have the less reason to be incredulous, because the actions which you have done within my knowledge are more incredible than the story which you relate." The King reasons very justly. JoHNSON.

This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arvirágus,
Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lapp'd
In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.
Guiderius had

Cym.

Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;

It was a mark of wonder.

Bel.

This is he;

Who hath upon him still that natural stamp:
It was wise nature's end in the donation,
To be his evidence now.

O, what am I

Сут. A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother Rejoic'd deliverance more Bless'd may you be, That, after this strange starting from your orbs, You may reign in them now!O Imogen, Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.

Imo.

No, my lord;
I have got two worlds by't. O my gentle brothers,
Have we thus met? O never say hereafter,

But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother,
When I was but your sister; I you brothers,
When you were so indeed.

Cym.

Arv. Ay, my good lord.

Gui.

Did you e'er meet?

And at first meeting lov'd ;

Continued so, until we thought he died.

Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd.

Cym.

O'rare instinct!

When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridge

ment,8

Hath to it circumstantial branches, which

* fierce abridgement ] Fierce is vehement, rapid.

Distinction should be rich in.-Where? how liv'd

you?

And when came you to serve our Roman captive? How parted with your brothers? how first met them? Why fled you from the court? and whither? These, And your three motives to the battle,' with

I know not how much more, should be demanded;" And all the other by-dependancies.

From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor place,
Will serve our long intergatories. See,
Posthúmus anchors upon Imogen;

And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye
On him, her brothers, me, her master; hitting
Each object with a joy; the counterchange
Is severally in all. Let's quit this ground,
And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.-
Thou art my brother; So we'll hold thee ever.
[TO BELARIUS.

Imo. You are my father too; and did relieve me, To see this gracious season.

Cym.
All o'erjoy'd,
Save these in bonds; let them be joyful too,
For they shall taste our comfort.

Imo.

My good master,

Happy be you!

Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought, He would have well becom'd this place, and grac'd The thankings of a king.

Post.

I am, sir,

The soldier that did company these three
In poor beseeming; 'twas a fitment for

which

Distinction should be rich in.] i. e. which ought to be rendered distinct by a liberal amplitude of narrative.

5 And your three motives to the battle,] That is, though strangely expressed, the motives of you three for engaging in the battle.