Clot. I have assail'd her with musicks, but she vouchsafes no notice.

Cym. The exile of her minion is too new;
She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
Must wear the print of his remembrance out,
And then she's yours.

Queen. You are most bound to the king;
Who lets go by no vantages, that may
Prefer you to his daughter: Frame yourself
To orderly solicits'; and be friended
With aptness of the season: make denials
Increase your services: so seem, as if
You were inspir'd to do those duties which
You tender'd to her; that you in all obey her,
Save when command to your dismission tends,
And therein you are senseless.

Clot. Senseless! not so.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. So like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome;

The one is Caius Lucius.

Cym. A worthy fellow,

5

10

15

20

Lady. How! my good name? or to report of you
What I shall think is good?-The princess
Enter Imogen.

Clot. Good-morrow, fairest sister: your sweet
hand.
[pains
Imo. Good-morrow, sir: You lay out too much
For purchasing but trouble: The thanks I give,
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.

If

Clot. Still, I swear, I love you.

Imo. If you but said so, 'twere as deep with me:" you swear still, your recompence is still That I regard it not.

Clot. That is no answer.

[silent,

Imo. But that you shall not say I yield, being

I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: faith,
|I shall unfold equal discourtesy

To your best kindness: one of your great knowing
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

Clot.To leave you in your madness,'twere my sin:
I will not.

25 If

Albeit he comes on angry purpose now;
But that's no fault of his: We must receive him
According to the honour of his sender;
And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us2,
We must extend our notice.-Our dear son,
Whenyouhavegivengoodmorningtoyourmistress, 30
Attend the queen, and us; we shall have need
To employ you toward this Roman.-Come, our
[Exeunt.
Clot. If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not,
Let her lie still, and dream.-By your leave, ho!-35
[Knocks.

queen.

I know, her women are about her; What
If I do line one of their hands; 'Tis gold
Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and
makes

Imo. Fools are not mad folks.

Clot. Do you call me fool?

Imo. As I am mad, I do :

you 'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,

By being so verbal and learn now, for all,
That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;
And am so near the lack of charity,

(To accuse myself) I hate you: which I had rather
You felt, than make't my boast.

Clot. You sin against

Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
(One, bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes,
With scraps o' the court) it is no contract, none;
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,
40(Yet who, than he, more mean?) to knit their souls
(On whom there is no more dependency
But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot*;
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o' the crown; and must not soil
The precious note of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth,
A pantler, not so eminent.

Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
Their deer to the stand o' the stealer: and 'tis gold
Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the
thief;
[What
Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man: 45
Can it not do, and undo? I will make
One of her women lawyer to me; for
I yet not understand the case myself.
By your leave.

Enter a Lady.

Lady. Who's there that knocks?
Clot. A gentleman.

Lady. No more?

Clot. Yes, and a gentlewoman's son.
Lady. That's more

[Knocks.

Than some, whose taylors are as dear as yours,
Can justly boast of: What'syourlordship'spleasure?
Clot. Your lady's person: Is she ready?
Lady. Ay, to keep her chamber. [report.

Imo. Prophane fellow !

Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more, 50 But what thou art, besides, thou wert too base To be his groom: thou wert dignify'd enough, Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated 55 For being preferr'd so well.

[come

Clot. The south-fog rot him!
Imo. He never can meet more mischance, than
To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clip'd his body, is dearer,

Clot. There's gold for you; sell me your good|60|In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,

1i. e. regular courtship.

2 i. e. the good offices done by him to us heretofore.
A self-figured knot is a knot formed by yourself,
3 M 4

Verbal

Were

here means so verbose, so full of talk.

Clot. His garment? Now, the devil-
Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee present-
Clot. His garment?

[ly:

man

Imo. I am sprighted with a fool';
Frighted, and anger'd worse:-Go, bid my wo-
Search for a jewel, that too casually

Hath left mine arm2; it was thy master's: shrew me,
If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think,

I saw't this morning: confident I am,
Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kissed it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but him.

Pisan. 'Twill not be lost.

Imo. I hope so: go and search. [Exit Pisanio.
Clot. You have abus'd me ;-

His meanest garment?

Imo. Ay; I said so, sir:

If you will make 't an action, call witness to 't.
Clot. I will inform your father.

Imo. Your mother too:

Post. Fear it not, sir: I would, I were so sure
To win the king, as I am bold, her honour
Will remain hers.

Post. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,

20 When you were there?

lach. He was expected then, But not approach'd.

Post. All is well yet..

Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't not 25 Too dull for your good wearing?

Jach. If I have lost it,

I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
30 Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Post. The stone's too hard to come by.
Jach. Not a whit,

Your lady being so easy.

Post. Make not, sir,

35 Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that we Must not continue friends.

Phil. What means do you make to him?
Post. Not any; but abide the change of time;
Quake in the present winter's state, and wish
That warmer days would come: In these fear'd 40
hopes,

I barely gratify your love; they failing,
I must die much your debtor.

Phil. Your very goodness, and your company,
O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king
Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius
Will do his commission throughly: And, I think,
He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages,
Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief,

Post. I do believe,

45

Iach. Good, sir, we must,

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question further; but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.

Post. If you can make it apparent
That you have tasted her in bed, my hand,
And ring, is yours: If not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses,
Your sword, or mine; or masterless leaves both
50 To who shall find them.

Iach. Sir, my circumstances,

Being so near the truth, as I will make them,
Must first induce you to believe: whose strength
I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not,

55 You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall find
You need it not.

(Statist though I am noné, nor like to be)
That this will prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions, now in Gallia, sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar
Sinil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline
(Now imingled with their courages) will make 60

known

Post. Proceed.

Jach. First, her bed-chamber,
(Where, I confess, I slept not; but, profess,
Had that was well worth watching) It was hang'd
With tapestry of silk and silver; the story,

'i, e. too many chances of losing it have arisen i. e. statesman. i. e. to those who try them.

1i. e. I am haunted by a fool, as by a spright. from my carelessness. 3 Or for ere.

Proud

1i. e. so near to speech. The Italians call a portrait, when the likeness is remarkable, a speaking pic.ure. The meaning is this: The sculptor was as nature, but as nature dumb; he gave every thing that nature gives, but breath and motion. In breath is included speech. i. e. the token; the visible proof.

5

And that most venerable man, which I
Did call my father, was I know not where
When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his tools
Made me a counterfeit: Yet my mother seem'd
The Dian of that time: so doth my wife [geance!
The non-pareil of this.-Oh vengeance, ven-
Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with
A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on 't
Lher
Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought 10
As chaste as unsunn'd snow:-O, all the devils!
This yellow lachimo, in an hour,-was 't not ?-
Or less,at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,
Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,
Cry'd, 'Oh!' and mounted; found no opposition
But what he look'd for should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I find out

1.

SCENE I.

Cymbeline's Palace.

15

АСТ

Enter, in state, Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten,and Lords, at one door; and at another, Caius Lucius, and Attendants.

with us?

Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain,
Nice longings, slanders, mutability,

All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows,
Why, hers, in part, or all; but, rather, ali :
For even to vice

They are not constant, but are changing still
One vice, but of a minute old, for one

Not half so old as that. I'll write against them,
Detest them, curse them:-Yet 'tis greater skill
In a true hate, to pray they have their will:
The very devils cannot plague them better. [Exit,

III.

125 As easily 'gainst our rocks: For joy whereof The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point (O, giglet fortune !) to master Casar's sword, Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright, And Britons strut with courage.

30

Cym. NOW say, what would Augustus Cæsar
[yet
Luc. When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance
Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues,
Be theme, and hearing ever) was in this Britain, 35
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle,
(Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less
Than in his feats deserving it,) for him,
And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,
Yearly three thousand pounds: which by thee 40
Is left untender'd.

Queen. And, to kill the marvel,
Shall be so ever.

Clot. There be many Cæsars,
Ere such another Julius. Britain is

[lately

A world by itself; and we will nothing pay
For wearing our own noses.

Queen. That opportunity,

Clot. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other of them may have crook'd noses; but to own such strait arms, none.

Cym. Son, let your mother end.

Clot. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say, I am one: but I have a hand. Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now. Cym. You must know, 'Till the injurious Roman did extort

[bition,

45 This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's am-
(Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch
The sides o' the world,) against all colour, here
Did put the yoke upon us; which to shake off,
Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
50 Ourselves to be; we do. Say then to Cæsar,
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, which
Ordain'd our laws; whose use the sword of Cæsar
Hath too much mangled; whose repair, and fran-
chise,

Which then they had to take from us, to resume
We have again. Remember, sir, my liege,
The kings your ancestors; together with
The natural bravery of your isle; which stands
As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in
With rocks unscaleable, and roaring waters;
With sands, that will not bear your enemies' boats, 55
But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of

conquest

Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag
Of, came, and saw, and overcame; with shame
(The first that ever touch'd him) he was carried 60
From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping,
(Poor ignorant' baubles,) on our terrible seas,
Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd

Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,
Though Rome be therefore angry. Mulmutius
made our laws,

Who was the first of Britain which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and call'd
Himself a king.

Luc. I am sorry, Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
Cæsar, that hath more kings his servants, than

1i. e. unacquainted with the nature of our boisterous seas. ? i, e. without any pretence of right.

Thyself

13. Act 3. Scene 2.]

Thyself domestic officers) thine enemy:
Receive it from me then :-War, and confusion,
In Casar's name pronounce I'gainst thee: look
For fury not to be resisted :-Thus defy'd,
I thank thee for myself.

Cym. Thou art welcome, Caius.

Thy Cæsar knighted me; my youth I spent
Much under him; of him I gather'd honour;
Which he, to seek of me again, perforce,
Behoves me keep at utterance. I am perfect 2,
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for
Their liberties, are now in arms: a precedent
Which not to read, would shew the Britons cold;
So Cæsar shall not find them.

Luc. Let proof speak.

907

Pisan. Madam, here is a letter from my lord.
Imo. Who? thy lord? that is my lord? Leo-

natus?

O, learn'd indeed were that astronomer,

5 That knew the stars, as I his characters;
He'd lay the future open.-

-You good gods,

Let what is here contain'd relish of love,
Of my lord's health, of his content,-yet not,
That we two are asunder, let that grieve him!
10(Some griefs are med'cinable; that is one of them,
For it doth physic love of his content,

All but in that!-Good wax, thy leave:-Blest be
You bees, that make these locks of counsel! Lo-

vers,

15 And men in dangerous bonds, pray not alike;
Though forfeiters you cast in prison, yet
Good news,
You clasp young Cupid's tables'.
[Reading

Clot. His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us a day, or two, or longer: If you seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our salt-water girdle: if you beat us out of it, it is yours; if you fall in the adventure, our 20 crows shall fare the better for you; and there's an end.

Luc. So, sir.

[mine:
[Exeunt. 25

Cym. I know your master's pleasure, and he All the remain, is welcome,

Pisan. How! of adultery? Wherefore write 30

you not

What monsters her accuse?-Leonatus!

O master! what a strange infection

Is fallen into thine ear? What false Italian
(As poisonous tongu'd, as handed) hath prevail'd
On thy too ready hearing?-Disloyal No:
She's punish'd for her truth; and undergoes,
More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults
As would take in 'some virtue.-O my master!
Thy mind to her is now as low, as were
Thy fortunes.-How! that I should murder her?
Upon the love, and truth, and vows, which I
Have made to thy command?-1, her?-her
blood?

If it be so to do good service, never
Let me counted serviceable. How look I,
That I should seem to lack humanity,
So much as this fact comes to? Do't: The letter

35

gods! 'Justice, and your father's wrath, should he take me in his dominion, could not be so cruel tome,asyou, Othe dearest of creatures, would not even renew me with your eyes. Take notice, that I am in Cambria, at Milford-Haven: What your own love will, out of this, advise you, follow. So, he wishes you all happiness, that remaius loyal to his vow, and your, increasing in love,

LEONATUS POSTHUMUS." O, for a horse with wings!-Hear'st thou, Pisanio?

He is at Milford-Haven: Read, and tell me
How far 'tis thither. If one of mean affairs
May plod it in a week, why may not I
Glide thither in a day-Then, true Pisanio,
(Who long'st, likeme, to see thy lord; who long'st-
O, let me bate,-but not like me: yet long'st,-
But in a fainter kind:-O, not like me;

For mine's beyond, beyond,) say,and speak thick,
(Love's counsellor should fill the bores of hearing,
40 To the smothering of the sense) how far it is
To this same blessed Milford: And, by the way,
Tell me how Wales was made so happy, as
To inherit such a haven: But, first of all,
How we may steal from hence; and, for the gap
45 That we shall make in time, from our hence-going
Till our return, to excuse :-but first, how get
hence:

I am ignorant in what I am commanded ‘.
Imo. How now, Pisanio?

Why should excuse be born or e'er begot?
We'll talk of that hereafter. Pr'ythee, speak,
How many score of miles may we well ride
Twixt hour and hour?

Pisan. One score, 'twixt sun and sun,
Madam, 's enough for you; and too much too.
Imo. Why, one that rode to nis execution, man,
55 Could never go so slow; I have heard of riding
wagers,

Where horses have been nimbler than the sands

At utterance means to keep at the extremity of defiance. take in a town is to conquer it. service to a superior lord.

2i. e. I am well informed.

3 To * A feodary is one who holds his estate under the tenure of suit and • That is, grief for i. e. I am unpractised in the arts of murder. The meaning is, that the bees are not blest by the man absence keeps love in health and vigour. who, forfeiting a bond, is sent to prison, as they are by the lover, for whom they perform the more pleasing office of sealing letters,

That