Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan; 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
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts to him 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 's 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 th' more mature
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,.
A child that guided dotards.

MADAN.

I honour him
Even out of your report. But 'pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?

PISAN.

His only child.
He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old,
I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stolen; and to this hour no guess in knowledge
Which way they went.

MADAN.

How long is this ago?

PISAN. Some twenty years.
MADAN. That a king's children should be so convey'd !
So slackly guarded! and the search so slow,
That could not trace them!

PISAN.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may be laugh'd at,

Yet is it true, sir.

We must forbear: Here comes the gentleman,
The queen and princess.

They retire up and off, R. U. E.

Enter the QUEEN, her LADIES, POSTHUMUS, and
IMOGEN, L. U. E.

QUEEN. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,
After the slander of most step-mothers,
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,

POST.

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him: and 't were good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

I will from hence to-day.

QUEEN.

Please your highness,

You know the peril
I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king
Hath charg'd you should not speak together.

Exit QUEEN and LADIES, L. U. E.
IMOGEN. O dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing
(Always reserv'd my holy duty) what

POST.

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.

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

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.

QUEEN.

Re-enter QUEEN and LADIES, L. U. E.

Be brief, I pray you;

POST.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not

How much of his displeasure: (aside) Yet I'll move

him

To walk this way.

Exit, R. U. E.

Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!
IMOGEN. Nay, stay a little;

POST.

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.

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, 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.

IMOGEN.

(putting a bracelet on her arm) O, the gods!

When shall we see again?

Enter CYMBELINE, MADAN, PISANIO, LOCRINE, and

LORDS, R. U. E.

POST.

Alack, the king!

CYMBEL. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!
If, after this command thou fraught the Court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest away:
Thou art poison to my blood.

POST.

The gods protect you!

And bless the good remainders of the Court!

I am gone.

IMOGEN.

Exit L. 1. E., followed by PISANIO. There cannot be a pinch in death

More sharp than this is.

CYMBEL.

O disloyal thing,

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

IMOGEN.

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.

CYMBEL.
Past grace? obedience?
IMOGEN. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace,
CYMBEL. That mightst have had the sole son of my queen!
IMOGEN. O bless'd that I might not! I chose an eagle,

And did avoid a puttock.

CYMBEL. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne

Sir,

O, thou vile one!

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my playfellow; and he is
A man worth any woman; overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.

CYMBEL.

What! art thou mad?

IMOGEN. Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus

Our neighbour shepherd's son !

Re-enter QUEEN, R. U. E.

CYMBEL. (to the QUEEN)

Thou foolish thing!

They were again together: you have done
Not after our command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

QUEEN.

Beseech your patience: peace,
Dear lady daughter, peace. Sweet sovereign,

Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some
comfort

Out of your best advice.

CYMBEL.

A drop of blood a day;
Die of this folly!

Nay, let her languish

and being aged,

Exit CYMBELINE and LORDS, R.

QUEEN.

Enter PISANIO, L. 1 E.

Fie!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir? What news? PISAN. My lord your son drew on my master.

QUEEN.

No harm, I trust, is done?

PISAN.

Ha!

There might have been,
But that my master rather play'd than fought,
And had no help of anger: they were parted
By gentlemen at hand.

QUEEN.

I am very glad on't.

IMOGEN. Your son's my father's friend: he takes his part, To draw upon an exila!-0, brave sir!

I would they were in Afric both together; Myself by with a needle, that I might prick The goer-back.-Why came you from your master? PISAN. On his command: He would not suffer me To bring him to the haven: left these notes Of what commands I should be subject to, When 't pleas'd you to employ me.

QUEEN.

This hath been.
Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour.
He will remain so.

I humbly thank your highness.

PISAN.
QUEEN. Pray, walk a while.
IMOGEN.

QUEEN goes off, R.
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 IMOGEN, R., PISANIO, L.

SCENE SECOND.-A Hall. (1st grooves)

Enter CLOTEN, MADAN, and LOCRINE, L.

CLOTEN.

Have I hurt him?

MADAN. No, faith! (aside) not so much as his patience. CLOTEN. The villain would not stand me.

I would they had not come between us.

MADAN. (aside) So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.

CLOTEN. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!