Scene IV. That could stand up his parallel; Or fruitful object be In eye of Imogen, that best Could deem his dignity? Moth. With marriage wherefore To be exil'd and thrown From Leonati's seat, and cast From her his dearest one, Sici. Why did you suffer Iachimo, To taint bis nobler heart and brain With needless jealousy ; And to become the geck O' the other's villany? and scorn CYMBELINE. 2 Bro. For this, from stiller seats we came, That, striking in our country's cause, With honour to maintain. 1 Bro. Like hardiment Posthúmus hath Then Jupiter, thou king of gods, Being all to dolours turn'd? Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race, thy harsh And potent injuries: Moth. Since, Jupiter, our son is good, Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion; help! Or we poor ghosts will cry To the shining synod of the rest, Against thy deity. 2 Bro. Help, Jupiter; or we appeal, JUPITER descends in Thunder and Lightning, knees. a Jup. No more, you petty spirits of region No care of your's it is, you know, 'tis our's. His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent. Our jovial star reign'd at his birth, and in Our temple was he married.-Rise, and fade !He shall be lord of lady Imogen, And happier much by his affliction made. Our pleasure his full fortune doth coutine; [Ascends. breath Was sulphurous to smell: the holy eagle Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak, All. Thanks, Jupiter! Sici. The marble pavement closes, he enter'd A father to me: and thou hast created That have this golden chance, and know not What faries haunt this ground? A book? O, Be not, as is our fangled world, a garment [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to 'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff as madmen The action of my life is like it, which Re-cnter JAILERS. Jail. Come, Sir, are you ready for death? Post. Over-roasted rather: ready long ago. Jail. Hanging is the word Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cooked. Post. So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish pays the shot. Jail. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir: But the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills: which are often the sadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth: you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; sorry that you have paid too much, and sorry that you are paid too much; purse and brain both empty : the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness: Oh! of this contradiction you shall now be quit.-Oh! the charity of a penny cord! it sums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor but it; of what's past is, and to come, the discharge :-Your neck, Sir, is pen, book, and counters; so the acquittance follows. Post. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Jail. Indeed, Sir, he that sleeps feels not the tooth-ache: But a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think he would change places with his officer : for look you, Sir, you know not which way you shall go. Post. Yes indeed do I, fellow. Jail. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not seen him so pictured: you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know; or take upon yourself that, which I am sure you do not know; or jump the after-inquiry on your own peril and how you shall speed in your own journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell one. Post. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want is eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. His radiant roof:-Away! and, to be blest, • The fool. Jail. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes, to see the way of blindness! I am sure, hanging's the way of winking. • Hazard. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king. Post. Thou bringest good news-I am called to be made free. Jail. I'll be hang'd then. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a jailer; no bolts for the dead. And, but she spoke it dying, I would not With such integrity, she did confess Cym. O most delicate fiend! Who is't can read a woman?-Is there more? [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and MESSENGER. Jail. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman : and there be some of them too, that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good; Oh! there were desolation of jailers,and gallowses! By watching, weeping, tendance, kissing, to I speak against my present profit; but my wish'ercome you with her show; yes, and in time, hath a preferment in't. (When she had fitted you with her craft,) to work [Exeunt. Such noble fury in so poor a thing; Her son into the adoption of the crown. Cym. Heard you all this, her women ! Were not in fault, for she was beautiful; That thought her like her seeming; it had been To have mistrusted her yet, O my daughter! Such precious deeds in one that promis'd Enter LUCIUS, IACHIMO, the SOOTHSAYER, nought But beggary and poor looks. Cym. No tidings of him? and other Roman Prisoners, guarded; POSTHUMUS behind, and IMOGEN. Pis. He hath been search'd among the dead Thou com'st not, Caius, now for tribute; that and living, But no trace of him. Cym. To my grief, I am The heir of his reward; which I will add Bel. Sir, In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen: Cym. Bow your knees: Arise my knights o'the battle: I create you Enter CORNELIUS and LADIES. There's business in these faces :-Why so sadly Cor. Hail, great king! To sour your happiness, I must report Cym. Whom worse than a physician Cym. Pry'thee, say. The Britons have raz'd out, though with the loss Of many a bold one; whose kinsmen have made Luc. Consider, Sir, the chance of war: the Was your's by accident; had it gone with us, So tender over his occasions, true, So feat, so nurse-like let his virtue join Cannot deny; he hath done no Briton harm, Cym. I have surely seen him : Boy, thou hast look'd thyself into my grace, wherefore, To say, live, boy: ne'er thank thy master; live: Cor. First she confess'd she never lov'd you; Fitting my bounty, and thy state, I'll give it; only Affected greatness got by you, not you: Married your royalty, was wife to your place; Abhorr'd your person. Cym. She alone new this: What's best to ask. Know'st him thou look'st on ? speak, Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend? Imo. He is a Roman; no more kin to me, Than I to your highness; who, being born your Am something nearer. Cym. Wherefore ey❜st him so ? [vassal, Imo. I'll tell you, Sir, in private, if you please To give me bearing. Cym. Ay, with all my heart, And lend my best attention. What's thy name? Imo. Fidele, Sir. Cym. Thou art my good youth, my page; I'll be thy master: Walk with me; speak freely. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN converse apart. Bel. Is not this boy reviv'd from death? Not more resembles: That sweet rosy lad, Bel. Peace, peace! see further; he eyes us not; forbear; Creatures may be alike: were't he, I am sure Gui. But we saw him dead. Bel. Be silent; let's see further. Pis. It is my mistress : Since she is living, let the time run on, [Aside. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN come forward. Cym. Conie, stand thou by our side: Make thy demand aloud.-Sir, [To IACH.] step you forth; Give answer to this boy, and do it freely; Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may render Of whom he had this ring. Post. What's that to him? [Aside. Cym. That diamond upon your finger, say, How came it yours? lach. Thou'lt torture me to leave unspoken that Which, to be spoke, would torture thee. Cym. How! me? The mansion where! ('twas at a feast, (O 'would húmus, (What should I say? he was too good to be Where ill men were; and was the best of all Amongst the rar'st of good ones,) sitting sadly, Hearing us praise our loves of Italy For beauty that made barren the swell'd boast Fairness which strikes the eye :- Come to the matter. Iach. All too soon I shall, Unless thou would'st grieve quickly.-This Post húmus, Most like a noble lord in love, and one And then a mind put in't, either our brags Cym. Nay, nay, to the purpose. lach. Your daughter's chastity-there it be. gins. Pieces of gold, 'gainst this which then he wore In suit the place of his bed, and win this ring Post I in this design: Well may you, Sir, Of hope, not longing, mine Italian brain To make the noble Leonatus mad, Iach. I am glad to be constrain❜d to utter that of chamber-hanging, pictures, this her brace which Torments me to conceal. By villany I got this ring; 'twas Leonatus' jewel: let, (0 cunning, how I got it!) nay, some marks Of secret on her person, that he could not Whom thou didst banish; and (which more may But think her bond of chastity quite crack'd, grieve thee, As it doth me,) a nobler Sir ne'er liv'd Twixt sky and grouud. Wilt thou hear more, my lord? Cym. All that belongs to this. For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits Quail to remember,-Give me leave; I faint. Cym. My daughter! what of her? Renew thy strength: I bad rather thou should'st live while nature will, Than die ere I hear more: strive man, and speak. Jach. Upon a time, (unhappy was the clock That struck the hour!) it was in Rome, (accurs'd • Sink into dejection. I having ta'en the forfeit. Whereupon,- Post. Ay, so thou dost, [Coming forward. The dogs o'the street to bay me every villain Imo. Peace, my lord; hear, hear Post. Shall's have a play of this? Thou scornful page, There lie thy part. If I discover'd not which way she was gone, To seek her on the mountains near to Milford. [Striking her: she falls. You ne'er kill'd Imogen till now ;-Help, help! Imo. It poison'd me. Cor. O gods ! I left out one thing which the queen confess'd, Which I gave him for a cordial, she is serv'd Cym. What's this, Cornelius ? Cor. The queen, Sir, very oft impórtun'd me Gui. Let me end the story : I slew him there. Cym. Marry, the gods forfend ! • I would not thy good deeds should from my lips Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth, 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 sparn the sea, If it could roar so to me: I cut off's head; Cym. I am sorry for thee: By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must Endure our law: Thou art dead. Imo. That headless man I thought had been my lord. This man is better than the man he slew, They were not born for bondage. Cym. Why, old soldier, Arv. In that he spake too far. 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, Aru. Your danger is Our's. Gui. And our good his. [Embracing him. Bel. Have at it then. [who By leave ;-Thou had'st, great, king, a subject, Cym. What of him? be is Cym. How now, my flesh, my child? What, mak'st thou me a duliard in this act? Imo. Your blessing, Sir. [Kneeling. Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame ye not; You had a motive for't. A banish'd traitor. Bel. He it is, that hath Assum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man ; Cym. Take him hence; The whole world shall not save him. Bel. Not too hot : First pay me for the nursing of thy sons; Cym. Nursing of my sons? Bel. I am too blunt and sancy: Here's my knee; Ere I arise I will prefer my sons; Then, spare not the old father. Mighty Sir, And think they are my sons, are none of mine ; With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, And blood of your begetting. and swore, Cym. How! my issue? • Mix, compound. • Forhid. These, Bel. So sure as you your father's. 1, old Why fled you from the court? and whither Morgan, Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd: And your three motives to the battle, with Your pleasure was my mere offence, my pun-I know not how much more, should be de manded; ishment self, 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 arts they have, as I as Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile, Upon my banishment; I mov'd her to't; Here are your sons again; and I must lose To inlay heaven with stars. Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st. The service, that you three have done, is more If these be they, I know not how to wish Bel. Be pleas'd a while. This gentleman, whom I call Polydore, derius; And all the other by-dependancies. From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor Will serve our long intergatories. See, And she like harmless lightning, throws her eye Imo. You are my father too: and did re- To see this gracious season. Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too, Luc. Happy be you! [Kneeling. 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 The purpose I then follow'd ;-That I was he, Gui-I will yet do you service. This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus, Of his queen mother, which, for more pro- I can with ease produce. Cym. Guiderius bad 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 ; Imo. No, my lord; I have got two worlds" by't.-O my gentle Have we thus met? O never say hereafter, Cym. Did you e'er meet? Arv. Ay, my good lord. Gui. And at first meeting lov'd; Continued so, until we thought he died. Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd. When shall I hear all through? This fierce Hath to it circumstantial branches, which Distinction should be rich in. +-Where? liv'd you? And when came you to serve our Roman how met lach. I am down again: But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, Which I so often owe: but, your ring first: Post. Kneel not to me : The power that I have on you, is to spare you, Cym. Nobly doom'd: We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law; Arv. You holp us, Sir, As you did mean indeed to be our brother; Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my lord Call forth your soothsayer: As I slept, me- Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back, Luc. Philarmonus, Sooth. Here, my good lord. Luc. Read and declare the meaning. cap-Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp', • Vehement, rapid. tle Which ought to be rendered distinct in an ample narrative. • Ghostly appearances. |