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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 gail.

Queen.

Re-enter Queen.

Be brief, I pray you!

If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure:-Yet I'll move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.

Post.

[Aside.

[Exit.

Should we be taking leave

As long a term as yet we have to live,

The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu !
Imo. Nay, stay a little:

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.

Post.

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 thou here

[Putting on the ring. While senset 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.

[Putting a bracelet on her arm.

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Cym. 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 bloed.

Post.
And bless the good remainders of the court!

I am gone.

Imo.

The gods protect you!

[Exit.

There cannot be a pinch in death

More sharp than this is.

-Cym.

O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth: thou heapest
A year's age on me!

Imo.

I beseech you, sir,

Harm not yourself with your vexation; I

Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more raret 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 solet 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.

Imo.

A lustre to it.

. Fill.

Only.

No; I rather added

+ A more exquisite feeling.
A kite.

Cym.

Imo.

O thou vile one!

Sir,

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.

Cym.

What!-art thou mad!

Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me!-'Would

I were

A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus
Our neighbour shepherd's son!

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And pen her up.

Queen.

'Beesech your patience :-Peace,

Dear lady daughter, peace ;-Sweet sovereign,

Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort

Out of your best advicet.

Cym.

Nay, let her languish

[Exit.

A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Die of this folly!

Enter Pisanio.

Queen.

Fye!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir? What news?

Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.

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And had no help of anger: they were parted
By gentlemen at hand.

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!

I would they were in Africk both together;
Myself by with

needle, that I might prick

The goer back.-Why came you from your master?
Pis. 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 it pleas'd you to employ me.

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

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness.

Queen. Pray, walk a while.
Imo.

About some half hour hence,

1 pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least, Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A public place.

Enter Cloten, and two Lerds.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift itHave I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. [Aside.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

[dside.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

[Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have occans: Puppies!

[Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us.

2 Lord. So would I, till you had 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, she is damned. [Aside. 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of ber witt.

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. 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.

Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.
Clo. Nay, come, let's go together.
2 Lord. Well, my lord.

Her beauty and sense are not equal.

[Aside.

[Exeunt.

To understand the force of this idea, it should be remembered that anciently almost every sign had a motto, or some attemptat a witticism, underneath it.

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