Than doth become a man! I will remain The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth. 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 To walk this way: I never do him wrong, 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 ! Were you but riding forth to air yourself, When Imogen is dead. Post. How! how! another? You gentle gods, give me but this I have, [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. Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight! If, after this command, thou fraught the court Post. 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 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. Cym. Imo. O thou vile one! Sir, It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus: Cym. What!-art thou mad! Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me!-'Would I were A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus 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. And had no help of anger: they were parted 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; needle, that I might prick The goer back.-Why came you from your master? Queen. Pis. I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk a while. 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. 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. |