As sense cannot untie Be what it is, The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep, if but for sympathy. Re-enter Gaolers. Gaol. Come, sir, are you ready for death? Post. Over-roasted rather ready long ago. Gaol. Hanging is the word, sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cooked. Pos. So, if I prove a good repast to the specfato, the dish pays the shot. Gal. 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: O! of this contradiction you shall now be quit. O 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. Gaol. 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. Gaol. Your death has eyes in's head, then; 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 jumps the after-inquiry on your own peril: and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell one. Post. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. Gaol. 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. 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. Gaol. I'll be hanged then. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and Messenger. Gaol. 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; O, there were desolation of gaolers, and gallowses! I speak against my present profit; but my wish hath a preferment in't. [Exeunt. SCENE V-Cymbeline's Tent. Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Lords, Officers, and Attendants. Cym. Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen: Cym. Enter CORNELIUS and Ladies. Cor. Cym. Whom worse than a physic.ar Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life; Pr'ythee, say. Cor. First, she confess'd she never lov'd you; only Affected greatness got by you, not you; Married your royalty, was wife to your place; Abhorr'd your person. Cym. She alone knew this: With such integrity, she did confess For you a mortal mineral; which, being took, To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter! Thou com'st not, Caius, now for tribute; that suit That their good souls may be appeas'dwithslaughter Of you their captives, which ourself have granted So, think of your estate. Luc. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods Augustus lives to think on't: And so much So feat,9 so nurselike: let his virtue join With my request, which, I'll make bold, your high ness Cannot deny: he hath done no Briton harm, I have surely seen him: To say, live, boy: ne'er thank thy master: live: Imo. Imo. No, no: alack! There's other work in hand; I see a thing Bitter to me as death: your life, good master, Must shuffle for itself. Am something nearer. Wherefore ey'st him so? Ay, with all my heart, Bel. Peace, peace! see further, he eyes us not; Creatures may be alike: were't he, I am sure [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN come forward. Give answer to this boy, and do it freely : Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may render What's that to him? [Aside. Iach. Thou'lt torture me to leave unspoken that How! me? lach.I am glad to be constrain❜d to utter that which Torments me to conceal. By villany I got this ring; 'twas Leonatus' jewel; As it doth me) a nobler sir ne'er liv'd Cym. All that belongs to this. Iuch. Cym. My daughter! what of her? Renew thy I had rather thou shouldst live while nature will, mus, (What should I say? he was too good to be For beauty that made barren the swell'd boast Cym. Come to the matter. I stand on fire: All too soon I shall, (Most like a noble lord in love, and one His mistress' picture; which by his tongue being And then a mind put in't, either our brags Cym. Nay, nay, to the purpose In suit the place of his bed, and win this ring Than I did truly find her, stakes this ring; That all the abhorred things o' the earth amend. Whom thou didst banish; and (which more may Of virtue was she; yea, and she herself.3 grieve thee, Ready, dexterous. • Corntenance. Sink into dejection. Not only the temple of virtue, but virtue he self Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set There lies thy part. [Striking her: she falls. Pis. How fares my mistress? Imo. O, get thee from my sight; Thou gav'st me poison: dangerous fellow, hence! Breathe not where princes are. Cym. Pis. Lady, The tune of Imogen! Cor. O gods!I left out one thing which the queen confess'd, Which must approve thee honest: If Pisanio Have, said she, given his mistress that confection Which I gave him for a cordial, she is serv'd As I would serve a rat. Cym. What's this, Cornelius? Cor. The queen, sir, very oft importun'd me To temper poisons for her; still pretending The satisfaction of her knowledge only In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs, Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose Was of more danger, did compound for her A certain stuff, which being ta'en, would cease Do their due functions.-Have you ta'en of it? There was our error. Gui. My boys, This is sure, Fidele. Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady from you? Think, that you are upon a rock; and now Post. Till the tree die! Cym. How now, my flesh, my child? What, mak'st thou me a dullard in this act? Wilt thou not speak to me? Ima. Your blessing, sir. [Kneeling. Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame you not; You had a motive for't. Cym. Marry, the gods forefend !5 I would not thy good deeds should from my lip Gui. Gui. A most uncivil one: The wrongs he did me This man is better than the man he slew, To the Guard. They were not born for bondage. First pay me for the nursing of thy sons; How! my issue' Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st The service, that you three have done, is more Unlike than this thou tell'st: I lost my children If these be they, I know not how to wish A pau of worthier sons. • Forbid. Hath to it circumstantial branches which Distinction should be rich in.where? how liv'd you? And when came you to serve our Roman captive? How parted with your brothers? how first met them? Why fled you from the court? and whither? These, And your three motives to the battle, with I know not how much more, should be demanded; From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor place, And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye [TO BELARIUS. Imo. You are my father too, and did relieve me, To see this gracious season. Cym. Imo. I will yet do you service. Luc. My good master, Happy be you! Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought. He would have well becom'd this place, and graced The thankings of a king. Post. I am, sir, The soldier that did company these three I am down again: [Kneeling. But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, Post. Kneel not to me: The power that I have on you, is to spare you; The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live, And deal with others better. Cym. We'll learr. our freeness of a son-in-law; Pardon's the word to all. Art. Nobly doom'd: You holp us, sir, i. e. Which ought to be rendered distinct by an amplo narrative. Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and wher from a stately cedar shall be lopp'd branches, which being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Post furish in peace and plenty. humus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; Cym. South. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Personates thee: and thy lopp'd branches point Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stolen, For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd, To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue Promises Britain peace and plenty. Cym. Well, My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius, Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar, And to the Roman empire; promising To pay our wonted tribute, from the which We were dissuaded by our wicked queen; Whom heavens, in justice, (both on her and hers,) Have laid most heavy hand. Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune The harmony of this peace. The vision Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant Is full accomplish'd: For the Roman eagle, From south to west on wing soaring aloit, Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o' the sun So vanish'd: which foreshow'd our princely eagle, The imperial Cæsar, should again unite His favor with the radiant Cymbeline, Which shines here in the west. Cym. Laud we the goas; And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils From our bless'd altars! Publish we this peace To all our subjects. Set we forward: Let A Roman and a British ensign wave Friendly together: so through Lud's town march: Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.- |