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Are master of the feast. Cadwal, and I,
Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our match.1
The sweat of industry would dry, and die,

But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs
Will make what's homely, savory. Weariness
Can snore upon the flint, when restie 2 sloth
Finds the down pillow hard.-Now, peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'st thyself!

Gui.
I am thoroughly weary.
Arv. I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
Gui. There is cold meat i'the cave; we'll browse

on that,

Whilst what we have killed be cooked.

Bel.

Stay; come not in. [Looking in.

But that it eats our victuals, I should think

Here were a fairy.

What's the matter, sir?

Gui.

Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not,

An earthly paragon!-Behold divineness

No elder than a boy!

Enter IMOGEN.

Imo. Good masters, harm me not.

Before I entered here, I called; and thought

To have begged, or bought, what I have took. Good

troth,

I have stolen nought; nor would not, though I had found
Gold strewed i'the floor.3 Here's money for my meat.
I would have left it on the board, so soon

As I had made my meal; and parted,
With prayers for the provider.

Gui.

Money, youth?

Arv. All gold and silver rather turn to dirt!

1 i. e. our compact.

2 Restie, which Steevens unwarrantably changed to restive, signifies here dull, heavy, as it is explained in Bullokar's Expositor, 1616.

3 Hanmer altered this to "o' the floor;" but in was frequently used for on in Shakspeare's time, as in the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done in earth."

As 'tis no better reckoned, but of those

Who worship dirty gods.

Imo.

I see you are angry.

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
Have died had I not made it.

Bel.

Imo. To Milford-Haven.

Bel.

Whither bound?

What is your name?

Imo. Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman, who
Is bound for Italy; he embarked at Milford;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fallen in this offence.

Bel.
Pr'ythee, fair youth,
Think us no churls; nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encountered!
'Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer
Ere you depart; and thanks, to stay and eat it.—
Boys, bid him welcome.

Gui.

Were you a woman, youth,

I should woo hard, but be your groom.—In honesty, I bid for you, as I'd buy.

I'll make't my comfort

Arv.
He is a man; I'll love him as my brother;-

And such a welcome as I'd give to him,

After long absence, such is yours.-Most welcome!

Be sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.

Imo.

'Mongst friends,

If brothers!-'Would it had been so, that`

they

Had been my father's sons! then had my Aside. prize 2

Been less; and so more equal ballasting

To thee, Posthumus.

Bel.

He wrings at some distress.

Gui. 'Would I could free't!

1 In for into.

2 Prize, prise, and price, were confounded, or used indiscriminately by our ancestors. Prize here is evidently used for value, estimation.

3 To wring is to writhe.

Arv.

Or I; whate'er it be,

What pain it cost, what danger! Gods!

Bel.

Imo. Great men,

Hark, boys. [Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves, and had the virtue
Which their own conscience sealed them, (laying by
That nothing gift of differing1 multitudes,)

Could not outpeer these twain. Pardon me, gods!
I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus' false.2

Bel.

It shall be so;

Boys, we'll go dress our hunt.-Fair youth, come in : Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supped, We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,

So far as thou wilt speak it.

Gui.

Pray draw near.

Arv. The night to the owl, and morn to the lark,

less welcome.

Imo. Thanks, sir.

Arv.

I pray, draw near.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Rome.

Enter two Senators and Tribunes.

1 Sen. This is the tenor of the emperor's writ; That since the common men are now in action 'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians; And that the legions now in Gallia are Full weak to undertake our wars against The fallen-off Britons; that we do incite The gentry to this business. He creates

1 Differing multitudes are varying or wavering multitudes.

2 Malone says, "As Shakspeare has used in other places Menelaus' tent, and thy mistress' ear for "Menelauses tent," and "thy mistresses ear:" it is probable that he used "since Leonatus' false" for "since Leonatus is false."

Lucius proconsul; and to you, the tribunes,
For this immediate levy, he commands
His absolute commission.' Long live Cæsar!
Tri. Is Lucius general of the forces?
2 Sen.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?

1 Sen.

Ay,

With those legions

Which I have spoke of, whereunto your levy

Must be supplyant. The words of your commission Will tie you to the numbers, and the time

Of their despatch.

Tri.

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SCENE I.

ACT IV.

The Forest, near the Cave.

Enter CLOTen.

Clo. I am near to the place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit his garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (saving reverence of the word,) for 'tis said a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glass to confer: in his own chamber, I mean,) the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions; yet this imperseverant thing loves him in

3

4

1 He commands the commission to be given you.

2 i. e. cause.

3 "In single combat."

4 Imperseverant probably means no more than perseverant, like imbosomed, impassioned, immasked.

my despite. What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off; thy mistress enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face:1 and all this done, spurn her home to her father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my so rough usage: but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied up safe: out, sword, and to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meetingplace; and the fellow dares not deceive me.

SCENE II. Before the Cave.

[Exit.

Enter, from the Cave, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, and IMOGEN.

Bel. You are not well; [To IMOGEN ;] remain here

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But clay and clay differs in dignity,

Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.

Gui. Go you to hunting. I'll abide with him.
Imo. So sick I am not; yet I am not well;

But not so citizen a wanton, as

To seem to die, ere sick. So please you leave me ; Stick to your journal course; the breach of custom Is breach of all. I am ill; but your being by me Cannot amend me. Society is no comfort

2

To one not sociable.

I'm not very sick,

1 Warburton thought we should read, "before her face."

2 Keep your daily course uninterrupted; if the stated plan of life is

once broken, nothing follows but confusion.

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