A mother, and two brothers: But (O fcorn!)
Gone! they went hence so soon as they were born.
And fo I am awake.-Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour, dream as I have done;
Wake, and find nothing.-But, alas, I fwerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And yet are steep'd in favours; so am I,
That have this golden chance, and know not why.
What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O,

Gal. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not feen him fo pictur'd: you must either be directed by fome that take upon them to know; or take upon yourself that, which I am sure you 5 do not know; or jump the after-enquiry on your own peril: and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think, you'll never return to tell one.

Peft. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want 10eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but fuch as wink, and will not use them.

Gal. What an infinite mock is this, that a man fhould have the best use of eyes, to fee the way of blindness! I am fure, hanging's the way 15 of winking. Enter a Messenger.

Mef. Knock off his manacles; bring your prifoner to the king.

Poft. Thou bring'ft good news; I am call'd to

Gaol. I'll be hang'd then.

Peft. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Pofthumus and Messenger.

❝ing dead many years, shall after revive, be joint-20 be made free.
"ed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then
"fhall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be
"fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty."
'Tis ftill a dream; or elfe fuch stuff as madmen
Tongue, and brain not: either both, or nothing:
Or fenfeless speaking, or a speaking fuch
As fenfe cannot untie'. Be what it is,
The action of my life is like it, which
I'll keep if but for fympathy.

Re-enter Gaolers.

Gaol. Come, fir, are you ready for death?
Peft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago.
Gaol. Hanging is the word, fir; if you be
ready for that, you are well cook'd.

Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows, 25 and beget young gibbets, I never faw one fo prone. Yet, on my confcience, there are verier knaves defire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be fome of them too, that die against their wills; fo fhould I, if I were one. I would we 30 were all of one mind, and one mind good; 0, there were defolation of gaolers, and gallowses! I fpeak against my prefent profit; but my with hath a preferment in 't. [Exit.

Pesi. So, if I prove a good repast to the fpec-35 tators, the dish pays the shot.

Gaol. A heavy reckoning for you, fir: But the comfort is, you shall be call'd to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills; which are often the fadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth: you 40 come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; forry that you have paid too much, and forry that you are paid too much 2; purfe and brain both empty: the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purfe too light, be-45 ing drawn 3 of heaviness: O! of this contradiction you fhall be now quit.-O, the charity of a penny cord! it fums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor 4 but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge: Your neck, fir, is pen, book, and counters; fo the acquittance follows.

SCENE V.

Cymbeline's Tent.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus,
Pifanio, and Lords.

Cym. Stand by my fide, you, whom the gods
have made

Prefervers of my throne. Woe is my heart,
That the poor foldier, that fo richly fought,
Whofe rags fham'd gilded arms, whofe naked
breaft

Stept before targe of proof, cannot be found:
He fhall be happy that can find him, if
Our grace can make him so.

Bel. I never faw

Such noble fury in fo poor a thing; Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought 50 But beggary and poor looks.

Poft. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Gaol. Indeed, fir, he that fleeps feels not the tooth-ach: But a man that were to fleep your 55 fleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think, he would change places with his officer: for, look you, fir, you know not which way you shall go. Peft. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow.

Cym. No tidings of him?

[living,

Pif. He hath been search'd among the dead and But no trace of him.

Cym. To my grief I am

The heir of his reward; which I will add
To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain,
[To Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.
By whom, I grant, the lives: 'Tis now the time
To afk of whence you are:-report it.

The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is this: "This is a dream or madness, or both-or nothing but whether it be a fpeech without consciousness, as in a dream, or a speech unintelligible, as in madness, be it as it is, it is like my course of life." 2 i. c. forry that you have paid too much out of your pocket, and forry that you are paid or fubdued, too much by the liquor. 3 Drawn is emborvell'd, exenterated. 4 Debitor and creditor for an accounting book. 5 That is, venture at it without thought. • i. e. forward.

Bel

Bel. Sir,

In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen:
Further to boast, were neither true nor modeft,
Unless I add, we are honeft.

Cym. Bow your knees:

Arife my knights o' the battle; I create you
Companions to our perfon, and will fit you
With dignities becoming your estates.

Enter Cornelius, and Ladies.

There's bufinefs in these faces :-Why fo fadly
Greet you our victory? you look like Romans,
And not o' the court of Britain.

Cor. Hail, great king!

To four your happiness, I must report
The queen is dead.

Cym. Whom worse than a physician
Would this report become? But I confider,
By medicine life may be prolong'd, yet death
Will feize the doctor too.-How ended the ?

Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life;
Which, being cruel to the world, concluded
Moft cruel to herself. What she confefs'd,
I will report, so please you: These her women
Can trip me, if I err; who, with wet cheeks,
Were prefent when she finish'd.

Cym. Pr'ythee, say.

Cr. First, the confefs'd she never lov'd you; only
Affected greatnefs got by you, not you:
Married your royalty; was wife to your place;
Abhorr'd your perfon.

Cym. She alone knew this:

And, but the fpoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.

[love

Cor. Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to

With fuch integrity, the did confefs

Was as a fcorpion to her fight; whofe life,

Ta'en off by poison.

But that her flight prevented it, she had

Cym. O most delicate fiend!

Who is't can read a woman?-Is there more?

Cor. More, fir, and worfe. She did confefs,

she had

For you a mortal mineral; which, being took,
Should by the minute feed on life, and ling'ring,

Heaven mend all!

And prove it in thy feeling.
Enter Lucius, Iachimo, and other Roman prisoners;
Pofthumus bebind, and Imogen.

Thou com'ft not, Caius, now for tribute; that
5 The Britons have raz'd out, though with the lofs
Of many a bold one; whose kinsmen have made
fuit
[ter
That their good fouls may he appeas'd with flaugh-
Of you their captives, which ourself have granted:
10So think of your estate.

Luc. Confider, fir, the chance of war: the day
Was yours by accident: had it gone with us,
We should not, when the blood was cold, have
threaten'd

Our prifoners with the fword. But fince the gods
Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives
May be call'd ranfom, let it come: fufficeth,
A Roman with a Roman's heart can fuffer:
Auguftus lives to think on't: And so much
20 For my peculiar care. This one thing only
I will entreat; My boy, a Briton born,
Let him be ranfom'd: never master had
A page fo kind, fo duteous, diligent,
So tender over his occafions, true,

25

So feat, fo nurfe-like: let his virtue join
With my requeft, which, I'll make bold, your
highnels

Cannot deny; he hath done no Briton harm, Though he have ferv'd a Roman: fave him, fir, 30 And fpare no blood befide.

Gym. I have furely feen him :

His favour 2 is familiar to me :-Boy,

Thou haft look'd thyfelf into my grace, and art Mine own. I know not why, wherefore, I say, 35 Live, boy: ne'er thank thy master; live:

By inches wafte you: In which time the purpos'd, 45 Bitter to me as death: your life, good master,
By watching, weeping, tendance, kiffing, to
O'ercome you with her fhew: yes, and in time,
(When she had fitted you with her craft) to work
Her fon into the adoption of the crown.
But failing of her end by his strange absence,
Grew fhameless-desperate; open'd, in despight
Of heaven and men, her purposes; repented
The ills the hatch'd were not effected; so,
Defpairing, dy'd.

Muft fhuffle for itself.

Luc. The boy disdains me,

He leaves me, fcorns me: Briefly die their joys, That place them on the truth of girls and boys.-50 Why ftands he so perplex'd?

Imo. Fidele, fir.

Cym. Thou art my good youth, my page;
I'll be thy mafter: Walk with me; fpeak freely.
[Cymbeline and Imogen walk afide.

Bel. Is not this boy reviv'd from death?
Arv. One fand another

Not more resembles: That fweet rofy lad,

Who dy'd, and was Fidele-What think you?

Guid. The fame dead thing alive. [forbear;

Cym. I ftand on fire:

Come to the matter.

Iach. All too foon I fhall,

[humus,

Unless thou would'st grieve quickly-This Poft(Moft like a noble lord in love, and one

Bel. Peace, peace! fee further; he eyes us not; 10 That had a royal lover) took his hint;

Creatures may be alike; wer't he, I am fure

He would have spoke to us.

Guid. But we saw him dead.
Bel. Be filent; let's fee further.
Pif. It is my mistress:

And, not difpraifing whom he prais'd, (therein
He was as calm as virtue) he began

His miftrefs' picture; which by his tongue being
made,

[Afide. 15 And then a mind put in't, either our brags
Were crack'd of kitchen trulls, or his description
Prov'd us unfpeaking fots.

Since the is living, let the time run on,
To good or bad. [Cym. and Imogen come forward.
Cym. Come, stand thou by our fide;
Make thy demand aloud.-Sir, ftep you forth;

Cym. Nay, nay, to the purpose.

Iach. Your daughter's chastity-there it begins. [To Iacbimo.zoHe spake of her, as Dian had hot dreams,

Give answer to this boy, and do it freely;
Or, by our greatness, and the grace of it,
Which is our honour, bitter torture shall
Winnow the truth from falfehood.-On, speak to
him.

[der 25

Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may ren

Of whom he had this ring.

Poft. What's that to him?

[Afide.

And the alone were cold: Whereat, I, wretch!
Made scruple of his praise; and wager'd with him
Pieces of gold, 'gainst this which then he wore
Upon his honour'd finger to attain

In fuit the place of his bed, and win this ring
By hers and mine adultery; he, true knight,
No leffer of her honour confident

Than I did truly find her, ftakes this ring;
And would fo, had it been a carbuncle
30Of Phoebus' wheel; and might so safely, had it
Been all the worth of his car. Away to Britain
Poft I in this defign: Well may you, fir,
Remember me at court, where I was taught,
Of your chafte daughter the wide difference
35'Twixt amorous and villainous. Being thus quench'd
Of hope, not longing, mine Italian brain
'Gan in your duller Britain operate
Moft vilely; for my 'vantage, excellent;
And, to be brief, my practice fo prevail'd,

*Twixt sky and ground. Wilt thou hear more, my 40 That I return'd with fimular proof enough

To make the noble Leonatus mad,

By wounding his belief in her renown

With tokens thus, and thus; averring notes
Of chamber-hanging, pictures, this, her bracelet,

Cym. My daughter! what of her? Renew thy 45 (O, cunning, how I got it!) nay, fome marks

ftrength:

I had rather thou shouldst live while nature will,
Than die e'er I hear more; strive, man, and speak.
Iach. Upon a time, (unhappy was the clock
That ftruck the hour!) it was in Rome, (accurs'd 50
The manfion where !) 'twas at a feast, (O, 'would
Our viands had been poison'd! or, at least,
Those which I heav'd to head!) the good Poft-

humus

(What should I say? he was too good, to be
Where ill men were; and was the best of all
Among the rar'ft of good ones) fitting fadly,
Hearing us praise our loves of Italy
For beauty that made barren the fwell'd boaft

Of fecret on her perfon, that he could not
But think her bond of chastity quite crack'd,
I having ta'en the forfeit. Whereupon,-
Methinks I fee him now,-

Peft. Ay, so thou doft,

[Coming forward.
Italian fiend!—Ah me, most credulous fool,
Egregious murderer, thief, any thing
That's due to all the villains paft, in being,
To come!-O, give me cord or knife or poifon,
55 Some upright jufticer! Thou, king, send out
For tortures ingenious: it is I

That all the abhorred things o' the earth amend,
By being worfe than they. I am Pofthumus,
That kill'd thy daughter:-villain-like, I lie;

Of him that best could speak: for feature, laming 60 That caus'd aleffer villain than myself,

The fhrine of Venus or straight-pight Minerva,

A facrilegious thief, to do't:-the temple

To quail is to fink into dejection. 2 i. e. the ancient statues of Venus and Minerva, which exceeded, in beauty of exact proportion, any living bodies, the work of brief nature, i. c. of hafty unelaborate nature.

Of

1 i.e. Virtue herself. 2 This wild and delirious perturbation. Staggers is the horse's apoplexy. 3 Adullard in this place means a perfon ftupidly unconcerned.

Though, haply, well for you.
Arv. Your danger's ours.

Guid. And our good his.

Bel. Have at it then.

It was a mark of wonder.

Bel. This is he;

Who hath upon him ftill that natural stamp:
It was wife nature's end in the donation,

By leave;-Thou had'st, great king, a subject, who 5 To be his evidence now.

Was call'd Belarius.

Cym. What of him? he is

A banish'd traitor.

Bel. He it is, that hath

Affum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man;

I know not how, a traitor.

Cym. Take him hence;

The whole world shall not save him.

Bel. Not too hot :

Bel. So fure as you your father's. I, old Morgan,
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd:
Your pleasure was my near1 offence,my punishment
Itself, and all my treason; that I fuffer'd,

Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
(For fuch and fo they are) these twenty years
Have I train'd up: thofe arts they have, as I
Could put into them; my breeding was, fir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to 't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,
For that which I did then: Beaten for loyalty
Excited me to treafon: Their dear lofs,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious fir,
Here are your fons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'ft companions in the world:-
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.

Cym. Thou weep'ft and speak'ft.
The fervice, that you three have done, is more
Unlike than this thou tell'ft: I loft my children;
If thefe be they, I know not how to with
A pair of worthier fons.

Bel. Be pleas'd a while.

This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,

Moft worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius:
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,
Your younger princely fon; he, fir, was lap'd
In a moft curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.

Cym. Guiderius had

Upon his neck a mole, a fanguine star;

Cym. O, what am I

When you were fo indeed.

Cym. Did you e'er meet?

Arv. Ay, my good lord.

Guid. And at firft meeting lov'd;

Continued fo, until we thought he died.

Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd.
Cym. O rare instinct!

When fhall I hear all through? This fierce
abridgment

Hath to it circumftantial branches, which
Diftinction fhould be rich in.Where? how

liv'd you?

And when came you to ferve our Roman captive? 30 How parted with your brothers? how first met them?

Why fled you from the court? and whither? Thefe,
And your three motives to the battle, with

I know not how much more, fhould be demanded; 35 And all the other by-dependancies,

From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor place
Will ferve our long intergatories. See,
Pofthumus anchors upon Imogen;

And the, like harmless lightning, throws her eye,
40 On him, her brothers, me, her mafter; hitting
Each object with a joy: the counter-change
Is feverally in all. Let's quit this ground,
And smoke the temple with our facrifices.
Thou art my brother; So we'll hold thee ever.
[To Belarius.
Imo. You are my father too; and did relieve me
To fee this gracious season.

1451

• Meere is very properly proposed by Mr. Tyrwhitt..

a Fierce is vehement, rapid.

Lach,