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A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
Nor iron on his heel? I am afham'd
To look upon the holy fun, to have
The benefit of his bleft beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

Guid. By heavens, I'll go:

If you will bless me, fir, and give me leave,
I'll take the better care; but if you will not,
The hazard therefore due fall on me, by
The hands of Romans!

SCENE

I.

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ACT

A Field, between the British and Roman Camps.
Enter Posthumus, with a bloody Handkerchief.
Poft. VEA, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee; for I

wish'd

15 Takes off my manhood: I have bely'd a lady,
The princess of this country, and the air on't
Revengingly enfeebles me; Or could this carle 4,
A very drudge of nature's, have subdu'd me,
In my profeffion? Knighthoods and honours, borne

Thou should'st be colour'd thus. You married ones, 20 As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn.
If each of you would take this course, how many
Muft murder wives much better than themselves
For wrying but a little!-O, Pifanio!

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That, Britain, I have kill'd thy mistrefs; peace!

35

If that thy gentry, Britain, go before
This lout, as he exceeds our lords, the odds
Is, that we scarce are men, and you are gods. [Exit.
The battle continues; the Britons fly; Cymbeline is
taken: then enter to bis rescue, Belarius, Guiderius,
and Arviragus.
[the ground;
Bel. Stand, stand! We have the advantage of
The lane is guarded: nothing routs us, but
The villainy of our fears.

Guid. Arv. Stand, stand! and fight!
Enter Puftbumus, and feconds the Britons. They ref.ne
Cymbeline, and Exeunt.

Then enter Lucius, Iachimo, and Imogen.

Luc. Away, boy, from the troops, and save
thyfelf;

For friends kill friends, and the disorder's such
As war were hood-wink'd.

Iach. 'Tis their fresh supplies.

Luc. It is a day turn'd strangely: Or betimes [Exeunt.

I'll give no wound. to thee. Therefore, good 40 Let's reinforce, or fly.

heavens,

Hear patiently my purpose: P'll disrobe me
Of these Italian weeds, and fuit myself
As does a Briton peafant: fo I'll fight
Against the part I come with; fo I'll die
For thee, O Imogen, even for whom my life
Is, every breath, a death; and thus, unknown,
Pity'd nor hated, to the face of peril

Myself I'll dedicate. Let me make men know
More valour in me than my habits show.
Gods, put the strength o' the Leonati in me!
To thame the guise o' the world, I will begin
The fashion, lefs without, and more within. (Exit.

SCENE II.

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50 Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
Through a strait lane; the enemy full-hearted,
Lolling the tongue with flaughtering, having work
More plentiful than tools to do't, struck down

Merely through fear; that the trait pass was

Enter Lucius, Lachima, and the Roman Army at one 55 Some mortally, fome flightly touch'd, some falling

Door; and the British Army at another; Leonatus Poftibumus following it like a poor Soldier. They march over, and go out. Then enter again in skirmish Iachimo and Pesthumus: be vanquisheth and difarmeth Lachime, and then leaves bim.

Jach. The heaviness, and guilt, within my bosom

damn'd

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i. e. to incite, to inftigate. 2 i. e. Where corruptions are, they grow with years, and the oldest finner is the greatest. You, Gods, permit fome to proceed in iniquity, and the older fuch are, the more their crime. 3 i. e, according to Mr. Steevens, to make them perfevere in the commiffion of dread4 Carle is used by our old writers in oppofition to a gentleman. Cariot is a word of the fame fignification, and occurs in our author's As You Like It.

ful actions.

Which

Which gave advantage to an ancient foldier,-
An honest one, I warrant; who deferv'd
So long a breeding, as his white beard came to,
In doing this for his country; -athwart the lane,
He, with two striplings (lads more like to run
The country bafe', than to commit such laughter;
With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer

Than those for preservation cas'd, or shame 2),
Made good the paffage; cry'd to those that fled
Our Britain's barts die flying, not our men:
To darkness fleet, Souls that fly backwards! Stand!
Or we are Romans, and will give you that

Like beafts, which you shun beaftly; and may fave,
But to look back in frown: stand, ftand. These three,
Three thousand confident, in act as many,
(For three performers are the file, when all
The rest do nothing) with this word, stand, stand,
Accommodated by the place, more charming

And yet died too? I, in mine own woe charm'd 4,
Could not find death, where I did hear him groan;
Nor feel him, where he struck: Being an ugly
monster,

5 "Tis strange, he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
Sweet words; or hath more minifters than we
That draw his knives i' the war. - Well, I will

find him:

For, being now a favourer to the Roman,
10 No more a Briton, I have resum'd again
The part I came in Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the veriest hind, that shall
Once touch my shoulder. Great the flaughter is
Here made by the Roman; great the answer 5 be

15 Britons must take: For me, my ransom's death;
On either fide I come to spend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by some means for Imogen.

With their own nobleness, (which could have turn'd
Enter two British Captains, and Soldiers.
A distaff to a lance) gilded pale looks, [coward 20 1 Cap. Great Jupiter be prais'd! Lucius is taken:

Part, shame, part, spirit renew'd; that fome, turn'd

But by example (O, a fin in war,

Damn'd in the first beginners!)-'gan to look
The way that they did, and to grin like lions
Upon the pikes o' the hunters. Then began
A ftop i' the chaser, a retire; anon,

A rout, confufion thick: Forthwith, they fly
Chickens, the way which they stoop'deagles; slaves,
The ftrides they victors made: And now our cow-

'Tis thought, the old man and his fons were angels. 2 Cap. There was a fourth man, in a filly habit, That gave the affront 7 with them.

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(Like fragments in hard voyages, became [ards, 30 A leg of Rome shall not return to tell [his service

open

2 Cap. Lay hands on him; A dog!

What crows have peck'd them here: He brags
As if he were of note: bring him to the king.
Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pi-
fanio, and Roman Captives. The Captains present

The life o' the need) having found the back-door
[wound!
Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they
Some, flain before; fome, dying; some, their friends
O'erborne i' the former wave: ten, chac'd by one, 35 Pofthumus to Cymbeline, wbo delivers bim over to e

Are now each one the flaughter-man of twenty:
Thofe, that would die or ere refift, are grown
The mortal bugs 3 o' the field.

Lord. This was strange chance:

A narrow lane! an old man, and two boys!
Poft. Nay, do not wonder at it: You are made
Rather to wonder at the things you hear,
Than to work any. Will you rhime upon 't,
And vent it for a mockery? Here is one :
Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
Preferu'd the Britons, was the Romans' bane.

Lord. Nay, be not angry, fir.

Poft. 'Lack, to what end?

Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend:
For if he'll do, as he is made to do,

40

Gaoler: after which, all go out.

SCENE

A Prifon.

IV.

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Poft. Most welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,

45 I think, to liberty: Yet am I better

50

I know, he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
You have put me into rhyme.

Lord. Farewel; you are angry.

[Exit.

Poft. Still going? This is a lord: O noble

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fetter'd

Than one that's fick o' the gout; since he had rather
Groan so in perpetuity, than be cur'd
By the fure physician, death; who is the key
To unbar these locks. My confcience! thou art
[give me
More than my shanks, and wrists: You good gods,
The penitent instrument, to pick that bolt,
Then, free for ever! Is 't enough, I am forry?
So children temporal fathers do appease;

55 Gods are more full of mercy. Must I repent?
I cannot do it better than in gyves,
Defir'd, more than conftrain'd: to fatisfy,
If of my freedom 'tis the main part, take

* This alludes to a rustic game called prison-bars, vulgarly prisen-base. 2 Shame for modefty. 3 i. e. terrors. 4 Alluding to the common fuperftition of charms being powerful enough to keep men unhurt in battle. It was derived from our Saxon ancestors, and so is common to us with the Germans, who are above all other people given to this fuperftition; which made Erasmus, where, in his Morica Encomium, he gives to each nation its proper characteristic, say, " Germani corporum proceritate & magiæ cognitione fibi placent." 5 Anfauer, as once in this play before, means retaliation. Silly is fimple or ruftic. 7 That is, that turned their faces to the enemy. 8 This wit of the gaoler alludes to the custom of putting a lock on a horse's leg, when he is turned to pasture.

No

-

2 Bro. From this, from stiller feats we came, Our parents, and us twain, That, striking in our country's cause, Fell bravely, and were flain; 5 Our fealty, and Tenantius' right, With honour to maintain.

No stricter render of me, than my all 1.
I know you are more clement than vile men,
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement; that's not my defire:
For Imogen's dear life, take mine; and though
'Tis not so dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it :
'Tween man and man, they weigh not every stamp;
Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake;
You rather mine, being yours: And so, great powers, 10
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel these cold bonds. O Imogen!
I'll speak to thee in filence.

[Не lеерѕ.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath
To Cymbeline perform'd:
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
Why haft thou thus adjourn'd

The graces for his merits due;
Being all to dolours turn'd?
Sici. Thy chrystal window ope; look out:
No longer exercise,

And potent injuries:

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,

Take off his miseries.

Solemn Mufick. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius 15 Upon a valiant race, thy harsh
Leonatus, father to Pefthumus, an old man, attired
like a warrior; leading in bis band an ancient
matron, bis wife, and mother to Poftbumus, with
mufick before them. Then, after other mufick, follow
the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with 20
wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Post-
bumus round, as be lies fleeping.

Sici. No more, thou thunder-master, shew
Thy spite on mortal flies:

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,
That thy adulteries

Rates, and revenges..

Hath my poor boy done ought but well,
Whose face I never faw?

I dy'd, whilft in the womb he stay'd,
Attending Nature's law.

Whose father then (as men report
Thou orphan's father art)

Thou should'st have been, and shielded him
From this earth vexing smart.
Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,
But took me in my throes;
That from me was Fofthumus ript,
Came crying 'mongst his foes,
A thing of pity!

Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry,
Moulded the stuff fo fair,

That he deferved the praise o' the world,
As great Sicilius' heir.

1 Bro. When once he was mature for man,
In Britain where was he

That could stand up his parallel;

Or fruitful object be

In eye of Imogen, that beft

Could deem his dignity?

Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion; help!

Or we poor ghofts will cry
To the shining synod of the rest,
Against thy deity.

2 Bro. Help, Jupiter; or we appeal,
And from thy justice fly.

25 Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, fiuting upon
an eagle: be throws a thunder-belt. The gbefts
fall on their knees.

30

Jupit. No more, you petty spirits of region low,
Offend our hearing; hush!-How dare you

ghofts

Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt you know,
Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts?
Poor shadows of Elysium, hence; and rest
Upon your never withering banks of flowers:

35 Be not with mortal accidents oppreft;
No care of yours it is: you know, 'tis ours.
Whom best I love, I cross: to make my gift,
The more delay'd, delighted. Be content;
Your low-laid fon our godhead will uplift;
40 His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.
Our Jovial star reign'd at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married. Rise, and fade!
He shall be lord of lady Imogen,

And happier much by his affliction made.

45 This tablet lay upon his breast; wherein
Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine;
And fo, away: no farther with your din
Express impatience, left you stir up mine.-
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. [Afcends,
50 Sici. He came in thunder; his celestial breath
Was fulphurous to fmell: the holy eagle

Morb. With marriage wherefore was he mock'd, Stoop'd, as to foot us; his ascension is
To be exil'd, and thrown

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More fweet than our blest fields; his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys 3 his beak,

55 As when his god is pleas'd.

All. Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd

His radiant roof: -Away! and, to be blest Let us with care perform his great beheft. [Vanifh. 60 Poft. [waking.] Sleep, thou hast been a grand,

fire, and begot

A father to me and thou haft created

the chief point, or principal condition of his freedom, 2 A bird is faid to prune himself when he clears his To claw their beaks, is an accustomed action with hawks A mother

A mother, and two brothers: But (O scorn!)
Gone! they went hence so soon as they were born.
And so I am awake. - Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour, dream as I have done;
Wake, and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve:
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,

rare one!

Be not, as is our fangled world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers: let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,
As good as promife.

[Reads.]

Gaol. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not feen him so pictur'd: you must either be directed by some 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 5 on your own peril: and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think, you'll never return to tell one.

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

Gasl. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes, to fee the way of blindness! I am sure, hanging's the way 15 of winking.

Enter a Messenger.

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

Poft. Thou bring'st good news; I am call'd to be made free.

" When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself un" known, without seeking find, and be embrac'd " by a piece of tender air; and when from a "stately cedar shall be lopt branches, which, be"ing dead many years, shall after revive, be joint-20 "ed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then "shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be "fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty." 'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff as madmen Tongue, and brain not: either both, or nothing: 25 and beget young gibbets, I never faw one fo

15 Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As fenfe cannot untie1. 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, fir, are you ready for death?
Poft. Over-roasted rather: ready long ago.
Gaol. Hanging is the word, fir; if you be
ready for that, you are well cook'd.

Gaol. I'll be hang'd then.

Poft. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Potbumus and Meffenger. Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows,

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; so should 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 gallowfes! I speak against my present profit; but my with hath a preferment in 't.

Poft. So, if I prove a good repast to the spec-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

SCENE V.

Cymbeline's Tent.

[Exit.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus,

Pifanio, and Lords.

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

fadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth: you 40 Prefervers of my throne. Woe is my heart,

come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling

That the poor foldier, that fo richly fought,

with too much drink; forry that you have paid

Whose rags sham'd gilded arms, whose naked

و

too much, and forry that you are paid too much 2; purse and brain both empty: the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purse too light, be-45 ing drawn 3 of heaviness: O! of this contradiction you shall be now quit.-0, the charity of a penny cord! it fums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor 4 but it; of

breaft

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what's past, is, and to come, the discharge: 50 But beggary and poor looks.

Your neck, fir, is pen, book, and counters; fo

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tooth-ach: But a man that were to fleep your 55 The heir of his reward; which I will add

Cym. To my grief I am

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1 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is this: " This is a dream or madness, or both-or nothing-but whether it be a speech without confciousness, 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. e. 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 emborucild, exenterated. 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 modest, Unless I add, we are honeft.

Cym. Bow your knees:

Arise my knights o' the battle; I create you
Companions to our person, and will fit you
With dignities becoming your estates.
Enter Cornelius, and Ladies.
There's business in these faces:-Why so sadly
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 she?

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 present when she finish'd.

Cym. Pr'ythee, say.

Cor. First, the confefs'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 perfon.

Cym. She alone knew this:

And, but she spoke 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, she did confefs

Was as a scorpion to her fight; whose life,
But that her flight prevented it, the had

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15 Our prifoners with the sword. But since the gods
Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives
May be call'd ransom, let it come: fufficeth,
A Roman with a Roman's heart can fuffer:
Augustus 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 ransom'd: never mafter had
A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,
So tender over his occafions, true,

25 So feat, so nurse-like: let his virtue join With my request, which, I'll make bold, your highnefs

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

Cym. I have furely feen him:
His favour is familiar to me:-Boy,
Thou haft look'd thyself into my grace, and art
Mine own. I know not why, wherefore, I say,

35 Live, boy: ne'er thank thy mafter; live:
And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt,
Fitting my bounty, and thy state, I'll give it;
Yea, though thou do demand a prifoner,
The nobleft ta'en.

Ta'en off by poifon.

Cym. O most delicate fiend!

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

49

Cur. More, fir, and worse. She did confefs,

she had

And yet, I know, thou wilt.

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

Imo. I humbly thank your highness.
Luc. I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad;

Imo. No, no; alack,

There's other work in hand: I see a thing

By inches waste you: In which time she purpos'd, 45 Bitter to me as death: your life, good master,

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Cym. Heard you all this, her women?
Lady. We did, so please your highness.
Cym. Mine eyes

Were not in fault, for she was beautiful;

Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart,

Cym. What would'st thou, boy? I love thee more and more; think more and more What's best to ask. Know'st him thou look'st on?

speak,

55 Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend?
Imo. He is a Roman; no more kin to me,
Than I to your highness; who, being born your
Am fomething nearer.

[vallal,

That thought her like her feeming; it had been 60 Imo. I'll tell you, fir, in private, if you please

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Cym. Wherefore ey'st him fo?

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