114

I 20

Hast any

do, to perform it directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man; thou shouldst neither want my means for thy relief nor my voice for thy preferment.

Pisanio. Well, my good lord.

Cloten. Wilt thou serve me? for since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou canst not, in the course of gratitude, but be a diligent follower of mine; wilt thou serve me?

Pisanio. Sir, I will.

Cloten. Give me thy hand; here 's my purse. of thy late master's garments in thy possession?

Pisanio. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.

Cloten. The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither: let it be thy first service; go. Pisanio. I shall, my lord.

[Exit

. Cloten. Meet thee at Milford-Haven !-I forgot to ask him one thing; I'll remember 't anon.—Even there, thou villain Posthumus, will I kill thee. I would these garments were

She said upon a time—the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart—that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that suit upon my back, will I ravish her: first kill him, and in her eyes; there shall she see my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my speech of insultment ended on his dead body, and when my lust hath dined, which, as I say, to vex her I will execute in the clothes that she so praised,—to the court I 'll knock her back, foot her home again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge.

come.

142

Re-enter PISANIO, with the clothes. Be those the garments?

Pisanio. Ay, my noble lord.

Cloten. How long is 't since she went to Milford-Haven? Pisanio. She can scarce be there yet.

Cloten. Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the second thing that I have commanded thee: the third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my design. Be but dute ous, and true preferment shall tender itself to thee.- My revenge is now at Milford ; would I had wings to follow it!— Come, and be true.

[Exit. Pisanio. Thou bid'st me to my loss; for true to thee Were to prove false, which I will never be, To him that is most true.—To Milford go, And find not her whom thou pursuest. Flow, flow, You heavenly blessings, on her! This fool's speed Be cross’d with slowness; labour be his meed! [Exit.

153

SCENE VI. Wales. Before the Cave of Belarius.

Enter IMOGEN, in boy's clothes.
Imogen. I see a man's life is a tedious one;
I have tir'd myself, and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick,
But that my resolution helps me.- Milford,
When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee,
Thou wast within a ken. O Jove! I think
Foundations fly the wretched ; such, I mean,
Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me
I could not miss my way;

will
poor

folks lie,
That have afflictions on them, knowing 't is
A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder,
When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fulness
Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood
Is worse in kings than beggars.--My dear lord !-
Thou art one o' the false ones. Now I think on thee,
My hunger 's gone; but even before, I was
At point to sink for food.- But what is this?

10

20

Here is a path to 't; 't is some savage hold.
I were best not call; I dare not call: yet famine,
Ere clean it o’erthrow nature, makes it valiant.
Plenty and peace breeds cowards; hardness ever
Of hardiness is mother.-Ho! who's here?
If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage,
Take or lend. Ho!-No answer? Then I 'll enter.
Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy
But fear the sword like me, he 'll scarcely look on 't.
Such a foe, good heavens!

[Exit, to the cave.

30

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. Belarius. You, Polydore, have prov'd best woodman and Are master of the feast: Cadwal and I Will play the cook and servant; 't is our match. The sweat of industry would dry and die, But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs Will make what's homely savoury: weariness Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth Finds the down pillow hard.-Now peace be here, Poor house, that keep'st thyself! Guiderius.

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

on that,
Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd.

Belarius. [Looking into the cave] Stay; come not in.
But that it eats our victuals, I should think
Here were a fairy.

Guiderius. What's the matter, sir?

Belarius. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly paragon !— Behold divineness No elder than a boy!

40 50

I see you

Re-enter IMOGEN.
Imogen. Good masters, harm me not:
Before I enter'd here, I call’d; and thought
To have begg’d or bought what I have took.—Good troth,
I have stol’n nought, nor would not, though I had found
Gold strew'd i' the floor. 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.
Guiderius.

Money, youth?
Arviragus. All gold and silver rather turn to dirt!
As 't is no better reckon'd, but of those
Who worship dirty gods.
Imogen.

're

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

Whither bound?
Imogen. To Milford-Haven.
Belarius. What 's your name?

Imogen. Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who
Is bound for Italy: he embark'd at Milford ;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fall’n in this offence.
Belarius.

Prithee, fair youth,
Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd !
'T is almost night; you shall have better cheer
Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.-
Boys, bid him welcome.
Guiderius.

Were you a woman, youth,
I should woo hard but be your groom.-In honesty,
I bid for you as I 'd buy.
Arviragus.

I'll make 't my comfort
He is a man; I 'll love him as my brother;

60

70

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.
Imogen.

'Mongst friends,
If brothers.-[Aside] Would it had been so, that they
Had been my father's sons! then had my prize
Been less, and so more equal ballasting
To thee, Posthumus.
Belarius.

He wrings at some distress.
Guiderius. Would I could free 't!
Arviragus.

Or I, whate'er it be, 80
What pain it cost, what danger. Gods!
Belarius.

Hark, boys.

[Whispering:
Imogen. Great men,
That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves and had the virtue
Which their own conscience seald them-laying by
That nothing-gift of differing multitudes,
Could not out-peer these twain.—Pardon me, gods!
I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus ' false.
Belarius.

It shall be so.
Boys, we 'll go dress our hunt.–Fair youth, come in.
Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp’d,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak it.
Guiderius.

Pray, draw near.
Arviragus. The night to the owl and morn to the lark less

welcome. Imogen. Thanks, sir. Arviragus. I pray, draw near.

[Exeunt.

90