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Thy master is not there; who was, indeed,
The riches of it: Do his bidding, strike.
Thou may'st be valiant in a better caufe;
But now thou feem'ft a coward.

Pif. Hence, vile instrument !
Thou shalt not damn my hand.

Imo. Why, I must die;

And if I do not by thy hand, thou art

No fervant of thy mafter's: Against self-slaughter There is a prohibition fo divine,

That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my

heart;

Something's afore 't:-Soft, foft; we'll no defence;
Obedient as the fcabbard.What is here?
The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus,

All turn'd to heresy? Away, away,
Corrupters of my faith! you shall no more

Be ftomachers to my heart! Thus may poor fools Believe falfe teachers: Though those that are betray'd

Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor
Stands in worse case of woe.

And thou, Pofthumus, that diddest set up
My disobedience 'gainst the king my father,
And mad'ft me put into contempt the fuits
Of princely fellows, fhalt hereafter find
It is no act of common paffage, but
A ftrain of rareness: and I grieve myself,
To think, when thou shalt be dif-edg'd by her
That now thou tir'ft on', how thy memory
Will then be pang'd by me.—Pr'ythee, dispatch:
The lamb entreats the butcher: Where's thy knife?
Thou art too flow to do thy master's bidding,
When I defire it too.

Pif. O gracious lady!

Since I receiv'd command to do this business,
I have not flept one wink.

Imo. Do 't, and to bed then.

Pif. I'll wake mine eye-balls blind first.
Imo. Wherefore then

Did'ft undertake it? Why haft thou abus'd
So many miles, with a pretence? this place?
Mine action, and thine own? our horfes' labour?
The time inviting thee? the perturb'd court,
For my being abfent, whereunto I never
Purpose return? Why hast thou gone so far,
To be unbent, when thou haft ta’en thy stand,
The elected deer before thee?

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You think of other place. The embassador, Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford-Haven To-morrow: Now, if you could wear a mind Dark as your fortune is; and but disguise 35 That, which to appear itself, must not yet be, But by felf-danger 2; you thould tread a courfe Pretty, and full of view 3: yea, haply, near The refidence of Pofthumus; fo nigh, at least, That though his actions were not visible, yet 40 Report fhould render him hourly to your ear, As truly as he moves.

45

Imo. O, for fuch means!

Though peril to my modesty, not death on 't, I would adventure.

Pif. Well, then here's the point: You must forget to be a woman; change Command into obedience; fear, and nicenefs, (The handmaids of all women, or, more truly, Woman its pretty felf) into a waggith courage; 50 Ready in gybes, quick-anfwer'd, faucy, and As quarrellous as the weazel: nay, you must Forget that rareft treafure of your cheek, Expofing it, (but, O the harder heart! Alack, no remedy) to the greedy touch 55 Of common-kiffing Titan; and forget Your labourfome and dainty trims, wherein You made great Juno angry.

Imo. Nay, be brief:

I fee into thy end, and am almost

65A man already.

A hawk is faid to tire upon that which he pecks; from tirer, French. 2 The meaning is, "You muft difguife that greatness, which, to appear hereafter in its proper form, cannot yet appear without great danger to itself." 3 i. e. with opportunities of examining your affairs with your own eyes.

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Pif. First, make yourself but like one.
Fore-thinking this, I have already fit,
(Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hose, all
That answer to them: Would you in their serving,
And with what imitation you can borrow
From youth of fuch a season, 'fore noble Lucius
Present yourself, defire his service, tell him
Wherein you are happy, (which you'll make him
know,

If that his head have ear in music) doubtless,
With joy he will embrace you; for he's honourable,
And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad
You have me, rich; and I will never fail
Beginning, nor supplyment.

Imo. Thou art all the comfort

The gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away:
There's more to be confider'd; but we'll even
All that good time will give us : This attempt
I am foldier to 2, and will abide it with
A prince's courage. Away, I pr'ythee.

5

10

Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.
Cym. Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor
How it goes here. It fits us therefore, ripely,
Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness:
The powers that he already hath in Gallia
Will foon be drawn to head, from whence he moves
His war for Britain.

Queen. 'Tis not fleepy business;

But must be look'd to speedily, and ftrongly.

Cym. Our expectation that it should be thus,
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen,
Where is our daughter? She hath not appeared
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender'd
The duty of the day: She looks us like
15 A thing more made of malice than of duty;
We have noted it.-Call her before us; for
We have been too light in fufferance.

[wel; 20

Pif. Well, madam, we must take a fhort fare-
Left, being mifs'd, I be suspected of
Your carriage from the court. My noble mistress,
Here is a box; I had it from the queen;
What's in't is precious: if you are fick at fea,
Or ftomach-qualm'd at land, a dram of this
Will drive away diftemper.To some shade,
And fit you to your manhood :---May the gods
Direct you to the best!

Imo. Amen: I thank thee.

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Re-enter the Servant,

Cym. Where is the, fir? How

Can her contempt be answer'd?
Ser. Please you, fir,

[Exeunt. 30 Her chambers are all lock'd; and there's no answer
That will be given to the loud of noife we make.

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A conduct over land, to Milford-Haven.-
Madam, all joy befal your grace, and you!
Cym. My lords, you are appointed for that office;
The due of honour in no point omit :-
So, farewel, noble Lucius.

Luc. Your hand, my lord.

Clot. Receive it friendly: but from this time

forth I wear it as your enemy.

Luc. Sir, the event

Queen. My lord, when last I went to vifit her, She pray'd me to excufe her keeping clofe; Whereto constrain'd by her infirmity,

35 She fhould that duty leave unpaid to you,

Which daily fhe was bound to proffer: this
She wifh'd me to make known; but our great court
Made me to blame in memory.

Cym. Her doors lock'd?

[fear,

40 Not feen of late? Grant, heavens, that, which I Prove falfe.

Queen. Son, I fay, follow the king.

[Exit.

Clst. That man of hers, Pifanio her old fervant, have not feen these two days.

45 Queen. Go, look after.

[Exit.

Pifanio, thou that stand'st so for Pofthumus !-
He hath a drug of mine: I pray his abfence
Proceed by fwallowing that; for he believes
It is a thing moft precious. But for her, [her:
50 Where is the gone? Haply, defpair hath feiz'd
Or, wing'd with fervour of her love, fhe's flown
To her defir'd Pofthumus: Gone the is
To death, or to dishonour; and my end
Can make good ufe of either: She being down,

Is yet to name the winner: Fare you well. [lords, 55I have the placing of the British crown.
Cym. Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my
'Till he have croft the Severn.Happiness!

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1 i. e. we'll make our work even with our time; we'll do what time will allow. 2 i. e. I have inlifted and bound myself to it.

Queen.

Queen. All the better: May
This night fore-ftall him of the coming day!

[Exit Queen.

Clot. I love and hate her: for fhe's fair and
royal;

And that he hath all courtly parts more exquifite
Than lady, ladies, woman; from every one
The best she hath, and the, of all compounded,
Outfells them all: I love her therefore; But,
Difdaining me, and throwing favours on
The low Pofthumus, flanders fo her judgment,
That what's elfe rare, is choak'd; and, in that point,
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,
To ba reveng'd upon her. For, when fools
Enter Pifanio.

Shall-Who is here? What are you packing,|
firrah?

Come hither: Ah, you precious pandar! Villain
Where is thy lady? In a word; or elfe
Thou art ftraightway with the fiends.
Pif. O, good my lord!

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Clot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter,
I will not ask again. Clofe villain,

I'll have this fecret from thy heart, or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is the with Pofthumus?
From whofe so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn.

Pif. Alas, my lord,

How can fhe be with him? when was the mifs'd?
He is in Rome.

Clot. Where is fhe, fir? Come nearer;
No further halting: fatisfy me home,
What is become of her?

Pif. O, my all-worthy lord!

Clot. All-worthy villain !

Difcover where thy miftrefs is, at once,

At the next word,-No more of worthy lord,—

Speak, or thy filence on the inftant is

Thy condemnation, and thy death.

Pis. Then, fir,

This paper is the history of my knowledge
Touching her flight.

Chat. Let's fee't:-I will pursue her

Even to Auguftus' throne.

Pif. Or this, or perish '.

She's far enough; andwhat he learns bythis
May prove his travel, not her danger.

Clot. Humh!

}

[Afide

Pif. I'll write to my lord, fhe's dead. O,

Imogen,

Safe may't thou wander, fafe return again!

Chat, Sirrah, is this letter true?

Pif. Sir, as I think.

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Clot. The first fervice thou doft me, fetch that fuit hither: let it be thy first service; go. Pif. I fhall, my lord.

[Exit. for

Cict. Meet thee at Milford-Haven: got to ask him one thing; I'll remember't anon: -Even there, thou villain Pofthumus, will I kill thee.-I would, thefe garments were come. She faid upon a time, (the bitterness of it I now 20 belch from my heart) that the held the very garment of Pofthumus in more refpect than my noble and natural perfon, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that fuit upon my back, will I ravish her: Firft kill him, and in her 25 eyes; there fhall fhe fee my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my fpeech of infultment ended on his dead body, and when my luft hath dined, (which, as I fay, to vex her, I will execute in 30 the clothes that fhe fo prais'd) to the court I'l knock her back, foot her home again. She hath defpis'd me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge.

Re-enter Pifanio, with the clothes.

35 Be thofe the garments?

40

Pif. Ay, my noble lord.

Clot. How long is't fince fhe went to MilfordHaven?

Pif. She can scarce be there yet.

Clot. Bring this appare! to my chamber; that is the fecond thing that I have commanded thee : the third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my defign. Be but duteous, and true preferment thall tender itfelf to thee.-My revenge is now 45 at Milford; would I had wings to follow it!Come, and be true. [Exit. Pif. Thou bid'ft me to my lofs: for, true to thee,

Were to prove falfe, which I will never be,

[Afide. 50 To him that is moft true.---To Milford go,
And find not her whom thou purfu'ft. Flow, flow,
You heavenly bleffings, on her! This fool's speed
Be croft with flowness; labour be his meed! [Exit.
SCENE VI.

Clot. It is Pofthumus' hand; I know't.-Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a villain, but do me true 55 fervice; undergo thofe employments, wherein I fhould have caufe to ufe thee, with a ferious induftry, that is, what villainy foe er I bid thee do, to perform it, directly and truly,-I would think thee an honeft man: thou should'st neither 60 want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment.

Pif. Well, my good lord.

The Foreft and Cave.
Enter Imogen, in boy's clothes.

Imo. I fee, 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 fhould be fick,
But that my refolution helps me.---Milford,
When from the mountain top Pifanio fhew'd thee,
Thou waft within a ken: O Jove! I think,

That is, I muft either give kim the paper freely, or perish in my attempt to keep it.

Foundations

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I were beft not call; I dare not call: yet famine, 15 To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,

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 civil2, speak; if savage,

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 encounter'd!

Take, or lend 3.-Ho!-No answer? then I'll 20 'Tis almoft night: you shall have better cheer

enter.

Beft draw my fword; and if mine enemy

But fear the fword like me, he'll fcarcely look on't.
Such a foe, good heavens! [She goes into the cave.
Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.
Bel. You, Polydore, have prov'd best wood-
man, and

Are mafter of the feaft: Cadwal, and I,
Will play the cook, and fervant; 'tis our match:|
The fweat of industry would dry, and die,
But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs
Will make what's homely, favoury: Weariness
Can fnore upon the flint, when refty floth
Finds the down pillow hard.-Now, peace be here,
Poor house, that keeps thyself!

[tite.

Guid. I am thoroughly weary.
Arv. I am weak with toil, yet strong in appe-
Guid. There is cold meat i' the cave; we'll
brouze on that,

Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd.

Bel. Stay; come not in :

[Looking in.

But that it eats our victuals, I should think
Here were a fairy.

Guid. What's the matter, fir?

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

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1i. e. is a greater or beavier crime.

Ere you depart; and thanks, to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.

Guid. Were you a woman, youth,

I fhould woo hard, but be your groom.-In honesty 251 bid for you, as I'd buy.

30

Arv. I'll mak't my comfort,

He is a man; I'll love him as my brother :-
And fuch a welcome as I'd give to him,
After long abfence, fuch is yours :-

:-Moft welcome!

Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.
Imo. 'Mongst friends!

If brothers?-'Would it had been so, that

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To thee, Pofthumus.

Bel. He wrings at fome diftrefs.
Guid. 'Would, I could free't!
Arv. Or I; whate'er it be,

40 What pain it coft, what danger! Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

[Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves, and had the virtue

45 Which their own confcience feal'd them (laying by
That nothing gift of differing multitudes),
Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods!
I'd change my fex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus falfe-

50

55

Bel. It fhall be fo:

Boys, we'll go drefs our hunt.--Fair youth, come in!
Difcourfe is heavy, fafting: when we have fupp'd,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak it.

Guid. Pray, draw near. [lark, lefs welcome.
Arv. The night to the owl, and morn to the

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that, after the words, if favage, a line is loft, and propofes to read the paffage thus:

-Ho! who's here?

If any thing that's civil, take or lend,
If savage, speak.

If you are civilised and peaceable, take a price for what I want, or lend it for a future are rough inhospitable inhabitants of the mountain, Speak, that I may know my state. here be applied in a fenfe equivalent to the many-beaded rabble.

3 N

recompence; if you 4 Differing may

Ime.

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AM near to the place where they should meet, 25 if Pifanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments ferve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the taylor, not be fit too? the rather (faving reverence of the word) for, 'tis faid, a woman's fitness comes by fits. 30 Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glafs to confer; in his own chamber, I mean) the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no lefs young, more strong, not beneath him in for-35 tunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike converfant in general fervices, and more remarkable in fingle oppofitions: yet this imperfeverant 2 thing loves him in my defpight. What mortality is! Pofthumus, 40 thy head, which is now growing upon thy fhoulders, fhall within this hour be off; thy miftrefs enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face and all this done, fpurn her home to her father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my 45 fo rough usage: but my mother, having power of his teftineness, fhall turn all into my commendations. My horfe is ty'd up fafe: Out, fword, and to a fore purpose ! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meet-50 ing-place; and the fellow dares not deceive me.

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IV.

Imo. So man and man should be
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whofe duft is both alike. I am very fick.

Guid. Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him,
Imo. So fick I am not; yet I am not well:
But not fo citizen a wanton, as

To feem to die, ere fick: So please you, leave me;
Stick to your journal course: the breach of custom
Is breach of all 3. I am ill; but your being by me
Cannot amend me: Society is no comfort
To one not fociable: I am not very sick,
Since I can reafon of it.
I'll rob none but myfelf;
Stealing fo poorly.

Pray you, trust me here: and let me die,

Guid. I love thee; I have spoke it :
How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel. What? how? how?

Arv. If it be fin to fay fo, fir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why,
I love this youth; and I have heard you say,
Love's reafon's without reason: the bier at doon
And a demand who is't fhall die, I'd fay,
My father, not this youth.

Bel. O noble strain!

O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards, and base things fire base:
Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt, and grace.
I am not their father; yet who this should be,
Doth miracle itself! lov'd before me.
'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn.

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Our courtiers fay, all's favage, but at court:
Experience, O, thou disprov'ft report!
The imperious feas breed monfters; for the difk,
160 Poor tributary rivers as fweet fish.

i. e. he commands the commiffion to be given to you. 2

Imperfeuerant means no more than perfeverant. 3 That is, keep your daily courfe uninterrupted: if the ftated plan of life is once broken nothing follows but confusion.

I am

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