1

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

Pis. 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 master's: Against self-laughter
There is a prohibition so divine,

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

heart;-
Something's afore 't:-Soft, soft; we'll no defence;
Obedient as the scabbard. 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 stomachers to my heart! Thus may poor fools
Believe false teachers: Though those that are

betray'd

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

And thou, Posthumus, that diddest set up
My disobedience 'gainst the king my father,
And mad'st me put into contempt the fuits
Of princely fellows, shalt hereafter find
It is no act of common paffage, but
A train of rareness: and I grieve myself,
To think, when thou shalt be dif-edg'd by her
That now thou tir'st 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'st 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 absent, whereunto I never
Purpose return? Why haft thou gone so far,
To be unbent, when thou hast ta'en thy stand,
The elected deer before thee?

Pis. But to win time

To lose so bad employment: in the which
I have consider'd of a course; Good lady,
Hear me with patience.

Pif. No, on my life.

I'll give but notice you are dead, and fend him
10 Some bloody sign of it; for tis commanded
I should do so: You shall be mifs'd at court,
And that will well confirm it.

Imo. Why, good fellow,

What shall 1 do the while? Where bide? How live!

15 Or in my life what comfort, when I am
Dead to my husband?

Pif. If you'll back to the court,-
Imo. No court, no father; nor no more ado
With that harsh, noble, simple, nothing;
20 That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me
As fearful as a fiege.

Pif. If not at court,

Then not in Britain must you bide.
Imo. Where then?

25 Hath Britain all the fun that shines? Day, night,
Are they not but in Britain? I' the world's volume
Our Britain feems as of it, but not in it;
In a great pool, a swan's nest: Pr'ythee, think
There's livers out of Britain.

30 Pif. I am most glad

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 self-danger 2; you should tread a course
Pretty, and full of view 3: yea, haply, near
The refidence of Posthumus; so nigh, at leaft,
That though his actions were not visible, yet
40 Report should render him hourly to your ear,
As truly as he moves.

Imo. O, for fuch means!

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

I have heard, I am a strumpet; and mine ear,

45 Pis. 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 gyhes, quick-answer'd, faucy, and
As quarrellous as the weazel: nay, you must
Forget that rarest treafure of your cheek,
Expofing it, (but, O the harder heart!
Alack, no remedy) to the greedy touch

Your labourfome and dainty trims, wherein
You made great Juno angry.

I fee into thy end, and am almoft

60 A man already.

Imo. Talk thy tongue weary; speak:

Therein false struck, can take no greater wound, 55 Of common-kiffing Titan; and forget

Nor tent to bottom that. But fpeak.

I thought you would not back again.

Pif. Then, madam,

Imo. Most like;

Bringing me here to kill me.

Imo. Nay, be brief:

• A hawk is said to tire upon that which he pecks; from tirer, French. 2 The meaning is, "You must disguise 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.

Pi

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 ferving,
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 fupplyment.

112 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.

(wel; 20 Since the exile of Pofthumus, most retir'd

Pif. Well, madam, we must take a short fare

Lest, being miss'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 distemper. To fome shade,
And fit you to your manhood:---May the gods
Direct you to the best!

Imo. Amen: I thank thee.

Hath her life been! the cure whereof, my lord,
'Tis time must do. 'Beseech your majesty,
Forbear sharp speeches to her: She's a lady
So tender of rebukes, that words are strokes,
25 And strokes death to her.

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 noise we make.
Qucen. My lord, when last I went to visit her,
She pray'd me to excuse her keeping close;
Whereto confstrain'd by her infirmity,

Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Clsten, Lucius, and Lords.

Cym. Thus far; and so farewel.

Luc. Thanks, royal fir.

My emperor hath wrote: I must from hence;

And am right forry, that I must report ye

My master's enemy.

Cym. Our fubjects, fir,

Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself

To shew less sovereignty than they, must needs
Appear unkinglike.

Luc. So, fir, I defire of you

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

35 She should that duty leave unpaid to you,

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

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

Cym. Her doors lock'd?

[fear,

Clot. That man of hers, Pifanio her old servant,

I have not feen these two days.

45 Qucen. Go, look after.

[Exit.

Pifanio, thou that stand'st so for Posthumus!-
He hath a drug of mine: I pray his absence
Proceed by swallowing that; for he believes

It is a thing most precious. But for her, [her:
50 Where is the gone? Haply, defpair hath seiz'd
Or, wing'd with fervour of her love, the's flown
To her defir'd Pofthumus: Gone she is

To death, or to dishonour; and my end

Can make good use of either: She being down,

Is yet to name the winner: Fare you well. [lords, 55 I have the placing of the British crown.

Cym. Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my

'Till he have croft the Severn. Happiness!

Re-enter Cloten.

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

i. e. I have

Queen.

!

4

912

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

[Exit Queen.

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

And that the hath all courtly parts more exquifite
Than lady, ladies, woman; from every one
The best she hath, and the, of all compounded,
Outsells them all: I love her therefore; But,
Disdaining me, and throwing favours on

The low Pofthumus, slanders so her judgment,
That what's else 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 straightway with the fiends.

Pif. O, good my lord!
Clot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter,
I will not afk again. Close villain,
I'll have this fecret from thy heart, or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is the with Posthumus ?
From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth he drawn.

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

Imogen,

Clot. Wilt thou serve me? For fince patiently and conftantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Pofthumus, thou can'ft not in the course of gratitude but be a diligent follower of

5 mine. Wilt thou serve me?

Pif. Sir, I will.

Clot. Give me thy hand, here's my purse. Haft any of thy late mafter's garments in thy poffeffion? Pif. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the fame 10 fuit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.

15

Clot. The first service thou doft me, fetch that fuit hither: let it be thy first service; go.

Pif. I shall, my lord. [Exit. Clet. Meet thee at Milford-Haven: I for got to ask him one thing; I'll remember't anon: - Even there, thou villain Pofthumus, will I kill thee. I would, these 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 Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that fuit upon my back, will I ravish her: First kill him, and in her

25 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 luft hath dined, (which, as I fay, to vex her, I will execute in

30 the clothes that she so prais'd) to the court I'll 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 those the garments ?

40

Pif. Ay, my noble lord.

Clot. How long is't fince the went to Milford

Haven?

Pif. She can scarce be there yet.

Clot. 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 duteous, and true preferment thall tender itself to thee. My revenge is now 45 at Milford; would I had wings to follow it!Come, and be true.

[Exit.

Pif. Thou bid'st me to my loss: for, true to thee,

Were to prove false, which I will never be, [Afide. 50 To him that is most true.---To Milford go,

Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!
Clot. Sirrah, is this letter true?

Pif. Sir, as I think.

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.

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

Pif. Well, my good lord.

want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for

thy preferment.

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

Clot. It is Pofthumus' hand; I know't. Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a villain, but do me true 55 fervice; undergo those employments, wherein I should have caufe to use thee, with a ferious industry, that is, what villainy foe'er I bid thee do, to perform it, directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man: thou should'st neither 60 Have made the ground my bed. I should be fick,

But that my resolution helps me.---Milford,
When from the mountain top Pifanio shew'd thee,
Thou wast within a ken: O Jove! I think,

Foundations

Foundations fly the wretched: such, I mean,
Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told

me,

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

Guid. Money, youth?

Arv. All gold and filver rather turn to dirt!

5 As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those
Who worship dirty gods.

I could not miss my way: Will poor folk lye,
That have afflictions on them; knowing 'tis
A punishment, or trial? Yes: no wonder,
When rich ones scarce tell true: To lapse in fullness
Is forer, than to lye for need; and falfhood
Is worse in kings, than beggars. My dear lord!
Thou art one of the false ones: Now I think on 10

thee,

My hunger's gone; but even before, I was
At point to fink for food. But what is this?

Here is a path to it: 'Tis some savage hold:

Imo. I fee, you are angry :
Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
Have dy'd, had I not made it.

Bel. Whither bound?

Imo. To Milford-Haven.

Bel. What's your name?

I were best 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 civil, speak; if savage,

Imo. Fidele, fir: I have a kinsman, who Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford;

I am fallen in this offence.

Think us no churls; nor meafure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!

Bel. Pr'ythee, fair youth,

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

enter.

Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy
But fear the fword like me, he'll scarcely 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 master of the feast: Cadwal, and I,

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

Guid. Were you a woman, youth,

I should woo hard, but be your groom. In honesty

251 bid for you, as I'd buy.

Arv. I'H 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 absence, such is yours:-Most welcome!

Will play the cook, and servant; 'tis our match:
The sweat of industry would dry, and die,

But for the end it works to. Come; our ftomachs

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

Will make what's homely, favoury: Weariness

Can snore upon the flint, when resty floth

Finds the down pillow hard. -Now, peace be here,

Had been my father's fons! then had my

Poor house, that keeps thyself!

Guid. I am thoroughly weary.

[tite.

35 Been lefs; and so more equal ballasting
To thee, Pofthumus.

}

Afide.

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 :

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!

Enter Imogen.

Ima. 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 :
[had found

good troth,
I have stolen nought; nor would not, though I
Gold ftrew'd o' the floor. Here's money for my

meat:

I would have left it on the board, so soon

Tie. is a greater or beavier crime.

Bel. He wrings at some distress.
Guid. 'Would, I could free't!

Arv. Or I; whate'er it be,

40 What pain it cost, what danger! Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

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

If you are civilised and peaceable, take
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.

price for what I want, or lend it for a future recompence; if you

I

Imo. So man and man should be
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose 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

AM near to the place where they should meet, 25 if Pisanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments serve 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 said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. 30 Cannot amend me: Society is no comfort

To one not fociable: I am not very fick,
Since I can reason of it. Pray you, trust me heres
I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing fo poorly.

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 for-35 tunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike converfant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppofitions: yet this imperfeverant thing loves him in my despight. What mortality is! Posthumus, 40 In my good brother's fault: I know not why,

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 say so, fir, I yoke me

thy head, which is now growing upon thy shoul

ders, shall within this hour be off; thy mistress

enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face and all this done, spurn her home to her

I love this youth; and I have heard you fay,
Love's reason's without reason: the bier at doon
And a demand who is't shall die, I'd fay,

My father, not this youth.

father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my 45 Bel. O noble strain!

so rough usage: but my mother, having power of his testineness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is ty'd up safe: Out, fword, and to a fore purpose! Fortune, put them into my

O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards, and base things fire bale:
Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt, and grace.
I am not their father; yet who this should be,

hand! This is the very description of their meet- 50 Doth miracle itself! lov'd before me.

ing-place; and the fellow dares not deceive me.

'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn.

Arv. Brother, farewel.
Imo. I wish you sport.

Arv. You health. So please you, fir.
55 Imo. [Afide.] These are kind creatures. Gods,
what lies I have heard!

Our courtiers say, all's favage, but at court:
Experience, O, thou difprov'ft report!
The imperious feas breed monsters; for the dif

160 Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish.

i. e. he commands the commission to be given to you. feuerant. nothing follows but confufion.

2

Imperfeverant means no more tlian per

3 That is, keep your daily course uninterrupted: if the stated plan of life is once broken,