Sec. Cap. There was a fourth man, in a silly Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds Had answer'd him. Sec. Cap. Lay hands on him; a dog! A leg of Rome shall not return to tell his service He brags As if he were of note: bring him to the king. Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Soldiers, Attendants, and Roman Captives. The Captains present PosTHUMUS to CYMBELINE, who delivers him over to a Gaoler: then exeunt omnes. SCENE IV. A British prison. Enter POSTHUMUS and two Gaolers First Gaol. You shall not now be stol'n, you have locks upon you; So graze as you find pasture. Sec. Gaol. Ay, or a stomach. [Exeunt Gaolers. Post. Most welcome, bondage! for thou art a way, I think, to liberty: yet am I better 86. silly, simple, mean. 90. if seconds had answer'd him, if he had been followed up as boldly as he led. 90 1. locks, (with a quibble) those attaching the feet of horses turned loose in pasture. Than one that's sick o' the gout; since he had rather Groan so in perpetuity than be cured By the sure physician, death, who is the key To unbar these locks. My conscience, thou art fetter'd More than my shanks and wrists: you good gods, give me The penitent instrument to pick that bolt, Then, free for ever! Is 't enough I am sorry? So children temporal fathers do appease ; Must I repent? I cannot do it better than in gyves, Desired more than constrain'd: to satisfy, I know you are more clement than vile men, 10. The penitent instrument to pick that bolt, the means of freeing his conscience, by atonement, from the yoke of guilt. 15. to satisfy, to make atonement for his guilt (as distinguished from merely repenting it). 16, 17. If such atonement is the condition of my regaining freedom of conscience, then be so merciful as to let me make it by giving all I have, i.e. my life.' No stricter render than my all has caused difficulty; but for Posthumus it would have been harder to 'repent' in gyves than to satisfy' by death. 21. their abatement, the proportion of the debt which they do not take. 24. 'Tween man and man, etc., in common traffic not every coin is weighed. 26. You rather mine, being yours, you may the rather accept my life since you 'coin'd it' yourselves. If you will take this audit, take this life, [Sleeps. Solemn music. Sici. No more, thou thunder-master, show With Mars fall out, with Juno chide, That thy adulteries Rates and revenges. Hath my poor boy done aught but well, I died whilst in the womb he stay'd Whose father then, as men report Thou orphans' father art, Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him From this earth-vexing smart. Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid, But took me in my throes; 27. take this audit, accept this statement of accounts. 28. cancel these cold bonds, 30 40 the fetters about his conscience. 43. Lucina, the goddess of childbirth. Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry, Moulded the stuff so fair, That he deserved the praise o' the world, First Bro. When once he was mature for man, In Britain where was he That could stand up his parallel ; In Or fruitful object be eye of Imogen, that best Could deem his dignity? Moth. With marriage wherefore was he mock'd, Sici. Why did you suffer Iachimo, To taint his nobler heart and brain And to become the geck and scorn Sec. Bro. For this from stiller seats we came, That striking in our country's cause Our fealty and Tenantius' right With honour to maintain. First Bro. Like hardiment Posthumus hath Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods, Why hast thou thus adjourn'd The graces for his merits due, Being all to dolours turn'd? 67. geck, gull, dupe. 75. hardiment, bravery. Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race thy harsh Moth. Since, Jupiter, our son is good, Take off his miseries. Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion; help; To the shining synod of the rest Against thy deity. Both Bro. Help, Jupiter; or we appeal, JUPITER descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle: he throws a thunderbolt. The Ghosts fall on their knees. Jup. No more, you petty spirits of region low, Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know, No care of yours it is; you know 'tis ours. His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent. And happier much by his affliction made. 102. delighted, delightful. 90 100 |