Thy master is not there; who was, indeed, Pisan. Hence, vile instrument! And if I do not by thy hand, thou art No servant of thy master's: Against self-slaughter That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my [fence; Something's afore 't:-Soft, soft; we'll no de- The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, Be stomachers to my heart! Thus may poor fools Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor And thou, Posthumus, that diddest set up Pisan. O gracious lady! Since I receiv'd command to do this business, Imo. Do't, and to bed then. Pisan. I'll wake mine eye-balls blind first. Did'st undertake it? Why hast thou abus'd 25 Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day, night, Are they not but in Britain? I' the world's volume Our Britain seems as of it, but not in it; 30 In a great pool, a swan's nest: Pr'ythee, think Pisan. I am most glad You think of other place. The embassador, The residence of Posthumus; so nigh, at least, 45 Imo. O, for such means! Though peril to my modesty, not death on 't, Pisan. Well, then here's the point: 55 Your laboursome and dainty trims, wherein Imo. Nay, be brief: I see into thy end, and am almost 160 A man already. A hawk is said to tire upon that which he pecks; from tirer, French. The meaning is, "You must disguise that greatness, which, to appear hereafter in its proper form, cannot yet appear without great danger to itself." i. e. with opportunities of examining your affairs with your own eyes. Pisan. 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 such a season, 'fore noble Lucius Present yourself, desire 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. 5 10 Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it. Queen. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be look'd to speedily, and strongly. Cym. Our expectation that it should be thus, Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen Where is our daughter? She hath not appear'd Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender'd The duty of the day: She looks us like 15A thing more made of malice than of duty; We have noted it.-Call her before us; for We have been too light in sufferance. [well; 20 Imo. Thou art all the comfort The gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away: There's more to be consider'd; but we'll even All that good time will give us': This attempt I am soldier to ', and will abide it with A prince's courage. Away, I pr'ythee. Pisan. Well, madam, we must take a short fareLest, 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 sick at sea, Or stomach-qualm'd at land, a drain of this Will drive away distemper.To some shade, And fit you to your manhood:-May the gods Direct you to the best! Imo. Amen: I thank thee. SCENE [Exit a Servant. Queen. Royal sir, Since the exile of Posthumus, most retir'd 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. [Exeunt. 30 V. The Palace of Cymbeline. Re-enter the Servant. Cymb. Where is she, sir? How Can her contempt be answer'd? Serv. Please you, sir, {swer Her chambers are all lock'd; and there's no an- Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, Lucius, and Lords. 35 Whereto constrain'd by her infirmity, Cym. Our subjects, sir, Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself To shew less sovereignty than they, must needs Luc. So, sir, I desire of you A conduct over land, to Milford-Haven.- Luc. Your hand, my lord. Clot. Receive it friendly: but from this time forth I wear it as your enemy. Luc. Sir, the event She should that duty leave unpaid to you, 40. Cym. Her doors lock'd? [fear, Not seen of late? Grant, heavens, that, which I Prove false! [Exit. Queen. Son, I say, follow the king. Clot. That man of hers, Pisanio her old servant, I have not seen these two days. Queen. Go, look after. [Exit. 145 50 Is yet to name the winner: Fare you well. [lords, 55 Clot. 'Tis all the better; [us, 60 Pisanio, thou that stand'st so for Posthumus!- How now, my son? Clot. 'Tis certain, she is fled: Go in, and cheer the king; he rages, none Dare come about him. 1i. e. we'll make our work even with our time; we'll do what time will allow. inlisted and bound myself to it. ? i, e. I have Дисеп Queen. All the better: May [Exit Queen. Clot. I love and hate her: for she's fair and royal; And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite Shall-Who is here? What! are you packing, sirrah? Come hither: Ah, you precious pandar! Villain, Pisan. O, good my lord! Clot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter, I will not ask again. Close villain, I'll have this secret from thy heart, or rip Pisan. Alas, my lord, Clot. Give me thy hand, here's my purse. Hast any of thy late master's garments in thy possession? Pisan. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the 10 same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress. 15 Clot. The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither: let it be thy first service; go. Pisan. I shall, my lord. [Erit. Clot. Meet thee at Milford-Haven: 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 come. She said upon a time, (the bitterness of it I now 20belch from my heart) that she held the very gar ment 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 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 lust hath dined, (which, as I say, 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 despis'd me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge. Re-enter Pisanio, with the clothes. 35 Be those the garments? 40 Pisan. Ay, my noble lord. Clot. How long is 't since she went to MilfordHaven? Pisan. 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 shall tender itself to thee.-My revenge is now 45 at Milford; would I had wings to follow it!Come, and be true. [Exit. Pisan. Thou bidd'st me to my loss: for, true to thee, Were to prove false, which I will never be, Flow, [Aside. 50 To him that is most true.-To Milford go, [flow, Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again! Clot. Sirrah, is this letter true? Pisan. Sir, as I think. Clot. It is Posthumus' hand; I know 't.-Sirrah, If thou would'st not be a villain, but do me true 55 service; undergo those employments, wherein I should have cause to use thee, with a serious industry, that is, what villainy soe'er I bid thee do, to perform it, directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man: thou should'st neither 60 want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment. Pisan. Well, my good lord. SCENE VI. The Forest and Cave. Enter Imogen, in boy's clothes. Imo. 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 Pisanio shew'd thee, Thou wast within a ken: Joye ! I think, That is, I must either give him the paper freely, or perish in my attempt to keep it. 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 Aro. All gold and silver rather turn to dirt! 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: Tolapse in fullness Is sorer', than to lye in need; and falsehood 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 sink for food.-But what is this? Here is a path to it: 'Tis 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 lend3.-Ho!-No answer; then enter. 15 Imo. I see, you are angry: Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should Imo. 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 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! I'20'Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer Ere you depart; and thanks, to stay and eat it.Boys, bid him welcome. Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy Are master of the feast: Cadwal, and I, [tite. Guid. I am thoroughly weary. Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd. Bel. Stay; come not in: 251 30 Guid. Were you a woman, youth, [nesty I should woo hard, but be your groom.-In hobid for you, as I'd buy. Arv. I'll make 't my comfort, He is a man; I'll love him as my brother: And such a welcome as I'd give to him, After long absence, such is yours:-Most welBe sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends. [come! Imo. 'Mongst friends! If brothers? Would it had been so,that [Looking in. But that it eats our victuals, I should think Here were a fairy. Guid. What's the matter, sir? Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly paragon!-Behold divineness No elder than a boy! Enter Imogen. Imo. 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 strew'd o' the floor. Here's money for my meat : I would have left it on the board, so soon Bel. He wrings at some distress. Guid. 'Would, I could free't! Arv. Or I; whate'er it be, What pain it cost, what danger! Gods! Bel. Hark, boys. Imo. Great men, Aside. [Whispering. That had a court no bigger than this cave, 50 155 Bel. It shall be so : [in! Boys, we'll go dress our hunt.-Fair youth, come Discourse is heavy, fasting: when we have supp'd, We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story, So far as thou wilt speak it. Guid. Pray, draw near. [lark, less welcome. Arv. The night to the owl, and morn to the 3 Dr. Johnson suspects 1i. e. is a greater or heavier crime. 2 Civil, for human creature. that, after the words, if savage, a line is lost, and proposes to read the passage thus. If you are civilised and peaceable, take a price for what I want, or lend it for a future recompence; if you are rough inhospitable inhabitants of the mountain, speak, that I may know my state. fering may here be applied in a sense equivalent to the many-headed rabble. 25 AM near to the place where they should meet, 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 (saving reverence of the word) for, 'tis said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. 30 Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (forit 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 2 young, more strong, not beneath him in for-35 tunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions: yet this imperseverant thing loves him in my despight. What mortality is! Posthumus, 40 thy head, which is now growing upon thy shoulders, 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 father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my 45 so rough usage: but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendation. My horse is ty'd up safe: Out, sword, and to a sore 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. IV. Imo. So man and man should be; Guid. Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him. To seem to die, ere sick: So please you, leave me; Guid. I love thee; I have spoke it: Bel. What? how? how? Are. If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me Bel. O noble strain! So please you, sir. Our courtiers say, all's savage, but at court; 1i. e. he commands the commission to be given to you. perseverant. 2 Imperseverant means no more than That is, keep your daily course uninterrupted: if the stated plan of life is once broken, nothing follows but confusion. |