Solemn music. Enter as an apparition, SICILIUS LEonatus, father to POSTHUMUS, an old man, attired like a warrior: leading in his hand an ancient matron, his wife, and mother to POSTHUMUS, with music before them. Then, after other music, follow the two young LEONATI, brothers to POSTHUMUS, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle POSTHUMUS round, as he lies sleeping. [2] Here follow a vision, or masque, and a prophecy, which interrupt the fable without the least necessity, and unmeasurably lengthen this act. I think it plainly POPE. foisted in afterwards for mere show, and apparently not of Shakespeare. One would think that Shakespeare's style being too refined for his audiences, the managers had employed some playwright of the old school to regale them with a touch of "King Cambyses' vein." The margin would be too honourable a place for so impertinent an interpolation. RITSON. 2 Bro. For this, from stiller seats we came, That, striking in our country's cause, Our fealty, and Tenantius' right, 1 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? Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race thy harsh And potent injuries: Moth. Since, Jupiter, our son is good, Take off his miseries. Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion; help! Or we poor ghosts will cry To the shining synod of the rest, Against thy deity. 2 Bro. Help, Jupiter; or we appeal, JUPITER descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an Eagle: he throws a thunder-bolt. The Ghosts fall on their knees. Jupit. No more, you petty spirits of region low, 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. Sici. He came in thunder; his celestial breath Stoop'd as to foot us: his ascension is More sweet than our bless'd fields; his royal bird All. Thanks, Jupiter! Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd [Ascends. [Ghosts vanish. Post. [Waking.] Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot A father to me: and thou hast created A mother, and two brothers: But (O scorn!) [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself known, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthuanus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty. 'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff as madmen As sense cannot untie.3 Be what it is, Re-enter Gaolers. Gaol. Come, sir, are you ready for death? Gaol. Hanging is the word, sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cooked. Post. So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish pays the shot. Gaol. A heavy reckoning for you, sir: But the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills; which are often the sadness of part [S] The meaning, which is too thin to be easily caught, I take to be this: This is a dream or madness, or both,---or nothing,---but whether it be a speech without consciousness, as in a dream, or a speech unintelligible, as in madness, be it as it is, it is like my course of life. We might perhaps read, Whether both, or nothing,-**** JOHNSON, ing, as the procuring of mirth: you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; sorry that you have paid too much, and sorry that you are paid too much; purse and brain both empty the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness: O! of this contradiction you shall now be quit. O the charity of a penny cord! it sums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge :— Your neck, sir, is pen, book, and counters; so the acquittance follows. Post. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Gaol. Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the toothach : But a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think, he would change places with his officer for, look you, sir, you know not which way you shall go. Post. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow. Geol. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not seen him so pictured: you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know; or take upon your self that, which I am sure you do not know; or jump the after-inquiry on your own peril : and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell one. Post. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. Gaol. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes, to see the way of blindness! I am sure, hanging's the way of winking. Enter a Messenger. Mes. Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king. Post. Thou bringest good news ;-I am called to be made free. Gaol. I'll be hanged then. [4] i. e. Sorry that you have paid too much out of your pocket, and sorry that you are paid or subdued too much by the liquor. So Falstaff, “------------seven of the eleven I pay'd." [5] Debitor and creditor, for an accounting book. So, in Othello: STEEVENS. "By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster,---" [6] That is, venture at it without thought. So Macbeth, "We'd jump the life to come." JOHNSON. STEEVENS. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt PosT. and Messenger. Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman and there be some of them too, that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good; 0, there were desolation of gaolers, and gallowses! I speak against my present profit; but my wish hath a prefer- · [Exeunt. ment in't. SCENE V. CYMEBELINE'S Tent. Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, Gui- · DERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Lords, Officers, and Attend ants. Cym. Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made Preservers of my throne. Woe is my heart, That the poor soldier, that so richly fought, Whose rags sham'd gilded arms, whose naked breast Stepp'd before targe of proof, cannot be found: He shall be happy that can find him, if Our grace can make him so. Bel. I never saw Such noble fury in so poor a thing: Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought Cym. No tidings of him? 8 Pis. He hath been search'd among the dead and living, But no trace of him. Cym. To my grief, I am The heir of his reward; which I will add Το you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain. [To BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and Arviragus. By whom, I grant, she lives: 'Tis now the time Bel. Sir, In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen : Further to boast, were neither true nor modest, Cym. Bow your knees : Prone--i. e. forward. STEEVENS. To promise nothing but poor looks, may be, to give no promise of courageous behaviour JOHNSON. |