ACT I.

SCENE I.-Britain. The garden behind Cym-
beline's palace. Enter Two Gentlemen.
1 Gentleman.

You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods'
No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.
2 Gent.
But what's the matter?
1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his king-
dom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow,
That late he married,)hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

None but the king?

2 Gent.
1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the
queen,

That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

And why so?

2 Gent.
1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess, is
thing

Too bad for bad report: And he that hath her,
(I mean, that married her,-alack, good man!-
And therefore banish'd) is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.

2 Gent.

You speak him far.2 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold

(1) Inclination, natural disposition. (2) i. e. You praise him extensively.

(3) My praise, however extensive, is within his merit.

[His measure duly.'
2 Gent.
What's his name, and birth?
1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated' them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
a Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.

I honour him

Queen.
Be brief, I pray you:
If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure:-Yet I'll move him
[Aside.

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
[Exit.
Post.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!
Ino. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,

Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post.

Imo.

[Putting a bracelet on her arm. O, the gods!

When shall we see again?

Post.

Enter Cymbeline and Lords.

Alack, the king! Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught3 the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!
Thou art poison to my blood.

Post.

The gods protect you!
And bless the good remainders of the court!
I am gone.

Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death
More sharp than this is.

Cym.

[Erit

O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth: thou heapest
A year's age on me!
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym.

Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope and in despair; that way, past

grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of

my queen;

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle,

And did avoid a puttock."

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne

There might have been,
But that my master rather play'd than fought,
And had no help of anger: they were parted
By gentlemen at hand."

Queen.

I am very glad on't.

Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes

his part.

To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir!-
I would they were in Afric both together;
Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer back.-Why came you from your master?
Pis. On his command: He would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven: left these notes
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When it pleas'd you to employ me.
Queen.
This hath been
Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour
He will remain so.

[Aside.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV-A room in Cymbeline's palace.
Enter Imogen and Pisanio.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shore's o'the
haven,

And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?

Pis.
'Twas His queen, his queen!
Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!-
And that was all?

Pis.

No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

Imo.

Thou should'st have made him
As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.

Pis.

Madam, so I did.

Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; To look upon him; till the diminution the violence of action hath made you reek as a sac-Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle: rifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good Pi The smallness of a gnat to air; and then

none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the backside the town. [Aside.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had How I would think on him, at certain hours, Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear toward Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him, The shes of Italy should not betray [Aside. At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, enough of To encounter me with orisons, for then gave you I am in heaven for him; or ere I could

Clo. The villain would not stand me. 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, your face.

Lord. Stand you! You have land your own: but he added to your having; some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have occans: Puppies! [Aside.

Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [Aside.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but II have seen small reflection of her wit.2

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside.

(1) Her beauty and sense are not equal.

(2) To understand the force of this idea, it should be remembered that anciently almost every sign had a motto, or some attempt at a witticism, underneath it.

VOL. II.

Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father,
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north,
Shakes all our buds from growing.

Enter a Lady.

Lady. The queen, madam, Desires your highness' company. Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them despatch'd.will attend the queen.

Pis. Madam, I shall. [Exe. SCENE V.-Rome. An apartment in Philario's house. Enter Philario, Jachimo, a Frenchman a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.

lach. Believe it, sir: I have scen him in Britain:

(3) Opportunity.
(4) Meet me with reciprocal prayer,
3 C

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1

CYMBELINE.

he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his en-I dowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items.

Iach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

Post, Being so far provoked as I was in France, would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. As fair, and as good (a kind of hand-inPhi. You speak of him when he was less furnish-hand comparison,) had been something too fair, and ed, than now he is, with that which makes him too good, for any lady in Britany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours both without and within. out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. Post. I praised her, as I rated her: so do I my stone.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment:

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend to him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acquaintance?

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

Enter Posthumus.

Iach. What do you esteem it at ?
Post. More than the world enjoys.
Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead,
or she's out-priz'd by a trifle.

Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given; if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift: the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.

Iach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-wayaccomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech you all, be better known to this gentleman; whom a courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress; I commend to you, as a noble friend of mine: How if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. worthy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather I than story him in his own hearing.

French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans. Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.

French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; It had been pity, you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller; rather shunn'd to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but, upon my mended judg. ment (if I offend not to say it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether slight.

French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded" one the other, or have fallen both.

Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses: This gentleman at that time vouching (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constantqualified, and less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtuc still, and I my mind.

do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring.

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy sig famíliar at first. nior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress; make her go back, even to the yielding; had I admittance, Post. No, no. and opportunity to friend.

Iach. I dare, thereon, pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'ervalues it something: But I make my wager rather against your confidence, than her reputation: and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.

Post. You are a great deal abused 10 in too bold attempt. a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of, by your

Jach. What's that? Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too.

Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted.

Iach. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke.

Post. What lady would you choose to assail?

Iach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think, stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring, that, commend me to the court where your lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring

(8) Lover, I speak of her as a being I reverence, not as a beauty whom I enjoy. (11) Proof. (10) Deceived. (9) Overcome.