Two British Captains. A Frenchman, friend to Philario. Two Lords of Cymbeline's court. Two Gentlemen of the same. Two Gaolers. Queen, wife to Cymbeline. IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen. HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutchman, a Spaniard, Mus cians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. Sec. Gent. Apparitions. SCENE: Britain; Rome. What's his name and birth? First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father 30 Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow 50. Sec. Gent. I honour him Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me, Is she sole child to the king? First Gent. His only child. He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing, Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing-clothes the other, from their nur sery Were stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge Which way they went. 60 If after this command thou fraught the court Post. Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant 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: I Pis. This hath been I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk awhile. Imo. About some half-hour hence, pray you, speak with me: you shall at least Go see my lord aboard: for this time leave me. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A public place. Enter CLOTEN and two Lords. First Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him? Sec. Lord. [Aside] No, 'faith; not so much as his patience. 9 First Lord. Hurt him! his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a throughfare for steel, if it be not hurt. Sec. Lord. [Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town. Clo. The villain would not stand me. Sec. Lord. [Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. First Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground. 20 Sec. Lord. [Aside] As many inches as you have oceans. Puppies! Clo. I would they had not come between us. Sec. Lord. [Aside] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow and refuse me! Sec. Lord. [Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. 30 First Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit Sec. Lord. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done! Sec. Lord. [Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt Clo. You'll go with us? First Lord. I'll attend your lordship. 40 [Exeunt. SCENE III. A room in Cymbeline's palace. Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO. Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o the haven, And question'dst every sail: if he should write, 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's mind Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, How swift his ship. Imo. 10 Thou shouldst 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 20 To look upon him, till the diminution With his next vantage. Be assured, madam, Ime. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him How I would think on him at certain hours Such thoughts and such, or I could make him Lady. Enter a Lady. The queen, madam, 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 Madam, I shall. [Exeunt. 40 of our country mistresses; this gentleman at that I will attend the queen. SCENE IV. Rome. Philario's house. Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Iach. Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain: 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 endowments had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items. Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished than now he is with that which makes him both without and within. ΙΟ 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 him; be it but to fortify her judgement, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without less 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. Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality. 30 Enter POSTHUMUS. I beseech you all, be better known to this gentleman; whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine: how worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather 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. 40 time vouching-and upon warrant of bloody affirmation-his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant-qualified and less attemptable than any the rarest of our ladies in France. lach. That lady is not now living, or this gentleman's opinion by this worn out. Post. She holds her virtue still and I my mind. Jach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy. 71 Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend. Iach. As fair and as good-a kind of hand-inhand comparison-had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres 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. Tach. What do you esteem it at? Post. Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's outprized 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. Which the gods have given you? 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 your brace of unprizable estimations; the one is but frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Jach. Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress, if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves; notwithstanding, I fear not my ring. 109 Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first. 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 and opportunity to friend. Post. No, no. 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 shunned to go even with what I heard than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences: but upon my mended judge- Iach. I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of ment-if I offend not to say it is mended-my my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, quarrel was not altogether slight. 51 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. 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. Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what Make haste: who has the note of them? you're worthy of by your attempt. Iack. What's that? Post. A repulse: though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too. 129 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 from thence that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved. Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it. Iach. You are afraid, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve it from tainting: but I see you have soine religion in you, that you fear. 149 Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; you hear a graver purpose, I hope. Iach. I am the master of my speeches, and would undergo what's spoken, I swear. Post. Will you? I shall but lend my diamond till your return: let there be covenants drawn between 's: my mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. Phi. I will have it no lay. 159 Iach. By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours; so is your diamond too: if I come off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours: provided I have your commendation for my more free entertainment. Post. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles betwixt us. Only, thus far you shall answer: if you make your voyage upon her and give me directly to understand you have prevailed, I am no further your enemy; she is not worth our debate: if she remain unseduced, you not making it appear otherwise, for your ill opinion and the assault you have made to her chastity you shall answer me with your sword. Iach. Your hand; a covenant: we will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and starve: I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers recorded. 181 Post. Agreed. [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo. French. Will this hold, think you? Phi. Signior Iachimo will not from it. Pray, let us follow 'em. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace. Enter QUEEN, Ladies, and CORNELIUS. Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers; First Lady. Queen. Dispatch. I, madam. [Exeunt Ladici. Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs? Cor. Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam: [Presenting a small box. But I beseech your grace, without offence,My conscience bids me ask-wherefore you have Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death; O, content thee. Enter PISANIO. [Aside] Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him Will I first work: he's for his master, And enemy to my son. How now, Pisanio! Doctor, your service for this time is ended; Take your own way. Cor. [Aside] I do suspect you, madam; But you shall do no harm. 30 Queen. [To Pisanio] Hark thee, a word. Cor. [Aside] I do not like her. She doth think she has Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, 40 No further service, doctor, Until I send for thee. She will not quench and let instructions enter |