5 Imo. I see before me, man, not here, nor here, SCENE III. [Exeunt. Changes to a Forest in Wales, with a Care. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arciragus. Bel. A goodly day not to keep house, with such Whose roof's as low as ours! Stoop, boys: This gate Instructs you how to adore the heavens; and bows you To morning's holy office: The gates of monarchs Guid. Hail, Heaven! A cell of ignorance; travelling abed; Art. What should we speak of, 15 Did you but know the city's usuries, And felt them knowingly: the art o' the court, The fear's as bad as falling: the toil of the war, 25 And hath as oft a slanderous epitaph, As record of fair act; nay, many times, Bel, My fault being nothing (as I have told you But that two villains, whose false oaths prevail'd Before my perfect honour, swore to Cymbeline, 40I was confederate with the Romans: So, Bel. Now for our mountain sport: up to yon hill, 30 Follow'd my banishment; and these twenty years, Where I have liv'd at honest freedom; pay'd 50 6 This fantastical expression means no more than sand in an hour-glass, used to measure time. A franklin is literally a freeholder, with a small estate, neither villan, nor cassal. That is, "I can see neither one way nor other, before me nor behind me; but all the ways are covered with an impenetrable fog." The idea of a giant was, among the readers of romances, who were almost all the readers of those times, always confounded with that of a Saracen. 'i. e. the beetle, whose wings are enclosed within two dry husks or shards. Check may mean in this place a reproof; but it rather seems to signify command, controul. Dr. Johnson suspects, that the right reading of this passage is as follows: "Richer than doing nothing for a brabe.”—Brabium is a badge of honour, or the ensign of an honour, or any thing worn as a mark of dignity. The word is found (he adds) in Holyoak's Dictionary, who terins it a reward; and that Cooper, in his Thesaurus, defines it to be a prize, or reward for any game. To overpass his bound, 7 These These boys know little, they are sons to the king; And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing Imogen reads. Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath play'd the strumpet in my bed; the testimonies whereof lie bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises; but from proof as strong as my grief, and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part, thou, Pisanio, must act for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers. 10 Let thine own hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at Milford-Haven: she hath my letter for the purpose: Where, if thou fear to strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the pandar to her dishonour, and equally tome disloyal. Pisan. What, shall I need to draw my sword? the paper [hit And every day do honour to her grave: 20 25 Hath cut her throat already.- -No, 'tis slander; Out-venoms all the worms 'of Nile; whose breath To break it with a fearful dream of him, They take for natural father. The gume is up. 30 And cry myself awake? that's false to his bed? SCENE IV. Near Milford-Haven. [Exit. Imo. Thou told'st me, when we came from horse, the place Was near at hand:-Ne'er long'd my mother so From the inward of thee? One, but painted thus, hand! 1 Pisan. Please you, read; Is it? Pisan. Alas, good lady! Imo. I false? Thy conscience witness:-Iachimo, 35 Thou then look'dst like a villain; now, methinks, 45 Pisun. Good madam, hear me. Æneas, [ing Imo. True honest men being heard, like false [weeping Were, in his time, thought false: and Sinon's Did scandal many a holy tear; took pity [humus, 50 From most true wretchedness: So, thou, PostWilt lay the leaven on all proper men; 55 Goodly, and gallant, shall be false and perjur'd, him, A little witness my obedience: Look! I draw the sword myself: take it; and hit Fear not; 'tis empty of all things, but grief: i. e. Thus meanly brought up :-Yet in this very cave, which is so low that they must bow or bend in entering it, yet are their thoughts so exalted, &c. 3 This is another allusion to Italian 4 poisons. Serpents and dragons by the old writers were called worms. Persons of highest rank, That is, Some jay of Italy, made by art the creature, not of nature, but of painting-la this sense, painting may be not improperly termed her mother. Thy 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 There is a prohibition so divine, That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my heart; [fence; Something's afore 't:-Soft, soft; we'll no deObedient as the scabbard. -What is here? The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, All turn'd to heresy? Away, away, Be stomachers to my heart! Thus may poor fools Believe false teachers: Though those that are betray'd 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, I have not slept one wink. 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 Pisan. But to win time To lose so bad employment: in the which Imo. Talk thy tongue weary; speak: I have heard, I am a strumpet; and mine ear, Pisan. Then, madam, I thought you would not back again. Imo. Most like; Bringing me here to kill me. 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; In a great pool, a swan's nest: Pr'ythee, think There's livers out of Britain. 30 Pisan. I am most glad You think of other place. The embassador, Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford-Haven To-morrow: Now, if you could wear a mind Dark as your fortune is; and but disguise 35 That, which to appear itself, must not yet be, But by self-danger'; you should tread a course Pretty, and full of view': yea, haply, near The residence of Posthumus; so nigh, at least, That though his actions were not visible, yet 40 Report should render him hourly to your ear, As truly as he moves. 45 Imo. O, for such means! Though peril to my modesty, not death on 't, I would adventure. Pisan. Well, then here's the point: You must forget to be a woman; change Command into obedience; fear, and niceness, (The handmaids of all women, or, more truly, Woman its pretty self,) into a waggish courage; 50 Ready in gybes, quick-answer'd, saucy, and As quarrellous as the weazel: nay, you must Forget that rarest treasure of your cheek, Exposing it, (but, O the harder heart!Alack, no remedy!) to the greedy touch Of common-kissing Titan; and forget 55 Your laboursome and dainty trims, wherein You made great Juno angry. Imo. Nay, be brief: I see into thy end, and am almost 160A 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 Pisan. First, make yourself but like one. If that his head have ear in music) doubtless, Imo. Thou art all the comfort Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it. 10 [moves [well; 20 The gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away: Imo. Amen: I thank thee. SCENE V. The Palace of Cymbeline. [Exit a Servant. Queen. Roval 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 Her chambers are all lock'd; and there's no an- Queen. My lord, when last I went to visit her, Cym. Her doors lock'd? And am right sorry, that I must report ye My master's enemy. (40) [fear, Cym. Our subjects, sir, Not seen of late? Grant, heavens, that, which I Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself [Ex.t. Qucen. Son, I say, follow the king. 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 Is yet to name the winner: Fare you well. [lords, 45 150 55 Clot. That man of hers, Pisanio her old servant, pray [Exit. Pisanio, thou that stand'st so for Posthumus!- Can make good use of either: She being down, Re-enter Cloten. How now, my son? Clot. 'Tis certain, she is fled: [us, 60 Go in, and cheer the king; he rages, none i. 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 Queen Clot. I love and hate her: for she's fair and royal; And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite Than lady, ladies, woman; from every one The best she hath, and she, of all compounded, Outsells them all; I love her therefore: But, Disdaining me, and throwing favours on The low Posthumus, slanders so her judgement, That what's else rare, is choak'd; and, in that I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed, [point, To be reveng'd upon her. For, when fools Enter Pisanio. Shall-Who is here? What! are you packing, sirrah? Come hither: Ah, you precious pandar! Villain, Clot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter, I'll have this secret from thy heart, or rip Pisan. Alas, my lord, How can she be with him? when was she miss'd? He is in Rome. Clot. Where is she, sir? Come neater; No further halting: satisfy me home, Pisan. O, my all-worthy lord! Clot. All-worthy villain! Discover where thy mistress is, at once, At the next word,-No more of worthy lord, Speak, or thy silence on the instant is Pisan. Then, sir, This paper is the history of my knowledge Touching her flight. Clot. Let's see 't:-I will pursue her Even to Augustus' throne. Pisan. Or this, or perish'. [this] She's far enough; and what he learns by [Aside. Mav prove his travel, not her danger. Clot. Humh! Pisan. I'll write to my lord, she's dead. O, Imogen, 5 Clot. Wilt thou serve me? For since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou canst not in the course of gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou serve me? Pisan. Sir, I will. 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 10same 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. [Exit. 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 20 belch from my heart) that she held the very garment 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, 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 top Pisanio shew'd thee, Thou wast within a ken: Ô Jove! I think, ! That is, I must either give him the paper freely, or perish in my attempt to keep it. Foundations |