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That late he married) hath referred herself
Unto a poor, but worthy gentleman..
She's wedded;-

Her husband banished; fhe imprisoned: all
Is outward forrow, though, I think, the, King
Be touched at very heart.

2 Gent. None but the King?

1 Gent He that hath loft her too: fo is the

Queen,

That molt defired the match. But not a courtier
(Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the King's look) but hath a heart that is
Glad at the thing they fcoul at.

2 Gent. And why so ?

1 Gent He that hath mifs'd the Princefs, is a
thing

Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her,
(I mean that married her, alack, good man!
And therefore banifhed) is a creature fuch,
As, to feek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be fomething failing
In him that fhould compare. I do not think
So fair an outward, and fuch stuff within,

Endows a man but him.

2 Gent. You fpeak him farr. (2)

1 Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself;

(z) a Gent. You speak him fair.

f i Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself.]

I don't know what confonance our modern editors could find betwixt freaking fair and extending no more, I believe, than they have authority for the reading. I have restored with the old books;

You speak him forr.

e. You fpeak widely, with latitude, in his praifes and then the other antwers with great propriety; "Sir, as "widely as I fpeak of him, I extend him within the lifts and "compafs of his own merit.”

Crufh him together, rather than unfold
His measure fully.

2 Gent. What's his name and birth?

1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father Was called Sicilius, who did join his honour (3) · Against the Romans with Caffibelan;

But had his titles by Tenantius, (4) whom
He ferved with glory and admired fuccefs;
So gained the fur-addition, Leonatus :
And had, befides this gentleman in question,

(3)

-Who did join his honour

Against the Romans with Caffibelan ;] Lud, (from whom, as fome fuppose, ulgate derived its name) began to reign over the fouthern parts of our inle about 70 years before the Chriftian Era. He reigned but eleven years; and, upon his demife, (or, rather, his mur der; for the hiftorians are exprefs, and concur in this point) Caffibelan his brother ufurped the government from Lud's two fons then in their minority. About the 9th year of Caffibelan's reign, Julius Cæfar made his firft defcent upon Britain, and met with repulfe. The next season, he again invaded us; and then, after several skirmishes and fome pitched battles waged with the Romans, the Britons being worfted, and revolting bý degrees from Calibelan, he was obliged to fue to Cæfar for terms, and to yield to the payment of an annual tribute to the Romans as conquerors, Polyænus (in his stratagemata) tells us, that the Britons fied, through the terror they conceived at fight of Cæfar's elephants Cæfar, in his Commentaries, mentions not one word of elephants employed in this fervice: it must be looked upon therefore as an idle fable, and of no credit.

(4) Ten intus.j Tenantius (or Theomantius) who was the younger fon of Lud, and who had aided Julius Cæfar against Caffibelan, upon his uncle's death, about -45 years before Chrift, recovered the dominions, that had been ufurped from his brother and him by Calibelan. He reigned 22 years; and in his 10th year happened the affailination of Julius Cæfar. Our Author hints here at this Prince having war with the Romans: and the quetion of his refufing the tribute agreed to by his uncle, will be canvaffed in a subsequent note.

Two other fons; who, in the wars o' the time,

Died with their fwords in hand: for which their

father

(Then old and fond of iffue) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceased
As he was born. The King he takes the babe
To his protection, calls him Pofthumus,

Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber;
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of, which he took
As we do air, faft as 'twas miniftred.

His fpring becmae a harvest: lived in Court
(Which rare it is to do) most praised, most loved,
A fample to the youngeft; to the more mature,
A glafs that featured them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards. To his mistress,
(For whom he now is banished) her own price
Proclaims, how the esteemed him and his virtue.
By her election may be truly read,

What kind of man he is.

2 Gent. I honour him, even out of your report But tell me, is fhe fole child to the King?

1 Gent. His only child.

He had two fons, (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it;) the eldest of them at three years old,
I' th' fwathing clothes the other, from their nurfery
Were ftolen; and to this hour, no guefs in know-
Which way they went.
[ledge

2 Gent. How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some-twenty years.

2 Gent. That a King's children fhould be fo conveyed,

So flackly guarded, and the fearch fo flow
That could not trace them-------

1 Gent. Howfoe'er 'tis Arange,

Or that the negligence may well be laughed at,

Yet it is true, Sir.

2 Gent. I do well believe you. 1 Gent. We must forbear. Gentleman,

Here comes the

[Exeunt.

Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS,

IMOGEN, and At

The Queen, and Princess.

tendants.

Queen. No, be affured you fhall not find me,

daughter,

After the flander of moft ftep-mothers,

Ill-eyed unto you: you're my pris'ner, but
Your goaler fhall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Pofthumus,
So foon as I can win the offended King,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet,
The fire of rage is in him: and 'twere good
You leaned unto his fentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Poft. Pleafe your Highness,

I will from hence to-day.

Queen. You know the peril :

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barred affections; though the King
Hath charged you fhould not fpeak together.

[Exit.
Imo. Diffembling courtefy! how fine this tyrant
Can tickle where the wounds! my deareft husband,
I fomething fear my father's wrath, but nothing
(Always referved my holy duty) what
His rage can do on me. You must be gone,
And I hall here abide the hourly fhot
Of angry eyes: not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may fee again.

VOL. X.

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Poft. My Queen! my miftrefs!

O lady, weep no more, left I give caufe
To be fufpected of more tenderness

Than doth become a man. I will remain
The loyalleft husband that did e'er plight troth;
My refidence in Rome, at one Philario's ;
Who to my father was a friend, to me

Known but by letter; thither write, my Queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you fend,
Though ink be made of gall.

Re-enter Queen.

Queen. Be brief, I pray you;

If the King come, I fhall incur I know not [Afide.
How much of his difpleasure---yet I'll move him
To walk this way; I never do him wrong,

But he does buy my injuries; to be friends,
Pays dear for my offences.

Poft. Should we be taking leave,

[Exit.

As long a term as yet we have to live,
The lothness to depart would grow :---adieu !
Imo. Nay, ftay 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.

Poft How, how? another!

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And fear up my embracements from a next

With bonds of death. Remain, remain thou here,

[Putting on the Ring.

While fenfe can keep thee on! and sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor felf did exchange for you,
To your fo infinite lofs; fo, in your trifles
I ftill win of you. For my fake, wear this;

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