409

The soldier that did company these three
In poor beseeming; 't was a fitment for
The purpose I then follow'd.--That I was he,
Speak, Iachimo: I had you down, and might
Have made you finish.

Iach. I am down again: [Kneeling. But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,

Which I so often owe: but your ring first; And here the bracelet of the truest princess That ever swore her faith.

Call forth your soothsayer: as I slept, methought

Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,
Appear'd to me, with other spritely shows
Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can

My peace we will begin:—and, Caius Lucius, Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar, 460 And to the Roman empire; promising

To pay our wonted tribute, from the which We were dissuaded by our wicked queen; Whom heavens, in justice, both on her and hers, Have laid most heavy hand.

Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune

The harmony of this peace. The vision
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplish'd; for the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o' the sun
So vanish'd; which foreshow'd our princely
eagle,

Th' imperial Cæsar, should again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.]
Cym.

473

Laud we the gods;