CYMBELINE

DRAMATIS PERSONE1

CYMBELINE, king of Britain.

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen. BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan. GUIDERIUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of ARVIRAGUS, Polydore and Cadwal, supposed sons to Morgan.

PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus,} Italians.

IACHIMO, friend to Philario,

CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman forces.
PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a physician.

A Roman Captain.

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, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

Apparitions.

SCENE: Britain: Rome

1 This play was published for the first time in the First Folio, where it concluded the section of Tragedies, and occupied the last place in the volume. The piece was divided into acts and scenes, but no list of “Dramatis Persona" was given. That list, together with indication of the "Scene," was first supplied by Rowe in 1709.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Enter two Gentlemen

OU DO NOT MEET A MAN but frowns: our bloods

No more obey the heavens than our courtiers

Still seem as does the king.

SEC. GENT. But what's the matter?

FIRST GENT. His daughter, and the heir of 's kingdom, whom He purposed to his wife's sole son- a widow

That late he married - hath re-
ferr'd herself

Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all

1-3 our bloods... king] These obscure lines mean that our dispositions or moods are not so much governed by the heavens - "by every as by the views of the king, to which courtiers

skyey influence".

Is outward sorrow; though I think the king

Be touch'd at very heart.

SEC. GENT.

None but the king?

FIRST GENT. He that hath lost her too: so is the
That most desired 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.

SEC. GENT.

And why so?

queen,

FIRST GENT. He that hath miss'd the princess is a

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.

SEC GENT.

You speak him far.

FIRST GENT. I do extend him, sir, within himself, Crush him together rather than unfold

His measure duly.

adapt their own sentiment. The courtiers seem to feel as the king feels; when he frowns, they frown.

6 hath referr'd herself] hath given herself, transferred herself.

24 You speak him far] You praise him extensively, you are lavish in your eulogy.

25-27 I do extend ... duly] I dilate upon him within his merits. I narrow

the compass of his praises, rather than expand them to full length. For other uses of the word "extend" cf. I, iv, 19, and II, iii, 60, infra.

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