Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

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 nursery
Were stolen; and to this hour, no guess in knowlege
Which way they went.

2 Gen.

How long is this ago?

1 Gen. Some twenty years.

2 Gen. That a king's children should be so con

vey'd,

So slackly guarded, and the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

1 Gen.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,

Yet is it true, sir.

[blocks in formation]

Enter QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assured, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most stepmothers,

Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your jailer shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon 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 lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day.

Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril :

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king
Hath charged you should not speak together.

Imo.

[Exit Queen.

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant

Can tickle where she wounds!—My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,
(Always reserved my holy duty) what

His rage can do on me.
You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post.
My queen! my mistress!
O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man: I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
My residence 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 send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter QUEen.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not

Be brief, I pray you:

How much of his displeasure.-Yet I 'll move him

[aside.

[Exit.

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.

Post.

Should we be taking leave

As long a term as yet we have to live,

The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!

Imo. Nay, stay 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.

Post.

How! how! another?

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,

And sear1 up my embracements from a next

With bonds of death !-Remain, remain thou here

[putting on the ring. While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest, As I my poor self did exchange for you,

To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles,
I still win of you. For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it

1 Close.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]
« ZurückWeiter »