SCENE II. A bed-chamber; in one part of it a trunk. IMOGEN reading in her bed; a LADY attending. Imo. Who's there? my woman Helen? Lady. Imo. What hour is it? Lady. Please you, madam. Almost midnight, madam. Imo. I have read three hours then: mine eyes are weak. Fold down the leaf where I have left: to bed: [Exit Lady. To your protection I commend me, gods! IACHIMO, from the trunk. [sleeps. Ia. The crickets sing, and man's o'er-labor'd sense Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin thus How bravely thou becomest thy bed! fresh lily! It was anciently the custom to strew chambers with rushes. And whiter than the sheets! That I might touch! But kiss; one kiss!-Rubies unparagon'd, How dearly they do 't!-'Tis her breathing that Under these windows; white and azure, laced such The adornment of her bed ;—the arras, figures, story : Ah, but some natural notes about her body, : 1 i. e. the white skin laced with blue veins. Will force him think I have pick'd the lock, and ta'en The treasure of her honor. No more.-To what end? Why should I write this down, that's riveted, Screw'd to my memory? She hath been reading late The tale of Tereus; here the leaf 's turn'd down, To the trunk again, and shut the spring of it. ing May bare the raven's eye: I lodge in fear; Though this a heavenly angel, hell is here. [clock strikes. One, two, three !-time, time! [goes into the trunk. The scene closes. SCENE III. An antechamber adjoining Imogen's apartment. Enter CLOTEN and LORDS. 1 Lord. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss; the most coldest that ever turned up ace. Clo. It would make any man cold to lose. 1 Lord. But not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win. Clo. Winning would put any man into courage. |