from thence that honour of hers, which you imagine To try the vigour of them, and app' so reserved. Post. I will wage against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it. Tach. You are a friend, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve it from tainting: But, I see, you have some religion in you, that you fear. Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope. Iach. I am the master of my speeches; and would undergo what's spoken, I swear. Post. Will you?—I shall but lend my diamond till your return:-Let there be covenants drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare you to this match: here's my ring. Phi. I will have it no lay. Allayments to their act; and by them gather Your highness Enter Pisanio. O, content thee. Here comes a flattering rascal; upon him [Aside. But you shall do no harm. I do suspect you, madam; Cor. [Aside.] I do not like her. She doth think, she has Iach. By the gods it is one:-If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours: so is your diamond too. If I come Strange lingering poisons: I do know her spirit, off, and leave her in such honour as you have trust And will not trust one of her malice with in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold A drug of such damn'd nature; Those, she has, are yours:-provided, I have your commendation, Will stupify and dull the sense a while; Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats, and for my more free entertainment. dogs; 1 Post. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles betwixt us:-only, thus far you shall an- Then afterward up higher; but there is swer. If you make your voyage upon her, and No danger in what show of death it makes, give me directly to understand you have prevailed, More than the locking up the spirits a time, am no further your enemy, she is not worth our To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd debate: if she remain unseduced (you not making With a most false effect; and I the truer, it appear otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the So to be false with her. Queen. assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword. Iach. Your hand; a covenant: We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain; lest the bargain should catch cold, and starve: I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded. Post. Agreed. [Exe. Posthumus and Iachimo. Pray, let [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Britain. A room in Cymbeline's palace. Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius. Queen. Whiles yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers; Make haste: Who has the note of them? Which are the movers of a languishing death; Queen. I do wonder, doctor, Until I send for thee. No further service, doctor, I humbly take my leave. Queen. Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou She will not quench;3 and let instructions enter [The Queen drops a box: Pisanio takes it up. That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly, Not to be shak'd: the agent for his master; (3) i. e. Grow cool. (4) To change his abode. The hand fast to her lord. I have given him that, | Not so allur'd to feed. Of liegers' for her sweet; and which she, after, Re-enter Pisanio, and Ladies. To taste of too.-So, so ;-well done, well done: Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false; [Ex. Enter That hath her husband banish'd:-0, that husband! Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome; Iach. Imo. [Presents a letter. You are kindly welcome. [Aside. Imo. What is the matter, trow? The cloyed will (That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, Imo. "What, dear sir, Thus raps you? Are you well? My man's abode where I did leave him: he Pis. To give him welcome. I was going, sir, [Exit Pisanio, Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, 'be seech you? Iach. Well, madam. Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope, he is, Imo. When he was here, He did incline to sadness; and oft-times Iach. The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton Can my sides hold, to think, that man,—who knews Imo. It is a recreation to be by, And hear rim mock the Frenchman: But, heavens know, Some men are much to blame, Not he, I hope. Be us'd more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much; Imo. What do you pity, sir? Imo. Am I one, sir? You look on me; What wreck discern you in me, What! are men mad? Hath nature given them Deserves your pity? eyes To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop Imo. 'Twixt two such shes, would chatter this way, and you (Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more (3) Shy and foolish. What both you spur and stop.' Iach. Had I this cheek To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch, Whose eyery touch, would force the feeler's soul To the oath of loyalty; this object, which Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye, Fixing it only here: should I (damn'd then,) Slaver with lips as common as the stairs That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands Made hard with hourly falsehood (falsehood, as With labour;) then lie peeping in an eye, Base and unlustrous as the smoky light That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit, That all the plagues of hell should at one time Encounter such revolt. Imo. What ho, Pisanio! me Jach. Let me my service tender on your lips. Thee and the devil alike.-What ho, Pisanio !- (1) What you seem anxious to utter, and yet withhold. (2) Sovereign command, (3) Wantons, Deserves thy trust; and thy most perfect goodness Imo. You make amends. Iach. He sits 'mongst men, like a descended god. He hath a kind of honour sets him off, More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry, Most mighty princess, that I have adventur'd To try your taking of a false report; which hath Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment In the election of a sir so rare, Which you know, cannot err: The love I bear him Made me to fan' you thus; but the gods made you, Unlike all others, chaflless. Pray, your pardon. Imo. All's well, sir: Take my power i'the court for yours. Iach. My humble thanks. I had almost forgot To entreat your grace but in a small request, And yet of moment too, for it concerns Your lord; myself, and other noble friends, Are partners in the business. Imo. Pray, what is't? Which I, the factor for the rest, have done Imo. Willingly; And pawn mine honour for their safety: since My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them In my bed-chamber. I kissed the jack upon an up-cast,' to be hit away! | SCENE II.-A bed-chamber; in one part of it I had a hundred pound on't: And then a whoreson a trunk. Imogen reading in her bed; a Lady jackanapes must take me up for swearing; as if I attending. borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure. 1 Lord. What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl. 2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out. [Aside. Clo. When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it s not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths: Ha? 2 Lord. No, my lord; nor [Aside.] crop the ears of them. Clo. Whoreson dog!—I give him satisfaction? 'Would, he had been one of my rank! 2 Lord. To have smelt like a fool. [Aside. Clo. I am not more vexed at any thing in the earth,-A pox on't! I had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the queen my mother: every jack-slave hath his belly full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match. 2 Lord. You are a cock and capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on. [Aside. Clo. Sayest thou? 1 Lord. It is not fit, your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to. Clo. No, I know that: but it is fit, I should commit offence to my inferiors. 2 Lord. Ay, is fit for your lordship only. Clo. Why, so I say. 1 Lord. Did you hear of a stranger, that's come to court to-night? Clo. A stranger! and I not know on't! 2 Lord. He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not. [Aside. Imo. Who's there? my woman Helen? Lady. Imo. What hour is it? Please you, madam. Almost midnight, madam : Imo. I have read three hours then: mine eyes Lady. are weak: Fold down the leaf where I have left: To bed; sense [Sleeps. Iachimo, from the trunk. Such 1 Lord. There's an Italian come; and, 'tis The adornment of her bed ;-The arras, figures, Why, such, and such:-And the contents o'the thought, one of Leonatus' friends. Clo. Leonatus? a banished rascal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger? 1 Lord. One of your lordship's pages. story, Ah, but some natural notes about her body, Above ten thousand meaner moveables Clo. Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there sleep, thou ape of death, lie dull upon her no derogation in't! 1 Lord. You cannot derogate, my lord. Clo. Not easily, I think. 2 Lord. You are a fool granted; therefore your issues being foolish, do not derogate. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll go see this Italian: What I have lost to-day at bowls, I'll win to-night of him. Come, go. 2 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. [Exeunt Cloten and first Lord. That such a crafty devil as is his mother" Should yield the world this ass! a woman, that Bears all down with her brain; and this her son Cannot take two from twenty for his heart, And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess, Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'st! Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd; A mother hourly coining plots; a wooer, More hateful than the foul expulsion is Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act Of the divorce he'd make! The heavens hold firm The walls of thy dear honour; keep unshak'd That temple, thy fair mind; that thou may'st stand, To enjoy thy banish'd lord, and this great land! 1Exit. (1) He is describing his fate at bowls; the jack is the small bowl at which the others are aimed. (2) Fellow, (3) i, e. Degrade yourself, And be her sense but as a monument, The treasure of her honour. No more.-To what end? Why should I write this down, that's riveted, May bare the raven's eye: I lodge in fear; [Clock strikes. [Goes into the trunk. The scene closes. (4) It was anciently the custom to strew cham. bers with rushes. (5) i. e. The white skin laced with blue veins (6) Tapestry, SCENE III.-An ante-chainber adjoining Imo- [Albeit he comes on angry purpose now; gen's apartment. Enter Cloten and Lords. 1 Lord. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that ever turn'd 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: If I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough: It's almost morning, is't not?. 1 Lord. Day, my lord. Clo. I would this music would come: I am advised to give her music o'mornings; they say, it will penetrate. Enter Musicians. Come on; tune: If you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain; but I'll never give o'er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing; after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it, and then let her consider. SONG. Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings, His steeds to water at those springs On chalic'd' flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin With every thing that pretty bin: So, get you gone: If this penetrate, I will consider your music the better: if it do not, it is a vice in her ears, which horse-hairs, and cat-guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot, can never amend. [Exeunt Musicians. Enter Cymbeline and Queen. 2 Lord. Here comes the king. Clo. I am glad, I was up so late; for that's the reason I was up so early: He cannot choose but take this service I have done, fatherly.-Good morrow to your majesty, and to my gracious mother. Cym. Attend you here the door of our stern daughter? Will she not forth? Clo. I have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafes no notice. Cym. The exile of her minion is too new; She hath not yet forgot him: some more time Must wear the print of his remembrance out, And then she's yours. Queen. You are most bound to the king; Who lets go by no vantages, that may Prefer you to his daughter: Frame yourself To orderly solicits; and be friended With aptness of the season: make denials Increase your services: so seem, as if You were inspir'd to do those duties which You tender to her: that you in all obey her, Save when command to your dismission tends, And therein you are senseless. Clo. 289 But that's no fault of his: We must receive him Attend the queen, and us; we shall have need [Exeunt Cym. Queen, Lords, and Mess. Clo. If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not, Let her lie still, and dream.-By your leave ho![Knocks. I know her women are about her: What If I do line one of their hands? 'Tis gold Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man: Can it not do, and undo? I will make Enter a Lady. [Knocks. Lady. How! my good name? or to report of you What I shall think is good?-The princess Enter Imogen. Clo. Good morrow, fairest sister: Your sweet hand. Imo. Good morrow, sir: You lay out too much For purchasing but trouble: the thanks I give, Clo. Clo. This is no answer. Imo. But that you shall not say I yield, being silent, I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: i'faith, To your best kindness; one of your great knowing Clo. To leave you in your madness, 'twere my Senseless? not so. sin: I will not. Imo. Fools are not mad folks. Do you call me fool? (3) With solicitations not only proper, but welltimed, |