I must a board to-morrow.

Imo. O no, no.

Iach. Yes, I befeech you: or I fhall fhort my word, By lengh'ning my return. From Gallia,

I croft the feas on purpose, and on promife

To fee your Grace.

Imo. I thank you for

your pains;

But not away to morrow?

Iach. O, I must, Madam.

Therefore I fhall befeech you, if you please
To greet your Lord with writing, do't to night.
I have outstood my time, which is material
To th' tender of our present.

Imo. I will write:

Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,
And truly yielded you: You're very welcome.

[Exe.

A CT

II.

SCENE, Cymbeline's Palace.

W

Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

CLOTEN.

AS there ever man had fuch fuck! when I kifs'd the Jack upon an up-caft, to be hit away! I had an hundred pound on't; and then a whorefon jack-anapes must take me up for fwearing, as if I 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 bowl.

your

[Afide.

2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out. Clot. When a gentleman is difpos'd to fwear, it is not ftanders-by to curtail his oaths. Ha? K 5

for

any

2 Lord.

z Lord. No, my Lord; nor crop the ears of them.

[Afide. Clot. Whorefon dog! I give him fatisfaction? 'would, he had been one of my rank.

2 Lord. To have fmelt like a fool.

[Afide. Clot. I am not vext more at any thing in the earth,a pox on't! I had rather not be fo noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the Queen my mother; every Jack-flave hath his belly full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that no body can match.

2 Lord. You are a cock and a capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on. [Afide.

Clot. Say't thou?

2 Lord. It is not fit your Lordfhip should undertake every companion, that you give offence to.

Clot. No, I know that; but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors..

2 Lord. Ay, it is fit for your Lordship only.

Clot. Why, fo I fay.

1 Lord. Did you hear of a stranger that's comes to court to-night?

not.

Clot. A ftranger, and I know not on't?

2 Lord. He's ftrange fellow himself, and knows it [Afide. I Lord. There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus's friends.

Clot. Leonatus! a banifh'd rafcal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger?

1 Lord. One of your Lordship's pages.

Clot. Is it fit I went to look upon him? is there no derogation in't?

2 Lord. You cannot derogate, my Lord.

Clot. Not eafily, I think.

2 Lord. You are a fool granted, therefore your issues being foolish do not derogate.

[Afide.

Clot. Come, I'll go fee this Italian: what I have loft to-day at bowls, I'll win to-night of him.

Come ;

go.

2 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.

[Exit Clot.

That

That fuch a crafty devil, as his mother,
Should yield the world this afs!-

-a woman, that
Bears all down with her brain; and this her fon
Cannot take two from twenty for his heart,
And leave eighteen.-Alas, poor Princess,
Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'ft!
Betwixt a father by thy ftep-dame govern'd,
A mother hourly coining plots; a wooer,
(7) More hateful than the foul expulfion is
Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act

Of the divorce he'd make.- -The heav'ns hold firm
The walls of thy dear Honour; keep unshak'd
That Temple, thy fair Mind; that thou may'st stand
T' enjoy thy banish'd Lord, and this great land!

(7) More hateful than the foul Expulfion is

Of thy dear Husband, than that horrid At
Of the divorce- -he'll make the Heav'ns hold firm
The Walls of thy dear honour, &c.]

[Exeunt.

What perpetual proofs occur of thefe Editors' ftupid Indolence! They cannot afford even to add, or tranfpofe, a Stop, tho' the Senfe be never fo much concerned in it. How would Cloten's Sollicitations, if I might ask these wife Gentlemen, make the Heavens keep firm Imogen's Honour? Would the Speaker imply, that this Wooer was fo hateful, worthless, a Creature, the Heavens would purpofely keep her honeft in Contempt of him? The Author meant no fuch abfurd Stuff. I dare be pofitive, I have reformed his Pointing, and by that retrieved his true Senfe. "This Wooer, fays the "Speaker, is more hateful to her than the Banishment of her Lord; << or the horrid Attempt of making that Banishment perpetual, by "his marrying her in her Lord's abfence.' Having made this Reflexion, he fubjoins a virtuous Wish, that Heaven may preferve her Honour unblemished, and her to enjoy her Husband back, and her Rights in the Kingdom.

SCENE

SCENE changes to a magnificent Bed-chamber; in one part of it, a large trunk.

Imogen is difcover'd reading in her bed, a Lady attending. HO's there? my woman Helen?

Ime. W Lady. Please you, Madam

Imo. What hour is it?

Lady. Almoft midnight, Madam.

Imo. I have read three hours then, mine eyes are weak, Fold down the leaf where I have left; to bedTake not away the taper, leave it burning: And if thou canst awake by four o'th' clock,

I pr'ythee, call me-fleep hath feiz'd me wholly.

[Exit Lady.

To your protection I commend me, Gods;
From Fairies, and the Tempters of the night,
Guard me, 'beseech ye,

[Sleeps.

[Iachimo rifes from the trunk.

lach. The crickets fing, and man's o'er-labour'd fenfe

Repairs itself by reft: our Tarquin thus

Did foftly prefs the rushes, ere he waken'd

'The chastity he wounded. Cytherea,

How bravely thou becom'ft thy bed! fresh lily,
And whiter than the fheets! that I might touch,
But kifs, one kiss—rubies unparagon'd,

How dearly they do't!-'tis her breathing, that
Perfumes the chamber thus: the flame oth taper
Bows tow'rd her, and would under-peep her lids,
To fee th' inclofed light, now canopy'd
Under thefe windows: white and azure, lac'd
With blue of heav'ns own tinct.- -But my defign's
To note the chamber-I will write all down,
Such, and fuch, pictures-there, the window,-fuch
Th' adornment of her bed-the arras, figures-
Why, fuch and fuch--and the contents o'th' ftory-
Ah, but fome natʼral notes about her body,
Above ten thoufand meaner moveables,
Would teftify, t'enrich my inventory.

O Sleep, thou ape of Death, lie dull upon her!

And be her fenfe but as a monument,
Thus in a chapel lying!Come off, come off.-
[Taking off her bracelet.
As flipp'ry, as the Gordian knot was hard.
'Tis mine; and this will witness outwardly,
As ftrongly as the confcience does within,
To th' madding of her Lord. On her left breaft
A mole cinque-fpotted, like the crimson drops
I'th' bottom of a cowflip. Here's a voucher,
Stronger than ever law could make this fecret
Will force him think, I've pick'd the lock; and ta'en
The treasure of her honour. No more-to what end?
Why should I write this down, that's rivetted,
Screw'd to my mem'ry? She hath been reading, late,
The tale of Tereus; here the leaf's turn'd down,
Where Philomel gave up I have enough:-
To th' trunk again, and shut the spring of it.
Swift, fwift, you Dragon's of the night! that dawning
May bear the raven's eye: I lodge in fear,

Though this a heav'nly angel, hell is here. [Clock ftrikes.
One, two, three: time, time!

[Goes into the trunk, the Scene closes.

SCENE changes to another part of the Palace, facing Imogen's Apartments.

Lord.

Y

Enter Cloten, and Lords.

OUR Lordship is the most patient man in lofs, the coldest that ever turn'd up ace.

Clot. 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.

Clot. Winning will put any man into courage: If I could get this foolish Imogen, I fhould have gold enough: It's almoft morning, is't not?

I Lord. Day, my Lord.

Chat. I would, this mufick would come: I am advis'd to give her mufick o' mornings; they fay, it will penetrate.

Enter