I muft a board to-morrow.

Imo. O no, no.

lach. Yes, I beseech you: or I Mall Mort my word, By lengh’ning my return. From Gallia, I crost the seas on purpose, and on promise To fee

your

Grace.
Imo. I thank you for your pains;
But not away to morrow?

lach. O, I must, Madam.
Therefore I shall befcech 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.

Busteres

А ст ІІ.
SCENE, Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

CLOTEN.
AS there ever man had such luck! when I

kiss'd the Jack upon an up-caft, to be hit away! I had an hundred pound on't; and then a whoreson jack-anapes must take me up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

i Lord. What got he by that? you have broke his pate with your bowi.

2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

[Aside. Clot. When a gentleman is dispos'd to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths. Ha? K5

2 Lard.

a pox

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

[Aside. Clot. Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction ? 'would, he had been one of

my

rank. 2 Lord. To have smelt like a fool.

[Afide. Clot. I am not vext more at any thing in the earth,

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-llave 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. Clor. Say't thou ?

2 Lord. It is not fit your Lordship 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, so I fay.

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

Clot. A stranger, and I know not on't ? 2 Lord. He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it

[Afide. 1 Lord. There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus's friends.

Clot. Leonatus! a banish'd rascal ; 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 easily, I think.
2 Lord. You are a fool granted, therefore your

issues being foolish do not derogate.

[4fide. Clot. Come, I'll go see 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

not.

That such a crafty devil, as 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,
(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 !

[Exeunt.

(7) More hateful than the foul Expulsion is

Of thy dear Husband, than that borrid AEZ
Of the divorce -he'll make the Heav'ns hold firm

The Walls of thy dear honour, &c.]
What perpetual proofs occur of these Editors' ftupid Indolence !
They cannot afford even to add, or transpose, a Stop, tho' the
Sense be never so much concerned in it. How would Cloten's Solli-
citations, if I might ask these wise Gentlemen, make the Heavens
keep firm Imogen's Honour ? Would the Speaker imply, that this
Wooer was so hateful, worthless, a Creature, the Heavens would
purposely keep her honest in Contempt of him? The Author meant
no such absurd Stuff. I dare be positive, I have reformed his Point-
ing, and by that retrieved his true Sense. “ This Wooer, says 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 absence.” Having made this Reflexion, he subjoins a virtuous Wish, that Heaven may preferve her Honour unblemished, and her to enjoy her Husband back, and her Rights in the Kingdom,

SCENE changes to a magnificent Bed-chamber ;

in one part of it, a large trunk. Imogen is discover'd reading in her bed, a Lady attending. Imo. H O's there my woman Helen? Lady. Please

you,

Madam
Imo. What hour is it?
Lady. Almpft midnight, Madam.

Imo. I have read three hours then, mine eyes are weak,
Fold down the leaf where I have left; to bed-
Take not away the taper, leave it burning :
And if thou canst awake by four o’th' clock,
I pr’ythee, call me sleep hath seiz'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 rises from the trunka lach. The crickets sing, and man's o'er-labour'd sense Repairs itself by reft: our Tarquin thus Did softly press the rushes, ere he waken'd The chattity he wounded. Cytherea, How bravely thou becom'st thy bed ! fresh lily, And whiter than the sheets ! that I might touch, But kiss, ore kissrubies unparagon'd, How dearly they do't!'tis her breathing, that Perfumes the chamber thus: the fiame oʻth taper Bows tow'rd her, and would under-peep her lids, To see th' inclosed light, now canopy'd Under these windows : white and azure, lac'd With blue of heav'ns own tinct. But my design's To note the chamber I will write all down, Such, and fuch, pictures- there, the window,—such Thi adornment of her bed the arras, tiguresWhy, such and fuch-and the contents o'th' story Ab, but some nat’ral notes about her body, Above ten thousand meaner moveables, Would teftify, t'enrich my inventory; O Sleep, thou ape of Death, lie dull upon her!

And

And be her sense 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 strongly as the conscience does within,
To th' madding of her Lord. On her left breast
A mole cinque-spotted, like the crimson drops
l'th' bottom of a cowslip. Here's a voucher,
Stronger than ever law could make : this secret
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,
Screwd 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 thut the spring of it.
Swift, swift, 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 strikes.
One, two, three : time, time !

[Goes into the trunk, the Scene closes.

SCENE changes to another part of the Palace,

facing imogen's Apartments.

Enter Cloten, and Lords.
OUR Lordship is the most patient man in

1 Lord.

Y the .

Clot. It would make any man cold to lose.

i 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 should have gold enough: It's almoft morning, is't not?

i Lord. Day, my Lord.

Clit. I would, this music come: I am advis'd to give her musick o' mornings; they say, it will penetrate.

Enter