Bel. Pr'ythee, fair youth,

Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in.

Well encounter'd!

'Tis almost night, you shall have better cheer

Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.

Guid. Were you a woinan, youth,

I should woe hard, but be your groom in honesty;
I bid for you, as I do buy.

Arv. I'll make't my comfort,

He is a man: I'll love him as my brother:
And fuch a welcome as I'd give to him,

After long abfence, fuch is yours. Moft welcome!
Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.

Imo. (18) 'Mongst friends,

If brothers ;-'Would it had been so, that they
Had been my father's fons! then had my prize [Afide.
Been lefs, and fo more equal ballafting

To thee, Pofthumus.

Bel. He wrings at some distress.

Guid. 'Would I could free't!

Arv. Or I, whate'er it be,

What pain it cost, what danger, Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

[Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves, and had the virtue

(18) Imo.

'Mongft Friends?

If Brothers, 'would it had been fo, that they

Had been my Father's Sons.]

I cannot think this the Poet's Pointing, and therefore have ventur'd to reform it. Arviragus had faid, he would love Imogen as a Brother, gives her a Welcome as fuch, and tells her, fhe is fall'n among Friends.Among Friends indeed, replies he very naturally, if I am to ftand in the Rank of a Brother. Then ftriking into a private Reflection on having loft her own Brothers, the wishes, thefe Two kind Youths were but her Father's Sons.

VOL. VII.

M

Which

Which their own confcience feal'd them; (19) laying by
That nothing-gift of defering multitudes,

Could not out-peer these twain.-Pardon me, Gods!
I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus is falfe.

Bel. It fhall be fo :

Boys, we'll go drefs our Hunt. Fair youth, come in ;
Difcourfe is heavy, fafting; when we've fupp'd,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy ftory,

So far as thou wilt speak.

Guid. I pray, draw near.

Arv. The night to th' owl, and morn to th' lark, lefs welcome!

Imo. Thanks, Sir.

Arv. I pray, draw near.

I Sen.

SCENE changes to Rome.

Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.

TH

[Exeunt.

HIS is the tenor of the Emperor's Writ; That fince the common men are now in action

'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians,

And that the legions now in Gallia are

(19)

-laying by

That Nothing-Gift of differing Multitudes,
Could not out-peer these twain.]

The only Idea, that differing can here convey, is, variable, changing Multitudes; but then what is the Nothing-Gift which they are fuppos'd to bestow? The Poet muft mean, that Court, that obfequious Adoration, which the shifting Vulgar pay to the Great, is a Tribute of no Price or Value. I am perfuaded therefore, our Poet coin'd this Participle from the French Verb, and wrote

That Nothing-Gift of defering Multitudes,

i. e. obfequious, paying Deference. Deferer, Ceder par Ref pect a quelcun, obeir, condescendere, &c. Deferent, civil, Špectueux, &c. RICHELET.

Full

Full weak to undertake our war against
The fall'n-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this bufinefs. He creates
Lucius Pro-conful; (20) and to you, the tribunes,
For this immediate levy, he commends
His abfolute commiffion. Long live Cæfar!
Tri. Is Lucius Gen'ral of the Forces ?

2 Sen. Ay.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?

I Sen. With thofe legions

Which I have fpoke of, whereunto your Levy
Must be fuppliant: The words of your commiffion
Will tie you to the numbers and the time

Of their dispatch.

Tri. We will discharge our duty.

[Exeunt.

I

ACT

IV.

SCENE, the Foreft in Wales.

Enter Cloten alone.

Am near to th' place where they fhould meet, if Pifanic have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments ferve me! why should his miftrefs, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (faving reverence of the word,) becaufe, 'tis faid, a woman's

(20)

And to you, the Tribunes

For this immediate Levy, be commands

His abfolute Commiffion.]

Commands bis Commiffion is fuch a Phrase as Shakespeare would hardly have us'd. have, by Mr. Warburton's Advice, ventured to substi.. tute;

be commends

His abfolute Commission.

i. e. he recommends the Care of making this Levy to you; and gives you an abfolute Commiffion for fo doing.

M 2

fitnefs

fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman; I dare fpeak it to myfelf, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glafs to confer in his own chamber ;) I mean, the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no lefs young, more ftrong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike converfant in general fervices and more remarkable in fingle oppofitions; yet this imperfeverant thing loves him in my defpight. What mortality is! Pofthumus, thy head, which is now growing upon thy. fhoulders, fhall within this hour be off, thy miftress enforc', thy garments cut to pieces before thy face; and all this done, fpurn her home to her father, who may, haply, be a little angry for my fo rough ufage; but my mother, having power of his teftinefs, fhall turn all into my commendations. My horse is ty'd up fafe: out, fword, and to a fore purpofe! fortune put them into my hand; this is the very description of their meeting place, and the fellow dares not deceive me. [Exit.

SCENE changes to the Front of the Cave. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, and Imogen, from the Cave.

Bel.

OU are not well: remain here in the cave;
We'll come t'you after hunting.

•You

Arv. Brother, stay here:

Are we not brothers?

Imo. So man and man should be;

But clay and clay differs in dignity,

Whofe duft is both alike. I'm very fick.

[To Imogen.

Guid. Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him.
Imo. So fick I am not, yet I am not well;

But not fo citizen a wanton, as

To feem to die, ere fick: so please you, leave me;
Stick to your journal courfe; the breach of cuftom
Is breach of all. I'm ill, but your being by me
Cannot amend me. Society is no comfort
To one not fociable: I'm not very sick,
Since I can reason of it. Pray you, truft me here,

I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing fo poorly.

Guid. I love thee: I have spoke it;

How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel. What? how? how?

Arv. If it be fin to fay fo, Sir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why
I love this youth, and I have heard you fay,
Love reasons without reafon. The bier at door,
And a demand who is't fhall die, I'd fay,
"My father, not this youth."

Bel. O noble frain !

O worthiness of nature, breed of greatness!

Cowards father cowards, and bafe things fire the base:
Nature hath meal and bran; contempt and grace.
I'm not their father; yet who this should be,

Doth miracle itfelf, lov'd before me!

'Tis the ninth hour o'th' morn.

Arv. Brother, farewel.

Imo. I wish ye fport.

Arv. You health

fo please you, Sir.

Imo. These are kind creatures. Gods, what lies I've

heard!

Our courtiers fay, all's favage, but at court:
Experience, oh, how thou difprov'ft report.-
Th' imperious feas breed monsters; for the dish,
Poor tributary rivers as fweet fish ;

I am fick ftill, heart-fick

I'll now tafte of thy drug.

Guid. I could not ftir him;

-Pifanio,

[Drinks out of the phial.

He faid, he was gentle, but unfortunate;

Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv. Thus did he anfwer me; yet faid, hereafter

I might know more.

Bel. To th' field, to th' field:

We'll leave you for this time; go in and rest.

Arv. We'll not be long away.

Bel. Pray, be not fick,

For you must be our housewife.

M 3

Ims.