Imo.

SCENE changes to the Foreft and Cave.
Enter Imogen, in boy's cloaths.

See, a man's life is a tedious one :

I've tir'd myself; and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. I fhould be fick,
But that my refolution helps me. Milford,
When from the mountain top Pifanio fhew'd thee,
Thou waft within a ken.O Jove, I think,
Foundations fly the wretched; fuch, I mean,
Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me,
I could not mifs my way. Will poor folks lie,
That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis
A punishment, or tryal? yes; no wonder,
When rich ones fcarce tell true. To lapfe in fullness
Is forer, than to lie for need; and falfhood

Is worse in Kings, than Beggars. My dear lord!
Thou'rt one o'th' falfe ones; now I think on thee,
My hunger's gone; but ev'n before, I was
At point to fink for food. But what is this?

[Seeing the Cave.
Here is a path to't--'tis fome favage hold;
'Twere beft, not call; I dare not call; yet famine,
Ere it clean o'er-throw nature, makes it valiant.
Flenty, and peace, breeds cowards; hardness ever
Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here?
If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if savage,
Take, or lend-ho! no answer? then I'll enter.
Beft draw my fword; and if mine enemy

But fear the fword like me, he'll scarcely look on't.
Grant fuch a foe, good heav'ns! [She goes into the Cave.
Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Bel. You, Paladour, have prov'd best woodman, and Are mafter of the feaft; Cadwal and I

Will play the cook, and servant; 'tis our match:
The fweat of industry would dry, and die,

But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs
Will make what's homely favoury; weariness
Can fnore upon the flint, when refty floth

Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'ft thyself!

Guid. I'm thoroughly weary.

Arv. I'm weak with toil, yet ftrong in appetite. Guid. There is cold meat i'th' cave, we'll brouze on

that,

Whilft what, we've kill'd, be cook'd.

Bel. Stay, come not in

But that it eats our victuals, I should think,

It were a Fairy.

Guid. What's the matter, Sir?

Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly Paragon. Behold divineness No elder than a boy.

Enter Imogen.

Imo. Good mafters, harm me not;

Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought

[Looking is.

T have begg'd, or bought, what I have took: good troth,

I have ftoln nought, nor would not, though I'd found Gold ftrew'd i'th' floor. Here's mony for my meat; I would have left it on the board, so soon

As I had made my meal; and parted thence

With prayers for the provider.

Guid. Mony, youth?

Arv. All gold and filver rather turn to dirt!
As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those
Who worship dirty Gods.

Imo. I fee, you're angry :

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should

Have dy'd, had I not made it.

Bel. Whither bound?
Imo. To Milford-Haven.

Bel. What's your name ?

Imo. Fidele, Sir; I have a kinfman, who
Is bound for Italy: he embark'd at Milford;
To whom being going, almoft fpent with hunger,
I'm faln in this offence.

Bel.

Bel. Prythee, 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 woman, youth,

I should wooe hard, but be your groom in honefty;
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 fo, that they
Had been my father's fons! then had my prize
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 coft, what danger, Gods!

Hel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

Afide.

[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 such, and tells her, She is fall'n among Friends.- -Among Friends, indeed, replies She 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, She wishes, these Two kind Youths were but her Faher'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 fex 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 story,

So far as thou wilt speak.

Guid. I pray, draw near.

Aru. The night to th' owl, and morn to th' lark, less

welcome!

Imo. Thanks, Sir.

Arv. I pray, draw near.

1 Sen.

SCENE changes to Rome.

[Exeunt.

Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.

T

action

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

'Gainft 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 thefe 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 beftow? 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 Respect à quelcun, obeir, condescendre, &c. Deferent, civil, re

Aneux, &c. RICHELET.

Full

Full weak to undertake our war against
The fall'n-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this business. 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 ?

1 Sen. With those legions

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

Of their difpatch.

Tri. We will discharge our duty.

[Exeunt:

SCENE, the Foreft in Wales.

Enter Cloten alone.

Am near to th' place where they should meet, if Pifanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments ferve me! why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (faving reverence of the word,) because, 'tis faid, a wo(20)

And to you, the Tribunes
For this immediate Levy, he commands

His abfolute Commission.]

Commands his Commission is fuch a Phrase as Shakespeare would hardly have us'd. I have, by Mr. Warburton's Advice, ventur'd to fubftitute;

His abfolute Commission.

he commends

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

M 2

2

man's