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CYMBELINE.

THIS exquisite and romantic drama was not entered in the Stationers' books, nor printed, till 1623. It was probably written in about 1609. The plot is in a great degree taken from the Ninth Novel of the Second Day of the Decameron of Boc cacio, of which a deformed and interpolated translation had appeared so early as 1518; and an imitation, in an old storybook, entitled Westward for Smelts, was printed in 1603. Cymbeline, the king from whom the play takes its title, began

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband.
LEONATUS POSTHUMUS,a gentleman,husband to Imogen.
BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name
of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS,

sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the ARVIRAGUS, names of Polydore and Cadwal, sup

posed sons to Belarius.

PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus,
IACHIMO, friend to Philario,

Italians.

A French Gentleman, friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman Forces.
A Roman Captain.

Two British Captains.

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a physician.

Two Gentlemen.

Two Gaolers.

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen.
HELEN, woman to Imogen.

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1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?

1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which, their father
(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions,
a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gen-To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
tleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Mes-
sengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-sometimes in BRITAIN; sometimes in ITALY.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Britain.

The Garden behind Cymbeline's Palace.
Enter Two Gentlemen.

1 Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods
No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.
2 Gent.

But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son, (a widow,
That late he married,) hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor, but worthy, gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent.

None but the king?

1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen,
That most desir'd the match: but not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2 Gent.

And why so?

1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her,

Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd :
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

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SCENE II.-The same.

Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,
After the s.ander of most step-mothers, [daughter,
Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,

You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day. Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril :I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together. Imo. O

[Exit QUEEN.

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,
(Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what
His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post. My queen! my mistress!
O, lady, weep no more: lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man! I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e're plight troth.
My residence in Rome, at one Philario's ;
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

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Imo. Nay, stay a little:

[Exit.

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post. How how! another?-
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the ring.
While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss; so in our trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

[Putting a bracelet on her arm Ŏ, the gods!

Imo. When shall we see again?

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Cym.

Re-enter QUEEN.

Thou foolish thing!—

[To the QUEEN.

They were again together: you have done

Not after our command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

Dear lady daughter, peace;-Sweet sovereign,
Queen. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace,
Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some com-
[fort
Out of your best advice.
Nay, let her languish
A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
Die of this folly!

Cym.

Queen.

[Ext.

Enter PISANIO.

Fye!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir? What news? Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.

Queen.

No harm, I trust, is done?

Pis.

Ha!

There might have been, But that my master rather play'd than fought, And had no help of anger: they were parted By gentlemen at hand.

Queen.
I am very glad on't.
Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his
To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir! [part.—

I would they were in Afric both together;
Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer back.-Why came you from your master!
Pis On his command: He would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven: left these notes
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When it pleas'd you to employ me.

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Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour,
He will remain so.
Pis.

I humbly thank your highness.
Queen. Pray, walk a while.
Imo.

About some half hour hence,
I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least,
Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me. [Ex.

SCENE III.-A public Place.
Enter CLOTEN and Two Lords.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift itHave I hurt him?

be not hurt.

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcase, [Aside. if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it 2 Lord. His steel was in debt: it went o'the back side the town. [Aside. Clo. The villain would not stand me. Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your [Aside. own but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

face.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside.

Člo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned.

[Aside.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. [Aside.

Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.

Clo. Nay, come, let's go together.

2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Exeunt.

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With his next vantage.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had
Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear
How I would think on him, at certain hours,
Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him,
The shes of Italy should not betray
At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
To encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him; or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north
Betwixt too charming words, comes in my father,
Shakes all our buds from growing.
Enter a Lady.

Desires your highness' company.
Lady.
The queen, madam,
Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them de-
I will attend the queen.
[spatch'd.-
Pis.
Madam, I shall. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Rome.-An Apartment in Philario's House. Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.

Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items.

Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal

from the matter.

French. And then his banishment :

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judg ment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acI!-quaintance?

And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than
And that was all?

Pis.
No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech you all,

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