CYMBELINE.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

CYMBELINE, king of Britain.
CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a

former husband.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentle-
man, husband to Imogen.

A French Gentleman, friend to
Philario.

CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the
Roman forces.
A Roman Captain.

BELARIUS, a banished lord, dis- Two British Captains.

guised under the name of PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a physician.

sons to Cymbeline, Two Lords of Cymbeline's court. disguised under the Two Gentlemen of the same.

names of Polydore
and Cadwal, sup-
posed sons of Be-
larius.

Morgan.

GUIDERIUS,

ARVIRAGUS,

Two Gaolers.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants.

SCENE

Apparitions.

sometimes in Britain, sometimes in Italy.

ACT I.

SOENE I. Britain. The garden of CYMBELINE's palace.

Enter two Gentlemen.

First 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.

Sec. Gent.

But what's the matter?

First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of 's 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.

Sec. Gent.

None but the king?

First 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.

Sec. Gent.

And why so?

First Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her I mean, that married her, alack, good man! And therefore banish'd - is a creature such As, to seek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be something failing In him that should compare: - I do not think So fair an outward, and such stuff within, Endows a man but he.

Sec. Gent.

You speak him far.

First Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold

His measure duly.

Sec. Gent.

What's his name and birth?

First 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
To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber;
Puts to him 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 's 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.

I honour him

Sec. Gent.
Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?

First Gent.

His only child.
He had two sons, - if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it, the eld'st of them at three years old,
I' the swathing-clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stol'n; and to this hour no guess in knowledge
Which way they went.

Sec. Gent.

How long is this ago?

First Gent. Some twenty years.

Sec. Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd So slackly guarded! and the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

First Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,

Yet is it true,

sir.

Sec. Gent. I do well believe you.

First Gent. We must forbear: here comes the gentleman, The queen, and princess.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assur'd you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most stepmothers, Evil-ey'd unto you: you're my prisoner, Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

but

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win th' 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,

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.

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'er plight troth:
My residence in Rome at one Philario's;
Who to my father was a friend, to me

-

[Exit.