THE TRAGEDY OF CYMBELINE

Many commentators have observed how fitting it is that The Tempest is printed at the beginning of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays. Its reflections on art, together with the resemblance of Prospero to a dramatist and his island to a theater, where a play is staged within the play by actors who are spirits, make it seem like a Shakespearean showpiece, a summation of his art. Far fewer commentators have considered how equally appropriate it is that Cymbeline is printed at the end of the First Folio. Though entitled The Tragedy of Cymbeline, it ends not with multiple deaths but with family reunion and political reconciliation. “Pardon’s the word to all” as revelations pile in upon one another, each of them “a mark of wonder,” while a nation is restored to peace: the play could equally well have been classed as a comedy or a British history. The stylistic experimentation almost serves as an ironic epilogue to the Folio’s tripartite division into comedies, histories, and tragedies: tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, Cymbeline would have been Polonius’ favorite work in the canon. Furthermore, in a manner analogous to the wittily extreme variations on classical motifs in Baroque art, both the narrative arc and the characterization revisit and revise, in a highly self-conscious manner, an array of favorite Shakespearean motifs: the cross-dressed heroine, the move from court to country, obsessive sexual jealousy, malicious Machiavellian plotting, the interrogation of Roman values.

For Shakespeare, the material provided the opportunity to reach back to some of his earliest work. As in Titus Andronicus, a copy of Ovid’s Metamorphoses is brought on stage as a prop. It is Innogen’s bedtime reading: “She hath been reading late, / The tale of Tereus. Here the leaf’s turned down / Where Philomel gave up.” The allusion marks the moment at which Innogen is betrayed. But whereas in Titus Lavinia’s quoting of Philomel’s tragic tale is the means to the revelation of her own rape, Iachimo can destroy Innogen’s reputation simply by looking at her. His removal of the bracelet from her arm is a symbolic violation of her chastity. In Shakespeare’s other rape story, the poem of Lucrece, Tarquin presses violently down on his victim’s breasts, but here Iachimo merely watches and reports, noting in particular an identifying mole on her left breast. It is the eyes of a spectator that do the undressing here, not the tearing hands of a Tarquin. When Iachimo himself alludes to the rapacious emperor—“Our” Tarquin, a fellow-Roman—he rewrites the night scene of Lucrece in a lyrical mode: “Our Tarquin thus / Did softly press the rushes, ere he wakened / The chastity he wounded.” The sibilance seems tender rather than sinister: “Softly press” suggests not only stealth, but also a lover’s touch. And “wounded” grossly understates the severity of Tarquin’s deed. This has the effect of sublimating the image of rape—Philomel gives up as in a dream, not in brutal reality as on the stage of Titus, thus making it easier for the audience to put itself in the position of Iachimo. To note and to wonder at the beauty of the sleeping Innogen does not seem to do any harm. Yet “yellow Iachimo” does work harm, and it takes all the play’s twists and turns, including an apparent death and an actual physical violation when Posthumus strikes Fidele/Innogen, to undo that harm.

The audience, then, is forced to confront its own complicity in Iachimo’s deed. His gaze is ours. Shakespeare makes the point by means of the chimneypiece in the bedroom. While in the room, Iachimo records “the contents o’th’story.” In his subsequent narration to Posthumus he reveals them:

The chimney

Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece

Chaste Dian bathing: never saw I figures

So likely to report themselves; the cutter

Was as another nature dumb, outwent her,

Motion and breath left out.

The gaze is fixed on the naked Diana bathing: Iachimo and with him the audience stand in the position occupied in Ovidian mythology by the hunter Actaeon, who is metamorphosed into a stag and torn to pieces by his own hounds as punishment for his desiring gaze upon the goddess of chastity. Shakespeare uses this reference to introduce the motif of self-destructive sexual desire. The poetry almost makes us forget that we never saw the chimneypiece: what we witnessed was the sleeping figure of Innogen, as mediated through the language of Iachimo’s gorgeous but prurient soliloquy.

The art of the chimneypiece, like that of Hermione’s statue in The Winter’s Tale, is said to have outdone nature. A few lines earlier, Iachimo has reported that the tapestry in the chamber told the story of Mark Antony meeting Cleopatra at Cydnus; here Shakespeare echoes back his own recent play in which Enobarbus describes Cleopatra at Cydnus as being so desirable that “but for vacancy” the air would have joined the people of the city in going to gaze on her. The fictive chimneypiece recapitulates and goes beyond this: the artist’s figures seem on the verge of speech and movement, they are “likely to report themselves” and though they are “dumb” they seem to make nature seem dumber. The air has vacated nature and entered the artwork. When we associate Diana with Innogen, the goddess seems to step down from the chimneypiece and become embodied on stage in the form of a lovely boy actor. The image effects in the audience’s mind what The Winter’s Tale feigns to deliver in performance: the metamorphosis of art into life. This is late Shakespeare at his most sophisticated and self-consciously inventive.

An eyewitness account of a performance of the play in 1611 makes much of the scene in which Iachimo emerges from the trunk. Watching for the plot, what Dr. Simon Forman remembered most vividly was Innogen’s bedchamber:

Remember also the story of Cymbeline king of England, in Lucius’ time, how Lucius came from Octavius Caesar for tribute, and being denied, after sent Lucius with a great army of soldiers who landed at Milford Haven, and after were vanquished by Cymbeline, and Lucius taken prisoner, and all by means of 3 outlaws, of the which 2 of them were the sons of Cymbeline, stolen from him when they were but 2 years old by an old man whom Cymbeline banished, and he kept them as his own sons 20 years with him in a cave. And how [one] of them slew Cloten, that was the queen’s son, going to Milford Haven to seek the love of Innogen the king’s daughter, whom he had banished also for loving his daughter, and how the Italian that came from her love conveyed himself into a chest, and said it was a chest of plate sent from her love and others, to be presented to the king. And in the deepest of the night, she being asleep, he opened the chest, and came forth of it, and viewed her in her bed, and the marks of her body, and took away her bracelet, and after accused her of adultery to her love, etc. And in the end how he came with the Romans into England and was taken prisoner, and after revealed to Innogen, who had turned herself into man’s apparel and fled to meet her love at Milford Haven, and chanced to fall on the cave in the woods where her 2 brothers were, and how by eating a sleeping dram they thought she had been dead, and laid her in the woods, and the body of Cloten by her, in her love’s apparel that he left behind him, and how she was found by Lucius, etc. (“Book of Plays,” spelling modernized)

Forman’s report reveals how much detail an attentive spectator could grasp in a complex Shakespearean drama—though he does seem to have momentarily muddled Cloten and Posthumus, just as Innogen/Fidele does. The account also suggests that Shakespearean playgoers worried little about the plot’s dependence on frequent coincidences. Strikingly, though, this spectator’s enthusiasm peters out toward the end: the closing reunions and the descent of Jupiter in Posthumus’ dream do not merit a mention. The long and outlandish final scene is extremely difficult to stage effectively: it has sometimes been played as parody, is often heavily cut, and has even been comprehensively rewritten (by George Bernard Shaw).

In the movement of the action from court to country, Cymbeline has a similar structure to the more popular and better-known Winter’s Tale. The two plays were probably written within a year of each other. The similarities are abundant. A man is falsely led to believe in his wife’s infidelity, with the result that his powers of reasoning are distorted and his language collapses into crabbed, dense invective against female wiles:

…for there’s no motion

That tends to vice in man, but I affirm

It is the woman’s part: be it lying, note it,

The woman’s: flattering, hers: deceiving, hers:

Lust and rank thoughts, hers, hers: revenges, hers:

Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain,

Nice longing, slanders, mutability,

All faults that may be named, nay, that hell knows,

Why, hers, in part or all…

In fact, throughout Shakespeare’s works, most of these vices and faults are to be found in the men’s parts, not the women’s. It is the woman—Marina, Perdita, Innogen—who restores harmony.

In Cymbeline, as in The Winter’s Tale, she does so in combination with the forces of nature. The febrile air of court intrigue is cleared when we move outdoors and encounter princes disguised as shepherds. It is perhaps in Cymbeline that Shakespeare’s art of natural observation is at its most acute. The supposedly dead Fidele is apostrophized with the phrase “the azured harebell like thy veins.” The color and structure of the harebell do precisely resemble those of human veins.

The association of Innogen with nature goes back to the bedroom scene. The key token of recognition, the mole on her breast, is “cinque-spotted: like the crimson drops / I’th’bottom of a cowslip.” Is there any other English poet save the country laborer John Clare who could have created such a simile, who has such an eye as acute as Shakespeare’s for the intricacies of natural history and the apt metaphorical application of them to human encounters?

As well as being a pastoral fantasy and a fairy story, complete with wicked stepmother and poison (which, thanks to an honest-hearted physician, turns out to be mere sleeping potion), this is a play about the Romans in Britain, under the auspices of the god Jupiter. The title in the Folio contents list is “Cymbeline King of Britain.” Shakespeare’s other King of Britain was Lear, who made the mistake of dividing his kingdom in three. Cymbeline may have been placed among the tragedies by the editors of the Folio because it traverses the same elevated ground of national history and destiny. But whereas the disarray of the divided nation in Lear is a negative example, perhaps intended to make the play’s original audience feel relief that King James had recently united the thrones of Scotland and England, the resolution of Cymbeline is altogether positive: “Never was a war did cease, / Ere bloody hands were washed, with such a peace.”

Cymbeline was supposed to have been King of Britain in the year when Christ was born; at that time, the Roman emperor was Augustus. Shakespeare’s audience would have known that Augustus was the Caesar to whom Cymbeline agrees to pay tribute money, despite the miraculous victory of the British when Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus (otherwise known as Morgan, Polydore, and Cadwal) hold the road against apparently insurmountable odds. The end of the play heralds an “Augustan peace,” in which Britain is imagined as the equal of Rome. Milford Haven in Wales is a vital location and point of reference in the play. The more historically and politically literate members of Shakespeare’s original audience would have recalled that it was the port where Henry Tudor—the Richmond of Richard III and the future King Henry VII—landed in 1485, the year that brought the Wars of the Roses to an end and established the Tudor dynasty that turned the tables on modern Rome and began to establish an image of their nation as the divinely chosen Christian successor-empire to that of Augustus.

Imagine King James watching the play: he would have seen himself as a composite version of Cymbeline and Augustus, both a British king and a neo-Roman emperor. From the point of view of characterization, the part of King Cymbeline is astonishingly underwritten. His interior life is never opened to us, as is that of Lear or, in this play, Princess Innogen. All he seems to do in the long closing scene is ask questions, express amazement, and pronounce benediction. This makes sense if he is intended to offer an oblique representation of James, King of Britain. It would not do to inquire too closely into the monarch’s interior life. Instead, Cymbeline is the ideal spectator: during a court performance, the king would have been sitting at the focal point of the hall. In a production that works, his amazement, his questions, and his acceptance are also ours.

 

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KEY FACTS

PLOT: Cymbeline, King of Britain when Augustus Caesar was Emperor of Rome, has a daughter, Innogen, and two sons who were stolen in infancy. The queen, his second wife, has a son, Cloten, whom Cymbeline wishes Innogen to marry; but she has secretly married a commoner, Posthumus Leonatus. Cymbeline banishes Posthumus to Rome, where he meets Iachimo, who wagers with him that he can seduce Innogen. Arriving in Britain, Iachimo realizes that she is incorruptible, but, hiding in her bedroom, obtains evidence that convinces Posthumus that he has won the wager. Posthumus orders his servant Pisanio to kill Innogen at Milford Haven, but instead Pisanio advises her to disguise herself as Fidele, a page; in Wales, she meets her brothers, who were stolen twenty years before by the banished nobleman Belarius. Cloten pursues Innogen to Wales in Posthumus’ clothes, determined to rape her and kill Posthumus. Instead, he is killed by one of her brothers, and his decapitated body laid beside Innogen, who has taken a potion that makes her appear dead. When she revives, Innogen/ Fidele joins the Roman army, which is invading Britain as a result of Cymbeline’s failure to pay tribute to Rome. Posthumus and the stolen princes are instrumental in defeating the Roman army. A final scene of explanations leads to private and public reconciliation.

MAJOR PARTS: (with percentage of lines/number of speeches/scenes on stage) Innogen (16%/118/10), Posthumus Leonatus (12%/77/8), Iachimo (12%/77/6), Belarius (9%/58/6), Cymbeline (8%/81/6), Cloten (7%/77/7), Pisanio (6%/58/10), Guiderius (5%/62/6), Queen (5%/27/5), Arviragus (4%/46/5), Caius Lucius (3%/25/5), Cornelius (2%/13/2), First Gentleman (2%/ 10/1), First Jailer (1%/9/1), Second Lord (1%/20/3), Philario (1%/14/2).

LINGUISTIC MEDIUM: 85% verse, 15% prose.

DATE: 1610. Simon Forman attended a performance in April 1611; composition apparently postdates Beaumont and Fletcher’s Philaster (1608–10); probably belongs to the months when the theaters were reopened in spring 1610 after a long period of closure due to the plague; the emphasis on Wales may suggest composition around the time of the investiture of Henry as Prince of Wales in June 1610; perhaps performed at court during the winter of 1610–11.

SOURCES: The plot involving Cymbeline, Guiderius, Arviragus, and the Romans in Britain is derived from a rudimentary outline in Holinshed’s Chronicles (1587 edition); the heroic defense of the lane in the battle is imported from elsewhere in Holinshed. The story of the wager on a virtuous wife’s chastity goes back to Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron (2nd Day, 9th novel) via an anonymous prose romance, Frederyke of Jennen (1560 edition). The idea of combining pseudohistory with romance may have been inspired by Beaumont and Fletcher’s recent play Philaster, a pioneering work of Jacobean tragicomedy with a girl disguised as a boy, a mischief making older woman, a virtuous lady accused of an illicit sexual liaison, a contrast between a noble hero and an ignoble prince, the forbidden marriage of a princess to a commoner, a movement from court to country, and elements of masque-form. Some scholars, however, propose that Cymbeline influenced Philaster rather than vice versa.

TEXT: First Folio of 1623 is the only text. Probably set from a transcript by Ralph Crane, scribe to the King’s Men. Fairly well-printed text, though some correction required, especially in those parts of the play that were typeset by “Compositor E,” the least competent man in the printing house. The heroine is called “Innogen” in both Holinshed’s Chronicles and Simon Forman’s notes on seeing the play; this name also appears in Much Ado about Nothing (as well as in works by contemporaries such as Thomas Heywood and Michael Drayton). “Imogen” did not exist as a name at this time and, besides, the heroines of Shakespeare’s late plays are given symbolic names (Marina = from the sea; Perdita = the lost one; Miranda = cause for admiration; hence Innogen = innocent one). All this very strongly suggests that Folio’s “Imogen” was a minim scribal or compositorial error for “Innogen,” so we have corrected accordingly.

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THE TRAGEDY OF CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE, King of Britain

INNOGEN, his daughter by a former queen, later disguised as Fidele

QUEEN, his second wife

CLOTEN, her son, Cymbeline’s stepson

POSTHUMUS Leonatus, husband to Innogen

PISANIO, his servant

CORNELIUS, a doctor

LADY attendant on Innogen, named Helen

Two LORDS attendant on Cloten

Two GENTLEMEN

Two British CAPTAINS

Two JAILERS

BELARIUS, a banished lord, living in Wales under the name Morgan

PHILARIO, an Italian, Posthumus’ host in Rome

IACHIMO, an Italian nobleman, friend to Philario

A FRENCHMAN

A Dutchman

A Spaniard

Caius LUCIUS, general of the Roman army

SOOTHSAYER, named Philharmonus

Two Roman SENATORS

A Roman TRIBUNE

A Roman CAPTAIN

JUPITER

Ghost of SICILIUS LEONATUS, Posthumus’ father

Ghost of Posthumus’ MOTHER

Ghosts of Posthumus’ two BROTHERS

Lords, Attendants, Messengers, Musicians, Roman Tribunes, British and Roman Captains, Soldiers

Act 1 Scene 1^1.1

running scene 1

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        Enter two Gentlemen

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     You do not meet a man but frowns.¹ Our bloods

               No more obey the heavens than our courtiers

               Still³ seem as does the king.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     But what’s the matter?

5

5     

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN             His daughter, and the heir of’s kingdom, whom

               He purposed to⁶ his wife’s sole son — a widow

               That late⁷ he married — hath referred herself

               Unto a poor but worthy gentleman. She’s wedded,

               Her husband banished, she imprisoned, all⁹

10

10            Is outward sorrow, though I think the king

               Be touched at very heart.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     None but the king?

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     He¹³ that hath lost her too: so is the queen,

               That most desired the match. But not a courtier,

15

15            Although they wear their faces to the bent¹⁵

               Of the king’s looks, hath a heart that is not

               Glad at the thing they scowl at.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     And why so?

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     He that hath missed¹⁹ the princess is a thing

20

20            Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her —

               I mean, that married her, alack, good man,

               And therefore banished — is a creature²² such

               As, to seek through the regions of the earth

               For one his like,²⁴ there would be something failing

25

25            In him that should compare. I do not think

               So fair an outward²⁶ and such stuff within

               Endows²⁷ a man but he.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     You speak him far.²⁸

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     I do extend,²⁹ sir, within himself,

30

30            Crush him together rather than unfold

               His measure³¹ duly.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     What’s his name and birth?³²

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     I cannot delve³³ him to the root: his father

               Was called Sicilius, who did join his honour³⁴

35

35            Against the Romans with Cassibelan,³⁵

               But had his titles by³⁶ Tenantius whom

               He served with glory and admired success:

               So gained the sur-addition³⁸ Leonatus.

               And had, besides this gentleman in question,

40

40            Two other sons, who in the wars o’th’time

               Died with their swords in hand. For which their father,

               Then old and fond of issue,⁴² took such sorrow

               That he quit being, and his gentle lady,

               Big of⁴⁴ this gentleman, our theme, deceased

45

45            As he was born. The king he takes the babe

               To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,

               Breeds him, and makes him of his bedchamber,⁴⁷

               Puts to him all the learnings⁴⁸ that his time

               Could make him the receiver of, which he took

50

50            As we do air, fast⁵⁰ as ’twas ministered,

               And in’s⁵¹ spring became a harvest: lived in court —

               Which rare⁵² it is to do — most praised, most loved:

               A sample⁵³ to the youngest, to th’more mature

               A glass⁵⁴ that feated them, and to the graver,

55

55            A child that guided dotards.⁵⁵ To his mistress,

               For whom he now is banished, her own price⁵⁶

               Proclaims⁵⁷ how she esteemed him; and his virtue

               By her election may be truly read,

               What kind of man he is.

60

60   

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN             I honour him even out of⁶⁰ your report.

               But pray you tell me, is she sole child to th’king?

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     His only child.

               He had two sons — if this be worth your hearing,

               Mark it — the eldest of them at three years old,

65

65            I’th’swathing clothes⁶⁵ the other, from their nursery

               Were stol’n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge

               Which way they went.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     How long is this ago?

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     Some twenty years.

70

70 

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN             That a king’s children should be so conveyed,⁷⁰

               So slackly⁷¹ guarded, and the search so slow

               That could not trace them.

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     Howsoe’er ’tis strange,⁷³

               Or that the negligence may well be laughed at,

75

75            Yet is it true, sir.

       

SECOND GENTLEMAN

SECOND GENTLEMAN     I do well believe you.

       

FIRST GENTLEMAN

FIRST GENTLEMAN     We must forbear.⁷⁷ Here comes the gentleman,

               The queen and princess.

        Exeunt

        Enter the Queen, Posthumus and Innogen

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,

80

80            After the slander⁸⁰ of most stepmothers,

               Evil-eyed unto you. You’re my prisoner, but

               Your jailer shall deliver you the keys

               That lock up your restraint.⁸³ For you, Posthumus,

               So soon as I can win⁸⁴ th’offended king,

85

85            I will be known your advocate: marry,⁸⁵ yet

               The fire of rage is in him, and ’twere good

               You leaned unto⁸⁷ his sentence, with what patience

               Your wisdom may inform you.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Please⁸⁹ your highness,

90

90            I will from hence⁹⁰ today.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     You know the peril.⁹¹

               I’ll fetch a turn⁹² about the garden, pitying

               The pangs⁹³ of barred affections, though the king

               Hath charged⁹⁴ you should not speak together.

        Exit

95

95   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             O dissembling⁹⁵ courtesy! How fine this tyrant

               Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,

               I something fear my father’s wrath, but nothing —

               Always reserved⁹⁸ my holy duty — what

               His rage can do on me. You must be gone,

100

100          And I shall here abide the hourly shot¹⁰⁰

               Of angry eyes: not comforted to live,

               But that there is this jewel in the world

               That I may see again.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     My queen, my mistress:

105

105          O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause

               To be suspected of more¹⁰⁶ tenderness

               Than doth become a man. I will remain

               The loyal’st husband that did e’er plight troth.¹⁰⁸

               My residence in Rome, at one Philario’s,

110

110          Who to my father was a friend, to me

               Known but by letter: thither¹¹¹ write, my queen,

               And with mine eyes I’ll drink the words you send,

               Though ink be made of gall.¹¹³

        Enter Queen

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Be brief, I pray you:

115

115          If the king come, I shall incur I know not

               How much of his displeasure.— Yet I’ll move him Aside

               To walk this way: I never do him wrong,

               But he does buy¹¹⁸ my injuries to be friends:

               Pays dear for my offences.

        [Exit]

120

120 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Should we be taking leave

               As long a term¹²¹ as yet we have to live,

               The loathness¹²² to depart would grow. Adieu.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Nay, stay a little:

               Were you but riding forth to air yourself,

125

125          Such parting were too petty.¹²⁵ Look here, love,

               This diamond was my mother’s; take it, heart, Gives a ring

               But keep it till you woo another wife,

               When Innogen is dead.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     How, how? Another?

130

130          You gentle gods, give me but this I have,

               And cere¹³¹ up my embracements from a next

               With bonds of death. Remain, remain thou here Puts on the ring

               While sense¹³³ can keep it on: and sweetest, fairest,

               As¹³⁴ I my poor self did exchange for you

135

135          To your so infinite loss, so in our trifles¹³⁵

               I still win of you. For my sake wear this,

               It is a manacle of love. I’ll place it

               Upon this fairest prisoner.¹³⁸ Puts a bracelet on her arm

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     O, the gods!

140

140          When shall we see¹⁴⁰ again?

        Enter Cymbeline and Lords

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Alack,¹⁴¹ the king!

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou basest¹⁴² thing, avoid hence, from my sight:

               If after this command thou fraught¹⁴³ the court

               With thy unworthiness, thou diest. Away,

145

145          Thou’rt poison to my blood.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     The gods protect you,

               And bless the good remainders¹⁴⁷ of the court:

               I am gone.

        Exit

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     There cannot be a pinch¹⁴⁹ in death

150

150          More sharp than this is.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     O disloyal thing,

               That shouldst repair¹⁵² my youth, thou heap’st

               A year’s age on me.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I beseech you, sir,

155

155          Harm not yourself with your vexation,

               I am senseless of¹⁵⁶ your wrath; a touch more rare

               Subdues all pangs, all fears.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Past grace?¹⁵⁹ Obedience?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Past hope and in despair: that way past grace.

160

160 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             That mightst have had the sole son of my queen.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     O, blest that I might not: I chose an eagle,

               And did avoid a puttock.¹⁶²

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou took’st a beggar, wouldst have made my throne

               A seat for baseness.

165

165 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             No, I rather added a lustre to it.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE      O thou vile one!

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Sir,

               It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus:

               You bred him as my playfellow, and he is

170

170          A man worth any woman: overbuys¹⁷⁰ me

               Almost the sum he pays.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     What? Art thou mad?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were

               A neatherd’s¹⁷⁴ daughter, and my Leonatus

175

175          Our neighbour shepherd’s son.

        Enter Queen

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou foolish thing!—

               They were again together: you have done To Queen

               Not after¹⁷⁸ our command.— Away with her,

               And pen her up.

180

180 

QUEEN

QUEEN             Beseech¹⁸⁰ your patience: peace,

               Dear lady daughter, peace. Sweet sovereign,

               Leave us to ourselves, and make yourself some comfort

               Out of your best advice.¹⁸³

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Nay, let her languish¹⁸⁴

185

185          A drop of blood a day, and being aged,

               Die of this folly.

        Exeunt [Cymbeline and Lords]

        Enter Pisanio

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Fie,¹⁸⁷ you must give way.

               Here is your servant.— How now, sir? What news?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     My lord your son drew¹⁸⁹ on my master.

190

190 

QUEEN

QUEEN             Ha?

               No harm I trust is done?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     There might have been,

               But that my master rather played than fought,

               And had no¹⁹⁴ help of anger: they were parted

195

195          By gentlemen at hand.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     I am very glad on’t.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Your son’s my father’s friend, he takes his part¹⁹⁷

               To draw upon an exile.— O brave sir!—

               I would they were in Afric¹⁹⁹ both together,

200

200          Myself by with a needle, that I might prick

               The goer-back.²⁰¹—Why came you from your master?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     On his command: he would not suffer²⁰² me

               To bring him to the haven:²⁰³ left these notes

               Of what commands I should be subject to,

205

205          When’t pleased you to employ me.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     This hath been

               Your faithful servant: I dare lay²⁰⁷ mine honour

               He will remain so.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I humbly thank your highness.

210

210 

QUEEN

QUEEN             Pray walk awhile. To Innogen

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     About some half hour hence, pray you speak with me. To Pisanio

               You shall, at least, go see my lord aboard.

               For this time leave me.

        Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 2

running scene 1 continues

---

        Enter Cloten and two Lords

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt;¹ the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: where² air comes out, air comes in: there’s none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     If my shirt were bloody, then to⁴ shift it. Have I hurt him?

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     No, faith: Aside not⁵ so much as his patience.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Hurt him? His body’s a passable carcass⁶ if he be not hurt. It is a thoroughfare for steel if it be not hurt.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside His⁸ steel was in debt, it went o’th’backside the town.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     The villain would not stand me.⁹

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside No, but he fled forward still, toward your face.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Stand you? You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having, gave you some ground.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     As many inches as you have oceans.¹³ Aside Puppies!

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I would they had not come between us.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside So would I, till¹⁵ you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.

       

CLOTEN

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

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside If it be a sin to make a true election,¹⁸ she is damned.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Sir, as I told you always: her beauty and her brain go not together. She’s¹⁹ a good sign, but I have seen small reflection²⁰ of her wit.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Come, I’ll to my chamber: would there had²² been some hurt done.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside I wish not so, unless it had been the fall of an ass,²³ which is no great hurt.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     You’ll go with us?

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     I’ll attend your lordship.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Nay, come, let’s go together.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Well,²⁸ my lord.

        Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 3

running scene 1 continues

---

        Enter Innogen and Pisanio

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I would thou grew’st unto¹ the shores o’th’haven,

               And² questioned’st every sail: if he should write,

               And I not have it, ’twere a paper lost,

               As offered mercy⁴ is. What was the last

5

5              That he spake⁵ to thee?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     It was his queen, his queen.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Then waved his handkerchief?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     And kissed it, madam.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Senseless⁹ linen, happier therein than I:

10

10            And that was all?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     No, madam: for so long

               As he could make me¹² with this eye, or ear,

               Distinguish him from others, he did keep¹³

               The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,

15

15            Still waving, as¹⁵ the fits and stirs of’s mind

               Could best express how slow¹⁶ his soul sailed on,

               How swift his ship.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Thou¹⁸ shouldst have made him

               As little as a crow, or less, ere left¹⁹

20

20            To after-eye²⁰ him.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Madam, so I did.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I would have broke mine eyestrings,²² cracked them, but

               To look upon him, till the diminution²³

               Of space had pointed²⁴ him sharp as my needle:

25

25            Nay, followed him, till he had melted from

               The smallness of a gnat to air: and then

               Have turned mine eye, and wept. But, good Pisanio,

               When shall we hear from him?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Be assured, madam,

30

30            With³⁰ his next vantage.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I did not take my leave of him, but had

               Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him

               How I would think on him at certain hours,

               Such thoughts and such: or I could make him swear

35

35            The shes³⁵ of Italy should not betray

               Mine interest³⁶ and his honour: or have charged him,

               At³⁷ the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,

               T’encounter³⁸ me with orisons, for then

               I am in heaven for him: or ere I could

40

40            Give him that parting kiss, which I had set

               Betwixt two charming⁴¹ words, comes in my father,

               And like the tyrannous breathing of the north,⁴²

               Shakes all our buds from growing.

        Enter a Lady

       

LADY

LADY     The queen, madam,

45

45            Desires your highness’ company.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Those things I bid you do, get them dispatched.

               I will attend the queen.

               

PISANIO

LEPIDUS      Madam, I shall.

        Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 4^1.4

running scene 2

---

        Enter Philario, Iachimo, a Frenchman, a Dutchman and a Spaniard

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain; he was then of¹ a crescent note, expected to prove so worthy as since he hath been² allowed the name of. But I could then have looked on him without³ the help of admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments⁴ had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items.

       

PHILARIO

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

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     I have seen him in France: we had very many there could behold⁸ the sun with as firm eyes as he.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     This matter of marrying his king’s daughter, wherein he must be weighed¹⁰ rather by her value than his own, words¹¹ him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     And then his banishment.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Ay, and the approbation¹⁴ of those that weep this lamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfully to extend him, be it but¹⁵ to fortify her judgement, which else an easy battery¹⁶ might lay flat, for taking a beggar without less quality. But how comes it he is to sojourn¹⁷ with you? How creeps acquaintance?

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     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 suits²⁰ with gentlemen of your knowing²¹ to a stranger of his quality. I beseech you all be better known to this gentleman, whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine. How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story²³ him in his own hearing.

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     Sir, we²⁵ have known together in Orleans.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which²⁶ I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     Sir, you o’errate my poor kindness, I was glad I did atone²⁸ my countryman and you: it had been pity you should have been put together,²⁹ with so mortal³⁰ a purpose as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller, rather³² shunned to go even with what I heard than in my every action to be guided by others’ experiences: but upon my mended judgement — if I offend not to say it is mended — my quarrel was not altogether slight.

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrament of³⁶ swords, and by such two that would by all likelihood have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     Safely, I think: ’twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report.⁴⁰ It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses.⁴¹ This gentleman at that time vouching⁴² — and upon warrant of bloody affirmation — his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant, qualified and less attemptable⁴³ than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     That lady is not now living; or this gentleman’s opinion, by⁴⁵ this, worn out.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     She holds⁴⁶ her virtue still, and I my mind.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     You must not so far prefer her ’fore ours of Italy.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing,⁴⁸ though I profess myself⁴⁹ her adorer, not her friend.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     As fair and as good — a kind of hand-in-hand comparison⁵⁰ — had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she went before⁵¹ others I have seen as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I praised her as I rated⁵⁵ her: so do I my stone.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     What do you esteem⁵⁶ it at?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     More than the world enjoys.⁵⁷

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Either your unparagoned⁵⁸ mistress is dead, or she’s outprized by a trifle.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     You are mistaken: the one may be sold or⁵⁹ given, or if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift. The other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Which the gods have given you?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Which by their graces I will keep.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     You⁶⁴ may wear her in title yours: but you know strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring⁶⁵ may be stolen too, so your brace of unprizable estimations, the one is but frail⁶⁶ and the other casual. A cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince⁶⁸ the honour of my mistress, if in the holding or loss of that you term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have store⁷⁰ of thieves, notwithstanding, I fear not my ring.

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Let us leave here,⁷¹ gentlemen.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me, we are familiar at first.⁷³

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     With five times so much conversation, I should get⁷⁴ ground of your fair mistress, make her go back, even to the yielding, had I admittance and opportunity to friend.⁷⁶

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     No, no.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     I dare thereupon pawn the moiety⁷⁸ of my estate, to your ring, which in my opinion o’ervalues it something:⁷⁹ but I make my wager rather against your confidence than her reputation. And to bar your offence⁸⁰ herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     You are a great deal abused⁸² in too bold a persuasion, and I doubt not you⁸³ sustain what you’re worthy of by your attempt.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     What’s that?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     A repulse, though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more: a punishment too.

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Gentlemen, enough of this, it came in⁸⁷ too suddenly. Let it die as it was born, and I pray you be better acquainted.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Would I had put my estate⁸⁹ and my neighbour’s on th’approbation of what I have spoke.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     What lady would you choose to assail?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Yours, whom in constancy you think stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats⁹² to your ring, that commend⁹³ me to the court where your lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference,⁹⁴ and I will bring from thence that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved.⁹⁵

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I will wage⁹⁶ against your gold, gold to it: my ring I hold dear as my finger, ’tis part of it.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     You are a friend, and therein the wiser:⁹⁸ if you buy ladies’ flesh at a million a dram,⁹⁹ you cannot preserve it from tainting. But I see you have some religion in you, that you fear.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     This is but a custom in your tongue:¹⁰¹ you bear a graver purpose I hope.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     I am the master of my speeches, and would undergo¹⁰² what’s spoken, I swear.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Will you? I shall but lend my diamond till your return: let there be covenants drawn between’s.¹⁰⁵ My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking. I dare you to this match: here’s my ring.

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     I will have¹⁰⁷ it no lay.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     By the gods, it is one. If I bring you no sufficient testimony¹⁰⁸ that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours, so is your diamond too. If I come off,¹¹⁰ and leave her in such honour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel and my gold are yours, provided I have your commendation¹¹² for my more free entertainment.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I embrace these conditions, let us have articles betwixt us.¹¹³ Only thus far you shall answer: if you make¹¹⁴ your voyage upon her and give me directly to understand you have prevailed, I am no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate. If she remain unseduced, you not making it appear otherwise, for your ill opinion and th’assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Your hand, a covenant:¹¹⁹ we will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain, lest¹²⁰ the bargain should catch cold and starve: I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers recorded

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Agreed.

        [Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo]

       

FRENCHMAN

FRENCHMAN     Will this hold,¹²³ think you?

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Signior Iachimo will not from it.¹²⁴ Pray let us follow ’em.

        Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 5^1.5

running scene 3

---

        Enter Queen, Ladies and Cornelius

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Whiles¹ yet the dew’s on ground, gather those flowers.

               Make haste. Who has the note² of them?

       

LADY

LADY     I, madam.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Dispatch.⁴ Exeunt Ladies

5

5              Now, master doctor, have you brought those drugs?

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     Pleaseth your highness, ay: here they are, madam: Presents a small box

               But I beseech your grace, without offence⁷ —

               My conscience bids me ask — wherefore⁸ you have

               Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds,⁹

10

10               Which are¹⁰ the movers of a languishing death:

               But¹¹ though slow, deadly?

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     I wonder, doctor,

               Thou ask’st me such a question: have I not been

               Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learned¹⁴ me how

15

15            To make perfumes? Distil? Preserve?¹⁵ Yea so,

               That our great king himself doth woo me oft

               For my confections?¹⁷ Having thus far proceeded —

               Unless thou think’st me devilish — is’t not meet¹⁸

               That I did amplify¹⁹ my judgement in

20

20            Other conclusions? I will try the forces²⁰

               Of these thy compounds on such creatures as

               We count not worth the hanging, but none human,

               To try the vigour²³ of them, and apply

               Allayments²⁴ to their act, and by them gather

25

25            Their several²⁵ virtues and effects.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     Your highness

               Shall from this practice but make hard your heart:

               Besides, the seeing these effects will be

               Both noisome and infectious.²⁹

30

30   

QUEEN

QUEEN             O, content thee.³⁰—

        Enter Pisanio

               Here comes a flattering rascal, upon him Aside

               Will I first work: he’s for his master,

               And enemy to my son.— How now, Pisanio?—

               Doctor, your service for this time is ended,

35

35            ;Take your own way.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     I do suspect you, madam, Aside

               But you shall do no harm.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Hark thee, a word. To Pisanio

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     I do not like her. She doth think she has Aside

40

40            Strange⁴⁰ ling’ring poisons: I do know her spirit,

               And will not trust one of her malice with

               A drug of such damned nature. Those she has

               Will stupefy and dull the sense awhile,

               Which first, perchance, she’ll prove⁴⁴ on cats and dogs,

45

45            Then afterward up higher:⁴⁵ but there is

               No danger in what show⁴⁶ of death it makes,

               More than the locking-up⁴⁷ the spirits a time,

               To be more fresh, reviving.⁴⁸ She is fooled

               With a most false effect: and I the truer

50

50            So to be false with her.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     No further service, doctor,

               Until I send for thee.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     I humbly take my leave.

        Exit

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Weeps she still, say’st thou? Dost thou think in time

55

55            She will not quench,⁵⁵ and let instructions enter

               Where folly now possesses? Do thou work:⁵⁶

               When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,

               I’ll tell thee on the instant thou art then

               As great as is thy master: greater, for

60

60            His fortunes⁶⁰ all lie speechless, and his name

               Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor

               Continue where he is: to shift his being⁶²

               Is to exchange one misery with another,

               And every⁶⁴ day that comes comes to decay

65

65            A day’s work in him. What shalt thou expect

               To be depender⁶⁶ on a thing that leans?

               Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends

               So much as but to prop him? She drops the box and Pisanio picks it up

               Thou takest up

70

70            Thou know’st not what: but take it for thy labour,

               It is a thing I made, which hath the king

               Five times redeemed from death. I do not know

               What⁷³ is more cordial. Nay, I prithee, take it,

               It is an earnest⁷⁴ of a farther good

75

75            That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how

               The case stands with her: do’t, as from thyself;⁷⁶

               Think what a chance thou changest on, but think⁷⁷

               Thou⁷⁸ hast thy mistress still, to boot, my son,

               Who shall take⁷⁹ notice of thee. I’ll move the king

80

80            To any shape of thy preferment, such

               As thou’lt desire: and then myself, I chiefly,

               That set⁸² thee on to this desert, am bound

               To load⁸³ thy merit richly. Call my women.

               Think on my words.—

        Exit Pisanio

                                    A sly and constant⁸⁴ knave,

85

85            Not to be shaked:⁸⁵ the agent for his master,

               And the remembrancer⁸⁶ of her to hold

               The handfast⁸⁷ to her lord. I have given him that,

               Which if he take, shall quite unpeople⁸⁸ her

               Of liegers⁸⁹ for her sweet: and which she after,

90

90            Except⁹⁰ she bend her humour, shall be assured

               To taste of too.—

        Enter Pisanio and Ladies With flowers

                                    So, so: well done, well done:

               The violets, cowslips and the primroses

               Bear to my closet.⁹³— Fare thee well, Pisanio.

               Think on my words.

        Exeunt Queen and Ladies

95

95   

PISANIO

PISANIO             And shall do:

               But when to my good lord I prove untrue,

               I’ll choke myself: there’s all I’ll do for you.

        Exit

Act 1 Scene 6

running scene 3 continues

---

        Enter Innogen alone

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     A father cruel and a stepdame¹ false,

               A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

               That hath her husband banished:³ O, that husband,

               My supreme crown of grief, and those repeated

5

5              Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol’n,⁵

               As my two brothers, happy: but most miserable

               Is the desire that’s glorious.⁷ Blest be those,

               How mean⁸ soe’er, that have their honest wills,

               Which seasons⁹ comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

        Enter Pisanio and Iachimo

10

10   

PISANIO

PISANIO             Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,

               Comes from my lord with letters.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Change you,¹² madam:

               The worthy Leonatus is in safety

               And greets your highness dearly. Presents a letter

15

15   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             Thanks good sir,

               You’re kindly welcome.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     All of her that is out of door¹⁷ most rich! Aside

               If she be furnished¹⁸ with a mind so rare,

               She is alone th’Arabian bird,¹⁹ and I

20

20            Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend:

               Arm me audacity²¹ from head to foot,

               Or like the Parthian²² I shall flying fight,

               Rather, directly fly.²³

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Reads ‘He is one of the noblest note,²⁴ to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect²⁵ upon him accordingly, as you value your trust. Leonatus.’

               So far²⁶ I read aloud.

               But even the very middle of my heart

               Is warmed by th’rest, and takes it thankfully.

               You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

30

30            Have words to bid you, and shall find it so

               In all that I can do.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Thanks, fairest lady.—

               What, are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes

               To see this vaulted arch³⁴ and the rich crop

35

35            Of sea and land, which³⁵ can distinguish ’twixt

               The fiery orbs³⁶ above and the twinned stones

               Upon th’unnumbered³⁷ beach, and can we not

               Partition³⁸ make with spectacles so precious

               ’Twixt fair and foul?

40

40   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             What makes your admiration?⁴⁰

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     It cannot be i’th’eye: for apes and monkeys,

               ’Twixt two such shes,⁴² would chatter this way and

               Contemn⁴³ with mows the other. Nor i’th’judgement:

               For idiots⁴⁴ in this case of favour would

45

45            Be wisely definite. Nor i’th’appetite:⁴⁵

               Sluttery,⁴⁶ to such neat excellence opposed,

               Should make desire vomit emptiness,⁴⁷

               Not so allured⁴⁸ to feed.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     What is the matter, trow?⁴⁹

50

50   

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             The cloyèd⁵⁰ will,

               That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub

               Both filled and running,⁵² ravening first the lamb,

               Longs after for the garbage.⁵³

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     What, dear sir,

55

55            Thus raps⁵⁵ you? Are you well?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Thanks, madam, well.— Beseech you, sir, To Pisanio

               Desire⁵⁷ my man’s abode where I did leave him:

               He’s strange⁵⁸ and peevish.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I was going, sir,

60

60            To give him welcome.

        Exit

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Continues well my lord? His health, beseech you?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Well, madam.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Is he disposed to mirth? I hope he is.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Exceeding pleasant: none a stranger there

65

65            So merry and so gamesome:⁶⁵ he is called

               The Briton reveller.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     When he was here

               He did incline to sadness,⁶⁸ and oft-times

               Not knowing why.

70

70   

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             I never saw him sad.

               There is a Frenchman his companion, one⁷¹

               An eminent monsieur, that it seems much loves

               A Gallian⁷³ girl at home. He furnaces

               The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton —

75

75            Your lord, I mean — laughs from’s free lungs:⁷⁵ cries ‘O,

               Can my sides hold, to think that man, who knows

               By history, report or his own proof,⁷⁷

               What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose

               But must be, will’s free hours languish

80

80            For assurèd bondage?’

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Will my lord say so?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Ay, madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter:

               It is a recreation to be by

               And hear him mock the Frenchman. But, heavens know,

85

85            Some men are much to blame.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Not he, I hope.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Not he: but⁸⁷ yet heaven’s bounty towards him might

               Be used more thankfully. In himself ’tis⁸⁸ much;

               In you, which I account⁸⁹ his, beyond all talents.

90

90            Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound

               To pity too.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     What do you pity, sir?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Two creatures heartily.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Am I one, sir?

95

95            You look on me: what wreck discern you in me

               Deserves your pity?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Lamentable! What,

               To hide me⁹⁸ from the radiant sun, and solace

               I’th’dungeon by a snuff?⁹⁹

100

100 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             I pray you, sir,

               Deliver with more openness your answers

               To my demands. Why do you pity me?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     That others do —

               I was about to say, enjoy¹⁰⁴ your — but

105

105          It is an office¹⁰⁵ of the gods to venge it,

               Not mine to speak on’t.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     You do seem to know

               Something of me, or what concerns me; pray you,

               Since doubting¹⁰⁹ things go ill often hurts more

110

110          Than to be sure they do — for certainties

               Either are past remedies, or, timely knowing,¹¹¹

               The remedy then born¹¹² — discover to me

               What both you spur and stop.

       

LACHIMO

LACHIMO     Had¹¹⁴ I this cheek

115

115          To bathe my lips upon: this hand, whose touch,

               Whose every touch, would force the feeler’s¹¹⁶ soul

               To th’oath of loyalty: this object,¹¹⁷ which

               Takes¹¹⁸ prisoner the wild motion of mine eye,

               Firing¹¹⁹ it only here: should I, damned then,

120

120          Slaver¹²⁰ with lips as common as the stairs

               That mount the Capitol: join grips with hands

               Made hard with hourly falsehood¹²² — falsehood, as

               With labour — then by-peeping¹²³ in an eye

               Base and illustrous¹²⁴ as the smoky light

125

125          That’s fed with¹²⁵ stinking tallow: it were fit

               That all the plagues of hell should at one time

               Encounter such revolt.¹²⁷

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     My lord, I fear,

               Has forgot Britain.

130

130 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             And himself. Not¹³⁰ I

               Inclined to this intelligence pronounce

               The beggary of his change: but ’tis your graces

               That from my mutest conscience to my tongue

               Charms this report out.

135

135 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             Let me hear no more.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     O dearest soul: your cause doth strike my heart

               With pity that doth make me sick. A lady

               So fair, and fastened to an empery¹³⁸

               Would¹³⁹ make the great’st king double, to be partnered

140

140          With tomboys¹⁴⁰ hired with that self-exhibition

               Which your own coffers yield: with diseased ventures¹⁴¹

               That play¹⁴² with all infirmities for gold

               Which rottenness can lend nature: such boiled stuff¹⁴³

               As well might poison poison. Be revenged,

145

145          Or she that bore you was no queen, and you

               Recoil¹⁴⁶ from your great stock.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Revenged?

               How should I be revenged? If this be true —

               As I have such a heart that both mine ears

150

150          Must not in haste abuse — if it be true,

               How should I be revenged?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Should he make me

               Live like Diana’s priest,¹⁵³ betwixt cold sheets,

               Whiles he is vaulting¹⁵⁴ variable ramps,

155

155          In your despite,¹⁵⁵ upon your purse — revenge it.

               I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure,

               More noble than that runagate¹⁵⁷ to your bed,

               And will continue fast¹⁵⁸ to your affection,

               Still close as sure.

160

160 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             What ho, Pisanio! Calls

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Let¹⁶¹ me my service tender on your lips.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Away, I do condemn mine ears that have

               So long attended¹⁶³ thee. If thou wert honourable

               Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not

165

165          For such an end thou seek’st, as base as strange.

               Thou wrong’st a gentleman who is as far

               From thy report as thou from honour, and

               Solicit’st here a lady that disdains

               Thee and the devil alike.— What ho, Pisanio!

170

170          The king my father shall be made acquainted

               Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit,

               A saucy¹⁷² stranger in his court to mart

               As in a Romish stew,¹⁷³ and to expound

               His beastly mind to us,¹⁷⁴ he hath a court

175

175          He little cares for, and a daughter who

               He not respects at all.— What ho, Pisanio!

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     O happy Leonatus I may say,

               The credit¹⁷⁸ that thy lady hath of thee

               Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness

180

180          Her assured credit. Blessèd live you long,

               A lady to the worthiest sir that ever

               Country called his; and you his mistress, only

               For the most worthiest fit. Give me your pardon.

               I have spoke this to know if your affiance¹⁸⁴

185

185          Were deeply rooted, and shall make your lord

               That which he is new o’er:¹⁸⁶ and he is one

               The truest mannered,¹⁸⁷ such a holy witch

               That he enchants societies into him:

               Half all men’s hearts are his.

190

190 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             You make amends.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     He sits ’mongst men like a descended god;

               He hath a kind of honour sets him off

               More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,

               Most mighty princess, that I have adventured

195

195          To try your taking¹⁹⁵ of a false report, which hath

               Honoured with confirmation your great judgement

               In¹⁹⁷ the election of a sir so rare,

               Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him

               Made me to fan¹⁹⁹ you thus, but the gods made you,

200

200          Unlike all others, chaffless.²⁰⁰ Pray your pardon.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     All’s well, sir: take my power i’th’court for yours.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     My humble thanks. I had almost forgot

               T’entreat your grace but²⁰³ in a small request,

               And yet of moment²⁰⁴ too, for it concerns

205

205          Your lord: myself and other noble friends

               Are partners in the business.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Pray what is’t?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Some dozen Romans of us and your lord —

               The best²⁰⁹ feather of our wing — have mingled sums

210

210          To buy a present for the emperor:

               Which I, the factor²¹¹ for the rest, have done

               In France: ’tis plate²¹² of rare device, and jewels

               Of rich and exquisite form, their value’s great,

               And I am something curious,²¹⁴ being strange,

215

215          To have them in safe stowage: may it please you

               To take them in protection?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Willingly:

               And pawn²¹⁸ mine honour for their safety, since

               My lord hath interest²¹⁹ in them. I will keep them

220

220          In my bedchamber.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     They are in a trunk

               Attended by my men: I will make bold

               To send them to you, only for this night:

               I must aboard tomorrow.

225

225 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             O, no, no.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Yes, I beseech: or I shall short²²⁶ my word

               By length’ning my return. From Gallia²²⁷

               I crossed the seas on purpose and on promise

               To see your grace.

230

230 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             I thank you for your pains:

               But not away tomorrow.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     O, I must, madam.

               Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please

               To greet your lord with writing, do’t tonight.

235

235          I have outstood²³⁵ my time, which is material

               To th’tender²³⁶ of our present.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I will write:

               Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,

               And truly yielded you. You’re very welcome.

        Exeunt

Act 2 Scene 1

running scene 4

---

        Enter Cloten and the two Lords

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Was there ever man had such luck? When I kissed the jack¹ upon an upcast, to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on’t: and then a whoreson jackanapes² must take me up³ for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend⁴ them at my pleasure.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     What got he by that? You have broke his pate⁵ with your bowl.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside If⁶ his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     When a gentleman⁷ is disposed to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail⁸ his oaths. Ha?

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     No my lord.— Aside Nor crop the ears of them.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he had been one of my rank.¹⁰

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside To have smelled like a fool.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I am not vexed more at anything in th’earth: a pox on’t!¹² I had rather not be so¹³ noble as I am: they dare not fight with me, because of the queen my mother: every jack-slave¹⁴ hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock¹⁵ that nobody can match.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside You are cock and capon¹⁶ too, and you crow, cock, with your comb on.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Sayest thou?¹⁷

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     It is not fit your lordship should undertake¹⁸ every companion that you give offence to.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     No, I know that: but it is fit I should commit offence²⁰ to my inferiors.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Ay, it is fit²¹ for your lordship only.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Why, so I say.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Did you hear of a stranger that’s come to court tonight?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     A stranger, and I not know on’t?

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside He’s a strange fellow himself, and knows it not.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     There’s an Italian come, and ’tis thought one of Leonatus’ friends.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Leonatus? A banished rascal; and he’s another, whatsoever²⁷ he be. Who told you of this stranger?

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     One of your lordship’s pages.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation³⁰ in’t?

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     You cannot derogate,³¹ my lord.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Not easily, I think.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Aside You are a fool granted, therefore your issues,³³ being foolish, do not derogate.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Come, I’ll go see this Italian: what I have lost today at bowls I’ll win tonight of him. Come, go.

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     I’ll attend your lordship.—

        Exeunt [Cloten and First Lord]

               That such a crafty devil as is his mother

               Should yield the world this ass: a woman that

40

               Bears all down⁴⁰ with her brain, and this her son

               Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart,⁴¹

               And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,

               Thou divine Innogen, what thou endur’st,

               Betwixt⁴⁴ a father by thy stepdame governed,

45

               A mother⁴⁵ hourly coining plots, a wooer

               More hateful than the foul expulsion⁴⁶ is

               Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act

               Of the divorce he’d make!⁴⁸ The heavens hold firm

               The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshaked

50

               That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand,

               T’enjoy thy banished lord and this great land.

        Exit

Act 2 Scene 2

running scene 5

---

        Enter Innogen in her bed, and a Lady A trunk is brought in

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Who’s there? My woman Helen?

       

LADY

LADY     Please you, madam.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     What hour is it?

       

LADY

LADY     Almost midnight, madam.

5

5     

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             I have read three hours then: mine eyes are weak.⁵

               Fold down the leaf⁶ where I have left: to bed. Gives her the book

               Take not away the taper,⁷ leave it burning:

               And if thou canst awake by four o’th’clock,

               I prithee call me.— Sleep hath seized me wholly.

        [Exit Lady]

10

10            To your protection I commend me, gods,

               From fairies¹¹ and the tempters of the night.

               Guard me, beseech ye.

        Sleeps

        Iachimo from the trunk

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     The crickets sing,¹³ and man’s o’er-laboured sense

               Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin¹⁴ thus

15

15            Did softly press the rushes,¹⁵ ere he wakened

               The chastity he wounded. Cytherea,¹⁶

               How bravely thou becom’st¹⁷ thy bed; fresh lily,

               And whiter than the sheets: that I might touch,

               But kiss, one kiss! Rubies¹⁹ unparagoned,

20

20            How dearly²⁰ they do’t! ’Tis her breathing that

               Perfumes the chamber thus: the flame o’th’taper

               Bows toward her, and would underpeep her lids²²

               To see th’enclosèd lights,²³ now canopied

               Under these windows,²⁴ white and azure laced

25

25            With blue of heaven’s own tinct.²⁵ But my design:

               To note the chamber. I will write all down.

               Such and such pictures, there the window, such Writes

               Th’adornment²⁸ of her bed; the arras, figures,

               Why, such and such: and the contents²⁹ o’th’story.

30

30            Ah, but some natural notes³⁰ about her body,

               Above³¹ ten thousand meaner movables

               Would testify³² t’enrich mine inventory.

               O sleep, thou ape³³ of death, lie dull upon her,

               And be her sense³⁴ but as a monument

35

35            Thus in a chapel lying. Come off, come off; Takes off her bracelet

               As slippery as the Gordian knot³⁶ was hard.

               ’Tis mine, and this will witness outwardly,³⁷

               As strongly as the conscience does within,

               To th’madding³⁹ of her lord. On her left breast

40

40            A mole cinque-spotted:⁴⁰ like the crimson drops

               I’th’bottom of a cowslip.⁴¹ Here’s a voucher

               Stronger than ever law could make; this secret⁴²

               Will force him think I have picked⁴³ the lock and ta’en

               The treasure of her honour. No more: to what end?

45

45            Why should I write this down that’s riveted,

               Screwed to my memory? She hath been reading late,

               The tale of Tereus.⁴⁷ Here the leaf’s turned down

               Where Philomel gave up.⁴⁸ I have enough.

               To th’trunk again, and shut the spring⁴⁹ of it.

50

50            Swift, swift, you dragons⁵⁰ of the night, that dawning

               May bare the raven’s eye! I lodge in fear:

               Though this⁵² a heavenly angel, hell is here.

        Clock strikes

               One, two, three: time, time!

        Exit [into the trunk]

        Bed and trunk removed

Act 2 Scene 3

running scene 5 continues

---

        Enter Cloten and Lords

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest¹ that ever turned up ace.²

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     It would make any man cold³ to lose.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     But not every man patient after⁴ the noble temper of your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Winning will put any man into courage. If I could get this foolish Innogen, I should have gold enough. It’s almost morning, is’t not?

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Day, my lord.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I would this music would come: I am advised to give her music o’ mornings, they say it will penetrate.¹⁰—

        Enter Musicians

Come on, tune: if you can penetrate her with your fingering,¹¹ so: we’ll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain:¹² but I’ll never give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing;¹³ after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it, and then let her consider.

                                    Song Sung by either Cloten or a Musician

15

15                                  Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,

                                    And Phoebus¹⁶ ’gins arise,

                                    His steeds to water at those springs¹⁷

                                    On chaliced¹⁸ flowers that lies:

                                    And winking¹⁹ Mary-buds begin to ope their golden eyes

20

20                                  With everything that pretty is, my lady sweet, arise:

                                    Arise, arise.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     So, get you gone: if this penetrate, I will consider your music the better: if it do not, it is a vice in her ears which horsehairs²³ and calves’ guts, nor the voice of unpaved²⁴ eunuch to boot, can never amend.

        [Exeunt Musicians]

        Enter Cymbeline and Queen

       

SECOND LORD

SECOND LORD     Here comes the king.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I am glad I was up so late, for that’s the reason I was up so early: he cannot choose but take this service I have done fatherly.²⁷— Good morrow to your majesty and to my gracious mother.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Attend you here²⁹ the door of our stern daughter?

30

30            Will she not forth?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I have assailed her with musics, but she vouchsafes³¹ no notice.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     The exile of her minion³² is too new,

               She hath not yet forgot him: some more time

               Must wear³⁴ the print of his remembrance on’t,

35

35            And then she’s yours.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     You are most bound³⁶ to th’king,

               Who lets go by no vantages³⁷ that may

               Prefer³⁸ you to his daughter: frame yourself

               To orderly solicits, and be³⁹ friended

40

40            With aptness of the season: make denials⁴⁰

               Increase your services: so seem, as if

               You were inspired to do those duties which

               You tender to her: that you in all obey her,

               Save when command to your dismission⁴⁴ tends,

45

45            And therein you are senseless.⁴⁵

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Senseless? Not so.

        [Enter a Messenger]

       

MESSENGER

MESSENGER     So like you,⁴⁷ sir, ambassadors from Rome;

               The one is Caius Lucius.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     A worthy fellow,

50

50            Albeit⁵⁰ he comes on angry purpose now;

               But that’s no fault of his: we must receive⁵¹ him

               According to the honour of his sender,⁵²

               And towards himself, his goodness forspent⁵³ on us,

               We must extend our notice.⁵⁴ Our dear son,

55

55            When you have given good morning to your mistress,

               Attend the queen and us. We shall have need

               T’employ you towards this Roman.— Come, our queen.

        Exeunt [all but Cloten]

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     If she be up, I’ll speak with her: if not,

               Let her lie still and dream.— By your leave, ho!— Knocks

60

60            I know her women are about her: what

               If I do line⁶¹ one of their hands? ’Tis gold

               Which buys admittance — oft it doth — yea, and makes

               Diana’s rangers⁶³ false themselves, yield up

               Their deer to th’stand o’th’stealer:⁶⁴ and ’tis gold

65

65            Which makes the true⁶⁵ man killed and saves the thief:

               Nay, sometime hangs both thief and true man: what

               Can it not do and undo? I will make

               One of her women lawyer to me,⁶⁸ for

               I yet not⁶⁹ understand the case myself.—

        Knocks

70

70            By your leave.

        Enter a Lady

       

LADY

LADY     Who’s there that knocks?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     A gentleman.

       

LADY

LADY     No more?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Yes, and a gentlewoman’s son.

75

75   

LADY

LADY             That’s⁷⁵ more

               Than some whose tailors are as dear as yours

               Can justly boast of: what’s your lordship’s pleasure?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Your lady’s person: is she ready?

       

LADY

LADY     Ay,

80

80            To keep⁸⁰ her chamber.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     There is gold for you, Gives money

               Sell⁸² me your good report.

       

LADY

LADY     How, my good name? Or to report of you

               What I shall think is good? The princess.

        Enter Innogen

85

85   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             Good morrow, fairest: sister,⁸⁵ your sweet hand.

        [Exit Lady]

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Good morrow, sir. You lay out⁸⁶ too much pains

               For purchasing but⁸⁷ trouble: the thanks I give

               Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,

               And scarce can spare them.

90

90   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             Still I swear I love you.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     If you but said so, ’twere as deep⁹¹ with me:

               If you swear still,⁹² your recompense is still

               That I regard it not.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     This is no answer.

95

95   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             But⁹⁵ that you shall not say I yield being silent,

               I would not speak. I pray you spare me: faith,

               I shall unfold⁹⁷ equal discourtesy

               To your best kindness: one of your great knowing⁹⁸

               Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

100

100 

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             To leave you in your madness, ’twere my sin:

               I will not.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Fools cure not mad folks.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Do you call me fool?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     As I am mad, I do:

105

105          If you’ll be patient, I’ll no more be mad.

               That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,

               You put me¹⁰⁷ to forget a lady’s manners

               By being so verbal:¹⁰⁸ and learn now, for all,

               That I, which¹⁰⁹ know my heart, do here pronounce

110

110          By th’very truth of it, I care not for you,

               And am so near the lack of charity

               To accuse myself I hate you, which I had rather

               You felt than make’t my boast.¹¹³

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     You sin against

115

115          Obedience, which you owe your father. For

               The contract you pretend¹¹⁶ with that base wretch,

               One bred of alms¹¹⁷ and fostered with cold dishes,

               With scraps o’th’court, it is no contract, none:

               And though it be allowed in meaner parties¹¹⁹ —

120

120          Yet who than he more mean? — to knit their souls,

               On whom there is no more dependency

               But brats and beggary, in self-figured knot,¹²²

               Yet you are curbed¹²³ from that enlargement by

               The consequence o’th’crown,¹²⁴ and must not foil

125

125          The precious note¹²⁵ of it with a base slave,

               A hilding¹²⁶ for a livery, a squire’s cloth,

               A pantler;¹²⁷ not so eminent.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Profane fellow,

               Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more

130

130          But what thou art besides, thou wert¹³⁰ too base

               To be his groom:¹³¹ thou wert dignified enough,

               Even to the point of envy, if ’twere made

               Comparative¹³³ for your virtues, to be styled

               The under-hangman¹³⁴ of his kingdom, and hated

135

135          For¹³⁵ being preferred so well.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     The south-fog¹³⁶ rot him!

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     He never can meet more mischance than come

               To be but named of thee.¹³⁸ His meanest garment

               That ever hath but clipped¹³⁹ his body is dearer

140

140          In my respect than all the hairs above thee,

               Were they all made such men.¹⁴¹— How now, Pisanio?

        Enter Pisanio

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     His garment? Now the devil—

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently. To Pisanio

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     His garment?

145

145 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             I am sprited¹⁴⁵ with a fool,

               Frighted and angered worse: go bid my woman

               Search for a jewel that too casually

               Hath left mine arm: it was thy master’s. ’Shrew¹⁴⁸ me

               If I would lose it for a revenue

150

150          Of any king’s in Europe. I do think

               I saw’t this morning: confident I am.

               Last night ’twas on mine arm; I kissed it.

               I hope it be not gone to tell my lord

               That I kiss aught¹⁵⁴ but he.

155

155 

PISANIO

PISANIO             ’Twill not be lost.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I hope so: go and search.

        [Exit Pisanio]

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     You have abused me:

               His meanest garment?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Ay, I said so, sir:

160

160          If you will make’t an action,¹⁶⁰ call witness to’t.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I will inform your father.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Your mother too:

               She’s my good lady, and will conceive,¹⁶³ I hope,

               But the worst of me. So, I leave you, sir,

165

165          To th’worst of discontent.

        Exit

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I’ll be revenged:

               His meanest garment? Well.

        Exit

Act 2 Scene 4^2.4

running scene 6

---

        Enter Posthumus and Philario

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure

               To win² the king as I am bold her honour

               Will remain hers.

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     What means⁴ do you make to him?

5

5     

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Not any: but abide the change of time,

               Quake in the present winter’s state⁶ and wish

               That warmer days would come: in these seared⁷ hopes

               I barely gratify⁸ your love; they failing,

               I must die much your debtor.

10

10   

PHILARIO

PHILARIO             Your very goodness and your company

               O’erpays all I can do. By this¹¹ your king

               Hath heard of¹² great Augustus: Caius Lucius

               Will do’s commission throughly.¹³ And I think

               He’ll¹⁴ grant the tribute: send th’arrearages,

15

15            Or look upon¹⁵ our Romans, whose remembrance

               Is yet¹⁶ fresh in their grief.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I do believe —

               Statist¹⁸ though I am none, nor like to be —

               That this will prove¹⁹ a war; and you shall hear

20

20            The legions now in Gallia sooner landed

               In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings

               Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen

               Are men more ordered²³ than when Julius Caesar

               Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage

25

25            Worthy his frowning²⁵ at. Their discipline,

               Now mingled with their courages, will make known

               To their approvers²⁷ they are people such

               That mend upon the world.

        Enter Iachimo

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     See Iachimo.

30

30   

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             The swiftest harts³⁰ have posted you by land,

               And winds of³¹ all the corners kissed your sails,

               To make your vessel nimble.

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Welcome, sir.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I hope the briefness of your answer³⁴ made

35

35            The speediness of your return.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Your lady

               Is one of the fairest that I have looked upon—

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     And therewithal³⁸ the best, or let her beauty

               Look through a casement³⁹ to allure false hearts,

40

40            And be false with them.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Here are letters for you. Gives letters

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Their tenor⁴² good, I trust.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     ’Tis very like.⁴³

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court

45

45            When you were there?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     He was expected then,

               But not approached.⁴⁷

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     All is well yet.

               Sparkles⁴⁹ this stone as it was wont, or is’t not Shows the ring

50

50            Too dull for your good wearing?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     If I had lost it,

               I should have lost the worth of it in gold.

               I’ll make a journey twice as far t’enjoy

               A second night of such sweet shortness which

55

55            Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     The stone’s too hard to come by.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Not a whit,⁵⁷

               Your lady being so easy.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Make not, sir,

60

60            Your loss your sport:⁶⁰ I hope you know that we

               Must not continue friends.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Good sir, we must

               If you keep covenant.⁶³ Had I not brought

               The knowledge⁶⁴ of your mistress home, I grant

65

65            We were to question further,⁶⁵ but I now

               Profess myself the winner of her honour,

               Together with your ring, and not the wronger

               Of her or you, having proceeded but

               By both your wills.⁶⁹

70

70   

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             If you can make’t apparent

               That you have tasted⁷¹ her in bed, my hand

               And ring is yours. If not, the foul opinion

               You had of her pure honour gains⁷³ or loses

               Your sword or mine, or⁷⁴ masterless leaves both

75

75            To who shall find them.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Sir, my circumstances,⁷⁶

               Being so near the truth, as I will make them,

               Must first induce you to believe: whose strength

               I will confirm with oath, which I doubt not

80

80            You’ll give me leave to spare,⁸⁰ when you shall find

               You need it not.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Proceed.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     First, her bedchamber —

               Where I confess I slept not, but profess

85

85            Had that was well worth watching⁸⁵ — it was hanged

               With tapestry of silk and silver,⁸⁶ the story

               Proud Cleopatra when she met her Roman

               And Cydnus⁸⁸ swelled above the banks, or for

               The press⁸⁹ of boats, or pride. A piece of work

90

90            So bravely⁹⁰ done, so rich, that it did strive

               In workmanship and value, which I wondered

               Could be so rarely⁹² and exactly wrought,

               Since the true life on’t was—

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     This is true:

95

95            And this you might have heard of here, by me,

               Or by some other.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     More particulars

               Must justify my knowledge.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     So they must,

100

100          Or do your honour injury.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     The chimney

               Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece¹⁰²

               Chaste Dian bathing:¹⁰³ never saw I figures

               So likely to report themselves;¹⁰⁴ the cutter

105

105          Was as another nature dumb, outwent her,¹⁰⁵

               Motion¹⁰⁶ and breath left out.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     This is a thing

               Which you might from relation likewise reap,¹⁰⁸

               Being, as it is, much spoke of.

110

110 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             The roof o’th’chamber

               With golden cherubins is fretted.¹¹¹ Her andirons —

               I had forgot them — were two winking¹¹² Cupids

               Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely¹¹³

               Depending¹¹⁴ on their brands.

115

115 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             This is her honour!

               Let it be granted you have seen all this — and praise

               Be given to your remembrance¹¹⁷ — the description

               Of what is in her chamber nothing saves¹¹⁸

               The wager you have laid.

120

120 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             Then if you can Shows the bracelet

               Be pale, I beg but leave¹²¹ to air this jewel: see,

               And now ’tis up¹²² again: it must be married

               To that your diamond, I’ll keep them.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Jove!

125

125          Once more let me behold it: is it that

               Which I left with her?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Sir — I thank her — that.

               She stripped it from her arm: I¹²⁸ see her yet:

               Her pretty action did outsell¹²⁹ her gift,

130

130          And yet enriched it too: she gave it me, and said

               She prized¹³¹ it once.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Maybe she plucked it off

               To send it me.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     She writes so to you, doth she?

135

135 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             O no, no, no, ’tis true. Here, take this too, Gives the ring

               It is a basilisk¹³⁶ unto mine eye,

               Kills me to look on’t. Let there be no honour

               Where there is beauty: truth, where semblance:¹³⁸ love,

               Where there’s another man. The vows of women

140

140          Of no more bondage¹⁴⁰ be to where they are made

               Than they are to their virtues, which is nothing.

               O, above measure false!

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Have patience, sir,

               And take your ring again, ’tis not yet won:

145

145          It may be probable¹⁴⁵ she lost it: or

               Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted,¹⁴⁶

               Hath stol’n it from her?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Very true,

               And so¹⁴⁹ I hope he came by’t. Back my ring, Takes back the ring

150

150          Render to me some corporal sign¹⁵⁰ about her

               More evident¹⁵¹ than this: for this was stol’n.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Hark you, he swears: by Jupiter he swears.

               ’Tis true, nay, keep the ring, ’tis true: I am sure

155

155          She would not lose it: her attendants are

               All sworn¹⁵⁶ and honourable: they induced to steal it?

               And by a stranger? No, he hath enjoyed her:¹⁵⁷

               The cognizance¹⁵⁸ of her incontinency

               Is this: she¹⁵⁹ hath bought the name of whore thus dearly.

160

160          There, take thy hire,¹⁶⁰ and all the fiends of hell Gives the ring again

               Divide themselves between you!¹⁶¹

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Sir, be patient:

               This is not strong enough to be believed

               Of one persuaded¹⁶⁴ well of.

165

165 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Never talk on’t:

               She hath been colted¹⁶⁶ by him.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     If you seek

               For further satisfying, under her breast —

               Worthy the pressing — lies a mole, right proud

170

170          Of that most delicate lodging. By my life,

               I kissed it, and it gave me present¹⁷¹ hunger

               To feed again, though full. You do remember

               This stain¹⁷³ upon her?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Ay, and it doth confirm

175

175          Another stain, as big as hell can hold,

               Were there no more but it.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Will you hear more?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Spare your arithmetic, never count the turns:¹⁷⁸

               Once,¹⁷⁹ and a million!

180

180 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             I’ll be sworn.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     No swearing.

               If you will swear you have not done’t, you lie,

               And I will kill thee if thou dost deny

               Thou’st¹⁸⁴ made me cuckold.

185

185 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             I’ll deny nothing.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!¹⁸⁶

               I will go there and do’t, i’th’court, before

               Her father. I’ll do something.

        Exit

       

PHILARIO

PHILARIO     Quite besides¹⁸⁹

190

190          The government¹⁹⁰ of patience. You have won:

               Let’s follow him and pervert¹⁹¹ the present wrath

               He hath against himself.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     With all my heart.

        Exeunt

        Enter Posthumus

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Is there no way for men to be, but women

195

195          Must be half-workers?¹⁹⁵ We are all bastards,

               And that most venerable¹⁹⁶ man, which I

               Did call my father, was I know not where

               When I was stamped.¹⁹⁸ Some coiner with his tools

               Made me a counterfeit: yet my mother seemed

200

200          The Dian of that time: so doth my wife

               The nonpareil²⁰¹ of this. O, vengeance, vengeance!

               Me of my lawful pleasure²⁰² she restrained,

               And prayed²⁰³ me oft forbearance: did it with

               A pudency²⁰⁴ so rosy, the sweet view on’t

205

205          Might well have warmed old Saturn,²⁰⁵ that I thought her

               As chaste as unsunned snow. O, all the devils!

               This yellow²⁰⁷ Iachimo in an hour — wast not? —

               Or less — at first?²⁰⁸ Perchance he spoke not, but

               Like a full-acorned boar,²⁰⁹ a German one,

210

210          Cried ‘O!’ and mounted; found no opposition

               But what he looked for²¹¹ should oppose, and she

               Should from encounter²¹² guard. Could I find out

               The woman’s part²¹³ in me — for there’s no motion

               That tends to vice in man, but I affirm

215

215          It is the woman’s part: be it lying, note it,

               The woman’s: flattering, hers: deceiving, hers:

               Lust and rank²¹⁷ thoughts, hers, hers: revenges, hers:

               Ambitions, covetings,²¹⁸ change of prides, disdain,

               Nice longing,²¹⁹ slanders, mutability,

220

220          All faults that may be named, nay, that hell knows,

               Why, hers, in part or all: but rather all,

               For even to vice

               They are not constant, but are changing still²²³

               One vice, but of²²⁴ a minute old, for one

225

225          Not half so²²⁵ old as that. I’ll write against them,

               Detest them, curse them: yet ’tis greater skill²²⁶

               In a true hate, to pray they have their will:²²⁷

               The very devils cannot plague them better.

        Exit

Act 3 Scene 1^3.1

running scene 7

---

        Enter in state Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten and Lords at one door, and at another, Caius Lucius and Attendants

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with us?

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     When Julius Caesar — whose remembrance² yet

               Lives in men’s eyes and will to ears and tongues

               Be theme⁴ and hearing ever — was in this Britain

5

5              And conquered it, Cassibelan, thine uncle —

               Famous⁶ in Caesar’s praises no whit less

               Than in his feats deserving it — for⁷ him,

               And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,

               Yearly three thousand pounds,⁹ which by thee lately

10

10            Is left untendered.¹⁰

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     And to kill the marvel,¹¹

               Shall be so ever.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     There be¹³ many Caesars

               Ere such another Julius: Britain’s

15

15            A world by itself, and we will nothing pay

               For wearing our own noses.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     That opportunity

               Which then they had to take from’s,¹⁸ to resume

               We have again. Remember, sir, my liege,¹⁹

20

20            The kings your ancestors, together with

               The natural bravery²¹ of your isle, which stands

               As Neptune’s²² park, ribbed and paled in

               With oaks unscalable and roaring waters,

               With sands that will not bear²⁴ your enemies’ boats,

25

25            But suck²⁵ them up to th’topmast. A kind of conquest

               Caesar made here, but made not here his brag

               Of ‘came,²⁷ and saw, and overcame’: with shame —

               The first that ever touched him — he was carried

               From off our coast, twice beaten: and his shipping —

30

30            Poor ignorant baubles³⁰ — on our terrible seas

               Like eggshells moved upon their surges, cracked

               As easily gainst our rocks. For joy whereof

               The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point³³ —

               O giglot³⁴ fortune! — to master Caesar’s sword,

35

35            Made Lud’s town³⁵ with rejoicing fires bright,

               And Britons strut with courage.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Come, there’s no more tribute to be paid: our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time, and, as I said, there is no more such Caesars. Other of them may have crooked³⁹ noses, but to owe such straight arms, none.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Son, let your mother end.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     We have yet many among us can grip⁴¹ as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say I am one, but I have a hand. Why tribute? Why should we pay tribute? If Caesar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light: else,⁴⁴ sir, no more tribute, pray you now.

45

45   

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             You must know, To Lucius

               Till the injurious⁴⁶ Romans did extort

               This tribute from us, we were free. Caesar’s ambition,

               Which swelled so much that it did almost stretch

               The sides o’th’world, against all colour⁴⁹ here

50

50            Did put the yoke upon’s; which to shake off

               Becomes⁵¹ a warlike people, whom we reckon

               Ourselves to be. We do say then to Caesar,

               Our ancestor was that Mulmutius⁵³ which

               Ordained our laws, whose use⁵⁴ the sword of Caesar

55

55            Hath too much mangled, whose repair⁵⁵ and franchise

               Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,

               Though Rome be therefore angry. Mulmutius made our laws

               Who was the first of Britain which did put

               His brows within a golden crown and called

60

60            Himself a king.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     I am sorry, Cymbeline,

               That I am to pronounce Augustus Caesar —

               Caesar, that hath more kings his servants than

               Thyself domestic officers — thine enemy:

65

65            Receive it from me, then. War and confusion⁶⁵

               In Caesar’s name pronounce⁶⁶ I gainst thee: look

               For fury not to be resisted. Thus defied,⁶⁷

               I thank thee for myself.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou art welcome, Caius.

70

70            Thy Caesar knighted me; my youth I spent

               Much under him: of him I gathered honour,

               Which he to seek of me again, perforce,⁷²

               Behoves⁷³ me keep at utterance. I am perfect

               That the Pannonians and Dalmatians⁷⁴ for

75

75            Their liberties are now in arms, a precedent⁷⁵

               Which not to read⁷⁶ would show the Britons cold:

               So Caesar shall not find them.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Let proof speak.⁷⁸

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime⁷⁹ with us a day or two, or longer: if you seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our saltwater girdle:⁸⁰ if you beat us out of it, it is yours: if you fall in the adventure,⁸¹ our crows shall fare the better for you: and there’s an end.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     So,⁸³ sir.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     I know your master’s pleasure,⁸⁴ and he mine:

85

85         All the remain⁸⁵ is ‘Welcome’.

        Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 2

running scene 7 continues

---

        Enter Pisanio, reading of a letter

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     How?¹ Of adultery? Wherefore write you not

               What monster’s her accuser? Leonatus,

               O master, what a strange infection

               Is fall’n into thy ear! What false Italian,

5

5              As⁵ poisonous-tongued as handed, hath prevailed

               On thy too ready hearing? Disloyal? No.

               She’s punished for her truth,⁷ and undergoes,

               More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults

               As would take in⁹ some virtue. O my master,

10

10            Thy mind to her is now as low as were

               Thy fortunes. How? That I should murder her,

               Upon¹² the love and truth and vows which I

               Have made to thy command? I, her? Her blood?

               If it be so to do good service, never

15

15            Let me be counted serviceable. How look I,

               That I should seem to lack humanity

               So much as this fact¹⁷ comes to? ‘Do’t: the letter Reads

               That I have sent her, by her own command

               Shall give thee opportunity.’ O damned paper,

20

20            Black as the ink that’s on thee! Senseless bauble,²⁰

               Art thou a fedary²¹ for this act, and look’st

               So virgin-like without? Lo, here she comes.

        Enter Innogen

               I am ignorant in²³ what I am commanded.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     How now, Pisanio?

25

25   

PISANIO

PISANIO             Madam, here is a letter from my lord.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Who, thy lord? That is my lord, Leonatus!

               O, learned indeed were that astronomer²⁷

               That knew the stars as I his characters²⁸ —

               He’d lay the future open. You good gods,

30

30            Let what is here contained relish³⁰ of love,

               Of my lord’s health, of his content: yet not³¹

               That we two are asunder, let that grieve him;

               Some griefs are med’cinable,³³ that is one of them,

               For it doth physic love:³⁴ of his content,

35

35            All but in that. Good wax,³⁵ thy leave: blest be Opens the seal

               You bees that make these locks of counsel!³⁶ Lovers

               And men in dangerous bonds pray not alike:

               Though forfeiters³⁸ you cast in prison, yet

               You clasp young Cupid’s³⁹ tables. Good news, gods!

Reads ‘Justice and your father’s wrath, should he take me in his dominion, could not be so cruel to me, as you, O the dearest of creatures, would even renew⁴¹ me with your eyes. Take notice that I am in Cambria,⁴² at Milford Haven: what your own love will out of this advise you, follow. So he wishes you all happiness, that remains loyal to his vow, and your increasing in love, Leonatus Posthumus.’

45

45            O, for a horse with wings! Hear’st thou, Pisanio?

               He is at Milford Haven: read, and tell me

               How far ’tis thither. If one of mean affairs⁴⁷

               May plod it in a week, why may not I

               Glide thither in a day? Then, true Pisanio,

50

50            Who long’st like me to see thy lord; who long’st —

               O, let me bate⁵¹ — but not like me: yet long’st

               But in a fainter kind.⁵² O, not like me,

               For mine’s⁵³ beyond, beyond: say, and speak thick —

               Love’s counsellor should fill the bores of hearing,⁵⁴

55

55            To th’smothering⁵⁵ of the sense — how far it is

               To this same blessèd Milford. And by th’way⁵⁶

               Tell me how Wales was made so happy as

               T’inherit such a haven. But first of all,

               How we may steal⁵⁹ from hence: and for the gap

60

60            That we shall make in time, from our hence-going

               And our return, to excuse:⁶¹ but first, how get hence.

               Why⁶² should excuse be born or e’er begot?

               We’ll talk of that hereafter. Prithee, speak,

               How many score⁶⁴ of miles may we well ride

65

65            ’Twixt⁶⁵ hour and hour?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     One score ’twixt⁶⁶ sun and sun,

               Madam, ’s enough for you: and too much too.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Why, one that rode to’s execution, man,

               Could never go so slow: I have heard of riding wagers,⁶⁹

70

70            Where horses have been nimbler than the sands

               That run i’th’clock’s behalf.⁷¹ But this is foolery:

               Go, bid my woman feign⁷² a sickness, say

               She’ll home⁷³ to her father; and provide me presently

               A riding-suit, no costlier than would fit⁷⁴

75

75            A franklin’s⁷⁵ housewife.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Madam, you’re best⁷⁶ consider.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I see before me,⁷⁷ man: nor here, nor here,

               Nor what ensues,⁷⁸ but have a fog in them

               That I cannot look through. Away, I prithee,

80

80            Do as I bid thee: there’s no more to say:

               Accessible is none⁸¹ but Milford way.

        Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 3^3.3

running scene 8

---

        Enter Belarius, Guiderius and Arviragus From their cave

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     A goodly day not to keep house¹ with such

               Whose roof’s as low as ours. Stoop, boys: this gate²

               Instructs³ you how t’adore the heavens, and bows you

               To a morning’s holy office.⁴ The gates of monarchs

5

5              Are arched so high that giants may jet⁵ through

               And keep their impious turbans⁶ on, without

               Good morrow to the sun. Hail, thou fair heaven!

               We house⁸ i’th’rock, yet use thee not so hardly

               As prouder livers⁹ do.

10

10   

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Hail, heaven!

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Hail, heaven!

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Now for our mountain sport. Up to yond hill,

               Your legs are young: I’ll tread these flats.¹³ Consider,

               When you above perceive me like a crow,

15

15            That it is place¹⁵ which lessens and sets off,

               And you may then revolve¹⁶ what tales I have told you

               Of courts, of princes, of the tricks¹⁷ in war.

               This service is not service, so being done,

               But being so allowed.¹⁹ To apprehend thus

20

20            Draws us a profit from all things we see:

               And often, to our comfort, shall we find

               The sharded²² beetle in a safer hold

               Than is the full-winged eagle. O, this life

               Is nobler than attending²⁴ for a check,

25

25            Richer than doing nothing for a robe,²⁵

               Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk:

               Such²⁷ gain the cap of him that makes ’em fine,

               Yet²⁸ keeps his book uncrossed: no life to ours.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Out of your proof²⁹ you speak: we poor unfledged

30

30            Have never winged from view o’th’nest, nor know not

               What air’s from home.³¹ Haply this life is best,

               If quiet life be best: sweeter to you

               That have a sharper known, well corresponding

               With your stiff³⁴ age; but unto us it is

35

35            A cell of ignorance, travelling abed,³⁵

               A prison for a debtor that not dares

               To stride a limit.³⁷

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     What should we speak of

               When we are old as you? When we shall hear

40

40            The rain and wind beat dark December, how,

               In this our pinching⁴¹ cave, shall we discourse

               The freezing hours away? We have seen nothing:

               We are beastly:⁴³ subtle as the fox for prey,

               Like⁴⁴ warlike as the wolf for what we eat:

45

45            Our valour is to chase what flies:⁴⁵ our cage

               We make a choir, as doth the prisoned bird,

               And sing our bondage freely.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     How you speak!

               Did you but know the city’s usuries,⁴⁹

50

50            And felt them knowingly:⁵⁰ the art o’th’court,

               As hard to leave as keep,⁵¹ whose top to climb

               Is certain falling, or so slipp’ry that

               The fear’s as bad as falling: the toil o’th’war,

               A pain⁵⁴ that only seems to seek out danger

55

55            I’th’name of fame and honour, which dies i’th’search,

               And hath as oft⁵⁶ a sland’rous epitaph

               As record⁵⁷ of fair act. Nay, many times

               Doth ill deserve⁵⁸ by doing well: what’s worse,

               Must curtsy⁵⁹ at the censure. O boys, this story

60

60            The world may read in me: my body’s marked

               With Roman swords, and my report⁶¹ was once

               First with the best of note.⁶² Cymbeline loved me,

               And when a soldier was the theme,⁶³ my name

               Was not far off: then was I as⁶⁴ a tree

65

65            Whose boughs did bend with fruit. But in one night,

               A storm, or robbery — call it what you will —

               Shook down my mellow hangings,⁶⁷ nay, my leaves,

               And left me bare to weather.⁶⁸

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Uncertain favour!⁶⁹

70

70   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             My fault being nothing — as I have told you oft —

               But that two villains, whose false oaths prevailed

               Before my perfect⁷² honour, swore to Cymbeline

               I was confederate with the Romans: so

               Followed my banishment, and this⁷⁴ twenty years

75

75            This rock and these demesnes⁷⁵ have been my world

               Where I have lived at⁷⁶ honest freedom, paid

               More pious debts to heaven than in all

               The fore-end⁷⁸ of my time. But up to th’mountains!

               This is not hunters’ language. He that strikes

80

80            The venison⁸⁰ first shall be the lord o’th’feast,

               To him the other two shall minister,⁸¹

               And we will fear no poison, which attends⁸²

               In place of greater state. I’ll meet you in the valleys.

        Exeunt [Guid. and Arv.]

               How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature!⁸⁴

85

85            These boys know little they are sons to th’king,

               Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive.

               They think they are mine, and though trained⁸⁷ up thus meanly

               I’th’cave wherein they bow,⁸⁸ their thoughts do hit

               The roofs of palaces and nature prompts them

90

90            In simple and low things to prince it⁹⁰ much

               Beyond the trick⁹¹ of others. This Polydore,

               The heir of Cymbeline and Britain, who

               The king his father called Guiderius — Jove!

               When on my three-foot⁹⁴ stool I sit, and tell

95

95            The warlike feats I have done, his spirits fly out

               Into my story: say⁹⁶ ‘Thus mine enemy fell,

               And thus I set my foot on’s neck’, even then

               The princely blood flows in his cheek, he sweats,

               Strains his young nerves,⁹⁹ and puts himself in posture

100

100          That acts my words. The younger brother, Cadwal,

               Once Arviragus, in¹⁰¹ as like a figure

               Strikes life into my speech, and shows much more¹⁰²

               His own conceiving.¹⁰³ Hark, the game is roused! A horn sounds

               O Cymbeline, heaven and my conscience knows

105

105          Thou didst unjustly banish me: whereon,¹⁰⁵

               At three and two years old, I stole these babes,

               Thinking to bar¹⁰⁷ thee of succession, as

               Thou reft’st¹⁰⁸ me of my lands. Euriphile,

               Thou wast their nurse,¹⁰⁹ they took thee for their mother,

110

110          And every day do honour to her¹¹⁰ grave:

               Myself, Belarius, that am Morgan called,

               They take for natural father. The game is up.

        Exit

Act 3 Scene 4^3.4

running scene 9

---

        Enter Pisanio and Innogen Innogen in a riding suit

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Thou told’st me when we came from horse¹ the place

               Was near at hand: ne’er² longed my mother so

               To see me first as I have now. Pisanio, man,

               Where is Posthumus? What is in thy mind

5

5              That makes thee stare thus? Wherefore breaks that sigh

               From th’inward of thee? One but painted thus⁶

               Would be interpreted a thing perplexed⁷

               Beyond self-explication.⁸ Put thyself

               Into a ’haviour of less fear, ere⁹ wildness

10

10            Vanquish my staider¹⁰ senses. What’s the matter?

               Why tender’st thou¹¹ that paper to me with

               A look untender? If’t be summer¹² news,

               Smile to’t before:¹³ if winterly, thou need’st

               But¹⁴ keep that count’nance still. My husband’s hand?

15

15            That drug-damned Italy¹⁵ hath out-craftied him,

               And he’s at some hard point.¹⁶ Speak, man, thy tongue

               May take off some extremity, which to read

               Would be even mortal¹⁸ to me.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Please you read,

20

20            And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing

               The most disdained of fortune.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Reads ‘Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath played the strumpet in my bed: the testimonies²³ whereof lies bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises, but from proof as strong as my grief,²⁴ and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part thou, Pisanio, must act for me, if thy faith be not tainted²⁵ with the breach of hers; let thine own hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at Milford Haven. She hath my letter for the purpose: where, if thou fear to strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the pander²⁸ to her dishonour, and equally to me disloyal.’

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     What³⁰ shall I need to draw my sword? The paper Aside

               Hath cut her throat already. No, ’tis slander,

               Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue

               Outvenoms³³ all the worms of Nile, whose breath

               Rides on the posting winds,³⁴ and doth belie

35

25            All corners of the world. Kings, queens and states,³⁵

               Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave

               This viperous slander enters. What cheer, madam?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     False to his bed? What is it to be false?

               To lie in watch there, and to think on him?

40

30            To weep ’twixt⁴⁰ clock and clock? If sleep charge nature,

               To break it with a fearful dream of him,

               And cry myself awake? That’s false to’s bed, is it?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Alas, good lady.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I false? Thy conscience witness:⁴⁴ Iachimo,

45

45            Thou didst accuse him of incontinency.⁴⁵

               Thou then looked’st like a villain: now methinks

               Thy favour’s⁴⁷ good enough. Some jay of Italy,

               Whose mother was her painting,⁴⁸ hath betrayed him:

               Poor I am stale,⁴⁹ a garment out of fashion,

50

50            And for I am richer⁵⁰ than to hang by th’walls,

               I must be ripped:⁵¹ to pieces with me! O,

               Men’s vows are women’s traitors. All good seeming,⁵²

               By thy revolt,⁵³ O husband, shall be thought

               Put on for villainy; not born where’t grows,⁵⁴

55

55            But worn⁵⁵ a bait for ladies.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Good madam, hear me.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     True honest men being heard like⁵⁷ false Aeneas

               Were in his time thought false: and Sinon’s⁵⁸ weeping

               Did scandal⁵⁹ many a holy tear, took pity

60

60            From most true wretchedness. So thou, Posthumus,

               Wilt lay the leaven⁶¹ on all proper men;

               Goodly and gallant shall be false and perjured

               From thy great fail.⁶³— Come, fellow, be thou honest, To Pisanio

               Do thou thy master’s bidding. When thou see’st him,

65

65            A little witness⁶⁵ my obedience. Look,

               I draw the sword myself: take it, and hit Draws sword and gives it to Pisanio

               The innocent mansion⁶⁷ of my love, my heart.

               Fear not, ’tis empty of all things but grief:

               Thy master is not there, who was indeed

70

70            The riches of it. Do his bidding, strike.

               Thou mayst be valiant in a better cause,

               But now thou seem’st a coward.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Hence, vile instrument,⁷³ Throws away sword

               Thou shalt not damn my hand!

75

75   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             Why, I must die:

               And if I do not by thy hand, thou art

               No servant of thy master’s. Against self-slaughter⁷⁷

               There is a prohibition so divine

               That cravens⁷⁹ my weak hand. Come, here’s my heart:

80

80            Something’s afore’t:⁸⁰ soft, soft, we’ll no defence,

               Obedient⁸¹ as the scabbard. What is here? Takes letters from her bosom

               The scriptures⁸² of the loyal Leonatus,

               All turned to heresy? Away, away, Throws letters away

               Corrupters of my faith,⁸⁴ you shall no more

85

58            Be stomachers⁸⁵ to my heart! Thus may poor fools

               Believe false teachers: though those that are betrayed

               Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor

               Stands⁸⁸ in worse case of woe. And thou, Posthumus,

               That didst set up⁸⁹ my disobedience gainst the king

90

90            My father, and make me put into contempt the suits⁹⁰

               Of princely⁹¹ fellows, shalt hereafter find

               It⁹² is no act of common passage, but

               A strain of rareness: and I grieve myself

               To think, when thou shalt be disedged⁹⁴ by her

95

95            That now thou tirest⁹⁵ on, how thy memory

               Will then be panged⁹⁶ by me. Prithee dispatch,

               The lamb entreats the butcher. Where’s thy knife?

               Thou art too slow to do thy master’s bidding

               When I desire it too.

100

100 

PISANIO

PISANIO             O gracious lady:

               Since I received command to do this business

               I have not slept one wink.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Do’t, and to bed then.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I’ll wake¹⁰⁴ mine eyeballs out first.

105

105 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             Wherefore then

               Didst undertake it? Why hast thou abused¹⁰⁶

               So many miles with a pretence? This place?

               Mine action and thine own? Our horses’ Iabour?

               The time inviting thee?¹⁰⁹ The perturbed court

110

110          For my being absent, whereunto¹¹⁰ I never

               Purpose¹¹¹ return? Why hast thou gone so far

               To be unbent¹¹² when thou hast ta’en thy stand,

               Th’elected¹¹³ deer before thee?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     But to win time

115

115          To lose so bad employment, in the which

               I have considered of a course:¹¹⁶ good lady,

               Hear me with patience.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Talk thy tongue weary, speak:

               I have heard I am a strumpet,¹¹⁹ and mine ear,

120

120          Therein false struck,¹²⁰ can take no greater wound,

               Nor tent¹²¹ to bottom that. But speak.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Then, madam,

               I thought you would not back¹²³ again.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Most like,¹²⁴

125

125          Bringing me here to kill me.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Not so, neither:

               But if I were as wise as honest, then

               My purpose would prove¹²⁸ well: it cannot be

               But that my master is abused.¹²⁹ Some villain,

130

130          Ay, and singular¹³⁰ in his art, hath done you both

               This cursèd injury.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Some Roman courtesan.¹³²

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     No, on my life:

               I’ll give but notice you are dead, and send him

135

135          Some bloody sign of it, for ’tis commanded

               I should do so: you shall be missed at court,

               And that will well confirm it.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Why, good fellow,

               What shall I do the while? Where bide?¹³⁹ How live?

140

140          Or in my life what comfort, when I am

               Dead to my husband?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     If you’ll back to th’court—

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     No court, no father, nor no more ado

               With that harsh, noble, simple nothing,

145

145          That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me

               As fearful as a siege.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     If not at court,

               Then not in Britain must you bide.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Where then?

150

150          Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day? Night?

               Are they not but¹⁵¹ in Britain? I’th’world’s volume

               Our Britain seems as of it, but not in’t:

               In a great pool a swan’s nest.¹⁵³ Prithee, think

               There’s livers¹⁵⁴ out of Britain.

155

155 

PISANIO

PISANIO             I am most glad

               You think of other place: th’ambassador,

               Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford Haven

               Tomorrow. Now, if you could wear a mind¹⁵⁸

               Dark as your fortune is, and but disguise

160

160          That¹⁶⁰ which, t’appear itself, must not yet be

               But by self-danger,¹⁶¹ you should tread a course

               Pretty and full of view:¹⁶² yea, haply, near

               The residence of Posthumus; so nigh,¹⁶³ at least,

               That though his actions were not visible, yet

165

165          Report should render¹⁶⁵ him hourly to your ear

               As truly as he moves.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     O, for such means,

               Though peril to my modesty,¹⁶⁸ not death on’t,

               I would adventure.¹⁶⁹

170

170 

PISANIO

PISANIO             Well then, here’s the point:

               You must forget to be a woman: change

               Command into obedience,¹⁷² fear and niceness —

               The handmaids¹⁷³ of all women, or more truly

               Woman it¹⁷⁴ pretty self — into a waggish courage,

175

175          Ready in gibes,¹⁷⁵ quick-answered, saucy and

               As quarrellous¹⁷⁶ as the weasel: nay, you must

               Forget¹⁷⁷ that rarest treasure of your cheek,

               Exposing it — but O, the harder heart!

               Alack, no remedy — to the greedy touch

180

180          Of common-kissing Titan,¹⁸⁰ and forget

               Your laboursome¹⁸¹ and dainty trims, wherein

               You made great Juno¹⁸² angry.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Nay, be brief.

               I see into thy end,¹⁸⁴ and am almost

185

185          A man already.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     First, make yourself but like one.

               Forethinking¹⁸⁷ this, I have already fit — ↓Gives a bag of clothes↓

               ’Tis in my cloak-bag — doublet,¹⁸⁸ hat, hose, all

               That answer to¹⁸⁹ them: would you in their serving,

190

190          And with what imitation you can borrow

               From youth of such a season,¹⁹¹ ’fore noble Lucius

               Present yourself, desire his service:¹⁹² tell him

               Wherein you’re happy¹⁹³ — which will make him know,

               If¹⁹⁴ that his head have ear in music — doubtless

195

195          With joy he will embrace you, for he’s honourable,

               And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad:¹⁹⁶

               You have me rich, and I will never fail

               Beginning nor supplyment.¹⁹⁸

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Thou art all the comfort

200

200          The gods will diet²⁰⁰ me with. Prithee away,

               There’s more to be considered: but we’ll even²⁰¹

               All that good time will give us. This attempt

               I am soldier to,²⁰³ and will abide it with

               A prince’s courage. Away, I prithee.

205

205 

PISANIO

PISANIO             Well, madam, we must take a short²⁰⁵ farewell,

               Lest being missed, I be suspected of

               Your carriage²⁰⁷ from the court. My noble mistress,

               Here is a box, I had it from the queen,

               What’s in’t is precious: if you are sick at sea,

210

210          Or stomach-qualmed at land, a dram of this

               Will drive away distemper.²¹¹ To some shade,

               And fit you²¹² to your manhood: may the gods

               Direct you to the best.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Amen: I thank thee. Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 5^3.5

running scene 10

---

        Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, Lucius and Lords

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thus far,¹ and so farewell.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Thanks, royal sir:

               My emperor hath wrote, I must from hence,

               And am right sorry that I must report ye

5

5              My master’s enemy.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Our subjects, sir,

               Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself⁷

               To show less sovereignty than they, must needs⁸

               Appear unkinglike.

10

10   

LUCIUS

LUCIUS             So,¹⁰ sir: I desire of you

               A conduct¹¹ over land, to Milford Haven.

               Madam, all joy befall¹² your grace, and you.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     My lords, you are appointed for that office:¹³

               The due of honour¹⁴ in no point omit.

15

15            So farewell, noble Lucius.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Your hand, my lord.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Receive it friendly: but from this time forth

               I wear it as your enemy.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Sir, the event¹⁹

20

20            Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my lords,

               Till he have crossed the Severn.²² Happiness.

        Exeunt Lucius and others

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     He goes hence frowning: but it honours us²³

               That we have given him cause.²⁴

25

25   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             ’Tis all the better,

               Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor

               How it goes here. It fits us²⁸ therefore ripely

               Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness:

30

30            The powers that he already hath in Gallia

               Will soon be drawn to head,³¹ from whence he moves

               His war for Britain.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     ’Tis not sleepy business,

               But must be looked to speedily and strongly.

35

35   

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             Our expectation that it would be thus

               Hath made us forward.³⁶ But, my gentle queen,

               Where is our daughter? She hath not appeared

               Before the Roman, nor to us hath tendered

               The duty³⁹ of the day. She looks us like

40

40            A thing more made of malice than of duty,

               We have noted it. Call her before us, for

               We have been too slight in sufferance.⁴²

        [Exit one or more]

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Royal sir,

               Since the exile of Posthumus, most retired⁴⁴

45

45            Hath her life been: the cure whereof, my lord,

               ’Tis time must do. Beseech your majesty,

               Forbear⁴⁷ sharp speeches to her. She’s a lady

               So tender of⁴⁸ rebukes that words are strokes,

               And strokes death to her.

        Enter a Messenger

50

50   

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             Where is she, sir? How

               Can her contempt be answered?⁵¹

       

MESSENGER

MESSENGER     Please you, sir,

               Her chambers are all locked, and there’s no answer

               That will be given to th’loud’st of noise we make.

55

55   

QUEEN

QUEEN             My lord, when last I went to visit her,

               She prayed me to excuse her keeping close,⁵⁶

               Whereto⁵⁷ constrained by her infirmity,

               She should that duty leave unpaid to you

               Which daily she was bound to proffer:⁵⁹ this

60

60            She wished me to make known, but our great court

               Made me to blame in memory.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Her doors locked?

               Not seen of late? Grant heavens that which I fear

               Prove false.

        Exit

65

65   

QUEEN

QUEEN             Son, I say, follow the king.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant

               I have not seen these two days.

        Exit

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     Go, look after.—

               Pisanio, thou that stand’st so for⁶⁹ Posthumus!

70

70            He hath a drug of mine: I pray his absence

               Proceed by⁷¹ swallowing that, for he believes

               It is a thing most precious. But for her,

               Where is she gone? Haply⁷³ despair hath seized her:

               Or, winged with fervour of her love, she’s flown

75

75            To her desired Posthumus: gone she is

               To death or to dishonour, and my end⁷⁶

               Can make good use of either. She being down,

               I have the placing⁷⁸ of the British crown.—

        Enter Cloten

               How now, my son?

80

80   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             ’Tis certain she is fled:

               Go in and cheer the king, he rages, none

               Dare come about him.

       

QUEEN

QUEEN     All the better: may Aside

               This night forestall⁸⁴ him of the coming day.

        Exit Queen

85

85   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             I love and hate her:⁸⁵ for she’s fair and royal,

               And that⁸⁶ she hath all courtly parts more exquisite

               Than lady, ladies, woman — from⁸⁷ every one

               The best she hath, and she, of all compounded,⁸⁸

               Outsells⁸⁹ them all — I love her therefore: but

90

90            Disdaining me, and throwing favours on

               The low Posthumus, slanders⁹¹ so her judgement

               That what’s else rare⁹² is choked: and in that point

               I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,

               To be revenged upon her. For when fools shall—

        Enter Pisanio

95

95            Who is here?— What, are you packing,⁹⁵ sirrah?

               Come hither: ah, you precious pander!⁹⁶ Villain,

               Where is thy lady? In a word, or else

               Thou⁹⁸ art straightway with the fiends. Threatens him

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     O, good my lord!

100

100 

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             Where is thy lady? Or, by Jupiter,

               I will not ask again. Close¹⁰¹ villain,

               I’ll have this secret from thy heart, or rip

               Thy heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus,

               From whose so many weights¹⁰⁴ of baseness cannot

105

105          A dram¹⁰⁵ of worth be drawn?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Alas, my lord,

               How can she be with him? When was she missed?

               He is in Rome.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Where is she, sir? Come nearer:¹⁰⁹

110

110          No further halting:¹¹⁰ satisfy me home,

               What is become of her?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     O my all-worthy lord!

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     All-worthy villain,

               Discover¹¹⁴ where thy mistress is at once,

115

115          At the next word: no more of ‘worthy lord!’

               Speak, or thy silence on the instant is

               Thy condemnation and thy death.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Then, sir,

               This paper is the history of my knowledge

120

120          Touching¹²⁰ her flight. Shows a letter

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Let’s see’t: I will pursue her

               Even to Augustus’ throne.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Or¹²³ this, or perish. Aside

               She’s far enough, and what he learns by this

125

125          May prove his travel,¹²⁵ not her danger.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Hum!

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I’ll write to my lord she’s dead: O Innogen, Aside

               Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Sirrah, is this letter true?

130

130 

PISANIO

PISANIO             Sir, as I think.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     It is Posthumus’ hand, I know’t. Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a villain, but do me true service, undergo¹³² those employments wherein I should have cause to use thee with a serious¹³³ industry, that is, what villainy soe’er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man: thou shouldst neither want¹³⁵ my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Well, my good lord.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Wilt thou serve me? For since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou canst not in the course¹³⁸ of gratitude but¹³⁹ be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou serve me?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Sir, I will.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Give me thy hand, here’s my purse. Hast¹⁴¹ any of thy late master’s garments in thy possession?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither: let it be thy first service, go.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I shall, my lord.

        Exit

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Meet thee at Milford Haven! — I forgot to ask him one thing, I’ll remember’t anon. — Even there, thou villain Posthumus, will I kill thee. I would these garments were come. She said upon a time¹⁵⁰ — the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart — that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that suit upon my back will I ravish her: first kill him, and in her eyes;¹⁵³ there shall she see my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my speech of insultment¹⁵⁵ ended on his dead body, and when my lust hath dined — which, as I say, to vex her I will execute in the clothes that she so praised — to the court I’ll knock¹⁵⁷ her back, foot her home again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I’ll be merry in my revenge.—

        Enter Pisanio With Posthumus’ clothes

Be those the garments?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Ay, my noble lord.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     How long is’t since she went to Milford Haven?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     She can scarce be there yet.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Bring this apparel to my chamber. That is the second thing that I have commanded thee. The third is that thou wilt be a voluntary mute¹⁶⁴ to my design. Be but duteous, and true preferment shall tender¹⁶⁵ itself to thee. My revenge is now at Milford: would I had wings to follow it. Come, and be true.

        Exit

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Thou bid’st me to my loss:¹⁶⁷ for true to thee

               Were to prove false, which I will never be,

               To him¹⁶⁹ that is most true. To Milford go,

170

170          And find not her whom thou pursuest. Flow, flow,

               You heavenly blessings, on her. This fool’s speed

               Be crossed¹⁷² with slowness; labour be his meed.

        Exit

Act 3 Scene 6^3.6

running scene 11

---

        Enter Innogen alone In boy’s clothes

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I see a man’s life is a tedious one:

               I have tired² myself, and for two nights together

               Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick,

               But that my resolution helps me. Milford,

5

5              When from the mountain-top Pisanio showed thee,

               Thou wast within a ken.⁶ O Jove, I think

               Foundations⁷ fly the wretched: such, I mean,

               Where they should be relieved. Two beggars told me

               I could not miss my way. Will poor folks lie,

10

10            That have afflictions on them, knowing ’tis

               A punishment or trial?¹¹ Yes; no wonder,

               When rich ones scarce¹² tell true. To lapse in fullness

               Is sorer¹³ than to lie for need, and falsehood

               Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord,

15

15            Thou art one o’th’false ones. Now I think on¹⁵ thee

               My hunger’s gone; but even before,¹⁶ I was

               At point¹⁷ to sink for food. But what is this?

               Here is a path to’t: ’tis some savage hold:¹⁸

               I were best¹⁹ not call; I dare not call: yet famine,

20

20            Ere²⁰ clean it o’erthrow nature, makes it valiant.

               Plenty and peace breeds cowards: hardness ever

               Of hardiness²² is mother. Ho! Who’s here?

               If anything that’s civil, speak: if savage,

               Take or lend.²⁴ Ho! No answer? Then I’ll enter.

25

25            Best²⁵ draw my sword; and if mine enemy

               But fear the sword like me, he’ll scarcely look on’t. Draws

               Such²⁷ a foe, good heavens!

        Exit [into the cave]

        Enter Belarius, Guiderius and Arviragus

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     You, Polydore, have proved best woodman²⁸ and

               Are master of the feast: Cadwal and I

30

30            Will play the cook and servant: ’tis our match.³⁰

               The³¹ sweat of industry would dry and die

               But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs

               Will make what’s homely³³ savoury: weariness

               Can snore upon the flint³⁴ when resty sloth

35

35            Finds the down³⁵ pillow hard. Now peace be here,

               Poor house, that keep’st thyself.³⁶

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I am throughly³⁷ weary.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     There is cold meat i’th’cave, we’ll browse³⁹ on that

40

40            Whilst what we have killed be cooked.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Stay; come not in: Looks into the cave

               But that⁴² it eats our victuals, I should think

               Here were a fairy.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     What’s the matter, sir?

45

45   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             By Jupiter, an angel! Or if not,

               An earthly paragon.⁴⁶ Behold divineness

               No elder than a boy.

        Enter Innogen

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Good masters, harm me not:

               Before I entered here, I called, and thought

50

50            To have begged or bought what I have took: good troth,⁵⁰

               I have stol’n nought,⁵¹ nor would not, though I had found

               Gold strewed i’th’floor.⁵² Here’s money for my meat: Offers money

               I would have left it on the board⁵³ so soon

               As I had made my meal, and parted⁵⁴

55

55            With prayers for the provider.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Money, youth?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,

               As ’tis no better reckoned⁵⁸ but of those

               Who worship dirty gods.

60

60   

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             I see you’re angry:

               Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should⁶¹

               Have died had I not made⁶² it.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Whither bound?⁶³

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     To Milford Haven.

65

65   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             What’s your name?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Fidele,⁶⁶ sir: I have a kinsman who

               Is bound for Italy; he embarked at Milford,

               To whom being going, almost spent⁶⁸ with hunger,

               I am fall’n in⁶⁹ this offence.

70

70   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Prithee, fair youth,

               Think us no churls:⁷¹ nor measure our good minds

               By this rude⁷² place we live in. Well encountered!

               ’Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer⁷³

               Ere you depart, and thanks⁷⁴ to stay and eat it.

75

75            Boys, bid him welcome.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Were you a woman, youth,

               I should woo hard⁷⁷ but be your groom in honesty:

               Ay,⁷⁸ bid for you as I’d buy.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     I’ll make’t my comfort

80

80            He is a man, I’ll love him as my brother:

               And such a welcome as I’d give to him

               After long absence, such is yours. Most welcome!

               Be sprightly,⁸³ for you fall ’mongst friends.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     ’Mongst⁸⁴ friends

85

85            If brothers.— Would it had been so that they Aside

               Had been my father’s sons, then had my prize⁸⁶

               Been less, and so more equal ballasting

               To thee, Posthumus.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     He wrings⁸⁹ at some distress.

90

90   

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Would I could free’t.⁹⁰

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Or I, whate’er it be,

               What pain it cost, what danger. Gods!

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Hark, boys. They whisper aside

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Great men To herself

95

95            That had a court no bigger than this cave,

               That did attend themselves⁹⁶ and had the virtue

               Which their own conscience sealed them⁹⁷ — laying by

               That nothing-gift⁹⁸ of differing multitudes —

               Could not out-peer⁹⁹ these twain. Pardon me, gods,

100

100          I’d change my sex to be companion with them,

               Since Leonatus’¹⁰¹ false.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     It shall be so:

               Boys, we’ll go dress our hunt.¹⁰³ Fair youth, come in:

               Discourse¹⁰⁴ is heavy, fasting: when we have supped

105

105          We’ll mannerly¹⁰⁵ demand thee of thy story,

               So far as thou wilt speak it.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Pray draw near.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     The¹⁰⁸ night to th’owl and morn to th’lark less welcome.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Thanks, sir.

110

110 

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             I pray draw near.

        Exeunt

Act 3 Scene 7^3.7

running scene 12

---

        Enter two Roman Senators and Tribunes

       

FIRST SENATOR

FIRST SENATOR     This is the tenor¹ of the emperor’s writ:

               That since the common men² are now in action

               Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians,³

               And that the legions now in Gallia are

5

5              Full⁵ weak to undertake our wars against

               The fall’n-off⁶ Britons, that we do incite

               The gentry to this business. He creates

               Lucius proconsul: and to you the tribunes,

               For this immediate levy, he commands⁹

10

10            His absolute commission.¹⁰ Long live Caesar!

       

TRIBUNE

TRIBUNE     Is Lucius general of the forces?

       

SECOND SENATOR

SECOND SENATOR     Ay.

       

TRIBUNE

TRIBUNE     Remaining now in Gallia?

       

FIRST SENATOR

FIRST SENATOR     With those legions

15

15            Which I have spoke of, whereunto your levy

               Must be supplyant:¹⁶ the words of your commission

               Will tie you to the numbers and the time

               Of their dispatch.

       

TRIBUNE

TRIBUNE     We will discharge our duty.

        Exeunt

Act 4 Scene 1^4.1

running scene 13

---

        Enter Cloten alone

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I am near to th’place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit² his garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit³ too? The rather — saving reverence of the word — for ’tis said a woman’s fitness comes by fits.⁴ Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, for it is not vainglory⁵ for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber; I mean, the lines of my body are as well drawn as his: no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage⁸ of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions;⁹ yet this imperceiverant thing loves him in my despite.¹⁰ What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off, thy mistress enforced,¹¹ thy garments cut to pieces before thy face: and all this done, spurn¹² her home to her father, who may haply¹³ be a little angry for my so rough usage: but my mother, having power of¹⁴ his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied up safe. Out, sword, and to a sore¹⁵ purpose! Draws Fortune put them into my hand. This is the very description of their meeting-place, and the fellow dares not deceive me.

        Exit

Act 4 Scene 2

running scene 14

---

        Enter Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus and Innogen from the cave Innogen disguised as Fideie

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     You are not well: remain here in the cave, To Innogen

               We’ll come to you after hunting.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Brother, stay here: To Innogen

               Are we not brothers?

5

5       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     So man and man should be,

               But clay and clay differs in dignity,

               Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Go you to hunting, I’ll abide with him.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     So sick I am not, yet I am not well:

10

10            But not so citizen¹⁰ a wanton as

               To seem to die ere¹¹ sick: so please you, leave me,

               Stick to your journal¹² course: the breach of custom

               Is breach of all. I am ill, but your being by me

               Cannot amend me.¹⁴ Society is no comfort

15

15            To one not sociable: I am not very sick,

               Since I can reason of¹⁶ it: pray you trust me here,

               I’ll rob none¹⁷ but myself, and let me die,

               Stealing so poorly.¹⁸

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I love thee: I have spoke it,

20

20            How much the quantity, the weight²⁰ as much,

               As I do love my father.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     What? How? How?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me²³

               In my good brother’s fault: I know not why

25

25            I love this youth, and I have heard you say

               Love’s reason’s without reason. The bier at door,²⁶

               And a demand who is’t shall die, I’d say

               ‘My father, not this youth.’

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     O noble strain!²⁹ Aside

30

30            O worthiness of nature, breed³⁰ of greatness!

               Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base:

               Nature hath meal and bran,³² contempt and grace.

               I’m not their father, yet³³ who this should be

               Doth miracle itself, loved before me.—

35

35            ’Tis the ninth hour o’th’morn. Aloud

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Brother, farewell.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I wish ye sport.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     You health.— So³⁸ please you, sir.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     These are kind creatures. Aside

40

40            Gods, what lies I have heard!

               Our courtiers say all’s savage but⁴¹ at court;

               Experience, O, thou disprov’st report!

               Th’imperious seas breeds monsters; for the dish

               Poor tributary⁴⁴ rivers as sweet fish:

45

45            I am sick still, heart-sick. Pisanio,

               I’ll now taste of thy drug. Drinks

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I could not stir⁴⁷ him:

               He said he was gentle,⁴⁸ but unfortunate;

               Dishonestly afflicted,⁴⁹ but yet honest.

50

50   

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             Thus did he answer me, yet said hereafter

               I might know more.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     To th’field,⁵² to th’field!

               We’ll leave you for this time, go in and rest.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     We’ll not be long away.

55

55   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Pray be not sick,

               For you must be our housewife.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Well or ill,

               I am bound⁵⁸ to you.

        Exit [into the cave]

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     And shalt be ever.

60

60            This youth, howe’er distressed,⁶⁰ appears he hath had

               Good ancestors.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     How angel-like he sings!

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     But his neat cookery! He cut our roots⁶³ in characters,

               And sauced our broths as⁶⁴ Juno had been sick

65

65            And he her dieter.⁶⁵

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Nobly he yokes⁶⁶

               A smiling with a sigh, as if the sigh

               Was that⁶⁸ it was for not being such a smile:

               The smile mocking the sigh, that it would fly

70

70            From so divine a temple, to commix⁷⁰

               With winds that sailors rail⁷¹ at.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I do note

               That grief and patience, rooted in him both,

               Mingle their spurs⁷⁴ together.

75

75   

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             Grow⁷⁵ patience,

               And let the stinking elder, grief, untwine

               His perishing root with⁷⁷ the increasing vine.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     It is great morning.⁷⁸ Come away.— Who’s there?

        Enter Cloten

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     I cannot find those runagates,⁷⁹ that villain

80

80            Hath mocked⁸⁰ me. I am faint.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     ‘Those runagates’?

               Means he not us? I partly know him, ’tis

               Cloten, the son o’th’queen. I fear some ambush.

               I saw him not these many years, and yet

85

85            I know ’tis he. We are held⁸⁵ as outlaws: hence!

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     He is but⁸⁶ one: you and my brother search

               What companies⁸⁷ are near: pray you away,

               Let me alone with him.

        [Exeunt Belarius and Arviragus]

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Soft,⁸⁹ what are you

90

90            That fly⁹⁰ me thus? Some villain mountaineers?

               I have heard of such. What slave art thou?

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     A thing

               More slavish did I ne’er than answering

               A⁹⁴ slave without a knock.

95

95   

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             Thou art a robber,

               A law-breaker, a villain: yield thee, thief.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     To who? To thee? What art thou? Have not I

               An arm as big as thine? A heart as big?

               Thy words I⁹⁹ grant are bigger, for I wear not

100

100          My dagger in my mouth. Say what thou art,

               Why I should yield to thee?

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Thou villain base,

               Know’st me not by my clothes?¹⁰³

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     No, nor thy tailor, rascal,

105

105          Who is thy grandfather: he made those clothes,

               Which, as it seems, make thee.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Thou precious varlet,¹⁰⁷

               My tailor made them not.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Hence, then, and thank

110

110          The man that gave them thee. Thou art some fool,

               I am loath¹¹¹ to beat thee.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Thou injurious¹¹² thief,

               Hear but my name, and tremble.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     What’s thy name?

115

115 

CLOTEN

CLOTEN             Cloten, thou villain.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Cloten, thou double villain be thy name,

               I cannot tremble at it: were it toad, or adder, spider,

               ’Twould move me sooner.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     To thy further fear,

120

120          Nay, to thy mere confusion,¹²⁰ thou shalt know

               I am son to th’queen.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I am sorry for’t: not seeming¹²²

               So¹²³ worthy as thy birth.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Art not afeard?

125

125 

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Those that I reverence, those I fear, the wise:

               At fools I laugh, not fear them.

       

CLOTEN

CLOTEN     Die the death:

               When I have slain thee with my proper¹²⁸ hand,

               I’ll follow those that even now fled hence,

130

130          And on¹³⁰ the gates of Lud’s town set your heads:

               Yield, rustic mountaineer.

        Fight and exeunt

        Enter Belarius and Arviragus

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     No company’s abroad?¹³²

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     None in the world: you did mistake him, sure.¹³³

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     I cannot tell: long is it since I saw him,

135

135          But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favour¹³⁵

               Which then he wore: the snatches¹³⁶ in his voice

               And burst of speaking were as his: I am absolute¹³⁷

               ’Twas very¹³⁸ Cloten.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     In this place we left them.

140

140          I wish my brother make¹⁴⁰ good time with him,

               You say he is so fell.¹⁴¹

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Being¹⁴² scarce made up,

               I mean to man, he had not apprehension¹⁴³

               Of roaring terrors: for defect of judgement¹⁴⁴

145

145          Is oft the cause of fear.

        Enter Guiderius With Cloten’s head

               But see thy brother.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     This Cloten was a fool, an empty purse,

               There was no money in’t: not Hercules¹⁴⁸

               Could have knocked out his brains, for he had none:

150

150          Yet I¹⁵⁰ not doing this, the fool had borne

               My head, as I do his.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     What hast thou done?

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     I am perfect¹⁵³ what: cut off one Cloten’s head,

               Son to the queen, after¹⁵⁴ his own report,

155

155          Who called me traitor, mountaineer, and swore

               With his own single hand he’d take us in,¹⁵⁶

               Displace our heads where — thank the gods — they grow,

               And set them on Lud’s town.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     We are all undone.

160

160 

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Why, worthy father, what have we to lose

               But that he swore to take, our lives? The¹⁶¹ law

               Protects not us, then why should we be tender¹⁶²

               To let an arrogant piece of flesh threat¹⁶³ us,

               Play judge and executioner all himself,

165

165          For¹⁶⁵ we do fear the law? What company

               Discover you abroad?

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     No single soul

               Can we set eye on, but in all safe¹⁶⁸ reason

               He must have some attendants. Though his humour¹⁶⁹

170

170          Was nothing but mutation,¹⁷⁰ ay, and that

               From one bad thing to worse, not frenzy,

               Not absolute madness could so far have raved

               To bring him here alone: although perhaps

               It may be heard at court that such as we

175

175          Cave¹⁷⁵ here, hunt here, are outlaws, and in time

               May make¹⁷⁶ some stronger head, the which he hearing —

               As it is like him¹⁷⁷ — might break out and swear

               He’d fetch us in,¹⁷⁸ yet is’t not probable

               To come¹⁷⁹ alone, either he so undertaking,

180

180          Or they so suffering:¹⁸⁰ then on good ground we fear,

               If we do fear this body hath a tail¹⁸¹

               More perilous than the head.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Let ord’nance¹⁸³

               Come as the gods foresay¹⁸⁴ it: howsoe’er,

185

185          My brother hath done well.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     I had no mind¹⁸⁶

               To hunt this day: the boy Fidele’s sickness

               Did make my way long forth.¹⁸⁸

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     With his own sword,

190

190          Which he did wave against my throat, I have ta’en

               His head from him: I’ll throw’t into the creek

               Behind our rock, and let it to¹⁹² the sea

               And tell the fishes he’s the queen’s son, Cloten:

               That’s all I reck.¹⁹⁴

        Exit

195

195 

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             I fear ’twill be revenged:

               Would, Polydore, thou hadst not done’t, though valour

               Becomes thee well enough.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Would I had done’t,

               So¹⁹⁹ the revenge alone pursued me! Polydore,

200

200          I love thee brotherly, but envy much

               Thou hast robbed me of this deed: I would²⁰¹ revenges

               That possible strength²⁰² might meet would seek us through

               And put²⁰³ us to our answer.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Well, ’tis done:

205

205          We’ll hunt no more today, nor seek for danger

               Where there’s no profit. I prithee, to our rock,

               You and Fidele play the cooks: I’ll stay

               Till hasty²⁰⁸ Polydore return, and bring him

               To dinner presently.

210

210 

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             Poor sick Fidele!

               I’ll willingly to him: to gain²¹¹ his colour

               I’d let²¹² a parish of such Clotens’ blood,

               And praise myself for charity.

        Exit [into the cave]

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     O thou goddess,

215

215          Thou divine Nature, thou thyself thou blazon’st²¹⁵

               In these two princely boys! They are as gentle

               As zephyrs²¹⁷ blowing below the violet,

               Not wagging²¹⁸ his sweet head; and yet as rough,

               Their royal blood enchafed,²¹⁹ as the rud’st wind,

220

220          That by the top doth take the mountain pine,

               And make him stoop to th’vale. ’Tis wonder

               That an invisible instinct should frame²²² them

               To royalty unlearned, honour untaught,

               Civility not seen from other,²²⁴ valour

225

225          That wildly²²⁵ grows in them, but yields a crop

               As if it had been sowed. Yet still it’s strange

               What Cloten’s being here to us portends,

               Or what his death will bring us.

        Enter Guiderius

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Where’s my brother?

230

230          I have sent Cloten’s clotpoll²³⁰ down the stream

               In embassy to his mother; his body’s hostage

               For his return.

        Solemn music

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     My ingenious²³³ instrument!

               Hark, Polydore, it sounds: but what occasion²³⁴

235

235          Hath Cadwal now to give it motion?²³⁵ Hark!

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Is he at home?

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     He went hence even now.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     What does he mean? Since death of my dear’st mother

               It did not speak²³⁹ before. All solemn things

240

240          Should answer²⁴⁰ solemn accidents. The matter?

               Triumphs²⁴¹ for nothing and lamenting toys

               Is jollity for apes²⁴² and grief for boys.

               Is Cadwal mad?

        Enter Arviragus, with Innogen dead, bearing her in his arms

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Look, here he comes,

245

245          And brings the dire occasion in his arms

               Of what we blame him for.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     The bird is dead

               That we have made so much on.²⁴⁸ I had rather

               Have skipped from sixteen years of age to sixty,

250

250          To have turned²⁵⁰ my leaping time into a crutch,

               Than have seen this.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     O sweetest, fairest lily!

               My brother wears thee not the²⁵³ one half so well

               As when thou grew’st thyself.

255

255 

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             O melancholy,

               Who ever yet could sound thy bottom?²⁵⁶ Find

               The ooze²⁵⁷ to show what coast thy sluggish crare

               Might easiliest²⁵⁸ harbour in? Thou blessèd thing,

               Jove knows what man thou mightst have made: but, ay,

260

260          Thou died’st a most rare²⁶⁰ boy, of melancholy.

               How found you him?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Stark,²⁶² as you see:

               Thus smiling, as²⁶³ some fly had tickled slumber,

               Not²⁶⁴ as death’s dart being laughed at: his right cheek

265

265          Reposing on a cushion.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Where?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     O’th’floor:

               His arms thus leagued,²⁶⁸ I thought he slept, and put

               My clouted brogues²⁶⁹ from off my feet, whose rudeness

270

270          Answered²⁷⁰ my steps too loud.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Why, he but²⁷¹ sleeps:

               If he be gone, he’ll²⁷² make his grave a bed:

               With female fairies will his tomb be haunted,

               And worms will not come to thee.

275

275 

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             With fairest flowers

               Whilst summer lasts and I live here, Fidele,

               I’ll sweeten thy sad grave: thou shalt not lack

               The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor

               The azured²⁷⁹ harebell, like thy veins: no, nor

280

280          The leaf of eglantine,²⁸⁰ whom not to slander,

               Out-sweetened not thy breath: the ruddock²⁸¹ would

               With charitable bill — O bill sore shaming

               Those rich-left heirs that let their fathers lie

               Without a monument! — bring thee all this,

285

285          Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none,

               To winter-ground²⁸⁶ thy corpse—

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Prithee, have done,

               And do not play in wench-like²⁸⁸ words with that

               Which is so serious. Let us bury him,

290

290          And not protract with admiration²⁹⁰ what

               Is now due debt.²⁹¹ To th’grave.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Say, where shall’s²⁹² lay him?

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     By good Euriphile, our mother.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Be’t so:

295

295          And let us, Polydore, though now our voices

               Have²⁹⁶ got the mannish crack, sing him to th’ground

               As once²⁹⁷ our mother: use like note and words,

               Save²⁹⁸ that Euriphile must be Fidele.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Cadwal,

300

300          I cannot sing: I’ll weep, and word³⁰⁰ it with thee,

               For notes of sorrow out of tune are worse

               Than priests and fanes³⁰² that lie.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     We’ll speak it, then.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Great griefs, I see, med’cine the less,³⁰⁴ for Cloten

305

305          Is quite forgot. He was a queen’s son, boys,

               And though he came³⁰⁶ our enemy, remember

               He was paid³⁰⁷ for that: though mean and mighty rotting

               Together have one dust, yet reverence,³⁰⁸

               That angel of the world, doth make distinction

310

310          Of place ’tween high and low. Our foe was princely,

               And though you took his life as being our foe,

               Yet bury him as a prince.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Pray you fetch him hither.

               Thersites’³¹⁴ body is as good as Ajax’

315

315          When neither are alive.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     If you’ll go fetch him,

               We’ll say our song the whilst.³¹⁷ Brother, begin.

        [Exit Belarius]

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Nay, Cadwal, we must lay his head to th’east.³¹⁸

               My father hath a reason for’t.

320

320 

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             ’Tis true.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Come on then, and remove³²¹ him.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     So, Begin.

                                    Song Spoken or chanted, not sung?

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Fear no more the heat o’th’sun,

                                    Nor the furious winter’s rages,

325

325                                    Thou thy worldly task hast done,

                                    Home³²⁶ art gone, and ta’en thy wages.

                                    Golden³²⁷ lads and girls all must,

                                    As³²⁸ chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Fear no more the frown o’th’great,

330

330                                    Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke,

                                    Care no more to clothe and eat,

                                    To thee the reed is as the oak.

                                    The sceptre, learning, physic,³³³ must

                                    All follow this and come to dust.

335

335 

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Fear no more the lightning flash,

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Nor th’all-dreaded thunder-stone.³³⁶

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Fear not slander, censure rash.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Thou hast finished joy and moan.

       

BOTH

BOTH     All lovers young, all lovers must

340

340                                    Consign to thee³⁴⁰ and come to dust.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     No exorcizer³⁴¹ harm thee,

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Nor no witchcraft charm³⁴² thee.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Ghost³⁴³ unlaid forbear thee.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Nothing ill come near thee.

345

345 

BOTH

BOTH             Quiet consummation³⁴⁵ have,

                                    And renownèd be thy grave.

        Enter Belarius with the body of Cloten

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     We have done our obsequies:³⁴⁷ come, lay him down.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Here’s a few flowers, but ’bout midnight more:

               The herbs that have on them cold dew o’th’night

350

350          Are strewings fitt’st for graves: upon their faces.³⁵⁰

               You were as flowers, now withered: even so

               These herblets shall,³⁵² which we upon you strew.

               Come on, away, apart³⁵³ upon our knees:

               The ground that gave them first³⁵⁴ has them again:

355

355          Their pleasures here are past, so is their pain.

        Exeunt [all but Innogen]

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Yes, sir, to Milford Haven, which is the way?

        Awakes

               I thank you: by yond bush? Pray how far thither?

               ’Od’s pittikins:³⁵⁸ can it be six mile yet?

               I have gone³⁵⁹ all night: faith, I’ll lie down and sleep.

        Sees Cloten’s body

360

360          But³⁶⁰ soft, no bedfellow! O gods and goddesses!

               These flowers are like the pleasures of the world,

               This bloody man the care on’t.³⁶² I hope I dream:

               For so³⁶³ I thought I was a cave-keeper,

               And cook to honest creatures. But ’tis not so:

365

365          ’Twas but a bolt³⁶⁵ of nothing, shot at nothing,

               Which the brain makes of fumes.³⁶⁶ Our very eyes

               Are sometimes like our judgements, blind. Good faith,

               I tremble still with fear: but if there be

               Yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity

370

370          As a wren’s eye,³⁷⁰ feared gods, a part of it!

               The dream’s here still: even when I wake it is

               Without³⁷² me, as within me: not imagined, felt.

               A headless man? The garments of Posthumus?

               I know the shape of’s leg: this is his hand:

375

375          His³⁷⁵ foot mercurial: his martial thigh:

               The brawns³⁷⁶ of Hercules: but his jovial face—

               Murder in heaven! How? ’Tis gone. Pisanio,

               All curses madded³⁷⁸ Hecuba gave the Greeks,

               And mine to boot, be darted³⁷⁹ on thee! Thou,

380

380          Conspired³⁸⁰ with that irregulous devil, Cloten,

               Hath here cut off my lord. To write and read

               Be henceforth treacherous! Damned Pisanio

               Hath with his forgèd letters — damned Pisanio —

               From this³⁸⁴ most bravest vessel of the world

385

385          Struck the main-top!³⁸⁵ O Posthumus, alas,

               Where is thy head? Where’s that? Ay me! Where’s that?

               Pisanio might have killed thee at the heart,

               And left this head on. How should this be, Pisanio?

               ’Tis he and Cloten: malice and lucre³⁸⁹ in them

390

390          Have laid³⁹⁰ this woe here. O, ’tis pregnant, pregnant!

               The drug he gave me, which he said was precious

               And cordial³⁹² to me, have I not found it

               Murd’rous to th’senses? That confirms it home:³⁹³

               This is Pisanio’s deed, and Cloten: O,

395

395          Give³⁹⁵ colour to my pale cheek with thy blood,

               That we the horrider³⁹⁶ may seem to those

               Which chance³⁹⁷ to find us! O my lord, my lord! Embraces the body

        Enter Lucius, Captains and a Soothsayer

       

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN     To them the legions garrisoned in Gallia³⁹⁸

               After³⁹⁹ your will have crossed the sea, attending

400

400          You here at Milford Haven with your ships:

               They are in readiness.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     But what from Rome?

       

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN     The senate hath stirred up the confiners⁴⁰³

               And gentlemen of Italy, most willing spirits,

405

405          That promise noble service: and they come

               Under the conduct of bold Iachimo,

               Siena’s⁴⁰⁷ brother.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     When expect you them?

       

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN     With the next benefit⁴⁰⁹ o’th’wind.

410

410 

LUCIUS

LUCIUS             This forwardness⁴¹⁰

               Makes our hopes fair. Command our present numbers

               Be mustered: bid the captains look to’t. Now, sir,

               What have you dreamed of late of this war’s purpose?⁴¹³

       

SOOTHSAYER

SOOTHSAYER     Last night the very gods showed me a vision —

415

415          I fast,⁴¹⁵ and prayed for their intelligence — thus:

               I saw Jove’s bird, the Roman eagle, winged⁴¹⁶

               From the spongy⁴¹⁷ south to this part of the west,

               There vanished in the sunbeams: which portends⁴¹⁸ —

               Unless my sins⁴¹⁹ abuse my divination —

420

420          Success to th’Roman host.⁴²⁰

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Dream often so,

               And never false.— Soft ho, what trunk⁴²² is here? Sees Cloten’s body

               Without his⁴²³ top? The ruin speaks that sometime

               It was a worthy building. How, a page?

425

425          Or⁴²⁵ dead or sleeping on him? But dead rather:

               For nature doth abhor⁴²⁶ to make his bed

               With the defunct,⁴²⁷ or sleep upon the dead.

               Let’s see the boy’s face.

       

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN     He’s alive, my lord.

430

430 

LUCIUS

LUCIUS             He’ll then instruct us of⁴³⁰ this body. Young one,

               Inform us of thy fortunes, for it seems

               They crave⁴³² to be demanded: who is this

               Thou mak’st thy bloody pillow? Or who was he

               That, otherwise than noble nature did,

435

435          Hath altered⁴³⁵ that good picture? What’s thy interest

               In this sad wreck?⁴³⁶ How came’t? Who is’t?

               What art thou?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I am nothing; or if not,

               Nothing to be were better. This was my master,

440

440          A very valiant Briton, and a good,

               That here by mountaineers lies slain. Alas,

               There is⁴⁴² no more such masters: I may wander

               From east to occident,⁴⁴³ cry out for service,

               Try many, all good, serve truly, never

445

445          Find such another master.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     ’Lack,⁴⁴⁶ good youth,

               Thou mov’st no less with thy complaining⁴⁴⁷ than

               Thy master in bleeding: say his name, good friend.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Richard du Champ.— If I do lie and do Aside

450

450          No harm by it, though the gods hear, I hope

               They’ll pardon it.— Say you,⁴⁵¹ sir?

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Thy name?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Fidele, sir.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Thou dost approve⁴⁵⁴ thyself the very same:

455

455          Thy name well fits thy faith, thy faith thy name.

               Wilt take thy chance with me? I will not say

               Thou shalt be so well mastered, but be sure

               No less beloved. The Roman emperor’s letters,

               Sent by a consul to me, should not sooner

460

460          Than thine own worth prefer⁴⁶⁰ thee: go with me.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I’ll follow, sir. But first, an’t⁴⁶¹ please the gods,

               I’ll hide my master from the flies, as deep

               As these poor pickaxes⁴⁶³ can dig: and when

               With wildwood leaves and weeds I ha’ strewed his grave,

465

465          And on it said a century of⁴⁶⁵ prayers,

               Such as I can,⁴⁶⁶ twice o’er, I’ll weep and sigh,

               And leaving so his service, follow you,

               So⁴⁶⁸ please you entertain me.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Ay, good youth,

470

470          And rather father thee than master thee.

               My friends,

               The boy hath taught us manly duties: let us

               Find out the prettiest daisied plot we can,

               And make him with our pikes⁴⁷⁴ and partisans

475

475          A grave: come, arm him.⁴⁷⁵ Boy, he is preferred

               By thee to us, and he shall be interred

               As soldiers can.⁴⁷⁷ Be cheerful, wipe thine eyes:

               Some falls are means the happier to arise.

        Exeunt

Act 4 Scene 3^4.3

running scene 15

---

        Enter Cymbeline, Lords and Pisanio [with Attendants]

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Again,¹ and bring me word how ’tis with her.

        [Exit an Attendant]

               A fever with² the absence of her son,

               A madness of³ which her life’s in danger: heavens,

               How deeply you at once do touch⁴ me! Innogen,

5

5              The great part of my comfort, gone: my queen

               Upon⁶ a desperate bed, and in a time

               When fearful wars point at me: her son gone,

               So needful for this present.⁸ It strikes me, past

               The hope of comfort. But for thee, fellow,

10

10            Who needs must know of her departure and

               Dost seem so ignorant, we’ll enforce¹¹ it from thee

               By a sharp torture.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Sir, my life is yours,

               I humbly set it at your will: but for my mistress,

15

15            I nothing know¹⁵ where she remains, why gone,

               Nor when she purposes¹⁶ return. Beseech your highness,

               Hold¹⁷ me your loyal servant.

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Good my liege,

               The day that she was missing he was here:

20

20            I dare be bound he’s true, and shall perform

               All parts of his subjection²¹ loyally. For Cloten,

               There wants²² no diligence in seeking him,

               And will²³ no doubt be found.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     The time is troublesome.—

25

25            We’ll slip²⁵ you for a season, but our jealousy To Pisanio

               Does yet depend.²⁶

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     So please your majesty,

               The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,

               Are landed on your coast with a supply

30

30            Of Roman gentlemen³⁰ by the senate sent.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Now for³¹ the counsel of my son and queen!

               I am amazed with matter.³²

       

FIRST LORD

FIRST LORD     Good my liege,

               Your preparation can affront³⁴ no less

35

35            Than what you hear of. Come more,³⁵ for more you’re ready:

               The³⁶ want is but to put those powers in motion

               That long to move.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     I thank you: let’s withdraw

               And meet the time as it seeks us. We fear not

40

40            What can from Italy annoy⁴⁰ us, but

               We grieve at chances⁴¹ here. Away.

        Exeunt [all but Pisanio]

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     I heard no letter⁴² from my master since

               I wrote him Innogen was slain. ’Tis strange:

               Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise

45

45            To yield me often tidings. Neither know I

               What is betid⁴⁶ to Cloten, but remain

               Perplexed in all. The heavens still must work.

               Wherein I am false I am honest: not true, to be true.

               These present wars shall find⁴⁹ I love my country,

50

50            Even⁵⁰ to the note o’th’king, or I’ll fall in them.

               All other doubts, by time let them be cleared:

               Fortune⁵² brings in some boats that are not steered.

        Exit

Act 4 Scene 4^4.4

running scene 16

---

        Enter Belarius, Guiderius and Arviragus

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     The noise¹ is round about us.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Let us from it.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it³

               From action and adventure?

5

5     

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             Nay, what hope

               Have we in hiding us? This way⁶ the Romans

               Must or for⁷ Britons slay us or receive us

               For barbarous and unnatural revolts

               During their use, and slay us after.

10

10   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Sons,

               We’ll higher to the mountains, there secure us.¹¹

               To the king’s party there’s no going: newness

               Of Cloten’s death — we being not¹³ known, not mustered

               Among the bands — may drive¹⁴ us to a render

15

15            Where we have lived, and so extort from’s¹⁵ that

               Which we have done, whose answer¹⁶ would be death

               Drawn on with¹⁷ torture.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     This is, sir, a doubt

               In such a time nothing becoming you,

20

20            Nor satisfying us.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     It is not likely

               That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,

               Behold their quartered fires,²³ have both their eyes

               And ears so cloyed importantly²⁴ as now,

25

25            That they will waste their time upon our note,²⁵

               To know from whence we are.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     O, I am known

               Of²⁸ many in the army: many years,

               Though Cloten then²⁹ but young, you see, not wore him

30

30            From my remembrance.³⁰ And besides, the king

               Hath not deserved my service nor your loves,

               Who find in my exile the want of breeding,³²

               The certainty³³ of this hard life, aye hopeless

               To have the courtesy³⁴ your cradle promised,

35

35            But to be still³⁵ hot summer’s tanlings and

               The shrinking³⁶ slaves of winter.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Than be so,

               Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th’army:

               I and my brother are not known; yourself

40

40            So out of thought,⁴⁰ and thereto so o’ergrown,

               Cannot be questioned.⁴¹

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     By this sun that shines,

               I’ll thither: what thing is’t⁴³ that I never

               Did see man die, scarce ever looked on blood

45

45            But that of coward hares, hot⁴⁵ goats and venison!

               Never bestrid a horse, save one that had

               A rider like myself, who ne’er wore rowel

               Nor iron⁴⁷ on his heel! I am ashamed

               To look upon the holy sun, to have

50

50            The benefit of his blest beams, remaining

               So long a poor unknown.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     By heavens, I’ll go:

               If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,

               I’ll take the better care:⁵⁴ but if you will not,

55

55            The hazard therefore due⁵⁵ fall on me by

               The hands of Romans.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     So say I, amen.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     No reason I, since of your lives you set

               So slight a valuation, should reserve

60

60            My cracked⁶⁰ one to more care. Have with you, boys!

               If in your country⁶¹ wars you chance to die,

               That is my bed too, lads, and there I’ll lie.

               Lead, lead.— The time seems long, their⁶³ blood thinks scorn Aside

               Till it fly out and show them princes born.

        Exeunt

Act 5 Scene 1^*

running scene 17

---

        Enter Posthumus alone With a bloody handkerchief

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Yea, bloody cloth,¹ I’ll keep thee: for I wished

               Thou shouldst be coloured thus. You married ones,

               If each of you should take this course,³ how many

               Must murder wives much better than themselves

5

5              For wrying⁵ but a little? O Pisanio,

               Every good servant does not⁶ all commands:

               No bond but⁷ to do just ones. Gods, if you

               Should have⁸ ta’en vengeance on my faults, I never

               Had lived to put on this:⁹ so had you saved

10

10            The noble Innogen to repent,¹⁰ and struck

               Me, wretch, more worth¹¹ your vengeance. But alack,

               You snatch some hence for little faults; that’s love,

               To have them fall¹³ no more: you some permit

               To second¹⁴ ills with ills, each elder worse,

15

15            And make¹⁵ them dread it, to the doer’s thrift.

               But Innogen is your own: do your best wills,

               And make me blest to obey. I am brought hither

               Among th’Italian gentry, and to fight

               Against my lady’s kingdom: ’tis enough

20

20            That, Britain, I have killed thy mistress: peace,

               I’ll give no wound to thee. Therefore, good heavens,

               Hear patiently my purpose: I’ll disrobe me

               Of these Italian weeds²³ and suit myself

               As does a Briton peasant: so I’ll fight

25

25            Against the part²⁵ I come with: so I’ll die

               For thee, O Innogen, even for whom my life

               Is every breath a death: and thus, unknown,

               Pitied²⁸ nor hated, to the face of peril

               Myself I’ll dedicate. Let me make men know

30

30            More valour in me than my habits³⁰ show.

               Gods, put the strength o’th’Leonati in me!

               To shame the guise³² o’th’world, I will begin

               The fashion, less³³ without and more within.

        Exit

Act 5 Scene 2

running scene 18

---

        Enter Lucius, Iachimo and the Roman army at one door: and the Briton army at another: Leonatus Posthumus following like a poor soldier. They march over and go out. Then enter again, in skirmish, Iachimo and Posthumus: he vanquisheth and disarmeth Iachimo, and then leaves him

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     The heaviness and guilt within my bosom¹

               Takes off² my manhood: I have belied a lady,

               The princess of this country, and the air on’t³

               Revengingly enfeebles me; or could⁴ this carl,

5

5              A very⁵ drudge of nature’s, have subdued me

               In my profession?⁶ Knighthoods and honours, borne

               As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn.⁷

               If that thy gentry, Britain, go before⁸

               This lout as he exceeds our lords, the odds⁹

10

10            Is that we scarce are men and you are gods.

        Exit

        The battle continues, the Britons fly, Cymbeline is taken: then enter, to his rescue, Belarius, Guiderius and Arviragus

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Stand, stand, we have th’advantage of the ground.

               The lane is guarded: nothing routs¹² us but

               The villainy of our fears.

       

GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS

GUIDERIUS      Stand, stand and fight.

        Enter Posthumus and seconds the Britons. They rescue Cymbeline, and exeunt. Then enter Lucius, Iachimo and Innogen

15

15   

LUCIUS

LUCIUS             Away, boy, from the troops, and save thyself:

               For friends kill friends, and the disorder’s such

               As¹⁷ war were hoodwinked.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     ’Tis their fresh supplies.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     It is a day turned strangely: or¹⁹ betimes

20

               Let’s reinforce, or fly.

        Exeunt

Act 5 Scene 3

running scene 18 continues

---

        Enter Posthumus and a Briton Lord

       

LORD

LORD     Cam’st thou from where they made the stand?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I did.

               Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.³

       

LORD

LORD     I did.

5

5     

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             No blame be to you, sir, for all was lost,

               But⁶ that the heavens fought: the king himself

               Of his wings⁷ destitute, the army broken,

               And but⁸ the backs of Britons seen, all flying

               Through a strait⁹ lane: the enemy full-hearted,

10

10            Lolling the tongue¹⁰ with slaught’ring, having work

               More plentiful than tools to do’t, struck down

               Some mortally,¹² some slightly touched, some falling

               Merely through fear, that the strait pass was dammed¹³

               With dead men hurt behind, and cowards living

15

15            To die with lengthened¹⁵ shame.

       

LORD

LORD     Where was this lane?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Close by the battle, ditched and walled with turf,

               Which gave advantage to an ancient¹⁸ soldier,

               An honest one, I warrant, who¹⁹ deserved

20

20            So long a breeding as his white beard came to

               In doing this for’s country. Athwart the lane,

               He, with two striplings²² — lads more like to run

               The country base than to commit such slaughter,

               With faces fit for masks,²⁴ or rather fairer

25

25            Than those for preservation cased, or shame —

               Made good²⁶ the passage, cried to those that fled,

               ‘Our Britain’s harts²⁷ die flying, not our men:

               To²⁸ darkness fleet souls that fly backwards. Stand,

               Or we are Romans, and will give you that²⁹

30

30            Like beasts³⁰ which you shun beastly, and may save

               But to look back in frown:³¹ stand, stand.’ These three,

               Three³² thousand confident, in act as many —

               For three performers are the file³³ when all

               The rest do nothing — with this word ‘Stand, stand’,

35

35            Accommodated³⁵ by the place, more charming

               With their own nobleness, which could have turned

               A distaff³⁷ to a lance, gilded pale looks;

               Part³⁸ shame, part spirit renewed, that some, turned coward

               But by example³⁹ — O, a sin in war,

40

40            Damned in the first beginners! — ’gan⁴⁰ to look

               The way that they did, and to grin⁴¹ like lions

               Upon the pikes o’th’hunters. Then began

               A stop i’th’chaser;⁴³ a retire: anon

               A rout, confusion thick: forthwith they fly

45

45            Chickens the way which they⁴⁵ stooped eagles: slaves,

               The strides they victors made: and now our cowards,

               Like⁴⁷ fragments in hard voyages, became

               The life o’th’need: having⁴⁸ found the back door open

               Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they wound!

50

50            Some⁵⁰ slain before, some dying, some their friends

               O’erborne i’th’former wave, ten chased by one,

               Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty:

               Those that would die or ere resist⁵³ are grown

               The mortal bugs⁵⁴ o’th’field.

55

55   

LORD

LORD             This was strange chance:

               A narrow lane, an old man, and two boys.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Nay, do not wonder at it:⁵⁷ you are made

               Rather to wonder at the things you hear

               Than to work any.⁵⁹ Will you rhyme upon’t,

60

60            And vent⁶⁰ it for a mock’ry? Here is one:

               ‘Two boys, an old man — twice a boy⁶¹ — a lane,

               Preserved the Britons, was the Romans’ bane.⁶²’

       

LORD

LORD     Nay, be not angry, sir.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     ’Lack,⁶⁴ to what end?

65

65            Who dares not stand⁶⁵ his foe, I’ll be his friend:

               For if he’ll do as he is made⁶⁶ to do,

               I know he’ll quickly fly my friendship⁶⁷ too.

               You have put me into rhyme.

       

LORD

LORD     Farewell, you’re angry.

        Exit

70

70   

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Still going?⁷⁰ This is a lord! O noble misery,

               To be i’th’field and ask ‘What news?’ of me.

               Today how many would have given their honours⁷²

               To have saved their carcasses? Took⁷³ heel to do’t,

               And yet died too.⁷⁴ I, in mine own woe charmed,

75

75            Could not find death where I did hear him groan,

               Nor feel him where he struck. Being an ugly monster,

               ’Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,

               Sweet words, or hath more ministers⁷⁸ than we

               That draw his knives i’th’war. Well, I will find him:

80

80            For⁸⁰ being now a favourer to the Briton,

               No more a Briton, I have resumed again

               The part⁸² I came in. Fight I will no more,

               But yield me to the veriest hind⁸³ that shall

               Once touch my shoulder.⁸⁴ Great the slaughter is

85

85            Here made⁸⁵ by th’Roman; great the answer be

               Britons must take. For me, my ransom’s death,

               On either side⁸⁷ I come to spend my breath,

               Which neither here I’ll keep⁸⁸ nor bear again,

               But end it by some means for Innogen.

        Enter two Captains and Soldiers

90

90   

FIRST CAPTAIN

FIRST CAPTAIN             Great Jupiter be praised, Lucius is taken.

               ’Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.

       

SECOND CAPTAIN

SECOND CAPTAIN     There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,⁹²

               That gave th’affront⁹³ with them.

       

FIRST CAPTAIN

FIRST CAPTAIN     So ’tis reported:

95

95            But none of ’em can be found. Stand, who’s there?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     A Roman,

               Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds⁹⁷

               Had answered him.⁹⁸

       

SECOND CAPTAIN

SECOND CAPTAIN     Lay hands on him: a dog,

100

100          A¹⁰⁰ leg of Rome shall not return to tell

               What crows have pecked them here: he brags his service

               As if he were of note:¹⁰² bring him to th’king.

        Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio and Roman Captives [with Jailers]. The Captains present Posthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a Jailer

        [Exeunt all but Posthumus and two Jailers]

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     You¹⁰⁴ shall not now be stol’n, you have locks upon you;

               So graze as you find pasture.

105

105   

SECOND JAILER

SECOND JAILER             Ay, or a stomach.¹⁰⁵

        [Exeunt Jailers]

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Most welcome bondage, for thou art a way,

               I think, to liberty: yet am I better

               Than one that’s sick o’th’gout, since he had rather

               Groan¹⁰⁹ so in perpetuity than be cured

110

110          By th’sure physician, death, who is the key

               T’unbar¹¹¹ these locks. My conscience, thou art fettered

               More than my shanks¹¹² and wrists: you good gods give me

               The¹¹³ penitent instrument to pick that bolt,

               Then free for ever.¹¹⁴ Is’t enough I am sorry?

115

115          So children temporal¹¹⁵ fathers do appease;

               Gods are more full of mercy. Must I¹¹⁶ repent,

               I cannot do it better than in gyves,¹¹⁷

               Desired more than constrained:¹¹⁸ to satisfy,

               If¹¹⁹ of my freedom ’tis the main part, take

120

120          No stricter render¹²⁰ of me than my all.

               I know you are more clement¹²¹ than vile men,

               Who of¹²² their broken debtors take a third,

               A sixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again

               On their abatement:¹²⁴ that’s not my desire.

125

125          For Innogen’s dear life take mine, and though

               ’Tis not so dear, yet ’tis a life; you coined¹²⁶ it.

               ’Tween man and man they weigh not every stamp:¹²⁷

               Though light,¹²⁸ take pieces for the figure’s sake.

               You¹²⁹ rather mine, being yours: and so, great powers,

130

130          If you will take this audit,¹³⁰ take this life,

               And cancel these cold bonds.¹³¹ O Innogen,

               I’ll speak to thee in silence. Sleeps

        Solemn music. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father to Posthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior, leading in his hand an ancient matron, his wife and mother to Posthumus, with music before them. Then, after other music, follows the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Posthumus round as he lies sleeping

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     No more, thou thunder-master,¹³³ show

               Thy spite on mortal flies:¹³⁴

135

135          With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,

               That¹³⁶ thy adulteries

               Rates¹³⁷ and revenges.

               Hath my poor boy done aught¹³⁸ but well,

               Whose face I never saw?

140

140          I died whilst in the womb he stayed

               Attending nature’s law,¹⁴¹

               Whose father then — as men report

               Thou orphans’ father art —

               Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him

145

145          From this earth-vexing smart.¹⁴⁵

       

MOTHER

MOTHER     Lucina¹⁴⁶ lent not me her aid,

               But took¹⁴⁷ me in my throes,

               That¹⁴⁸ from me was Posthumus ripped,

               Came crying ’mongst his foes,

150

150          A thing of pity.

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     Great nature, like his ancestry,

               Moulded the stuff¹⁵² so fair,

               That he deserved the praise o’th’world,

               As great Sicilius’ heir.

155

155 

FIRST BROTHER

FIRST BROTHER             When once¹⁵⁵ he was mature for man,

               In Britain where was he

               That could stand up his parallel,

               Or fruitful¹⁵⁸ object be

               In eye of Innogen, that best

160

160          Could deem his dignity?¹⁶⁰

       

MOTHER

MOTHER     With marriage wherefore¹⁶¹ was he mocked,

               To be exiled, and thrown

               From Leonati seat,¹⁶³ and cast

               From her his dearest one,

165

165          Sweet Innogen?

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     Why did you suffer¹⁶⁶ Iachimo,

               Slight¹⁶⁷ thing of Italy,

               To taint¹⁶⁸ his nobler heart and brain

               With needless jealousy,

170

170          And to become the geck¹⁷⁰ and scorn

               O’th’other’s villainy?

       

SECOND BROTHER

SECOND BROTHER     For this from stiller seats¹⁷² we came,

               Our parents and us twain,

               That striking in our country’s cause

175

175          Fell bravely and were slain,

               Our fealty¹⁷⁶ and Tenantius’ right

               With honour to maintain.

       

FIRST BROTHER

FIRST BROTHER     Like hardiment¹⁷⁸ Posthumus hath

               To Cymbeline performed:

180

180          Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,

               Why hast thou thus adjourned¹⁸¹

               The graces¹⁸² for his merits due,

               Being all to dolours¹⁸³ turned?

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     Thy crystal¹⁸⁴ window ope, look out,

185

185          No longer exercise

               Upon a valiant race¹⁸⁶ thy harsh

               And potent injuries.

       

MOTHER

MOTHER     Since, Jupiter, our son is good,

               Take off his miseries.

190

190 

SICILIUS

SICILIUS             Peep through thy marble mansion,¹⁹⁰ help,

               Or we poor ghosts will cry

               To th’shining synod¹⁹² of the rest

               Against thy deity.

       

BROTHERS

BROTHERS     Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,¹⁹⁴

195

195          And from thy justice fly.

        Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle: he throws a thunderbolt. The Ghosts fall on their knees

       

JUPITER

JUPITER     No more you petty spirits of region low¹⁹⁶

               Offend our hearing: hush! How dare you ghosts

               Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know,

               Sky-planted,¹⁹⁹ batters all rebelling coasts?

200

200          Poor shadows of Elysium,²⁰⁰ hence, and rest

               Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.

               Be not with mortal accidents²⁰² oppressed,

               No care of yours it is, you know ’tis ours.

               Whom best I love, I cross, to make my gift

205

205          The more delayed, delighted.²⁰⁵ Be content,

               Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift:

               His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.²⁰⁷

               Our jovial star²⁰⁸ reigned at his birth, and in

               Our temple was he married. Rise, and fade.

210

210          He shall be lord of Lady Innogen,

               And happier much by his affliction made.

               This tablet²¹² lay upon his breast, wherein

               Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine.²¹³

               And so away: no further with your din

215

215          Express impatience, lest you stir up mine.

               Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. Ascends

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     He came in thunder, his celestial breath

               Was sulphurous²¹⁸ to smell: the holy eagle

               Stooped²¹⁹ as to foot us: his ascension is

220

220          More sweet²²⁰ than our blest fields: his royal bird

               Prunes²²¹ the immortal wing and claws his beak

               As when²²² his god is pleased.

       

ALL

ALL     Thanks, Jupiter.

       

SICILIUS

SICILIUS     The marble pavement²²⁴ closes, he is entered

225

225          His radiant roof. Away, and to be blest,

               Let us with care perform his great behest.²²⁶

        [The Ghosts] vanish

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot Wakes

               A father to me: and thou hast created

               A mother and two brothers. But, O scorn,²²⁹

230

230          Gone! They went hence so²³⁰ soon as they were born:

               And so I am awake. Poor wretches that depend

               On greatness’ favour²³² dream as I have done,

               Wake and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve:²³³

               Many dream²³⁴ not to find, neither deserve,

235

235          And yet are steeped in favours; so am I,

               That have this golden chance and know not why.

               What fairies haunt this ground? A book?²³⁷ O rare one,

               Be not, as is our fangled²³⁸ world, a garment

               Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects²³⁹

240

240          So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,

               As²⁴¹ good as promise.

        Reads

‘Whenas²⁴² a lion’s whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece²⁴³ of tender air: and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed²⁴⁴ to the old stock,²⁴⁵ and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and plenty.’

               ’Tis still a dream, or else such stuff²⁴⁷ as madmen

               Tongue,²⁴⁸ and brain not: either both or nothing,

               Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such

250

250          As sense cannot untie. Be what it is,

               The action of my life is like it, which²⁵¹ I’ll keep,

               If but for sympathy.

        Enter Jailer

       

JAILER

JAILER     Come, sir, are you ready for death?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Over-roasted rather: ready long ago.

       

JAILER

JAILER     Hanging is the word, sir: if you be ready for that, you are well cooked.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     So, if I prove a good repast to the²⁵⁶ spectators, the dish pays the shot.

       

JAILER

JAILER     A heavy reckoning²⁵⁷ for you, sir. But the comfort is you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern-bills, which are as often the sadness of parting as the procuring of mirth: you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink: sorry that you have paid too much, and sorry that you are paid²⁶¹ too much: purse and brain both empty: the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness.²⁶² Of this contradiction²⁶³ you shall now be quit. O, the charity of a penny cord! It sums up thousands in a trice:²⁶⁴ you have no true debitor and creditor but it: of what’s past, is, and to come, the discharge:²⁶⁵ your neck, sir, is pen, book and counters; so the acquittance²⁶⁶ follows.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I am merrier to die than thou art to live.

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the toothache: but a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think he would change places with his officer:²⁷⁰ for look you, sir, you know not which way you shall go.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Yes indeed do I, fellow.

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     Your death²⁷² has eyes in’s head then: I have not seen him so pictured: you must either be directed by some that take upon them²⁷³ to know, or to take upon yourself that which I am sure you do not know, or jump the after-inquiry²⁷⁴ on your own peril: and how you shall speed²⁷⁵ in your journey’s end, I think you’ll never return to tell on.²⁷⁶

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     I tell thee, fellow, there are none want²⁷⁷ eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink²⁷⁸ and will not use them.

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     What an infinite mock²⁷⁹ is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes to see the way of blindness! I am sure hanging’s the way of winking.²⁸⁰

        Enter a Messenger

       

MESSENGER

MESSENGER     Knock off his manacles, bring your prisoner to the king.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Thou bring’st good news, I am called to be made free.

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     I’ll be hanged then.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Thou shalt be then freer than a jailer: no bolts²⁸⁴ for the dead.

        [Exeunt Posthumus and Messenger]

       

FIRST JAILER

FIRST JAILER     Unless a man would marry a gallows and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone:²⁸⁶ yet on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be some of them too that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good: O, there were desolation²⁸⁹ of jailers and gallowses! I speak against my present profit, but my wish hath a preferment²⁹⁰ in’t.

        Exit

Act 5 Scene 4

running scene 18 continues

---

        Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio and Lords

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made

               Preservers of my throne: woe is my heart

               That the poor soldier that so richly³ fought,

               Whose rags shamed gilded arms, whose naked⁴ breast

5

5              Stepped before⁵ targes of proof, cannot be found:

               He shall be happy that can find him, if

               Our grace⁷ can make him so.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     I never saw

               Such noble fury in so poor a thing,

10

10            Such precious deeds in one that promised nought

               But beggary and poor looks.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     No tidings of him?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     He hath been searched¹³ among the dead and living,

               But no trace of him.

15

15   

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             To my grief, I am

               The heir¹⁶ of his reward,— which I will add To Beiarius and his sons

               To you, the liver,¹⁷ heart and brain of Britain,

               By whom I grant¹⁸ she lives. ’Tis now the time

               To ask of¹⁹ whence you are. Report it.

20

20   

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Sir,

               In Cambria²¹ are we born, and gentlemen:

               Further to boast were neither true nor modest,

               Unless I add we are honest.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Bow your knees: They kneel

25

25            Arise my knights o’th’battle,²⁵ I create you

               Companions to our person, and will fit²⁶ you

               With dignities becoming your estates.²⁷ They rise

        Enter Cornelius and Ladies

               There’s business²⁸ in these faces: why so sadly

               Greet you our victory? You look like Romans,

30

30            And not o’th’court of Britain.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     Hail, great king!

               To sour your happiness, I must report

               The queen is dead.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Who worse than a physician

35

35            Would this report become? But I consider

               By med’cine life may be prolonged, yet death

               Will seize the doctor too. How ended she?

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     With horror, madly dying, like her life,

               Which, being cruel to the world, concluded

40

40            Most cruel to herself. What she confessed

               I will report, so please you. These her women

               Can trip me⁴² if I err, who with wet cheeks

               Were present when she finished.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Prithee, say.

45

45   

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS             First, she confessed she never loved you, only

               Affected⁴⁶ greatness got by you, not you:

               Married your royalty, was wife to your place,

               Abhorred your person.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     She alone knew this;

50

50            And, but⁵⁰ she spoke it dying, I would not

               Believe her lips in opening⁵¹ it. Proceed.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     Your daughter, whom she bore in hand⁵² to love

               With such integrity, she did confess

               Was as a scorpion to her sight, whose life,

55

55            But that her flight prevented it, she had

               Ta’en off⁵⁵ by poison.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     O most delicate⁵⁷ fiend!

               Who is’t can read a woman? Is there more?

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     More, sir, and worse. She did confess she had

60

60            For you a mortal mineral,⁶⁰ which being took,

               Should by the minute⁶¹ feed on life, and, ling’ring,

               By⁶² inches waste you. In which time, she purposed

               By watching,⁶³ weeping, tendance, kissing, to

               O’ercome you with her show;⁶⁴ and in time,

65

65            When she had fitted⁶⁵ you with her craft, to work

               Her son into th’adoption⁶⁶ of the crown:

               But, failing of her end⁶⁷ by his strange absence,

               Grew shameless-desperate, opened,⁶⁸ in despite

               Of heaven and men, her purposes, repented

70

70            The evils she hatched were not effected: so

               Despairing died.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Heard you all this, her women?

       

LADY

LADY     We did, so please your highness.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Mine eyes

75

75            Were not in fault, for she was beautiful,

               Mine ears,⁷⁶ that heard her flattery, nor my heart,

               That thought her like her seeming.⁷⁷ It had been vicious

               To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter,

               That it was folly in me thou mayst say,

80

80            And prove it in thy feeling.⁸⁰ Heaven mend all!

        Enter Lucius, Iachimo, [the Soothsayer] and other Roman prisoners, [Posthumus] Leonatus behind, and Innogen

               Thou com’st not, Caius, now for tribute. That

               The Britons have razed out,⁸² though with the loss

               Of many a bold one: whose kinsmen have made suit⁸³

               That their⁸⁴ good souls may be appeased with slaughter

85

85            Of you their captives, which ourself have granted,

               So think of your estate.⁸⁶

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Consider, sir, the chance of war. The day

               Was yours by accident: had⁸⁸ it gone with us,

               We should not, when the blood was cool, have threatened

90

90            Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods

               Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives

               May be called⁹² ransom, let it come: sufficeth

               A Roman with a Roman’s heart can suffer:

               Augustus lives to think on’t:⁹⁴ and so much

95

95            For my peculiar care.⁹⁵ This one thing only

               I will entreat: my boy, a Briton born,

               Let him be ransomed: never master had

               A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,

               So tender⁹⁹ over his occasions, true,

100

100          So feat,¹⁰⁰ so nurse-like: let his virtue join

               With my request, which I’ll make bold your highness

               Cannot deny: he hath done no Briton harm,

               Though he have served a Roman. Save him, sir,

               And¹⁰⁴ spare no blood beside.

105

105 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             I have surely seen him:

               His favour¹⁰⁶ is familiar to me. Boy,

               Thou hast looked¹⁰⁷ thyself into my grace,

               And art mine own. I know not why, wherefore,

               To say ‘Live, boy.’ Ne’er¹⁰⁹ thank thy master: live,

110

110          And ask of Cymbeline what boon¹¹⁰ thou wilt,

               Fitting my bounty and thy state,¹¹¹ I’ll give it,

               Yea, though thou do demand a prisoner,

               The noblest ta’en.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I humbly thank your highness.

115

115 

LUCIUS

LUCIUS             I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad,

               And yet I know thou wilt.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     No, no, alack,

               There’s other work in hand: I see a thing

               Bitter to me as death: your life, good master,

120

120          Must shuffle¹²⁰ for itself.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     The boy disdains me,

               He leaves me, scorns me: briefly¹²² die their joys

               That place them on the truth¹²³ of girls and boys.

               Why stands he so perplexed?¹²⁴ Innogen looks closely at lachimo

125

125 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             What wouldst thou, boy?

               I love thee more and more: think more and more

               What’s best to ask. Know’st him thou look’st on? Speak,

               Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? Thy friend?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     He is a Roman, no more kin to me

130

130          Than I to your highness, who, being born your vassal,¹³⁰

               Am something nearer.¹³¹

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Wherefore¹³² ey’st him so?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I’ll tell you, sir, in private, if you please

               To give me hearing.

135

135 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             Ay, with all my heart,

               And lend my best attention. What’s thy name?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Fidele, sir.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou’rt my good youth, my page:

               I’ll be thy master: walk with me, speak freely. Cymbeline and Innogen converse apart

140

140 

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Is not this boy revived from death?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     One sand another

               Not more resembles that sweet rosy lad

               Who died, and was Fidele. What think you?

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     The same dead thing alive.

145

145 

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Peace, peace, see further: he eyes¹⁴⁵ us not, forbear.

               Creatures may be alike: were’t he, I am sure

               He would have spoke to us.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     But¹⁴⁸ we see him dead.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Be silent: let’s see further.

150

150 

PISANIO

PISANIO             It is my mistress: Aside

               Since she is living, let the time run on

               To good or bad. Cymbeline and Innogen come forward

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Come, stand thou by our side,

               Make thy demand aloud.— Sir, step you forth, To Iachimo

155

155          Give answer to this boy, and do it freely

               Or by our greatness and the grace of it,

               Which is our honour, bitter torture shall

               Winnow¹⁵⁸ the truth from falsehood. On, speak to him.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     My boon is that this gentleman may render¹⁵⁹

160

160          Of whom he had this ring. Points to the ring

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     What’s that to him? Aside

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     That diamond upon your finger, say, To Iachimo

               How came it yours?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Thou’It torture me¹⁶⁴ to leave unspoken that

165

165          Which to be spoke would torture thee.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     How? Me?

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     I am glad to be constrained to utter that

               Which torments me to conceal. By villainy

               I got this ring: ’twas Leonatus’ jewel,

170

170          Whom thou didst banish: and — which more may grieve thee,

               As it doth me — a nobler sir ne’er lived

               ’Twixt sky and ground. Wilt thou hear more, my lord?

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     All¹⁷³ that belongs to this.

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     That paragon, thy daughter,

175

175          For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits

               Quail to remember — give me leave, I faint.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     My daughter? What of her? Renew thy strength:

               I had rather thou shouldst live while nature will¹⁷⁸

               Than die ere¹⁷⁹ I hear more: strive, man, and speak.

180

180 

IACHIMO

IACHIMO             Upon a time — unhappy was the clock

               That struck the hour! — it was in Rome — accursed

               The mansion where! — ’twas at a feast — O, would

               Our viands¹⁸³ had been poisoned, or at least

               Those which I heaved to head!¹⁸⁴ — the good Posthumus —

185

185          What should I say? He was too good to be

               Where ill men were, and was the best of all

               Amongst the rar’st¹⁸⁷ of good ones — sitting sadly,

               Hearing us praise our loves of Italy

               For beauty that made barren¹⁸⁹ the swelled boast

190

190          Of him that best could speak: for feature,¹⁹⁰ laming

               The shrine¹⁹¹ of Venus or straight-pight Minerva,

               Postures beyond¹⁹² brief nature: for condition,

               A shop¹⁹³ of all the qualities that man

               Loves woman for, besides that hook of wiving,¹⁹⁴

195

200          Fairness which strikes the eye—

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     I¹⁹⁶ stand on fire.

               Come to the matter.¹⁹⁷

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     All too soon I shall,

               Unless thou wouldst grieve quickly. This Posthumus,

200

205          Most like a noble lord in love and one

               That had a royal lover, took his hint,²⁰¹

               And not dispraising whom we praised — therein

               He was as calm as virtue — he began

               His mistress’ picture, which by his tongue being made,

205

210          And then a mind put in’t,²⁰⁵ either our brags

               Were cracked of²⁰⁶ kitchen-trulls, or his description

               Proved us unspeaking sots.²⁰⁷

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Nay, nay, to th’purpose.²⁰⁸

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     Your daughter’s chastity — there it begins.

210

215          He spake of her as Dian²¹⁰ had hot dreams

               And she²¹¹ alone were cold: whereat I, wretch,

               Made scruple²¹² of his praise, and wagered with him

               Pieces of gold gainst this, which then he wore

               Upon his honoured finger, to attain

215

220          In suit²¹⁵ the place of’s bed and win this ring

               By hers and mine adultery. He, true knight,

               No lesser of her honour confident

               Than I did truly find her, stakes this ring,

               And would so had it been a carbuncle²¹⁹

220

225          Of Phoebus’ wheel,²²⁰ and might so safely had it

               Been all the worth of’s car.²²¹ Away to Britain

               Post²²² I in this design: well may you, sir,

               Remember me at court, where I was taught

               Of²²⁴ your chaste daughter the wide difference

225

230          ‘Twixt amorous and villainous. Being thus quenched

               Of hope, not longing, mine Italian brain

               ’Gan in your duller Britain²²⁷ operate

               Most vilely: for my vantage,²²⁸ excellent.

               And, to be brief, my practice so prevailed

230

235          That I returned with simular²³⁰ proof enough

               To make the noble Leonatus mad

               By wounding his belief in her renown²³²

               With tokens thus, and thus:²³³ averring notes

               Of chamber-hanging, pictures, this her bracelet — Shows the bracelet

235

240          O, cunning, how I got it! — nay, some marks

               Of secret on her person, that he could not

               But think her bond of chastity quite cracked,²³⁷

               I having ta’en the forfeit.²³⁸ Whereupon —

               Methinks I see him now—

240

240 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Ay, so thou dost, Comes forward

               Italian fiend! Ay me, most credulous fool,

               Egregious murderer, thief, anything²⁴²

               That’s due to all the villains past, in being,²⁴³

               To come! O, give me cord,²⁴⁴ or knife, or poison,

245

245          Some upright justicer!²⁴⁵ Thou, king, send out

               For torturers ingenious:²⁴⁶ it is I

               That all th’abhorrèd²⁴⁷ things o’th’earth amend

               By being worse than they. I am Posthumus,

               That killed thy daughter — villain-like, I lie —

250

250          That caused a lesser villain than myself,

               A sacrilegious thief,²⁵¹ to do’t. The temple

               Of virtue was she; yea, and she herself.²⁵²

               Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set

               The dogs o’th’street to bay²⁵⁴ me: every villain

255

255          Be called Posthumus Leonatus, and

               Be²⁵⁶ villainy less than ’twas! O Innogen!

               My queen, my life, my wife: O Innogen,

               Innogen, Innogen!

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Peace, my lord, hear, hear. She runs to him?

260

260 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Shall’s have²⁶⁰ a play of this? Thou scornful page,

               There²⁶¹ lie thy part. He strikes her and she falls

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     O, gentlemen, help!

               Mine and your mistress: O, my lord Posthumus,

               You ne’er killed Innogen till now. Help, help!

265

265          Mine honoured lady.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Does the world go round?

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     How comes these staggers²⁶⁷ on me?

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Wake, my mistress!

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     If this be so, the gods do mean to strike me

270

270          To death with mortal²⁷⁰ joy.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     How fares my mistress?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     O, get thee from my sight,

               Thou gavest me poison: dangerous fellow, hence!

               Breathe not where princes are.

275

275 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             The tune²⁷⁵ of Innogen.

       

PISANIO

PISANIO     Lady, the gods throw stones of sulphur²⁷⁶ on me if

               That box I gave you was not thought by me

               A precious thing: I had it from the queen.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     New matter still.

280

280 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             It poisoned me.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     O gods!

               I left out one thing which the queen confessed,

               Which must approve²⁸³ thee honest. ‘If Pisanio

               Have’, said she, ‘given his mistress that confection²⁸⁴

285

285          Which I gave him for cordial,²⁸⁵ she is served

               As I would serve a rat.’

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     What’s this, Cornelius?

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     The queen, sir, very oft importuned me

               To temper²⁸⁹ poisons for her, still pretending

290

290          The satisfaction of her knowledge only

               In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs,

               Of no esteem.²⁹² I, dreading that her purpose

               Was of more danger, did compound for her

               A certain stuff which, being ta’en, would cease²⁹⁴

295

295          The present power of life, but in short time

               All offices of nature²⁹⁶ should again

               Do their due functions. Have you ta’en of it?

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Most like²⁹⁸ I did, for I was dead.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     My boys,

300

300          There was our error.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     This is sure³⁰¹ Fidele.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     Why did you throw your wedded lady from you?

               Think that you are upon a rock, and now

               Throw me again. Embraces him

305

305 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             Hang there like fruit, my soul,

               Till the tree³⁰⁶ die.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     How now, my flesh, my child?

               What, mak’st³⁰⁸ thou me a dullard in this act?

               Wilt thou not speak to me?

310

310 

INNOGEN

INNOGEN             Your blessing, sir. Kneels

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Though you did love this youth, I blame ye not. To Guiderius and Arviragus

               You had a motive³¹² for’t.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     My tears that fall

               Prove holy water on thee! Innogen,

315

315          Thy mother’s³¹⁵ dead.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     I am sorry for’t, my lord.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     O, she was naught,³¹⁷ and long of her it was

               That we meet here so strangely:³¹⁸ but her son

               Is gone, we know not how nor where.

320

320 

PISANIO

PISANIO             My lord,

               Now fear is from me, I’ll speak troth. Lord Cloten,

               Upon my lady’s missing,³²² came to me

               With his sword drawn, foamed at the mouth, and swore,

               If I discovered³²⁴ not which way she was gone,

325

325          It was my instant death. By accident,³²⁵

               I had a feignèd letter³²⁶ of my master’s

               Then in my pocket, which directed him

               To seek her on the mountains near to Milford,

               Where in a frenzy, in my master’s garments,

330

330          Which he enforced³³⁰ from me, away he posts

               With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate

               My lady’s honour. What became of him

               I further know not.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     Let me end the story:

335

335          I slew him there.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Marry, the gods forfend!³³⁶

               I would not thy good deeds should from my lips

               Pluck a hard sentence: prithee, valiant youth,

               Deny’t again.³³⁹

340

340 

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS             I have spoke it, and I did it.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     He³⁴¹ was a prince.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     A most incivil³⁴² one. The wrongs he did me

               Were nothing prince-like, for he did provoke me

               With language that would make me spurn the sea,

345

345          If it could so roar to me. I cut off’s head,

               And am right glad he is not standing here

               To³⁴⁷ tell this tale of mine.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     I am sorrow³⁴⁸ for thee:

               By thine own tongue thou art condemned, and must

350

350          Endure our law: thou’rt dead.³⁵⁰

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     That headless man

               I thought had been my lord.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Bind the offender,

               And take him from our presence.

355

355 

BELARIUS

BELARIUS             Stay, sir king.

               This man is better than the man he slew,

               As well descended³⁵⁷ as thyself, and hath

               More of³⁵⁸ thee merited than a band of Clotens

               Had³⁵⁹ ever scar for.— Let his arms alone, To the Guard

360

360          They were not born for bondage.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Why, old soldier,

               Wilt thou undo the worth³⁶² thou art unpaid for

               By tasting of³⁶³ our wrath? How of descent

               As good as we?

365

365 

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS             In that he spake too far.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     And thou³⁶⁶ shalt die for’t.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     We will die all three,

               But I will³⁶⁸ prove that two on’s are as good

               As I have given out him.³⁶⁹ My sons, I must

370

370          For³⁷⁰ mine own part unfold a dangerous speech,

               Though haply³⁷¹ well for you.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Your danger’s ours.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     And our good his.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Have at it then, by leave.³⁷⁴

375

375          Thou hadst, great king, a subject who

               Was called Belarius.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     What of him? He is

               A banished traitor.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     He it is that hath

380

380          Assumed this age:³⁸⁰ indeed, a banished man,

               I know not how a traitor.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Take him hence,

               The whole world shall not save him.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Not too hot:³⁸⁴

385

385          First pay me for the nursing of thy sons,

               And let it³⁸⁶ be confiscate all so soon

               As I have received it.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Nursing of my sons?

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     I am too blunt and saucy,³⁸⁹ here’s my knee: Kneels

390

390          Ere I arise I will prefer³⁹⁰ my sons,

               Then spare not the old father. Mighty sir,

               These two young gentlemen that call me father,

               And think they are my sons, are none of mine.

               They are the issue of your loins, my liege,

395

395          And blood³⁹⁵ of your begetting.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     How, my issue?

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     So sure as you your father’s. I, old Morgan,

               Am that Belarius whom you sometime³⁹⁸ banished:

               Your pleasure was my mere³⁹⁹ offence, my punishment

400

400          Itself, and all my treason. That⁴⁰⁰ I suffered

               Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes —

               For such and so they are — these twenty years

               Have I trained up: those arts they have as I

               Could put into⁴⁰⁴ them. My breeding was, sir,

405

405          As your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,

               Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children

               Upon my banishment: I moved⁴⁰⁷ her to’t,

               Having⁴⁰⁸ received the punishment before

               For that which I did then. Beaten⁴⁰⁹ for loyalty

410

410          Excited⁴¹⁰ me to treason. Their dear loss,

               The more of⁴¹¹ you ’twas felt, the more it shaped

               Unto my end of⁴¹² stealing them. But, gracious sir,

               Here are your sons again, and I must lose

               Two of the sweet’st companions in the world.

415

415          The benediction of these covering heavens

               Fall on their heads like dew, for they are worthy

               To inlay heaven with stars.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Thou weep’st, and speak’st:

               The service⁴¹⁹ that you three have done is more

420

420          Unlike⁴²⁰ than this thou tell’st. I lost my children:

               If these be they, I know not how to wish

               A pair of worthier sons.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     Be pleased awhile.⁴²³

               This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,

425

425          Most worthy prince, as yours,⁴²⁵ is true Guiderius:

               This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,

               Your younger princely son. He, sir, was lapped⁴²⁷

               In a most curious⁴²⁸ mantle, wrought by th’hand

               Of his queen mother, which for more probation⁴²⁹

430

430          I can with ease produce.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Guiderius had

               Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine⁴³² star.

               It was a mark of wonder.

       

BELARIUS

BELARIUS     This is he,

435

435          Who hath upon him still that natural stamp:⁴³⁵

               It was wise nature’s end⁴³⁶ in the donation

               To be his evidence now.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     O, what am I?

               A mother to the birth of three? Ne’er mother

440

440          Rejoiced deliverance⁴⁴⁰ more: blest pray you be,

               That, after this strange starting⁴⁴¹ from your orbs,

               You may reign in them now! O Innogen,

               Thou⁴⁴³ hast lost by this a kingdom.

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     No, my lord:

445

445          I have got two worlds by’t. O my gentle brothers,

               Have we thus met? O, never say hereafter

               But⁴⁴⁷ I am truest speaker. You called me brother

               When I was but your sister: I you brothers,

               When ye were so indeed.

450

450 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             Did you e’er meet?

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     Ay, my good lord.

       

GUIDERIUS

GUIDERIUS     And at first meeting loved,

               Continued so until we thought he died.

       

CORNELIUS

CORNELIUS     By the queen’s dram she swallowed.

455

455 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             O rare⁴⁵⁵ instinct!

               When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridgement⁴⁵⁶

               Hath to it circumstantial branches,⁴⁵⁷ which

               Distinction⁴⁵⁸ should be rich in. Where? How lived you?

               And when came you to serve our Roman captive?

460

460          How parted with your brothers? How first met them?

               Why fled you from the court? And whither? These,

               And your⁴⁶² three motives to the battle, with

               I know not how much more, should be demanded,⁴⁶³

               And all the other by-dependences,⁴⁶⁴

465

465          From chance⁴⁶⁵ to chance. But nor the time nor place

               Will serve⁴⁶⁶ our long interrogatories. See,

               Posthumus anchors⁴⁶⁷ upon Innogen,

               And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye⁴⁶⁸

               On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting

470

470          Each object with a joy: the counterchange⁴⁷⁰

               Is severally in all. Let’s quit this ground,⁴⁷¹

               And smoke⁴⁷² the temple with our sacrifices.—

               Thou art my brother, so we’ll hold⁴⁷³ thee ever. To Beiarius

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     You are my father too, and did relieve me⁴⁷⁴

475

475          To see this gracious season.⁴⁷⁵

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     All o’erjoyed,

               Save⁴⁷⁷ these in bonds: let them be joyful too,

               For they shall taste our comfort.⁴⁷⁸

       

INNOGEN

INNOGEN     My good master,

480

480          I will yet do you service.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Happy be you!

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     The forlorn⁴⁸² soldier, that so nobly fought,

               He would have well becomed⁴⁸³ this place, and graced

               The thankings of a king.

485

485 

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS             I am, sir,

               The soldier that did company⁴⁸⁶ these three

               In poor beseeming:⁴⁸⁷ ’twas a fitment for

               The purpose I then followed. That I was he,

               Speak, Iachimo: I had you down, and might

490

490          Have made you finish.⁴⁹⁰

       

IACHIMO

IACHIMO     I am down again: Kneels

               But now my heavy conscience sinks⁴⁹² my knee,

               As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,

               Which I so often⁴⁹⁴ owe: but your ring first,

495

495          And here the bracelet of the truest princess

               That ever swore her faith.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Kneel not to me:

               The power that I have on you is to spare you:

               The malice towards you to forgive you. Live,

500

500          And deal with others better.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Nobly doomed!⁵⁰¹

               We’ll learn our freeness⁵⁰² of a son-in-law:

               Pardon’s the word to all.

       

ARVIRAGUS

ARVIRAGUS     You holp⁵⁰⁴ us, sir,

505

505          As⁵⁰⁵ you did mean indeed to be our brother.

               Joyed⁵⁰⁶ are we that you are.

       

POSTHUMUS

POSTHUMUS     Your servant, princes. Good my lord of Rome,

               Call forth your soothsayer: as I slept, methought

               Great Jupiter, upon⁵⁰⁹ his eagle backed,

510

510          Appeared to me, with other spritely shows⁵¹⁰

               Of mine own kindred. When I waked I found

               This label⁵¹² on my bosom, whose containing

               Is so⁵¹³ from sense in hardness that I can

               Make no collection of⁵¹⁴ it. Let him show

515

515          His skill in the construction.⁵¹⁵

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Philharmonus.⁵¹⁶

       

SOOTHSAYER

SOOTHSAYER     Here, my good lord.

       

LUCIUS

LUCIUS     Read, and declare the meaning.

       

SOOTHSAYER

SOOTHSAYER     Reads ‘Whenas a lion’s whelp⁵¹⁹ shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air: and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and plenty.’

               Thou, Leonatus, art the lion’s whelp:

525

525          The fit and apt construction of thy name,

               Being leo-natus,⁵²⁶ doth import so much.—

               The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, To Cymbeline

               Which we call ‘mollis aer’; and ‘mollis aer’⁵²⁸

               We term it ‘mulier’.— Which ‘mulier’ I divine⁵²⁹

530

530          Is this most constant wife, who even now,

               Answering the letter of the oracle,

               Unknown to you, unsought, were clipped about⁵³²

               With this most tender air.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     This hath some seeming.⁵³⁴

535

535 

SOOTHSAYER

SOOTHSAYER             The lofty cedar,⁵³⁵ royal Cymbeline,

               Personates⁵³⁶ thee: and thy lopped branches point

               Thy two sons forth, who by Belarius stol’n,

               For many years thought dead, are now revived,

               To the majestic cedar joined, whose issue⁵³⁹

540

540          Promises Britain peace and plenty.

       

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE     Well,

               My peace we will begin.— And, Caius Lucius,

               Although the victor, we submit to Caesar

               And to the Roman empire, promising

545

545          To pay our wonted⁵⁴⁵ tribute, from the which

               We were dissuaded by our wicked queen,

               Whom⁵⁴⁷ heavens in justice both on her and hers

               Have laid most heavy hand.

       

SOOTHSAYER

SOOTHSAYER     The fingers of the powers above do tune

550

550          The harmony of this peace. The vision

               Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke⁵⁵¹

               Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant

               Is full accomplished. For the Roman eagle,

               From south to west on wing soaring aloft,

555

555          Lessened herself,⁵⁵⁵ and in the beams o’th’sun

               So vanished; which foreshowed our princely eagle,

               Th’imperial Caesar, should again unite

               His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,

               Which shines here in the west.⁵⁵⁹

560

560 

CYMBELINE

CYMBELINE             Laud⁵⁶⁰ we the gods,

               And let our crookèd⁵⁶¹ smokes climb to their nostrils

               From our blest altars. Publish⁵⁶² we this peace

               To all our subjects. Set we forward:⁵⁶³ let

               A Roman and a British ensign⁵⁶⁴ wave

565

565          Friendly together: so through Lud’s town march,

               And in the temple of great Jupiter

               Our peace we’ll ratify, seal⁵⁶⁷ it with feasts.

               Set on there!⁵⁶⁸ Never was a war did cease,

               Ere bloody hands were washed, with such a peace.

        Exeunt

Textual Notes

F = First Folio text of 1623

F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632

F3 = a correction introduced in the Third Folio text of 1663–64

Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor

SD = stage direction

SH = speech heading (i.e., speaker’s name)

List of parts = Ed

1.1.1 SH FIRST GENTLEMAN = Ed. F = 1. Gent, subsequently 1 3 king = Ed. F = Kings 4 SH SECOND GENTLEMAN = Ed. F = 2 Gent, subsequently 2 35 Cassibelan = F2. F = Cassibulan 65 clothes the other, = Ed. F = cloathes, the other 78 SD Exeunt = Ed. F = Exeunt / Scena Secunda SD Innogen = Ed. F = Imogen (throughout) 109 Philario’s = Ed. F = Filorio’s 131 cere spelled seare in F

Act 1 Scene 2 = Ed. F = Scena Tertia

1.2.1 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = 1 5 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = 2 6 thoroughfare = F3. F = thorough-fare

Act 1 Scene 3 = Ed. F = Scena Quarta

Act 1 Scene 4 = Ed. F = Scena Quinta

1.4.20 Briton spelled Britaine in F 34 not = Ed. Not in F 51 Britain = Ed. F = Britanie 51–2 others I have = Ed. F = others. I haue 52–3 not but = Ed. F = not 60 purchase = Ed. F = purchases 93 thousand = F3. F = thousands 98 a friend = F. Sometimes emended to afraid

Act 1 Scene 5 = Ed. F = Scena Sexta

1.5.84 SD Exit Pisanio printed one line earlier in F Act 1 Scene 6 = Ed. F = Scena Septima

1.6.7 desire = F2. F = desires 25 trust = F. Sometimes emended to truest 28 takes = Ed. F = take 37 th’unnumbered = Ed. F = the number’d 66 Briton spelled Britaine in F 124 illustrous = Ed. F = illustrious 168 Solicit’st = Ed. F = Solicites 189 men’s = F2. F = men 191 descended = F2. F = defended

2.1.5 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = 1 (throughout scene) 10 give = F2. F = gaue 18 your = Ed. F = you 23 tonight = F2. F = night 47 husband, than = Ed. F = Husband. Then 48 make! The = Ed. F = make the

2.2.51 bare spelled beare in F

2.3.22 SH CLOTEN = Ed. Not in F 23 vice = Ed. F = voyce 24 amend = F2. F = amed 39 solicits = F2. F = solicity 102 cure = Ed. F = are 124 foil = F. Sometimes emended to soil 142 garment = F2. F = Garments 164 you = Ed. F = your

2.4.7 seared hopes = Ed. F = fear’d hope 20 legions = Ed. F = Legion 26 mingled = F2. F = wing-led 39 through = Ed. F = thorough 42 tenor = Ed. F = tenure 44 SH PHILARIO = Ed. F = Post. 51 had = Ed. F = haue 59 not = F2. F = note 71 you = F2. F = yon 74 leaves = Ed. F = leaue 146 one of = F2. F = one 169 the = Ed. F = her 209 German one = Ed. F = Iarmen on 220 may be named = F2. F = name

3.1.23 oaks = F. Sometimes emended to rocks 38 more spelled mo in F 52 be. We do say = Ed. F = be, we do. Say

3.2.2 monster’s her accuser = Ed. F = Monsters her accuse 21 fedary = Ed. F = Fœdarie 61 get = F2. F = ger 64 score = F2. F = store ride = F2. F = rid 77 here, nor = F2. F = heere, not

3.3.2 Stoop = Ed. F = Sleepe 25 robe = Ed. F = Babe. Sometimes emended to bauble 27 ’em = Ed. F = him 30 know = F2. F = knowes 33 known, well = Ed. F = knowne. Well 35 travelling spelled trauailing in F 36 for = Ed. F = or 88 wherein they bow = Ed. F = whereon the Bowe 91 Polydore = Ed. F = Paladour 108 reft’st = Ed. F = refts 111 Morgan = Ed. F = Mergan

3.4.80 afore’t = Ed. F = a-foot 90 make = Ed. F = makes 104 out = Ed. Not in F 162 haply = Ed. F = happily

3.5.22 SD and others spelled &c. in F 39 looks us = Ed. F = looke vs 48 strokes = Ed. F = stroke 54 th’loud’st = Ed. F = th’lowd 155 insultment = F2. F = insulment

3.6.27 F marks a new scene here: Scena Septima 78 Ay = Ed. F = I I’d = Ed. F = I do

Act 3 Scene 7 = Ed. F = Scena Octaua

4.1.9 imperceiverant = Ed. F = imperseuerant 12 thy face = F. Ed = her face 13 haply spelled happily in F

4.2.63 cookery! He = Ed. F = Cookerie? / Arui. He (some editors assign “He…dieter” to Belarius) 73 him = Ed. F = them 75 patience = Ed. F = patient 90 mountaineers spelled Mountainers in F 157 thank = Ed. F = thanks 169 humour = Ed. F = Honor 233 ingenious = Ed. F = ingenuous 257 crare = Ed. F = care 258 Might = F2. F = Might’st easiliest = Ed. F = easilest 259 ay spelled I in F 281 ruddock = Ed. F = Raddocke 297 once = Ed. F = once to 355 is = Ed. F = are 401 are = F2. F = are heere 464 wildwood leaves = Ed. F = wild wood-leaues 475 he is = F2. F = hee’s

4.3.18 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = Lord. 46 betid = Ed. F = betide

4.4.3 find we = F2. F = we finde 11 us = F2. F = v.. 22 the = Ed. F = their 33 hard = Ed. F = heard

5.1.1 wished = Ed. F = am wisht

5.3.27 harts = Ed. F = hearts 45 stooped = Ed. F = ftopt 46 they = Ed. F = the 90 SH FIRST CAPTAIN = Ed. F = 1 92 SH SECOND CAPTAIN = Ed. F = 2 102 SD Jailers = Ed. F = Gaoler SD Exeunt…Jailers = Ed. F = Enter Posthumus, and Gaoler (F begins new scene here, Scena Quarta) 103 SH FIRST JAILER = Ed. F = Gao. 170 geck = Ed. F = geeke 184 look = F2. F = looke, / looke 221 claws spelled cloyes in F 258 are as = Ed. F = are 262 Of this = Ed. F = Oh, of this 265 sir = F2. F = Sis 276 on = Ed. F = one

Act 5 Scene 4 = Ed. F = Scena Quinta

5.4.76 heard = Ed. F = heare 158 On = Ed. F = One 235 got it = F2. F = got 302 from = Ed. F = fro 368 on’s = Ed. F = one’s 399 mere = Ed. F = neere 400 treason. That = Ed. F = Treason that 416 like = F2. F = liks 449 ye = Ed. F = we 460 brothers = Ed. F = Brother 461 whither? These = Ed. F = whether these? 482 so = F2. F = no 519 SH SOOTHSAYER = Ed. Not in F 552 this yet = F3. F = yet this

Innogen’s bedtime reading (“She hath been reading late, / The tale of Tereus. Here the leaf’s turned down / Where Philomel gave up”) was also one of Shakespeare’s favorite books: Ovid’s Metamorphoses was the main source for his knowledge of classical mythology and the direct inspiration for Venus and Adonis, Titus Andronicus, “Pyramus and Thisbe” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as key aspects of the Sonnets, The Winter’s Tale, and The Tempest. Arthur Golding’s 1567 translation, which Shakespeare knew well, was dedicated to the Earl of Leicester, so its title page included his insignia of a chained bear and the motto of the Order of the Garter.