Scene I.- The Forest, near the Cave. I'll rob none but myself, and let me die,

Stealing so poorly.
Enter Cloten.

Gui.

I love thee; I have spoke it: Clo. I am near to the place where they should How much the quantity, the weight as much, meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit his As I do love my father. garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who Bel.

What! how? how? was made by him that made the tailor, not to be fit Arv. If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me too ? the rather (saving reverence of the word) for In my good brother's fault: I know not why 'tis said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I love this youth; and I have heard you say, I must play the workman. I dare speak it to my- Love's reason's without reason: the bier at door, self, (for it is not vain-glory, for a man and his And a demand who is't shall die, I'd say, glass to confer in his own chamber,) I mean, the My father, not this youth. lines of my body are as well-drawn as his; no less Bel.

[Aside.] O noble strain ! young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, O worthiness of nature ! breed of greatness ! beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base: in birth, alike conversant in general services, and Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt and grace. more remarkable in single oppositions : yet this I am not their father ; yet who this should be, imperseverant thing loves him in my despite. Doth miracle itself, lov'd before me.What mortality is ! Posthumus, thy head, which 'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn. now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within Ary.

Brother, farewell. this hour be off, thy mistress enforced, thy gar

Imo. I wish ye sport. ments cut to pieces before thy face; and all this Arv. You health.—So please you, sir. done, spurn her home to her father, who may, Imo. (Aside.] These are kind creatures. Gods, haply, be a little angry for my so rough usage, but

what lies I have heard ! my mother, having power of his testiness, shall Our courtiers say, all's savage but at court: turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied Experience, O! thou disprov'st report. up safe: out, sword, and to a sore purpose! For- Th’imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish, tune, put them into my hand! This is the very Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish. description of their meeting-place, and the fellow I am sick still; heart-sick.–Pisanio, dares not deceive me.

[Erit. I'll now taste of thy drug.
Gui.

I could not stir him :
SCENE II.-Before the Cave.

He said, he was gentle, but unfortunate;
Enter, from the Cave, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS,

Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv. Thus did he answer me ; yet said, hereafter ARVIRAGUS, and IMOGEN.

I might know more. Bel. You are not well : [ To IMOGEN.)-remain Bel.

To the field, to the field !here in the cave;

We'll leave you for this time; go in, and rest. We'll come to you after hunting.

Arv. We'll not be long away.
Arv.
Brother, stay here: Bel.

Pray, be not sick,
[To IMOGEN. For you must be our housewife.
Are we not brothers ?

Imo.

Well, or ill, Imo.

So man and man should be; I am bound to you. But clay and clay differs in dignity,

Bel.

And shalt be ever. Whose dust is both alike.' I am very sick.

[Erit IMOGEN. Gui. Go you to hunting; I'll abide with him. This youth, howe'er distress'd, appears he hath had Imo. So sick I am not, -yet I am not well;

Good ancestors. But not so citizen a wanton, as

Arv.

How angel-like he sings. To seem to die, ere sick. So please you, leave me; Gui. But his neat cookery : he cut our roots in Stick to your journal course: the breach of custom characters; Is breach of all. I am ill; but your being by me And sauc'd our broths, as Juno had been sick, Cannot amend me : society is no comfort

And he her dieter. To one not sociable. I am not very sick,

Arv.

Nobly he yokes Since I can reason of it: pray you, trust me here; A smiling with a sigh, as if the sigh

But time hath nothing blurr'd those lines of favour I love thee brotherly, but envy much,
Which then he wore: the snatches in his voice, Thou hast robb'd me of this deed: I would revengo,
And burst of speaking, were as his. I am absolute That possible strength might meet, would seek us
'Twas very Cloten.

through, Arv. In this place we left them:

And put us to our answer. I wish my brother make good time with him,

Bel.

Well, 'tis done. You say he is so fell.

We'll hunt no more to-day, nor seek for danger Bel. Being scarce made up,

Where there's no profit. I pr’ythee, to our rock: I mean, to man, he had not apprehension

You and Fidele play the cooks; I'll stay Of roaring terrors; for defect of judgment

Till hasty Polydore return, and bring him Is ost the cure of fear. But see, thy brother. To dinner presently.

Arv.

Poor sick Fidele! Re-enter GUIDERIUS, with Cloren's Head.

I'll willingly to him: to gain his colour, Gui. This Cloten was a fool, an empty purse, I'd let a parish of such Clotens blood, There was no money in't. Not Hercules

And praise myself for charity.

(Eril. Could have knock'd out his brains, for he had none; Bel.

O thou goddess, Yet I not doing this, the fool had borne

Thou divine Nature, how thyself thou blazon'st My head, as I do his.

In these two princely boys! They are as gentle Bel.

What hast thou done? As zephyrs, blowing below the violet, Gui. I am perfect what : cut off one Cloten's Not wagging his sweet head; and yet as rough, head,

Their royal blood enchaf'd, as the rud'st wind, Son to the queen, after his own report;

That by the top doth take the mountain pine, Who call'd me traitor, mountaineer; and swore, And make him stoop to the vale. 'Tis wonder, With his own single hand he'd take us in,

That an invisible instinct should frame them Displace our heads, where (thank the gods !) they To royalty unlearn’d, honour uptaught, grow,

Civility not seen from other, valour And set them on Lud's town.

That wildly grows in them, but yields a crop Bel.

We are all undone. As if it had been sow'd! Yet still it's strange,
Gui. Why, worthy father, what have we to lose, What Cloten's being here to us portends,
But that he swore to take, our lives? The law Or what his death will bring us.
Protects not us; then, why should we be tender,

Re-enter GUIDERIUS.
To let an arrogant piece of Aesh threat us;
Play judge, and executioner, all himself,

Gui.

Where's my brother ! For we do fear the law? What company

I have sent Cloten's clotpoll down the stream, Discover you abroad?

In embassy to his mother: his body's hostage Bel. No single soul For his return.

(Solemn music. Can we set eye on; but in all safe reason

Bel. My ingenious instrument ! He must have some attendants. Though his hu- Hark, Polydore, it sounds; but what occasion

Hath Cadwal now to give it motion ? Hark! Was nothing but mutation; ay, and that

Gui. Is he at home? From one bad thing to worse; not frenzy, not

Bel.

He went hence even now. Absolute madness could so far have rav'd,

Gui. What does he mean? since death of my To bring him here alone. Although, perhaps,

dear'st mother It may be heard at court, that such as we

It did not speak before. All solemn things
Cave here, hunt here, are outlaws, and in time Should answer solemn accidents. The matter!
May make some stronger head; the which he 'Triumphs for nothing, and lamenting toys,
hearing,

Is jollity for apes, and grief for boys.
(As it is like him,) might break out, and swear Is Cadwal mad ?
He'd fetch us in, yet is't not probable
To come alone, either he so undertaking,

Re-enter Arviragus, bearing IMOGEN, as dead, in

his arms. Or they so suffering: then, on good ground we fear, If we do fear this body hath a tail

Bel.

Look! here he comes,
More perilous than the head.

And brings the dire occasion in his arms,
Arv.
Let ordinance

Of what we blame him for.
Come as the gods foresay it: howsoe'er,

Arv.

The bird is dead, My brother hath done well.

That we have made so much on. I had rather Bel. I had no mind

Have skipp'd from sixteen years of age to sixty, To hunt this day: the boy Fidele's sickness To have turn’d my leaping time into a crutch, Did make my way long forth.

Than have seen this.
Gui.
With his own sword,

Gui.

O sweetest, fairest lily! Which he did wave against my throat, I have ta'en My brother wears thee not the one half so well, His head from him: I'll throw't into the creek As when thou grew'st thyself. Behind our rock; and let it to the sea,

Bel.

O, melancholy!
And tell the fishes, he's the queen's son, Cloten: Who ever yet could sound thy bottom ? find
That's all I reck.

[Erit. The ooze, to show what coast thy sluggish crare Bel. I fear, 'twill be reveng'd.

Might easiliest harbour in ?- Thou blessed thing! Would, Polydore, thou hadst not done't, though Jove knows what man thou might'st have inade; valour

but I, Becomes thee well enough.

Thou diedst a most rare boy, of melancholyArv.

Would I had done't, How found you him? So the revenge alone pursued me.-Polydore,

Art.

Stark, as you see:

mour

Thus smiling, as some fly had tickled slumber, Arv.

With fairest flowers, Not as death's dart, being laugh'd at; his right cheek Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele, Reposing on a cushion.

I'll sweeten thy sad grave: thou shalt not lack Gui. Where?

The flower, that's like thy face, pale primrose; nor Arv. O'the floor;

The azur'd hare-bell, like thy veins ; no, nor His arms thus leagu’d: I thought he slept, and put The leaf of eglantine, whom not to slander, My clouted brogues from off my feet, whose rude- Out-sweeten'd not thy breath: the ruddock would, ness

With charitable bill (O bill, sore-shaming Answer'd my steps too loud.

Those rich-left heirs, that let their fathers lie Gui.

Why, he but sleeps ; Without a monument !) bring thee all this ; If he be gone, he'll make his grave a bed:

Yea, and furr'd moss besides, when flowers are none, With female fairies will his tomb be haunted, To winter-ground thy corse. And worms will not come to thee.

Gui.

Pr’ythee, have done;

Arv.

If you'll go fetch him, We'll say our song the whilst.–Brother, begin.

(Exit BELARIUS. Gui. Nay, Cadwal, we must lay his head to the

east;
My father hath a reason for't.
Arv.

'Tis true.
Gui. Come on then, and remove him.
Arv.

So.-Begin.

SONG.

And do not play in wench-like words with that
Which is so serious. Let us bury him,
And not protract with admiration what
Is now due debt.-To the grave.
Aro.

Say, where shall's lay him?
Gui. By good Euriphile, our mother.
Arv.

Be't so:
And let us, Polydore, though now our voices
Have got the mannish crack, sing him to the ground,
As once our mother : use like note, and words,
Save that Euripbile must be Fidele.

Gui. Cadwal,
I cannot sing: I'll weep, and word it with thee;
For notes of sorrow, out of tune, are worse
Than priests and fanes that lie.
Arv.

We'll speak it then.
Bel. Great griefs, I see, medicine the less; for

Cloten
Is quite forgot. He was a queen's son, boys ;
And, though he came our enemy, remember,
He was paid for that: though mean and mighty,

rotting
Together, have one dust, yet reverence,
(That angel of the world,) doth make distinction
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.

Gui. Pray you, fetch him hither. Thersites' body is as good as Ajax, When neither are alive.

Gui. Fear no more the heat o' the sun,

Nor the furious winter's rages ;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Arv. Fear no more the froncn o' the great,

T'hou 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, must
All follow this, and come to dust.
Gui. Fear no more the lightning-flash,
Arv. Nor th' all-dreaded thunder-stone ;
Gui. Fear not slander, censure rash ;
Arv. Thou hast finish'd joy and moan :

All lovers young, all lovers must

Both. { .