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Upon a desperate bed; and in a time
When fearful wars point at me: her fon gone,
So needful for this prefent: It ftrikes me, paft
The hope of comfort.-But for thee, fellow,
Who needs must know of her departure, and
Doft feem fo ignorant, we'll enforce it from thee
By a fharp torture.

Pif. Sir, my life is yours,

I humbly fet it at your will: But, for my mistress,
I nothing know where the remains, why gone,
Nor when the purposes return. 'Beseech your highness,
Hold me your loyal fervant.

Lord. Good my liege,

The day that she was miffing, he was here:

I dare be bound he's true, and fhall perform

All parts of his fubjection loyally. For Cloten,-
There wants no diligence in feeking him,

And he'll, no doubt, be found.

Cym. The time is troublefome;

We'll flip you for a feafon; but 'our jealoufy [To Pij. Does yet depend.

Lord. So please your majefty,

The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,

Are landed on your coaft; with a fupply

Of Roman gentlemen, by the fenate fent.

Cym. Now for the counfel of my son, and queen!— I am amaz'd with matter.

Lord. Good my liege,

Your preparation can affront no less

Than what you hear of: come more, for more you're ready:

• our jealoufy does yet depend.]—my fufpicion is not perfectly removed, amaz'd with matter. ]-perplexed with multiplicity of bufiness. Your preparation, &c.]-Your forces are a match for as great an army as report gives the enemy.

The

The want is, but to put

That long to move.

thefe powers in motion,

Cym. I thank you: Let's withdraw ;

And meet the time, as it seeks us.

What can from Italy annoy us; but
We grieve at chances here.Away.

We fear not

Pif. I heard no letter from my mafter, fince
I wrote him, Imogen was flain: 'Tis strange:
Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise
To yield me often tidings: Neither know I
What is betid to Cloten; but remain

[Exeunt.

Perplex'd in all. The heavens still must work :
Wherein I am false, I am honeft; not true, to be true.
These present wars fhall find I love my country,

* Even to the note o' the king, or I'll fall in them.
All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd:
Fortune brings in fome boats, that are not steer'd. [Exit.

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Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Guid. The noife is round about us.

Bel. Let us from it.

Arv. What pleasure, fir, find we in life, to lock it From action and adventure?

Guid. Nay, what hope

Have we in hiding us? this way, the Romans

Muft or for Britons flay us; or receive us

▾ And meet the time, as it feeks us.]-And difplay, at this juncture, a fpirit equal to the occafion.

* 1 beard no letter]-I have not heard a syllable-since I wrote him word. I've had no letter.

* Even to the note o' the king,]—my patriotifm fhall be fo evinced by my conduct in these wars, as to attract even the notice of the king.

For barbarous and unnatural revolts

"During their use, and slay us after,

Bel. Sons,

We'll higher to the mountains; there fecure us.

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

Of Cloten's death (we being not known, nor muster'd Among the bands) may drive us to a render

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Where we have liv'd; and fo extort from us that

2

Which we have done, whofe anfwer would be death
Drawn on with torture.

Guid. This is, fir, a doubt,

In fuch a time, nothing becoming you,

Nor fatisfying us.

Arv. It is not likely,

That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,

b

Behold their quarter'd files, have both their eyes
And ears fo cloy'd importantly as now,

C

That they will wafte their time d

To know from whence we are.

Bel. O, I am known

upon our note,

Of many in the army: many years,

Though Cloten then but young, you fee, not wore him
From my remembrance. And, befides, the king

Hath not deferv'd my fervice, nor your loves;
Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless
To have the courtefy your cradle promis'd,
But to be still hot fummer's 'tanlings, and
The fhrinking flaves of winter.

of abode.

a

Y During their ufe,]-So long as they fhall retain us in their fervice. to a render where we have liv'd;]—to give an account of our place whoft answer]-the retaliation of Cloten's death. their quarter'd files,]-well difpofed lines-quarter'd fires. efo cloy'd importantly]-fo fully employed.-jo 'mploy'd. d upon our note,]-in enquiries about us.

The certainly]-The neceffary confequence.

ftanlings]-tanned ones.

Guid. Than be fo,

Better to cease to be.

Pray, fir, to the army:

I and my brother are not known: yourself,

So out of thought, and thereto fo' o'ergrown,
Cannot be question'd.

Arv. By this fun that shines,

I'll thither: What thing is it, that I never

Did see man die? scarce ever look'd on blood,
But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison?
Never beftrid a horse, save one, that had

A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
Nor iron on his heel? I am asham'd
To look upon the holy fun, to have

The benefit of his bleft beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

If

Guid. By heavens, I'll go:

you will bless me, fir, and give me leave, I'll take the better care; but if

you

will not,

The hazard therefore due fall on me, by

The hands of Romans!

Arv. So fay I; Amen.

Bel. No reafon I, fince of your lives you fet

So flight a valuation, fhould referve

My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys:

If in your country wars you chance to die,

That is my bed too, lads, and there I'll lie :

Lead, lead.—The time feems long; their blood thinks

scorn,

'Till it fly out, and fhew them princes born.

d'ergrown,]-in beard,

[Afide. [Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Field, between the British and Roman Camps.

Enter Pofthumus, with a bloody handkerchief.

h

Poft. Yea, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee; for I wish'd
Thou should'st be colour'd thus. You married ones,
If each of you would take this course, how many
Muft murder wives much better than themselves
For i wrying but a little ?-O, Pifanio!

Every good fervant does not all commands:
No bond, but to do juft ones.-Gods! if you
Should have ta'en vengeance on my faults, I never
Had liv'd' to put on this; fo had you faved
The noble Imogen to repent; and struck

Me, wretch, more worth your vengeance. But, alack,
You fnatch fome hence for little faults; that's love,
To have them fall no more: you fome permit

m

To fecond ills with ills, each elder worse;

And make them dread it,

But Imogen is your own:

to the doers' thrift.

Do your best wills,

And make me bleft to obey !-I am brought hither
Among the Italian gentry, and to fight

Against my lady's kingdom: 'Tis enough
That, Britain, I have kill'd thy miftrefs; peace!

bloody cloth,]-the token of Imogen's death, fent by Pifanie. i wrying]-fwerving, ftraying.

Every good fervan:] It is the curfe of kings," &c.

1 to put on]-to inftigate to.

KING JOHN, A&t IV. S. 2. K. Joba.

m each elder worfe; &c.]-each deed of an old finner being worfe than the preceding; till at length, pierced with a review of their accumulated enormities, they become exemplary penitents,

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