A narrow lane! an old man, and two boys!
Poft. Nay, do not wonder at it; you are made
Rather to wonder at the things you hear,

Than to work any. *

Lord. Farewel, you are angry.

Poft. This is a Lord

[Exit.

-oh noble Mifery,

To be i' th' field, and ask what news of me!
To-day, how many would have given their honours
To've fav'd their carcases? took heel to do't,

And yet died too? "I, in mine own woe charm'd †,
"Could not find Death where I did hear him grone,
"Nor feel him where he ftruck, This ugly monster,-
"'Tis ftrange he hides him in frefh cups, foft beds,
"Sweet words; and hath more ministers than we,
"That draw his knives i' th' war

Well, I will find

For being now a favourer to the Briton,
No more a Briton, I've refum'd again
The part I came in. Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the verieft hind, that fhall
Once touch my fhoulder. Great the flaughter is
Here made by th' Roman; great the answer be,
Britons must take. For me, my ranfom's death;
On either fide I come to spend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by fome means for Imogen.

Enter two British Captains, and foldiers.

[him :

1 Capt. Great Jupiter be prais'd, Lucius is taken! 'Tis thought the old man and his fons were angels. 2 Capt. There was a fourth man, in a filly habit, That gave th' affront with them.

you rhime upon't?

And vent it for a mockery? here is one :

Two boys, an old man, (twice a boy), a lane

"Preferv'd the Britons, was the Romans' bane."

Lord. Nay, be not angry, Sir.

Poft. 'Lack! to what end?

Who dares not fland his foe, I'll be his friend ;

For if he'll do, as he is made to do,

I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too.

You have put me into rhimes.

Lord. Farewel, &c.

† Meaning that his woe feemed as a charm which protected him,

1 Capt. So 'tis reported;

But none of them can be found.

4

Poft. A Roman

Stand, who's there?

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds

Had anfwer'd him.

2 Capt. Lay hands on him; a dog!

A leg of Rome fhall not return to tell

What crows have peck'd them here; he brags his fervice, As if he were of notė; bring him to th' King.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and Roman captives. The captains prefent Posthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a Goaler. After which all go out.

SCENE

III.

Changes to a prifon.

Enter Pofthumus, and two Gualers.

1 Goal. You fhall not now be ftoln, you've locks upon So graze, as you find pasture.

2 Goal Ay, or ftomach,

[you;

[Exeunt Goalers.

Poft, Moft welcome bondage! for thou art a way

I think to liberty; yet am I better

Than one that's fick o' th' gout, fince he had rather Grone fo in perpetuity, than be cur'd

By th' fure phyfician, Death; who is the key

[me

T'unbar thefe locks. My confcience! thou art fetter'd
More than my fhanks and wrifts; you good gods, give
The penitent inftrument to pick that bolt ;
Then free for ever. Is't enough I'm forry?
So children temp'ral fathers do appeafe;
Gods are more full of mercy.-

Muft I repent?

I cannot do it better than in gyves,
Defir'd, more than constrain'd; to fatisfy,
I'd off my freedom; 'tis the main part; take
No ftricter render* of me than my all.
I know you are more clement than vile men,
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again.
On their abatement; that's not my delire
For imogen's dear life, take mine; and though
'Tis not fo dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin d it.
Render, for mulЯ.

'Tween man and man, they weigh not every stamp,
Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake;
You rather, mine being yours: and fo, great powers,
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel thofe old bonds. Oh Imogen !
I'll speak to thee in filence.

[He fleeps.

*

[* Here follow a vision, a masque, and a prophecy, which interrupt the fable without the leaft neccffity, and unmeafurably lengthen this aft. I think it plainly foifted in afterwards for mere fhow, and apparently not of Shakespear.]

Solemn mufic. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father te Pofthumus an old man, attired like a warrior, leading in his bind an ancient matron, his wife, and mather to Pofthumus, with mufic before. them. Then, after other mufic, follow the two young Leonati, brothers, to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Polthumus round as be lies fleeping.

Cymbeline's tent.

SCENE IV.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and Lords.

Cym. Stand by my fide, you whom the gods have Preferver's of my throne. Woe is my heart,

That the poor foldier that fo richly fought,

Math. With marriage therefore was he mock'd,...
To be exil'd, and thrown

From Leonatus' feat, and caft

From her his dearest one?

Sweet Imogen !

Scili. Why did you fuffer Iachimo,
Slight thing of Italy,

To taint his noble heart and brain
With needlefs jealousy,

And to become the geck and fcorn
O' th' other's villainy?

2 Bro. For this, from ftiller feats we came,.
Our parents, and us twain,
That, ftriking in our country's caufe,
Fell bravely, and were flain;

Our fealty, and Tenantius' right,

With honour to maintain.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath : To Cymbeline perform'd ;

Then, Jupiter, thou King of gods,

Why haft thou thus adjourn'd

The graces for his merits due,

Being all to dolours turn'd?

Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; ;
No longer exercise,

Upon a valiant race, thy harsh

And potent injuries.

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,

Take off his miferies.

Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion, help!

Or we, poor ghoits, will cry

To th' fhining fynod of the reft,

Againit thy deity..

a Broth. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,

And from thy Justice fly.

[made

Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle; he throws s

a thunder bolt. The ghosts fall on their knees.

Jup. No more, you petty spirits of region low,

Offend our hearing; huh!-how dare you, ghosts, ~

(Whofe rags fham'd gilded arms, whose naked-breast, Stepp'd before fhields of proof), cannot be found; He fhall be happy that can find him, if

Our Grace can make him so..

Accufe the Thunderer, whofe bolt, you know,
Sky planted, batters all rebelling coafts?
Peor fhadows of Elysium, hence, and rest
Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.
Be not with mortal accidents opprest; ·

No care of yours it is, you know, 'tis ours.
Whom beft love, I crofs; to make my gift,
The more delay'd, delighted. Be content,
Your low laid fon our godhead will uplift:
His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent ;
Our Jovial ftar reign'd at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married: rife, and fade!
He fhall be Lord of Lady Imogen,

[Jupiter drops a tablet.

And happier much by his affliction made.
This tablet lay upon his breaft, wherein
Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine;
And fo, away; -no farther with your din
Exprefs impatience, left you stir up mine.
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline.
Scici. He came in thunder, his celestial breath
Was fulphurous to fmell; the holy eagle
Stoop'd as to foot us; his afcenfion is

More fweet than our blefs'd fields; his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak,
As when his god is pleas'd.

All. Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd

His radiant roof: away, and to be bleft,

Let us with care perform his great beheft.

A father to me: and thou hast created

[Afcends.

Paft. [waking.] Sleep, thou hast been a grandfire, and begot

A mother and two brothers. But, oh fcorn!

Gone-they went hence fo foon as they were born
And fo I am awake-Poor wretches, that depend
On Greatness' favour, dream as I have done;
Wake, and find nothing,- But, alas, I fwerve! :
Many dream not to find, neither deserve;
And yet are steep'd in favours; fo am I

That have this golden chance, and know not why:
What fairies haunt this ground? a book! oh rare one!
Be not, as in our fangled world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects..
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers;
As good as promife,

[Vanife.