CYMBELINE.

ACT I.

SCENE I

Cymbeline's Palace in Britain.

You

do not meet a man but frowns: our

*

U bloods the greavens than our cour

Still feem as does the King's.

2 Gent. But what's the matter?

[tiers,

I Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, He purpos'd to his wife's fole fon, a widow [whom That late he married, hath referr'd herself

Unto a poor but worthy gentleman.

She's wedded;

Her husband banished; fhe imprison'd: All
Is outward forrow; though, I think, the King
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent. None but the King?

1 Gent. He that hath loft her too: fo is the Queen, That most defir'd the match. But not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent

i. e. Our difpofitions: thefe are commonly fuppofed to be influenced by the weather, and therefore may be properly faid to obey it. The fenfe therefore is, Every one you meet appears to be difpleafed and out of humour; the heavens have no more influence on our difpofitions than they have on the courtiers: both feem to be equally determined by the humour the King hap pens to be in. If he is cloudy, all are instantly cloudy too. Revifal.

Of the King's look, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they fcoull at.

2. Gent. And why fo?

1 Gent. He that hath mifs'd the princess is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her, I mean that marry'd her, alack, good man! And therefore banifh'd, is a creature fucli As, to feek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be fomething failing In him that fhould compare. I do not think So fair an outward, and fuch stuff within Endows a man but him.

2 Gent. You fpeak him far.

1 Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself *,. Crufh him together rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent. What's his name and birth?

1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour
Against the Romans with Calibelan;
But had his tiles by Tenantius, whom
He ferv'd with glory and admir'd with fuccefs;
So gain'd the fur-addition, Leonatus;

And had, befides this gentleman in queftion,
Two other fons; who, in the wars o' th' time,
Dy'd with their fwords in hand: for which their fa
Then old and fond of iffue, took fuch forrow, [ther
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theam, deceas'd.
As he was born. The King he takes the babe
To his protection, calls him Posthumus,

Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of which he took
As we do air, faft as 'twas miniftred,

And in's (pring became a harvest: liv'd in court,
Which rare it is to do, most prais'd, most lov'd,
A fample to the young'ft; to th' more mature,

* That is, I do extend him, or give you his propor tions; Sir, far fort of what they really are in himfelf.

.i

Revifal

A glass that featur'd them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards. To his mistress,
For whom he now is banih'd, her own price
Proclaims how the esteem'd him and his virtue.
"By her election may be truly read
What kind of man he is.

2 Gent. I honour him,

Ev'n out of your report. But pray you tell me,
Is fhe fole child to the King?

1 Gent. His only child.

He had two fons, (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it); the eldest of thein at three years old,
I' th' fwathing clothes the other, from their nurfery
Were ftol'n; and to this hour, no guefs in know-
Which way they went.
[ledge

2 Gent. How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years..

2 Gent. That a king's children fhould be fo conSo flackly guarded, and the fearch fo flow [vey'd, That could not trace them

1 Gent. Howfoe'er 'tis ftrange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,"
Yet is it true, Sir.

2 Gent. I do well believe you.

I Gent. We must forbear. Here comes the gentle-

man,

The queen and princess.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

II.

Enter the Queen, Pofthumus, Imogen, and At

tendants.

Queen. No, be affur'd you fhall not find me, daughAfter the flander of moft ftep-mothers,

Evil-eyed unto you. You're my prifoner, but
Your goaler fall deliver you the keys

[ter,

That lock up your reftraint. For you, Pofthumus,
So foon as I can win th' offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet,
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good

You lean'd unto his fentence, with what patience
Your, wildom may inform you..

Poft. Please your Highness,

I will from hence to-day.

Queen. You know the peril;

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king
Hath charg'd you thould not speak together. [Exit..
Imo. Diflembling Courtefy! how fine this tyrant
Can tickle where the wounds! My deareft hufband,.
I fomething fear my father's wrath, but nothing,
Always referv'd my holy duty, what
His rage can do on me.
You must be gone,
And I fhall here abide the hourly fhot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may fee again.

Poft. My Queen! my mistress!

O Lady, weep no more, left I give caufe
To be fufpected of more tenderness

Than doth become a man. I will remain
The loyall'ft hufband that did e'er plight troth :
My refidence in Rome, at one Philario's ;
Who to my father was a friend, to me

Known but by letter. Thither write, my Queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you fend,.
Though ink be made of gall.

Re-enter Queen.

Queen. Be brief, I pray you;

If the King come, I fhall incur I know not
How much of his difpleasure. Yet I'll move him
To walk this way: I never do him wrong, [Afide:
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends

Pays dear for my offences.

Poft Should we be taking leave,

As long a term as yet we have to live,
The lothness to depart would grow.-
Imo. Nay, ftay a little-

[Exiz.

-Adieu !

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,

Such parting were too petty. Look here, love.
This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart,,
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Poft. How, how, another!

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And fear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death. Remain, remain thou here
[Putting on the ring.
While fenfe can keep thee on! and fweeteft, faireit
As I my poor felf did exchange for you,

To your fo infinite lofs; fo, in our trifles
I still win of you. For my fake wear this;
It is a manacle of love, I'll place it

[Putting a bracelet on her arm.

Upon this faireft pris'ner.
Imo. O, the Gods!

When fhall we fee again?

SCENE

III.

Enter Cymbeline and Lords.

Poft. Alack, the King!.

Cym. Thou bafeft thing, avoid! hence! from my. fight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthinefs, thou dy't away!

Thou'rt poifon to my blood,

Poft. The Gods protect you,

And blefs the good remainders of the court!

F'm gone.

Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death More fharp, than this is.

Cym. O difloyal thing,

That fhouldft repair my youth, thou heap't

A year's age * on me.

Imo. I befeech you, Sir,

Harm not yourself with your vexation;

[Exit

I'm fenfelefs of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym. Paft grace? obedience?

Imo. Paft hope, and in defpair; that way paft grace. Cym. Thou might'st have had the fole fon of my queen.