To my demands. Why do you pity me?

Iach. That others do,

I was about to fay. Enjoy your

It is an office of the gods to venge it,

Not mine to fpeak on't.

Imo. You do feem to know

-but

Something of me, or what concerns me. Pray you,
Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more
Than to be fure they do; for certainties
Or are past remedies, or timely knowing *
The remedy's then born; difcover to me
What both you fpur and stop t.

Iach. Had I this cheek

To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whofe touch,
Whose ev'ry touch would force the feeler's foul
To th' oath of loyalty; this object, which
Takes pris'ner the wild motion of mine eye,
Fixing it only here; thould I, damn'd then,
Slaver with lips as common as the stairs
That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands
Made hard with hourly falfhood, as with labour;
Then glad myself by peeping in an eye
Bafe and unluftrous as the fmoky light
That's fed with ftinking tallow; it were fit
That all the plagues of hell fhould at one time
Encounter fuch revolt.

Imo. My Lord, I fear,

Has forgot Britain.

Iach. And himself.

Not I,

Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce

The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces That from my muteft confcience, to my tongue, Charms this report out.

Imo. Let me hear no more.

Iach. Oh dearest foul! your caufe doth strike my heart

With pity, that doth make me fick. A lady

So fair, and faften'd to an empery,

* Rather, timely known. Johnson.

What it is that at once incites you to speak, and reftrains you from it. Ib.

Would make the greateft King double! to be part

ner'd

With tomboys, hir'd with that self-exhibition Which your own coffers yield—with difeas'd

ventures,

That play with all infirmities for gold,

Which rottennefs lends nature! fuch boil'd stuff,
As well might poifon poifon! Be reveng'd;
Or fhe that bore you was no Queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.

Imo. Reveng'd!

How should I be reveng'd, if this be true?
As I have fuch a heart, that both mine ears
Muf not in hafte abufe; if it be true,
How fhall I be reveng'd?

Iach. Should he make me

Live like Diana's prieft, betwixt cold sheets,
While he is vaulting variable ramps

In your defpight, upon your purfe? Revenge it!
I dedicate myfelf to your fweet pleasure,
More noble than that runagate to your bed;
And will continue faft to your affection,
Still clofe, as fure.

Imo. What, ho, Pifanio!

Iach. Let me my fervice tender on your lips.
Imo. Away!——I do condemn mine ears, that
have

So long attended thee. If thou wert honourable,
Thou would't have told this tale for virtue, not
For fuch an end thou feek'ft; as base as ftrange.
Thou wrong'ft a gentleman, who is as far
From thy report, as thou from honour; and
Solicit'ft here a lady that dildains

Thee and the devil alike. What ho, Pifanio !-
The King my father fhall be made acquainted
Of thy afault: if he fhall think it fit,
A faucy ftranger in his court to mart
As in a Romith ftew, and to expourd
His beaftly mind to us; he hath a court

Grofs frumpets, hired with the very pension which you allow your husband. Johnjon.

He little cares for, and a daughter whom
He not refpects at all. What ho, Pifanio!
Iach. O happy Leonatus, I may say:
The credit that thy lady hath of thee

Deferves thy truft, and thy most perfect goodness. Her affur'd credit! Bleffed live you long,

A lady to the worthieft Sir that ever

Country called his! and you his mistress, only
For the most worthieft fit! Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this, to know if your affiance
Were deeply rooted; and fhall make your Lord,
That which he is, new o'er: and he is one
The trueft-manner'd, fuch a holy witch,
That he inchants focieties into him;
Half all men's hearts are his.

Imo. You make amends.

Iach. He fits 'mong men like a defcended god; He hath a kind of honour fets him off, More than a mortal feeming. Be not angry, Moft mighty Princefs, that I have adventur'd To try your taking of a falfe report; which hath Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment, In the election of a Sir fo rare,

Which, you know, cannot err. The love I bear him," Made me to fan you thus; but the gods made you, Unlike all others, chafflefs. Pray, your pardon.. Imo. All's well, Sir. Take my pow'r i' th' court

for yours.

Iach. My humble thanks; had almoft forgot Tintreat your Grace but in a fiall request, And yet of moment too, for it concerns Your Lord; myfelf, and other noble friends Are partners in the business.

Imo. Pray, what is't?

Iach. Some dozen Romans of us, and your Lord,
Best feather of our wing, have mingled fums
To buy a prefent for the Emperor;

Which I, the factor of the reft, have done
In France; 'tis plate of rare device, and jewels
Of rich and exquifite form, their values great;
And I am fomething curious, being ftrange,
To have them in fafe ftowage : may it please you
VOL. IX.

M

To take them in protection?

Imo. Willingly;

And pawn mine honour for their fafety. Since My Lord hath int'reft in them, I will keep them In my bed-chamber.

Iach. They are in a trunk,

Attended by my men: I will make bold
To fend them to you, only for this night;
I must aboard to-morrow.

Imo. O no, no.

Iach. Yes, I beseech you; or I fhall fhort my word,

By length'ning my return. From Gallia

I croft the feas, on purpose and on promise
To fee your Grace.

Imo. I thank you for your pains;

But not away to-morrow?

Iach. O, I muft, Madam.

Therefore I fhall befeech you, if you please
To greet your Lord with writing, do't to-night.
I have outftood my time, which is material
To th' tender of our prefent.

Imo. I will write :

Send your trunk to me, it fhall fafe be kept, And truly yielded you. You're very welcome. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I,

Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter Cloten and two Lords.

Cloten.

AS there ever man had fuch luck! when I

W kifs'd the Jack upon an up-caft, to be hit

away! I had an hundred pound on't. And then a whorefon jack-an-apes must take me up for fwearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

I Lord. What got he by that? you have broke his pate with your bowl.

2 Lord. If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

[Afide. Clot. When a gentleman is difpos'd to fwear, it is not for any ftanders-by to curtail his oaths. Ha? 2 Lord. No, my Lord; nor crop the ears of them. [Afide. Clot. Whorefon dog! I give him fatisfaction? 'would he had been one of my rank.

2 Lord. To have fmelt like a fool.- [Afide. Clot. I am not vezt more at any thing in the earth, -a pox on't! I had rather not be fo noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the Queen my mother; every jack-flave hath his belly-full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match.

2 Lord. You are a cock and a capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on. [Afide.

Clot. Say't thou?

1 Lord. It is not fit your Lordship should undertake every companion* that you give offence to. Clot. No, I know that; but it is fit I fhould commit offence to my inferiors.

2 Lord. It is fit for your Lord(hip only.

Clot. Why, fo I fay.

1 Lord. Did you hear of a ftranger that's come to court to-night?

Clot. A ftranger, and I not know on't?

2 Lord. He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not. [Afide. i Lord. There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus's friends.

Clot. Leonatus! a banih'd rafcal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this ftranger?

1 Lord. One of your Lordship's pages.

Clot. Is it fit I went to look upon him? is there no derogation in't?

* The use of companion was the fame as of fellow now. It was a word of contempt. Johnjon.