Clot. Wilt thou ferve me? for fince patiently and conftantly thou haft ftuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Pofthumus, thou can'ft not in the courfe of gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou ferve me?

Pis. Sir, I will.

Clot. Give me thy hand, here's my purfe. Haft any of thy late mafter's garments, in thy poffeffion? Pif. I have, my Lord, at my lodging, the fame fuit he wore when he took leave of my lady and miftrefs.

Clo. The firft fervice thou doft me, fetch that fuit hither. Let it be thy first service, Go. Pif. I fhall, my Lord. [Exit. Clot. Meet thee at Milford-Haven?I forgot to afk him one thing, I'll remember 't anon-Even there, thou villain Pofthumus, will I kill thee, I would, thefe garments were come. She faid upon a time the bitternefs of it I now belch from my heart, that the held. the very garment of Pofthumus in more refpect than my. noble and natural perfon, together with the adornment. of my qualities. With that fuit upon my back will I ravish her; first kill him, and in her eyes. There fhall fhe fee my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my fpeech of infultment ended on his dead body; and when my luft hath dined, which, as I fay, to vex her, I will execute in the clothes that the fo prais'd, to the court I'll kick her back, foot her home again. She hath defpifed me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge.

Enter Pifanio, with a fuit of clothes.

Be thofe the garments?

Pif. Ay, my noble Lord.

Clot. How long is't fince fhe went to MilfordHaven?

Pif. She can scarce be there yet.

Clot. Bring this apparel to my chamber, that is the fecond thing that I have commanded thee. The third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary Mute to my defign. Be but duteous, and true preferment shall tender itself

02

to

to thee.

My revenge is now at Milford, 'would I had wings to follow it! Come and be true.

[Exit.
Pif. Thou bidd'ft me to my lofs: for true to thee,
Were to prove falfe, which I will never be,
To him that is most true. To Milford go,

And find not her, whom thou purfu'ft. Flow, flow,
You heav'nly Bleffings on her! This fool's fpeed.
Be croft with flownefs. Labour be his meed! [Exit.

Imo.

I

SCENE VII.

Changes to the Foreft and Cave.

Enter Imogen, in boy's clothes.

See, a man's life is a tedious one:

I've tir'd myself; and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. I fhould be fick,
But that my refolution helps me. Milford,
When from the mountain top Pifanio fhew'd thee,
Thou waft within a ken. O Jove, I think,
Foundations fly the wretched; fuch, I mean,

Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me,
I could not mifs my way. Will folks lye,
That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis

poor

A punishment, or trial? yes; no wonder,

When rich ones fcarce tell true. To lapfe in fullness
(6) Is forer, than to lye for need; and falfhood
Is worfe in Kings, than Beggars. My dear Lord!
Thou 'rt one o' th' falfe ones; now I think on thee,
My hunger's gone; but ev'n before, I was
At point to fink for food. But what is this?

[Seeing the Cave:
Here is a path to it- -'tis fome favage hold;
It were beft, not call; I dare not call; yet famine,
Ere clean it o'er-throw nature, makes it valiant,
Plenty, and peace, breeds cowards; hardness ever

Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here?

(6) Is forer, -] Is a greater, or heavier crime.

(7) If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if savage, Take, or lend Ho!- -No answer? Then I'll enter. Best draw my fword; and if mine enemy

But fear the fword like me, he'll fcarcely look on't. Grant fuch a foe, good heav'ns!

[She goes into the Cave.

Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Bel. You, Paladour, have prov'd beft woodman, and Are mafter of the feaft. Cadwal and I

Will play the cook, and fervant; 'tis our match :
The fweat of induftry would dry, and die,

But for the end it works too. Come, our stomachs
Will make what's homely favoury; weariness
Can fnore upon the flint, when refty floth

Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'ft thyself!

(7) If any thing that's civil,-] Civil, for human creature. WARBURTON.

If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if savage,

Take OR LEND]

She is in doubt, whether this cave be the habitation of a man or beaft. If it be the former, the bids him fpeak; if the latter, that is, the den of a favage beast, what then? Take or lend We fhould read,

Take 'OR 'T END.

i. e. take my life ere famine end it. Or was commonly used for ere; this agrees to all that went before. But the Oxford Editor cuts the knot;

Take, or yield food.

fays he. As if it was poffible fo plain a fentence should ever have been blundered into Take or lend. WARB.

I fuppofe the emendation proposed will not easily be received: it is ftrained and obfcure, and the objection against Hanmer's reading is likewife very firong. I queftion whether, after the words, if favage, a line be not loft, I can offer nothing better than to read, Ho! who's here?

If any thing that's civil, take or lend,

If favage, fpeak.

If you are civilifed and peaceable, take a price for what I want, or lend it for a future recompence; if you are rough inbofpitable inhabitants of the mountain, Speak, that I may know my ftate.

Guid. I'm thoroughly weary.

Arv. I'm weak with toil, yet ftrong in appetite. Guid. There is cold meat i' the cave, we'll brouze on that,

Whilft what, we've kill'd, be cook'd.

Bel. Stay, come not in

[Looking in.

But that it eats our victuals, I fhould think,
Here were a Fairy.

Guid. What's the matter, Sir?

Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly Paragon. Behold divineness No elder than a boy.

Enter Imogen.

Imo. Good mafters, harm me not.

Before I enter'd here, I call'd, and thought

T' have begg'd, or bought, what I have took; good troth,

I have ftoll'n nought, nor would not, though I'd

found

Gold ftrew'd i' th' floor. Here's i money
I would have left it on the board fo foon

for my meat

As I had made my meal; and parted hence
With prayers for the provider.

Guid. Money, youth?

Aro. All gold and filver rather turn to dirt! As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of thofe

Who worship dirty Gods.

Imo. I fee, you're angry:

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I fhould

Have dy'd, had I not made it.

Bel. Whither bound?

Imo. To Milford-Haven.

Bel. What's your name?

Imo. Fidele, Sir. I have a kinsman, who
Is bound for Italy, he embark'd at Milford;
To whom being going, almoft fpent with hunger,

I'm fall'n in this offence.

Bel. Pry'thee, fair youth,

Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!

'Tis almost night, you fhall have better cheer Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it. -Boys, bid him welcome.

Guid. Were you a woman,

youth,

I fhould woe hard, but be your groom in honesty;
(8) I'd bid for you, as I'd buy.
Arv. I'll make 't my comfort

He is a man, I'll love him as my brother,
And fuch a welcome as I'd give to him,
After long abfence, fuch is yours.

Moft welcome!

Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends?
Imo. 'Mong't friends?

If brothers, would it had been fo, that they
Had been my father's fons! (9) then had my

prize

Been lefs, and fo more equal ballafting

To thee, Pofthumus.

Bel. He wrings at fome diftrefs.
Guid. 'Would I could free -'t!

Afide.

Arv. Or I, whate’er it be,

What pain it coft, what danger.

Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

[Whispering.

Imo. Great men,

That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves and had the virtue

Which their own confcience feal'd them, laying by (1) That nothing-gift of differing multitudes,

04

Could

(8) I'd bid for you, as I'd buy.] This is Hanmer's reading. The other copies,

I bid for you, as I do buy.

(9) then had my prize

Been lefs, and fo more equal ballafting

Hanmer reads plaufibly, but without neceffity, price, for prize, and balancing, for ballafting, He is followed by Dr. Warburton. The meaning is, Had I been a lefs prize, I should not have been too heavy for Pofthumus.

(1) That nothing-gift of differing multitudes,] The poet must mean, that court, that obfequious adoration which the shifting vulgar pay to the great, is a tribute of no price or value. I am perfuaded, therefore, our poet coined this participle from the French verb, and wrote,

That nothing gift of defering multitudes,

i. e.