Though this a heavenly angel, hell is here.
[Clock strikes. The scene closes.
One, two, three,-Time, time!
[Goes into the Trunk.
SCENE IU.
An Ante-Chamber adjoining Imogen's Apartment.
Enter CLOTEN and Lords.
1 Lord. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that ever turn'd up ace. Clo. It would make any man cold to lose. 1 Lord. But not every man patient, after the noble temper of your lordship; You are most hot, and furious, when you win.
Clo. Winning would put any man into conrage; if I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough: it's almost morning is't not? 1 Lord. Day, my lord.
Clo. I would this musick would come: I am advised to give her musick o'mornings; they say, it will penetrate.
Come on; tune: if you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain; but I'll never give o'er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing; after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it,-and then let her consider. SONG.
Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
And Phabus 'gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chalic'd flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes;
With every thing that pretty bin;
My lady sweet, arise;
Arise, arise.
So, get you gone: If this penetrate I will con-
sider your musick the better: if it do not, it is
a vice in her ears, which horse-hairs, and cats-
guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot,
can never amend.
[Exeunt Musicians.
Enter CYMBELINE and Queen.
2 Lord. Here comes the king. Clo. I am glad, I was up so late; for that's the reason I was up so early; He cannot choose but take this service I have done, fatherly.Good morrow to your majesty, and to my gracious mother.
Cym. Attend you here the door of our stern Will she not forth? [daughter? Cio. I have assailed her with musick, but she vouchsafes no notice.
Cym. The exile of her minion is too new; She hath not yet forgot him; some more time Must wear the print of his remembrance out, And then she's yours.
Queen. You are most bound to the king: Who lets go by no vantages, that may Prefer you to his daughter: Frame yourself To orderly solicits; and be friended With aptness of the season: make denials Increase your services; so seem, as if You were inspir'd to do those duties which You tender to her; that you in all obey her, Save when command to your dismission tends, And therein you are senseless. Clo.
Enter a Messenger. Mess. So like you, sir, embassadors from The one is Caius Lucius. [Rome;
Cym. A worthy fellow, Albeit he comes on angry purpose now; But that's no fault of his: We must receive him
According to the honour of his sender;
And towards himself his goodness forespent on
We must extend our notice.-Our dear son,
When you have given good morning to your
mistress,
Attend the queen, and us; we shall have need To employ you towards this Roman.-Come, our queen.
[Exeunt CYM. Queen, Lords, and Mess. Clo. If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not Let her lie still, and dream.-Byyour leave ho!-[Knocks.
I know her women are about her; What
If I do line one of their hands? 'Tis gold
Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and
makes
Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
Their deer to the stand of the stealer; and 'tis
gold
[thief;
Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the
Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man:
Can it not do, and undo? I will make [What
One of her women lawyer to me; for
I yet not understand the case myself.
By your leave.
Enter a Lady.
Lady. Who's there, that knocks?
Clo.
A gentleman.
Lady.
Clo. Yes, and a gentlewoman's son. Lady.
Than some, whose tailors are as dear as yours, Can justly boast of: What's your lordship's
Clo. Your lady's person: Is she ready? Lady.
To keep her chamber.
Clo. There's gold for you; sell me your good Lady. How! my good name? or to report of you What I shall think is good?-The princessEnter IMOGEN.
Clo. Good morrow, fairest sister: Your sweet
hand.
[much pains
Imo. Good morrow, sir: You lay out too
For purchasing but trouble: the thanks I give,
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.
Clo.
Still, I swear, I love you.
Imo. If you but said so,'twere as deep with me:
If you swear still, your recompense is still
That I regard it not.
Clo.
This is no answer.
Imo. But that you shall not say I yield, being
silent,
I would not speak. I pray you, spare me i'faith,
I shall unfold equal discourtesy
[ing
To your best kindness; one of your great know-
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.
Clo. To leave you in your madness, 'twere my
I will not.
[sin;
Imo. Fools are not mad folks.
Clo.
Do you call me fool?
Imo. As I am mad, I do:
If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being so verbal and learn now, for all,
That I, which know my heart, do here pro-
nounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;
And am so near the lack of charity
(To accuse myself), I hate you: which I had
You felt, than make't my boast. [rather
You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance (One, bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes, Is yet fresh in their grief. With scraps o'the court), it is no contract, none: Post. I do believe And though it be allow'd in meaner parties, (Statist though I am none, nor like to be), (Yet who, than he, more mean?) to knit their That this will prove a war; and you shall hear (On whom there is no more dependency [souls The legions now in Gallia, sooner landed But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot: In our not-fearing Britain, than have tidings Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen The consequence o'the crown; and must not soil Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar The precious note of it with a base slave, Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth, courage A pantler, not so eminent.
Worthy his frowning at: Their discipline
(Now mingled with their courages) will make
known
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more,
But what thou art, besides, thou wert too base To their approvers, they are people, such
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,That mend upon the world.
Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom; and hated
For being preferr'd so well.
Clo.
The south-fog rot him!
Imo. He never can meet more mischance than
To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer,
In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men.-How now, Pi-
Clo. His garment? Now, the devil-
Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee present-
Clo. His garment?
[ly:-
Imo.
I am sprighted with a fool;
Frighted, and anger'd worse:-Go, bid my wo-
Search for a jewel, that too casually [man
Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew
If I would lose it for a revenue
Of any king's in Europe. I do think,
I saw't this morning: Confident I am,
Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but he.
Pis.
"Twill not be lost.
Imo. I hope so: go, and search.
[Exit PISANIO.
Clo.
You have abus'd me:-
His meanest garment?
Imo.
Ay: I said so, sir.
If you will mak't an action, call witness to't,
Clo. I will inform your father.
Imo.
Your mother too:
She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,
To the worst of discontent.
Clo.
See! Iachimo? Post. The swiftest harts have posted you by land:
And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails,
To make your vessel nimble.
Phi.
Welcome, sir.
Post. I hope, the briefness of your answer made
The speediness of your return.
Iach.
Your lady
Is one the fairest that I have look'd upon.
Post, And, therewithal, the best; or let her
beauty
Look through a casement to allure false hearts,
And be false with them.
Iach.
Here are letters for you.
Post. Their tenour good, I trust.
Iach.
'Tis very like.
Phi. Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court,
When you were there?
Sparkles this stone as it was wont ? or is't not
Too dull for your good wearing?
I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far, to enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.
Post. The stone's too hard to come by.
Iach.
Your lady being so easy.
Post.
Make, not sir,
Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that we
Must not continue friends.
lach.
Good sir, we must,
Exit. If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
I'll be reveng'd:-The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
[Exit. We were to question further: but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.
His meanest garment?-Well.
Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House.
Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO.
Post. Fear it not, sir: I would, I were so sure
To win the king, as I am bold, her honour
Will remain hers.
What means do you make to him? Post. Not any; but abide the change of time; Quake in the present winter's state, and wish That warmer days would come: in these fear'd I barely gratify your love; they failing, [hopes, I must die much your debtor.
Phi. Your very goodness, and your company, O'erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucins Will do his commission throughly: And I think, He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages,
Had that was well worth watching), It was 'Tis true-nay keep the ring-'tis true :-I am
Let it be granted, you have seen all this (and
praise
Be given to your remembrance), the description
Of what is in her chamber, nothing saves
The wager you have laid.
Iach.
Then, if you can,
[Pulling out the Bracelet.
Be pale; I beg but leave to air this jewel: See!-
And now'tisup again: it must be married
To that your diamond; I'll keep them.
Post.
Once more let me behold it: Is it that
Which I left with her?
Ay, and it doth confirm
Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.
Iach.
Will you hear more?
Post. Spare your arithmetick; never count
Once, and a million;
[the turns;
I'll be sworn,-
No swearing.
If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;
And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny
Thou hast made me cuckold.
Iach.
I will deny nothing.
Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-
meal!
I will go there, and do't; i' the court; before
Her father:-I'll do something-
[Exit.
Phi.
Quite besides
The government of patience!-You have won:
Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath
He hath against himself.
Iach.
With all my heart.
[Exeunt.
Sir (I thank her), that: SCENE V. The same. Another Room in the same. She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet; Her pretty action did outsell her gift, And yet enrich'd it too: She gave it me, and said, She priz'd it once. Post. To send it me. Iach. She writes so to Post. O, no, no, no; 'tis true. too;
May be, she pluck'd it off,
you? doth she?
Here, take this
[Gives the King.
It is a basilisk unto mine eye,
Kills me to look on't:-Let there be no honour,
Where there is beauty; truth,where semblance;
love,
Where there's another man. The vows of women
Of no more bondage be, to where they are made,
Than they are to their virtues; which is no-
O, above measure false!
[thing:
Phi.
Have patience, sir,
And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won:
It may be probable, she lost it; or,
Who knows if one of her women, being cor-
Hath stolen it from her.
[rupted,
Post.
Very true;
And so, I hope, he came by't;-Back my ring;-
Render to me some corporal sign about her,
More eminent than this; for this was stolen.
Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
Post. Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he
Post. Is there no way for men to be, but women
Must be half-workers? We are bastards all;
And that most venerable man, which I
Did call my father, was I know not where
When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his tools
Made me a counterfeit: Yet my mother seem'd
The Dian of that time; so doth my wife
The nonpareil of this.-O vengeance, vengeance!
Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with
A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on't
Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I
thought her
[devils!-
As chaste as unsunn'd snow ;-0, all the
This yellow Iachimo, in an hour,-was't not?—
Or less, at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,
Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,
Cry'd, oh! and mounted: found no opposition
But what he look'd for should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I find out
The woman's part in me! For there's no motion
That tends to vice in man, but I affirm
It is the woman's part: Be it lying, note it,
The woman's; flattering, hers; deceiving, hers
Lust and rank thoughts, hers, hers; revenges
Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain
Nice longings, slanders, mutability, [knows, Till the injurious Romans did extort
All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell
Why, hers, in part, or all; but, rather, all:
For ev'n to vice
This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's
They are not constant, but are changing still
One vice, but of a minute old, for one
Not half so old as that. I'll write against them,
Detest them, curse them: Yet 'tis greater skill
In a true hate to pray they have their will:
The very devils cannot plague them better.
Britain. A Room of State in Cymbeline's Palace. Enter CYMBELINE, Queen, CLOTEN, and Lords, at one Door; and at another CAIUS LUCIUS, and Attendants.
Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us? [yet Luc. When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues,
Be theme, and hearing ever), was in this Britain,
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle
(Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less
Than in his feats deserving it), for him,
And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,
Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee
Is left untender'd.
[lately
Queen.
There be many Cæsars,
Ere such another Julius. Britain is
A world by itself; and we will nothing pay,
For wearing our own noses.
Queen.
That opportunity,
Which then they had to take from us, to resume
We have again.-Remember, sir, my liege,
The kings your ancestors; together with
The natural bravery of your isle; which stands
As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in
With rocks unscaleable, and roaring waters;
With sands, that will not bear your enemies'
boats,
[conquest
But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of
Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag
Of, came, and saw, and overcame; with shame
(The first that ever touch'd him), he was carried
From off our coast, twice beaten; and his ship-
ping,
(Poor ignorant baubles!) on our terrible seas,
Like cgg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd
As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof,
The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point
(0, giglot fortune!) to master Cæsar's sword,
Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright,
And Britons strut with courage.
Clo. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other of them may have crooked noses: but, to owe such straight arms, none.
Cym. Son, let your mother end.
Clo. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say, I am one: but I have a hand.-Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray you now.
ambition (Which swells so much, that it did almost stretch The sides o' the world), against all colour, here Did put the yoke upon us; which to shake off, Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon Ourselves to be. We do say then to Cæsar, Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, which Ordain'd our laws; whose use the sword of Cæsar Hath too much mangled; whose repair, and franchise,
Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,
(Though Rome be therefore angry); Mulmutius,
Who was the first of Britain, which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and call'd
Himself a king.
Luc.
I am sorry, Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
(Cæsar, that hath more kings his servants, than
Thyself domestick officers) thine enemy:
Receive it from me, then:-War, and confusion,
In Cæsar's name pronounce I'gainst thee: look
For fury not to be resisted:-Thus defied,
I thank thee for myself.
Cym.
Thou art welcome, Caius,
Thy Cæsar knighted me: my youth I spent
Much under him; of him I gather'd honour:
Which he, to seek of me again, perforce,
Behoves me keep at utterance; I am perfect,
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for
Their liberties are now in arms: a precedent
Which, not to read, would show the Britons
So Cæsar shall not find them.
[cold
Luc. Clo. His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us a day or two longer: If you seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our salt-water girdle: if you beat us out of it, it is yours; if you fall in the adventure, our crowds shall fare the better for you; and there's an end.
Luc. So, sir.
Cym. I know your master's pleasure, and he
All the remain is, welcome.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II. Another Room in the same.
Enter PISANIO.
Pis. How! of adultery? wherefore write you
What monster's her accuser?-Leonatus! [not
O, master! what a strange infection
Is fallen into thine ear? What false Italian
(As poisonous tongu'd as handed) hath prevail'd
On thy too ready hearing ?-Disloyal? No:
She's punish'd for her truth; and undergoes,
More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults
As would take in some virtue.-Ö, my master!
Thy mind to her is now as low, as were
Thy fortunes.-How! that I should murder her?
Upon the love, and truth, and vows, which I
Have made to thy command ?-I, her?-her
blood?
If it be so to do good service, never
Let me be counted serviceable. How look I,
That I should seem to lack humanity,
So much as this fact comes to? Do't: The letter
[Reading.
That I have sent her, by her own command
Shall give the opportunity.-O damn'd paper!
Black as the ink that's on thee! Senseless bauble,
Art thou a feodary for this act, and look'st
So virgin-like without? Lo, here she comes.
Enter IMOGEN.
I am ignorant in what I am commanded.
Imo. How now, Pisanio?
Pis. Madam, here is a letter from my lord.
Imo. Who? thy lord? that is my lord? Leo-
natus?
O, learn'd indeed were that astronomer,
That knew the stars, as I his characters:
He'd lay the future open.-You good gods,
Let what is here contain'd relish of love,
Of my lord's health, of his content, yet not,
That we two are asunder, let that grieve him,-
(Some griefs are med'cinable,) that is one of
them,
For it doth physick love; of his content,
All but in that!-Good wax,thy leave:-Bless'd
be,
You bees, that make these locks of counsel!
Lovers,
And men in dangerous bonds, pray not alike;
Though forfeiters you cast in prison, yet
You clasp young Cupid's tables.-Good news,
gods!
[Reads.
Justice, and your father's wrath, should he take me
in his dominion, could not be so cruel to me as you,
O the dearest of creatures, would not even renew me·
with your eyes. Take notice, that I am in Cambria,
at Milford-Haven. What your own love will, out of
this, advise you, follow. So, he wishes you all happi-
ness, that remains loyal to his vows, and your, increas-
ing in love,
O, for a horse with wings!-Hear'st thou Pi-
sanio?
He is at Milford Haven: Read, and tell me
How far 'tis thither. If one of mean affairs
May plod it in a week, why may not I
Glide thither in a day?-Then, true Pisanio,
(Who long'st, like me, to see thy lord; who
long'st,-
O, let me bate,-but not like me;-yet long'st,--
But in a fainter kind :-O, not like me;
For mine's beyond beyond) say, and speak
thick;
(Love's counsellor should fill the bores
hearing,
To the smothering of the sense), how far it is
To this same blessed Milford: And, by the way,
Tell me how Wales was made so happy as
To inherit such a Haven: But, first of all,
How we may steal from hence; and, for the gap
That we shall make in time, from our hence-
going,
And our return, to excuse: but first, how get
hence:
Why should excuse be born or e'er begot?
We'll talk of that hereafter. Pr'ythee, speak,
How many score of miles may we well ride
"Twixt hour and hour?
One score, 'twixt sun and sun, Madam, 's enough for you; and too much too. Imo. Why,one that rode to his execution, man, Could never go so slow: I have heard of riding wagers,
Where horses have been nimbler than the sands That run i' the clock's behalf :-But this is foolery :
Go, bid my woman feign a sickness; say
She'll home to her father: and provide me, pre-
sently,
A riding suit; no costlier than would fit
A franklin's housewife.
Wales. A mountainous Country, with a Cave.
Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIBAGUS.
Bel. A goodly day, not to keep house with such
Whose roof's as low as ours! Stoop boys: This
gate
[bows you
Instructs you how to adore the heavens; and
To morning's holy office: Thy gates of monarchs
Are arch'd so high, that giants may jet through
And keep their impious turbans on, without
Good morrow to the sun.-Hail, thou fair hea-
ven!
We house i' the rock, yet use thee not so hardly
As prouder livers do.
Hail, heaven!
Bel. Now, for our mountain sport: Up to yon
hill,
[sider,
Your legs are young; I'll tread these flats. Con-
That it is place which lessens, and sets off.
When you above perceive me like a crow,
And you may then revolve what tales I have
Of courts, of princes, of the tricks in war:
told you,
This service is not service, so being done,
But being so allow'd: To apprehend thus,
Draws us a profit from all things we see:
And often to our comfort shall we find
The sharded beetle in a safer hold
Than is the full-wing'd eagle. O, this life
Is nobler than attending for a check:
Richer, than doing nothing for a babe:
Prouder, than rustling in unpaid-for silk:
Such gain the cap of him, that makes them fine,
Yet keeps his book uncross'd: no life to ours.
Gui. Out of your proof you speak: we, poor
[know not
Have never wing'd from view o' the nest; nor
What air's from home. Haply, this life is best,
If quiet life be best; sweeter to you,
That have a sharper known: well corresponding
With your stiff age; but, unto us, it is
A cell of ignorance; travelling abed;
A prison for a debtor, that not dares
To stride a limit.
Arv.
What should we speak of,
When we are old as you? when we shall hear
The rain and wind beat dark December, how,
In this our pinching cave, shall we discourse
The freezing hours away? We have seen no-
thing:
We are beastly; subtle as the fox, for prey;
Like warlike as the wolf, for what we eat:
Our valour is, to chase what flies; our cage
We make a quire, as doth the prison bird,
And sing our bondage freely.
How you speak!
Did you but know the city's usuries,
And felt them knowingly: the art o' the court,
As hard to leave, as keep; whose top to climb
Is certain falling, or so slippery, that
The fear's as bad as falling: the toil of the war,
A pain that only seems to seek out danger
I' the name of fame, and honour; which dies
i' the search;
And hath as oft a slanderous epitaph,
As record of fair act; nay, many times,
Doth ill deserve by doing well; what's worse,
Must court'sey at the censure:-0, boys, this
story
The world may read in me: My body's mark'd
With Roman swords: and my report was once
First with the best of note: Cymbeline lov'd me;
And when a soldier was the theme, my name
|