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Guid. This is sure Fidele.

Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady from you? Think, that you are upon a rock! and now

Throw me again.

Post. Hang there like fruit, my soul,

'Till the tree die !

Cym. How now, my flesh, my child?

What, mak'st thou me a dullard in this act?

Wilt thou not speak to me?

Imo. Your blessing, sir.

670

[Kneeling.

Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame you

not;

You had a motive for't.

[To GUID. and AR VI!

Cym. My tears, that fall,

Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,

Thy mother's dead.

Imo. I am sorry for't, my lord.

680

Cym. O, she was naught; and long of her it was, That we meet here so strangely: But her son

Is gone, we know not how, nor where.

Pis. My lord,

Now fear is from me, I'll speak troth. Lord Cloten,

Upon my lady's missing, came to me

With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, and

swore,

If I discover'd not which way she was gone,

It was my instant death; By accident,

I had a feigned letter of my master's

Then in my pocket; which directed him

To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;
Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments,

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Which he enforc'd from me, away he posts

With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
My lady's honour: what became of him,

I further know not.

Guid. Let me end the story:'

I slew him there.

Cym. Marry, the gods forefend!

I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.

Guid. I have spoke it, and I did it,
Cym. He was a prince.

700

Guid. A most uncivil one: The wrongs he did me
Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
With language that would make me spurn the sea,
If it could so roar to me: I cut off's head;

And am right glad, he is not standing here
To tell this tale of mine.

Cym. I am sorry for thee:

710

By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must Endure our law: Thou art dead.

Imo. That headless man

I thought had been my lord.

Cym. Bind the offender,

And take him from our presence.

Bel. Stay, sir king:

This man is better than the man he slew,

720

As well descended as thyself; and hath

More of thee merited, than a band of Clotens

Had ever scar for.-Let his arms alone; [To the guard. They were not born for bondage.

Cym. Why, old soldier,

Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for,

8

By tasting of our wrath? How of descent
As good as we ?

Arv. In that he spake too far.

Cym. And thou shalt die for't.

Bel. We will die all three :,'

But I will prove, that two of us are as good
As I have given out him.-My sons, I must,
For my own part, unfold a dangerous speech,
Though, haply, well for you,

Arv. Your danger's ours.

Guid. And our good his.

Bel. Have at it then.

1

730

By leave; Thou had'st, great king, a subject, who

Was call'd Belarius.

Cym. What of him he is

A banish'd traitor,

Bel. He it is, that hath:

Assum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man;

I know not how, a traitor.

Cym. Take him hence ;

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The whole world shall not save him.

Bel. Not too hot :

First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;

And let it be confiscate all, so soon

As I have receiv'd it.

Cym. Nursing of my sons!

1749

750

Bel. I am too blunt, and saucy: Here's my knee:

Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons;

Then, spare not the old father. Mighty sir,

These

These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
And blood of your begetting.

Cym. How my issue?

760

Bel. So sure as you your father's. I, old Morgan, Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd : Your pleasure was my near offence, my punishment Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd,

Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
(For such, and so they are) these twenty years
Have I train'd up: those arts they have, as I
Could put into them; my breeding was, sir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,

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For that which I did then: Beaten for loyalty
Excited me to treason: Their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world :-
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.

Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st.

" 3

The service, that you three have done, is more
Unlike than this thou tell'st: I lost my children;
If these be they, I know not how to wish

A pair of worthier sons.

781

Bel.

Bel. Be pleas'd a while.

This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,

Most worthy prince, as your's, is true Guiderius :
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,

Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lap'd
In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen-mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.

Cym. Guiderius had

Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;
It was a mark of wonder.

Bel. This is he;

Who hath upon him still that natural stamp:
It was wise nature's end in the donation,
To be his evidence now.

Cym. O, what am I

A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother
Rejoic'd deliverance more :-Blest may you be,
That, after this strange starting from your orbs,
You may reign in them now!—O Imogen,
Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.

Imo. No, my lord;

799

800

810

I have got two worlds by't.—O my gentle brothers,
Have we thus met? O never say hereafter,
But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother,
When I was but your sister; I you brothers,

When you were so indeed.

Cym. Did you e'er meet? .

Arv. Ay, my good lord.

Guid. And at first meeting lov'd;

Continued so, until we thought he died.

Cor.

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