Post. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. Gaol. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes, to see the way of blindness! I am sure, hanging's the way of winking. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king. Post. Thou bringest good news;-I am called to be made free. Gaol. I'll be hanged then. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Posthumus and Messenger. Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves de. sire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be some of them too, that die against their wills; so should I if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good; O, there were desolation of gaolers, and gallowses! I speak against my present profit; but my wish hath a preferment in't. [Exeunt. • Forward. SCENE V. Cymbeline's tent. Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio, Lords, Officers, and Attendants. Cym. Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made Preservers of my throne. Woe is my heart, Our grace can make him so. Bel. I never saw Such noble fury in so poor a thing; Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought But beggary and poor looks. Cym. No tidings of him? Pis. He hath been search'd among the dead and living, But no trace of him. Cym. To my grief, I am The heir of his reward; which I will add [To Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus. By whom, I grant, she lives; 'Tis now the time To ask of whence you are:-report it. Bel. Sir, In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen: Cym. Bow your knees: Arise, my knights o'the battle: I create you Target, shield. Companions to our person, and will fit you Enter Cornelius and Ladies. There's business in these faces:-Why so sadly Cor. Cym. Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life; Cym. Pr'ythee, say. Cor. First, she confess'd she never lov'd you; only Affected greatness got by you, not you: Married your royalty, was wife to your place; Abhorr'd your person. Cym. She alone knew this: And, but she spoke it dying, I would not Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed. Cor. Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to love With such integrity, she did confess Was as a scorpion to her sight; whose life, But that her flight prevented it, she had Ta'en off by poison. Cym. O most delicate fiend! Who is't can read a woman?-Is there more? Cor. More, sir, and worse. She did confess, she had For you a mortal mineral; which, being took, Should by the minute feed on life, and, ling'ring, Cym. Heard you all this, her women? Lady. We did so, please your highness. Cym. Were not in fault, for she was beautiful; Mine eyes Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart, That thought her like her seeming; it had been vi. cious, To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter! That it was folly in me, thou may'st say, And prove it in thy feeling. Heaven mend all! Enter Lucius, Iachimo, the Soothsayer, and other Roman Prisoners, guarded; Posthumus behind, and Imogen. Thou com'st not, Caius, now for tribute; that Luc. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident; had it gone with us, We should not, when the blood was cool, have threaten'd Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods, Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives May be call'd ransome, let it come: sufficeth, A Roman with a Roman's heart can suffer: So feat, so nurse-like: let his virtue join With my request, which, I'll make bold, your highness Though he have serv'd a Roman: save him, sir, Cym. I have surely seen him : His favourt is familiar to me. Boy, thou hast look'd thyself into my grace, And art mine own.-I know not why, nor wherefore, Imo. I humbly thank your highness. Luc. I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad; And yet, I know, thou wilt. Imo. Luc. The boy disdains ine, He leaves me, scorns me: Briefly die their joys, Cym. What would'st thou, boy? speak, Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend? Ready, dextrous. ↑ Countenance. |