"Or we are Romans, and will give you that (50) "Like beafts, which you fhun beaftly, and may fave "But to look back in frown: stand, stand."--These three, Three thousand confident, in act as many;

(For three performers are the file, when all

I he reft do nothing) with this word, "Stand, ftand,"
Accommodated by the place, (more charming

With their own noblenefs, which could have turn'd'
A diftaff to a lance) gilded pale looks; [coward
Part, fhame, part, fpirit-renew'd; that fome, turn'd
But by example, (oh, a fin in war,

Damn'd in the first beginners!) 'gan to look
The way that they did, and to grin like lions
Upon the pikes o'th' hunters. Then began
A top i' th' chafer, a retire; anon,

A rout, confufion thick. Forthwith they fly
Chickens, the way which they ftoop'd eagles: flaves,
The ftrides they victors made: and now our cowards,
Like fragments in hard voyages, became

The life o'th' need; having found the back door open
Of the unguarded hearts, heav'ns, how they wound
Some flain before, fome dying; fome, their friends
O'er-born i' th' former wave; ten, chac'd by one,
Are now each one the flaughter-man of twenty;
Thofe, that would die or ere refift, are grown
The mortal bugs o' th' field.

(50)

and will give you that

Like beafts, which you fhun beaftly and may fave
But to look back in front:]

Looking back in front is a phrafe, which Mr. Pope, if he pleases, may referve for his own collection of elegancies: but I can't admit it to be palm'd upon our editor. We must read with the old copies,

But to look back in frown.

i. e, if you will but turn upon the enemy, and fhew them you can look angry. So, in the Tempeft;

-They being penitent,

The fole drift of my purpose doth extend

Not a frown further.

And so, in Antony and Cleopatra ;

Good brother,

Let me request you off: our graver bufinefs
Frowns at this levity.

Lord.

Lord. This was strange chance,

A narrow lane! an old man, and two boys!

Poft. (51) Nay, do but wonder at it; you are made Rather to wonder at the things you hear,

Than to work any. Will you rhime upon't?
And vent it for a mockery? here is one:
"Two boys, an old man, (twice a boy,) a lane,
"Preferv'd the Britons, was the Romans' bane."
Lord. Nay, be not angry, Sir.

Poft. 'Lack, to what end?

Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
For if he'll do, as he is made to do,

I know, he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
You have put me into rhimes.

Lord. Farewel, you are angry.
Poft. This is a Lord-

[Exit.

oh noble mifery, To be i' th' field, and afk what news, of me! To-day, how many would have given their honours To've fav'd their carcaffes? took heel to do't, And yet died too? I, in mine own woe charm'd, Could not find death, where I did hear him groan; Nor feel him where he ftruck. This ugly monfter,'Tis flrange he hides him in fresh cups, foft beds, Sweet words; or hath more minifters than we, That draw his knives i' th' war

him: (52)

-Well, I will find

(51) Nay, do not wonder at it; you are made

Raiber to wonder at the things you bear,

Than to work any.]

For

Sure, this is mock-reasoning with a vengeance. What! because he was made fitter to wonder at great actions, than to perform any, is he therefore forbid to wonder? I corrected the paffage in the Appendix to my SHAKESPEARE Reflor'd; and Mr. Pope has follow'd my correction in his last edition.

(52)

-Well, I will find him :
For being now a favourer to the Britaine,
No more a Britaine, I've refum'd again
The part I came in.]

This is a very obfcure paffage; and, without the helps it would receive from the reprefentation, wants a little clearing up. Pofthumus comes over with the Roman bands; but, refolv'd not to fight against

For being now a favourer to the Briton,
No more a Briton, I've refum'd again
The part I came in. Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the veriest hind, that shall
Once touch my fhoulder. Great the flaughter is
Here made by th' Roman; great the answer be,
Britons must take. For me, my ranfom's death;
On either fide I come to fpend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by fome means for Imogen.

Enter two British Captains, and Soldiers.

1 Cap. Great Jupiter be prais'd, Lucius is taken! "Tis thought, the old man, and his fons, were angels. 2 Cap. There was a fourth man, in a filly habit, That gave th' affront with them.

1 Cap. So 'tis reported;

But none of them can be found. Stand, who's there? Poft. A Roman

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds
Had anfwer'd him.

2 Cap. Lay hands on him; a dog! A leg of Rome fhall not return to tell

his country, he puts the habit of a British peasant over his Italian drefs, and does feats of defperation against the Romans, in hopes of meeting his death from their fwords. The fortune of the day is turn'd, and the Britons gain the field. Upon this, Poftbumus fhifts back into his Italian garb; fays, he will find death; for though he's now a favourer to the Britons in heart, he'll not confefs himself of that country, but yield himself a prifoner to the meanest of the vic tor party, and fo fall a facrifice to their refentment. For the captives, we find, in the fequel of the play, were by the customs of the Britons to be victims to the Manes of thofe flain on the victors party. That Pofthumus does again shift his habit, is evident from this circumftance. The Britons surprize him, and asking who he is, he replies; A Roman;

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds

Had anfwer'd him.

Of the old Britons facrificing captives to Andate, their Goddess of Victory, many authors have spoken; and of their cuftom of burning numbers in their great Wicker Image, Holing head makes mention: but Sammes, in his BRITANNIA, is particularly copious upon it.

What

What crows have peck'd them here; he brags his fervice, As if he were of note; bring him to th' King.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and Roman captives. The captains prefent Posthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a Gaoler. After which, all go out.

SCENE changes to a Prifon.

Enter Pofthumus, and two gaolers.

shall not now be ftol'n, you've locks

› Gaol. Y upon you;

So, graze, as you find pafture.

2 Gaol. Ay, or stomach.

[Exeunt Gaolers.

Poft. Moft welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,

I think, to liberty; yet am I better

Than one that's fick o' th' gout, fince he had rather Groan fo in perpetuity than be cur'd

By th' fure phyfician, death; who is the key

T'unbar thofe locks. My confcience! thou art fetter'd More than my shanks and wrifts; you good Gods, give The penitent inftrument to pick that bolt;

Then free for ever.

Is't enough, I'm sorry? So children temp'ral fathers do appeafe; Gods are more full of mercy.

Muft I repent?

I cannot do it better than in gyves,

Defir'd more than constrain'd; to fatisfy, (53)
I d'off my freedom; 'tis the main part; take

If of my freedom 'tis the main part, take

No firicter render of me, than my all.]

[me

N

Nonfenfe has one happy property, in that one needs not many words to be made fenfible of it; but 'tis, in this refpect, like light, per. ceiv'd as foon as fhewn. Such is the glaring nonfenfe of thefe lines. What we can discover from them is this, that the fpeaker in a fit of penitency towards Heaven, compares his circumftances with a debtor's who is willing to furrender up all to appease his creditor. This being the fenfe in general, 1 may venture to say, the true reading must have been thus.

No stricter render of me than my all.

I know, you are more clement than vile men,
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement; that's not my defire.
For Imogen's dear life, take mine; and though

2

is not fo dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it. "Tween man and man, they weigh not every stamp Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake; You rather, mine being yours: and fo, great powers, If you will take this audit, take this life, And cancel thofe old bonds. Oh Imogen! I'll speak to thee in filence.

[He fleeps. Solemn mufick: Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father to Pofthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior; leading in his hand an ancient matron, his. wife, and mother to Pofthumus, with mufick before them. Then, after other mufick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Pofthumus, with wounds, as they died in the wars. They circle Pofthumus round, as he lies fleeping.

Sici. No more, thou thunder-mafter, fhew
Thy fpite on mortal flies:

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,

That thy adulteries

Rates and revenges.

Hath my poor boy done aught but well,
Whofe face I never faw?

I dy'd, whilft in the womb he ftay'd,
Attending Nature's law.

To fatisfy,

I d'off my freedom; 'tis the main part; take
No frister render of me than my all.

The verb doff is too frequently ufed by our Author to need any quo tations in proof; and furely here, with peculiar elegance: i. e. "Te

give all the fatisfaction I am able to your offended godheads, I "voluntarily diveft myfelf of my freedom: 'tis the only thing I "have worth offering by way of atonement, take no ftricter render "of me than my All," Mr. Warburton.

Whok