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What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.

I honour him

Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me,

Is she sole child to the king?

1 Gent.

His only child. He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing, Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery

Were stolen; and to this hour, no guess in know

ledge

Which way they went.

:

2 Gent.

How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con

vey'd!

So slackly guarded! And the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

1 Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,

Yet is it true, sir.

2 Gent.

I do well believe you.

1 Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the queen,

and princess.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same.

Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,

daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,

Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but

Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,

So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience

Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day.
Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril:

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king

Hath charg'd you should not speak together.

Imo.

[Exit Queen.

0

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle where she wounds!- My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,
(Always reserv'd my holy duty,)" what
His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,

That I may see again.

Post.

My queen! my mistress!

O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness

Than doth become a man! I will remain

The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
My residence in Rome at one Philario's;
Who to my father was a friend, to me

Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,

Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter Queen.

Be brief, I pray you:

(Always reserv'd my holy duty,)] I say I do not fear my fa.

ther, so far as I may say it without breach of duty.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;

Pays dear for my offences.
Post.

[Aside.

[Exit.

Should we be taking leave

As long a term as yet we have to live,

The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!

Imo. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,

Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;

But keep it till you woo another wife,

When Imogen is dead...

Post.

How! how! another?

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next

8

With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring.

While sense can keep it on? And sweetest, fairest,

As I my poor self did exchange for you,

To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles

I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;

It is a manacle of love; I'll place it

Upon this fairest prisoner.

Imo.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm.

When shall we see again?

And sear up-] i. e. close up.

O, the gods!

:

• While sense can keep it on!] i. e. while sense can maintain its operations; while sense continues to have its usual power. To keep on signifies to continue in a state of action.

1

a manacle-] A manacle properly means what we now

call a hand-cuff.

Post.

Alack, the king!

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight! If, after this command, thou fraught the court With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!

Thou art poison to my blood.

Post.

The gods protect you!

And bless the good remainders of the court!

I am gone.
Imo.

[Exit.

There cannot be a pinch in death

More sharp than this is.

Cym.

O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth; thou heapest

A year's age on me!
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare

Subdues all pangs, all fears.2

Сут.

Past grace? obedience?

Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past

grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my

queen!

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle, And did avoid a puttock.3

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made

my throne

A seat for baseness.
Imo.

A lustre to it.

[blocks in formation]

No; I rather added

Subdues all pangs, all fears.] i. e. a more exquisite feeling; a superior sensation.

3

- a puttock.] A puttock is a mean degenerate species of hawk, too worthless to deserve training.

Сут.

Imo.

O thou vile one!

Sir,

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is

A man, worth any woman; overbuys me

Almost the sum he pays.*

Сут.

What!-art thou mad!

Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me! -'Would

I were

A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus

Our neighbour shepherd's son!

Re-enter Queen.

Сут.

Thou foolish thing!

They were again together: you have done

[To the Queen.

Not after our command. Away with her,

And pen her up.
Queen.

'Beseech your patience:-Peace,

Dear lady daughter, peace; -Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort

Out of your best advice.5

Сут.

Nay, let her languish

A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Die of this folly!

Queen.

Enter PISANIO.

[Exit.

Fye!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir? What news?

[blocks in formation]

Almost the sum he pays.] So small is my value, and so great is his, that in the purchase he has made (for which he paid himself,) for much the greater part, and nearly the whole, of what he has given, he has nothing in return. The most minute portion of his worth would be too high a price for the wife he has acquired. your best advice.] i. e, consideration, reflection.

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