Thou may'st be valiant in a better cause, Pis. Thou shalt not damn my hand. Imo. Hence, vile instrument! Why, I must die; And if I do not by thy hand, thou art No servant of thy master's. Against self-slaughter That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my heart: The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, Corrupters of my faith! you shall no more And thou, Posthumus, that didst set up 8 Something's AFORE'T:] The old printer, not understanding what was meant, misprinted these words "Something's a-foot," an error continued in the later folios, and corrected by Rowe. 9 Of princely FELLOWS,] "Princely fellows" means the equals of Imogen, who sought her hand in marriage. That now thou TIR'ST On,] To "disedge" is, of course, to take off the edge of appetite: to" tire on" is to feed on, or peck at ravenously, as a bird of prey, See Vol. iii. p. 465; Vol. v. p. 238; and Vol. vi. p. 551. Pis. O gracious lady! Since I receiv'd command to do this business, Imo. Do't, and to bed, then. Pis. I'll wake mine eye-balls blind first2. Wherefore, then, Didst undertake it? Why hast thou abus'd Pis. Imo. Talk thy tongue weary; speak: I have heard I am a strumpet, and mine ear, But if I were as wise as honest, then My purpose would prove well. It cannot be, But that my master is abus'd: Some villain, ay, and singular in his art, Pis. No, on my life. 2 I'll wake mine eye-balls BLIND first.] We adopt the received reading here: in all the old copies "blind" is omitted in this line, and that, or some other equivalent monosyllable, seems necessary for the sense and metre. I'll give but notice you are dead, and send him Imo. Dead to my husband? Pis. If you'll back to the court,— Imo. No court, no father; nor no more ado That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me Pis. If not at court, Where then? Then not in Britain must you bide. Imo. Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day, night, Are they not but in Britain? I' the world's volume Our Britain seems as of it, but not in it; In a great pool, a swan's nest: pr'ythee, think Pis. Imo. O, for such means! Though peril to my modesty, not death on't, I would adventure. Pis. Well then, here's the point. You must forget to be a woman; change Imo. Nay, be brief: I see into thy end, and am almost A man already. Pis. First, make yourself but like one. Forethinking this, I have already fit ('Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hose, all That answer to them: would you, in their serving, And with what imitation you can borrow From youth of such a season, 'fore noble Lucius Present yourself, desire his service, tell him know3, If that his head have ear in music) doubtless, With joy he will embrace you; for he's honourable, And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad, You have me, rich; and I will never fail Beginning nor supplyment. Imo. Thou art all the comfort The gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away: There's more to be consider'd, All that good time will give us. but we'll even This attempt I'm soldier to, and will abide it with 3 - (which you will make him know,] In the original it stands "which will make him know," you having perhaps accidentally dropped out. are alike in this respect. All the folios A prince's courage. Away, I pr'ythee. Pis. Well, madam, we must take a short farewell Lest, being miss'd, I be suspected of Your carriage from the court. My noble mistress, Amen. I thank thee. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Room in CYMBELINE'S Palace. Enter CYMBELINE, QUEEN, CLOTEN, LUCIUS, and Lords. Cym. Thus far; and so farewell. Luc. Thanks, royal sir. My emperor hath wrote, I must from hence; And am right sorry that I must report ye My master's enemy. Cym. Our subjects, sir, Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself To show less sovereignty than they, must needs Luc. So, sir. I desire of you A conduct over land to Milford-Haven.— Madam, all joy befall your grace, and you! Cym. My lords, you are appointed for that office; The due of honour in no point omit. So, farewell, noble Lucius. Luc. Your hand, my lord. Clo. Receive it friendly; but from this time forth |