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Bel. I never faw

Such noble fury in fo poor a thing;

Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought
But begg'ry and poor luck.

Reads.

"When as the lion's whelp fhall, to himself unknown, without feek "ing find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when, from · "a ftately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which, being dead many years, "fhall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and frethly grow, then "fhall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be fortunate, and flourish "in peace and plenty."

'Tis still a dream; or elfe fuch fluff, as madmen: Tongue, and brain not- do either both, or nothing

Or fenfeless speaking, or as fpeaking fuch

As fenfe cannot untie. But what it is,

The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep,
If but for fympathy..

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Goal. Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cook'd.

Poft. So if it prove a good repast to the fpectators, the difh pays.. the fhot.

Goal. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir; but the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern-bills, which are often the sadness of paring, as the procuring of mirth; you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; forry that you have paid too much, and forry that you are paid too much; purfe and brain both empty, the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purfe too light, being drawn of heavinefs. Oh, of this contradiction you fhall now be quit; oh, the charity of a penny cord, it fums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debtor and creditor; but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge; your neck, Sir, is pen, book, and counter; fo the acquittance follows.

Poft. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live.

Goal Indeed, Sir, he that fleeps, feels not the tooth ach; but a man that were to fleep you, feep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think he would change places with his officer: for, look you, Sir, you know not which way you fbail go..

Poft. Yes, indeed, do i, fellow.

Goal. Your death has cyes in's head then; I have not seen him fo pictur'd: you must either be directed by fome that take upon them to know; or to take upon yourself that which I am fure you do not. know; or lump the after inquiry on your own peril; and how you hall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell

one,

Cym. No tidings of him?

Pif. He hath been fearch'd among the dead and li

But no trace of him.

Gym. To my grief, I am

The heir of his reward; which I will add

To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain

[ving,

[To Bel. Guid. and Arvirag 'Tis now the time.

By whom, I grant, fhe lives.
To afk of whence you are.
Bel. Sir,

Report it.

In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen:
Farther to boast, were neither true nor modeft,
Unless I add, we're honeft.

Cym. Bow your knees;

Arife my knights o' th' battle; I create you
Companions to our perfon, and will fit you
With dignities becoming your eftates.

Enter Cornelius, and Ladies.

There's bufinefs in thefe faces: why fo fadly
Greet you our victory? you look like Romans,,
And not o' the court of Britain...

Cor. Hail, great King!

To four your happiness, I muft report
The Queen is dead..

Poft. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes, to direct thems the way I am going, but fuch as wink, and will not use them.

Goal. What an infinite mock is this, that a man fhould have the bell use of eyes, to fee the way of blindness! I am fure hanging's the way of winking.

Enter a Messenger.

Meff Knock off his manacles, bring your prifoner to the King.
Poft. Thou bring'ft good news; I am called to be made free.

Goal, I'll be hang'd then...

Poft. Thou shalt be then freer than a goaler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Pofthumus and Messenger.

Goal. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never faw one fo prone. Yet, on my confcience, there are: verier knaves defire to live, for all he be a Roman ; and there be fome ; of them too that die against their wills; to fhould I, if I were one, I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good. O there were défolation of goalers and gallowfes. 1 fpeak against my present profit, but my with hath a preferment in't."

SCENE, &

Exit

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Cym. Whom worse than a physician
Would this report become? but I confider
By med'cine life may be prolong'd, yet death
Will feize the doctor too. How ended the ?

Cor. With horror, madly dying, like herfelf;
Who, being cruel to the world, concluded
Moft cruel to herself. What the confefs'd,
I will report, so please you: these her women
Can trip me, if I err; who, with wet cheeks,
Were prefent when she finish'd.

Cym. Pr'ythee, say, “

Cor. First, the confefs'd fhe never lov'd you only Affected greatnefs got by you, not you:

Married your royalty, was wife to your place;
Abhorr'd your perfon.

Cym. She alone knew this:

And, but the fpoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.

Gor. Your daughter, whom the bore in hand to love

With fuch integrity, fhe did confefs

Was as a fcorpion to her fight; whofe 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 confefs fhe had:
For you a mortal mineral; which, being took,
Should by the minute feed on life, and ling'ring
By inches waste you. In which time the purpos'd,
By watching, weeping, tendance, kiffing, to
O'ercome you with her fhew; yes, and in time,
(When he had fitted you with her craft), to work
Her fon into th' adoption of the crown:
But failing of her end by his ftrange abfence,
Grew fhameless, defperate; open'd, in despight
Of heaven and men, her purposes; repented
The ills fhe hatch'd were not effected: fo,
Despairing, dy'd.

Cym, Heard you all this, her women?
Lady. We did, fo please your Highness.
Cym. Mine eyes

Were not in fault, for fhe was beautiful:

Make thy demand aloud,▬▬▬▬▬Sir, step you forth,

[To lachimo,

[him.

Give answer to this boy, and do it freely;
Or, by our greatnefs, and the grace of it,
Which is our honour, bitter torture fhall
Winnow the truth from fallehood -- On; speak to
Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may render

Of whom he had this ring.

Poft. What's that to him?

Cym. That diamond upon your finger, fay,

How came it your's?

lach. Thou'lt torture me to leave unspoken that, Which to be fpoke would torture thee.

Cym. How? me?

Iach. I am glad to be constrain'd to utter what Torments me to conceal.

By villany

I got this ring; 'twas Leonatus' jewel

Whom thou didst banish: and (which more may grieve As it doth me) a nobler Sir ne'er liv'd

[thee,

'Twixt fky and ground. Will you hear more, my Lord? Cym. All that belongs to this.

Iach. That paragon, thy daughter,

For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits Quail to remember,- -give me leave, I faint.

Savoons.

Cym. My daughter, what of her? renew thy ftrength;
I'd rather thou fhould'ft live while nature will,
Than die ere I hear more: ftrive man and speak.

Iach. Upon a time, (unhappy was the clock
That ftruck the hour); it was in Rome, (accurs'd
The mansion where); 'twas at a fealt, (oh, would
Our viands had been poifon'd! or at leaft

Those which I heav'd to head): the good Pofthumus—
(What fhould I fay? he was too good to be
Where ill men were; and was the best of all
Amongst the rar'ft of good ones)-fitting fadly,
Hearing us praise our loves of Italy

For beauty, that made barren the swell'd boast
Of him that best could speak; for feature*, laming
The fhrine of Venus, or straight-pight Minerva,
Postures beyond brief† nature; for condition

• Feature for proportion of parts.

tie. Inelaborate, hafty,

A shop of all the qualities that man

Loves woman for; besides that hook of wiving,
Fairness, which strikes the eye-

Gym. I ftand on fire.

Come to the matter.

Iach. All too foon I fhall,

-Unless thou wouldst grieve quickly.

This Pofthumus,

(Moft like a Noble Lord in love, and one

'i hat had a royal lover) took his hint;

And, not dispraising whom we prais'd, (therein
He was as calm as virtue), he began

His mistress' picture; which by his tongue being made,
And then a mind put in't, either our brags

Were crack'd-of kitchen-trulls, or his defcription
Prov'd us unfpeaking fots.

Cym. Nay, nay, to th' purpose.

lach. Your daughter's chastity; there it beginst He fpake of her, as Dian had hot dreams,

And the alone were cold: whereat I, wretch !
Made fcruple of his praife; and wag'd with him
Pieces of gold, 'gainst this which then he wore
Upon his honour'd finger, to attain

In fuit the place of's bed, and win this ring
By her's and mine adultery. He, true Knight,
No leffer of her honour confident

Than I did truly find her, ftakes this ring;
And would fo, had it been a carbuncle

Of Phoebus' wheel; and might fo fafely, had it
Been all the worth of's car.

Away to Britain

Poft I in this defign: well may you, Sir,

Remember me at court, where I was taught
By your chafte daughter the wide difference

'Twixt amorous and villanous. Being thus quench'a
Of hope, not longing, mine Italian brain
'Gan in your duller Britain operate
Moft vilely for my vantage excellent;
And, to be brief, my practice fo prevail'd,
That I return'd with fimular proof enough
To make the Noble Leonatus mad,
By wounding his belief in her renown,
With tokens thus, and thus; averring notes
Of chamber-hanging, pictures, this her bracelet ;
VOL. VII.

Y

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