If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if favage, Take 'or't end-ho! no anfwer? then I'll enter. Beft draw my fword; and if mine enemy

But fear the fword like me, he'll scarcely look on't. Grant fuch a foe, good heav'ns!

[She goes into the Cave.

Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Bel. You, Paladour, have prov'd best woodman, and Are mafter of the feaft; Cadwal and I

Will play the cook, and fervant; 'tis our match:
The fweat of industry would dry, and die,
But for the end it works to. Come, our ftomachs
Will make what's homely favoury; weariness
Can fnore upon the flint, when refty floth

Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'ft thyself!

Guid. I'm thoroughly weary.

Arv. I'm weak with toil, yet ftrong in appetite.
Guid. There is cold meat i' th' cave, we'll brouze

on that,

Whilft what, we've kill'd, be cook'd.

Bel. Stay, come not in――

[Looking in. "But that it eats our victuals, I should think, "It were a Fairy.

Guid. What's the matter, Sir?

3 If any thing that's civil,-] civil, for human creature. If any thing that's civil, fpeak; if favage,

Take OR LEND. -] She is in doubt, whether this cave be the habitation of a man or beaft. If it be the former, the bids him fpeak; if the latter, that is, the den of a favage beast, what then? Take or lend- -We should read,

Take 'OR'T END.

i. e. take my life ere famine end it. Or was commonly used for this agrees to all that went before. But the Oxford Editor cuts the knot;

ere;

Take, or yield food

fays he. As if it was poffible fo plain a fentence should ever have been blundered into Take or lend.

Bel.

Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly Paragon. Behold divineness No elder than a boy.

Enter Imogen.

Imo. "Good mafters harm me not;

"Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought "T' have begg'd, or bought, what I have took: good troth,

"I have ftoln nought, nor would not, though I'd found "Gold ftrew'd i' th' floor. Here's mony for my 66 meat;

"I would have left it on the board, fo foon
"As I had made my meal; and parted then ce
"With prayers for the provider.

Guid. Mony, youth?

Arv. "All gold and filver rather turn to dirt! "As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those "Who worship dirty Gods.

Imo. "I fee, you're angry:

"Know, if you kill me for my fault, I fhould
"Have dy'd, had I not made it.

Bel. Whither bound?
Imo. To Milford-Haven.

Bel. What's your name?

Imo. Fidele, Sir; I have a kinsman, who
Is bound for Italy: he embark'd at Milford;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I'm faln in this offence.

Bel. Prythee, fair youth,

Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!
'Tis almoft night, you fhall have better cheer
Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.

Guid. Were you a woman, youth,

I should wooe hard, but be your groom in honesty; Vo L. VII.

X

I bid for you, as I do buy.

Arv. I'll make't my comfort,

He is a man: I'll love him as my brother:
And fuch a welcome as I'd give to him,

After long abfence, fuch is yours. Moft welcome!
Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.

Imo. 'Mongst friends,

If brothers;-'Would it had been fo, that they
Had been my father's fons! (a) then had my price Afide.
Been lefs, and fo more equal ballancing

To thee, Pofthumus.

Bel. He wrings at fome diftrefs.
Guid. 'Would I could free't!

Arv. Or I, whate'er it be,

What pain it coft, what danger, Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

[Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,

That did attend themselves, and had the virtue
Which their own confcience feal'd them; laying by
That nothing-gift of defering multitudes,

Could not out-peer these twain-Pardon me, Gods!
I'd change my fex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus is falfe.

Bel. It fhall be fo:

Boys, we'll go drefs our Hunt. Fair youth, come in; Discourse is heavy, fafting; when we've fupp'd, We'll mannerly demand thee of thy ftory,

So far as thou wilt speak.

Guid. I pray, draw near.

Arv. The night to th' owl, and morn to th' lark, less welcome!

Tao. Thanks, Sir.

Ι

Arv. I pray, draw near.

4 defering] Spelt right by Mr. Theobald.

[(a)

[Exeunt.

then had my price-more equal ballancing. Oxford EditorVulg. then had my prizemore equal ballafting.]

SCENE

Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.

I Sen. That fince the common men are now in HIS is the tenor of the Emperor's Writ; •TH

action

'Gainft the Pannonians and Dalmatians,
And that the legions now in Gallia are
Full weak to undertake our war against
The fall'n-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this bufinefs. He creates
Lucius Pro-conful; and to you, the tribunes
For this immediate levy, he commends
His abfolute commiffion. Long live Cæfar!
Tri. Is Lucius Gen'ral of the Forces?
2 Sen. Ay.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?

1 Sen. With thofe legions

Which I have spoke of, whereunto your Levy
Muft be fuppliant. The words of your commiffion
Will tie you to the numbers and the time

Of their dispatch.

Tri. We will discharge our duty.

And to you, the tribunes

For this immediate levy, he commands

[Exeunt.

His abfolute commiffion.] Commands his commission is fuch a phrafe as Shakespear would hardly have us'd. I have ventur'd to fubftitute;

be commends

His abfolute commission.

i. e. he recommends the care of making this levy to you; and gives you an absolute commiflion for fo doing.

ACT IV.
IV.

SCENE I.

The Foreft in Wales.

Enter Cloten alone.

AM near to th' place where they should meet, if Pifanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments ferve me! why fhould his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (faving reverence of the word,) because, 'tis faid, a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman; I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glafs to confer in his own chamber;) I mean, the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no lefs young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike converfant in general fervices and more remarkable in fingle oppofitions; yet this (a) ill perfeverant thing loves him in my despight. What mortality is! Pofthumus, thy head, which is now growing upon thy fhoulders, fhall within this hour be off, thy mistress enforc'd, thy garments cut to pieces before her face; and all this done, fpurn her home to her father, who may, happily, be a little angry for my fo rough ufage; but my mother, having power of his teftinefs, fhall turn all into my commendations. My horfe is ty'd up fafe out, fword, and to a fore purpose! fortune put them into my hand; this is the very defcription of

I before THY face,] Poftbumus was to have his head truck off, and then his garments cut to pieces before his face; we should read,- -HER face. i, e. Imogen's, done to despite her, who had faid, the esteem'd Pofthumus's garment above the perfon of Cloten.

[(a) ill perfeverant, Oxford Editor-Vulg. imperfeverant.]