That, ftriking in our country's cause, 1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath The graces for his merits due, Being all to dolours turn'd? Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race, thy harsh And potent injuries. Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good, Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion, help! To th' fhining fynod of the reft, Against thy Deity. 2 Breth. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal, And from thy justice flie. Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle he throws a thunder-bolt. The ghosts fall on their knees. Jupit. No more, you petty fpirits of region low, No care of yours it is: you know, 'tis ours. Our Our Jovial ftar reign'd at his birth, and in And happier much by his affliction made. [Jupiter drops a tablet. More sweet than our bleft fields; his royal bird All. Thanks, Jupiter! Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd His radiant roof: away, and to be bleft Let us with care perform his great beheft. [Vanish. Poft. [waking.] Sleep, thou haft been a grandfire, and begot A father to me: and thou haft created A mother and two brothers, But, oh fcorn! That have this golden chance, and know not why: Reads. [Reads.] WHEN as the lion's whelp fhall, to himself unknown, without feeking find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow, then fball Pofthumus end his miferies, Britaine be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty. 8 'Tis ftill a dream; or elfe fuch ftuff, as madmen Tongue, and brain not-do either both, or nothingOr fenfeless speaking, or a fpeaking fuch As fenfe cannot untie. But what it is, The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep Enter Goaler. Goal. Come, Sir, are you ready for death? Poft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago. Goal. Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cookt. Poft. So if it prove a good repaft to the fpectators, the dish pays the fhot. Goal. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir; but the comfort is, you shall be call'd to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills, which are often the sadness of parting, 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 sorry that you 8 'Tis fill a dream; or elfe fuch fluff, as madmen Tongue, and brain not-do either both, or nothing. Or fenfelefs fpeaking, or a speaking fuch As fenfe cannot untie.] The obfcurity of this paffage arifes from part of it being spoke of the prophefy, and part to it. This writing on the Tablet (fays he) is ftill a dream, or else the raving of madness. Do thou, O Tablet, either both, or nothing; either let thy words and fenfe go together, or be thy bofom a rafa tabula. As the words now ftand they are nonsense, or at leaft involve in them a fenfe which I cannot divelope. are paid too much; purse 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 paft, is, and to come, the discharge; your neck, Sir, is pen, book, and counters; fo the acquittance follows. Pft. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Goal. Indeed, Sir, he that fleeps, feels not the tooth ache but a man that were to fleep your sleep, 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 fhall go. Poft. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow. Goal. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not feen him so pictur'd: you muft either be directed by fome that take upon them to know; or to take upon your self that, which, I am fure, you do not know; cr lump the after-enquiry on your own peril; and how you fhall fpeed in your journey's-end, I think, you'll never return to tell one. Pft. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. Goal. What an infinite mock is this, that a man fhould have the beft ufe of eyes, to fee the way of blindness! I am fure, hanging's the way of winking. Enter a Meffenger. Mef. 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. Goal. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never faw one fo prone. Yet, on my conscience, 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; fo fhould I, if I were one. I would, we were all of one mind, and one mind good; O, there were defolation of goalers and gallowfes; I fpeak against my prefent profit, but my wifh hath a preferment in't. [Exit. Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and lords. Cym.TAND by my fide, you, whom the Gods Cym. S have made Prefervers of my Throne. Wo is my heart, Our grace can make him fo. Bel. 9 I never faw Such noble fury in fo poor a thing: Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought 9 1 never faw Such noble fury in fo poor a thing; Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought But begg'ry and poor Looks.] But how can it be faid, that one, whofe poor Looks promife beggary, promised poor Looks too? it was not the poor look which was promised: that was visible. We must read, But begg'ry and poor Luck. This fets the matter right, and makes Belarius speak sense and to the purpose. For there was the extraordinary thing; he promis'd nothing but poor Luck, and yet perform'd all these wonders. Z4 Cym. |