But 'tis not so; Good faith, And cook to honest creatures. 2 Where is thy head? where's that? ah me! where's that? Pisanio might have killed thee at the heart, 4 And left this head on.3-How should this be? Pisanio? 1 “Jovial face” here signifies such a face as belongs to Jove. The epithet is frequently so used in the old dramatic writers. 2 Irregulous must mean lawless, licentious, out of rule. The word has not hitherto been met with elsewhere. 3 We must understand by "this head," the head of Posthumus; the head that did belong to this body. 4 i. e. 'tis a ready, apposite conclusion. That we the horrider may seem to those Which chance to find us. O my lord, my lord! Enter LUCIUS, a Captain, and other Officers, and a Cap. To them the legions garrisoned in Gallia, Luc. But what from Rome? Cap. The senate hath stirred up the confiners, Luc. When expect you them? Cap. With the next benefit o'the wind. Luc. This forwardness Makes our hopes fair. Command, our present numbers Be mustered; bid the captains look to't.-Now, sir, What have you dreamed, of late, of this war's purpose? Sooth. Last night the very gods showed me a vision, (1 fast, and prayed, for their intelligence,) thus:I saw Jove's bird, the Roman eagle, winged From the spongy south to this part of the west, There vanished in the sunbeams; which portends (Unless my sins abuse my divination) Success to the Roman host. Dream often so, Luc. With the defunct, or sleep upon the dead.- 1 Shakspeare appears to have meant brother to the prince of Sienna. He was not aware that Sienna was a republic, or possibly did not heed it. 2 Fast for fasted, as we have in another place of this play lift for lifted. Similar phraseology will be found in the Bible. Cap. He is alive, my lord. Luc. He'll then instruct us of this body.-Young one, Inform us of thy fortunes; for, it seems, They crave to be demanded; Who is this, That otherwise than noble nature Or who was he, did,1 Hath altered that good picture? What's thy interest In this sad wreck? How came it? Who is it? What art thou? Imo. I am nothing; or if not, That here by mountaineers lies slain.-Alas! Try many, all good, serve truly, never Find such another master. Luc. 'Lack, good youth, Thou mov'st no less with thy complaining, than Luc. [Aside. Thy name? Fidele, sir. Imo. Imo. I'll follow, sir. But first, an't please the gods, I'll hide my master from the flies, as deep 1 Who has altered this picture, so as to make it otherwise than nature did it? 2 Shakspeare was indebted for his modern names (which sometimes are mixed with ancient ones), as well as for his anachronisms, to the fashionable novels of his time. As these poor pickaxes1 can dig; and when With wild wood-leaves and weeds I have strewed his grave, And on it said a century of prayers, Such as I can, twice o'er, I'll weep, and sigh; And, leaving so his service, follow you, So please you entertain me. Luc. Ay, good youth; And rather father thee, than master thee.- The boy hath taught us manly duties. Let us [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in Cymbeline's Palace. Enter CYMBELINE, Lords, and PISANIO. Cym. Again; and bring me word how 'tis with her. A fever with the absence of her son; A madness, of which her life's in danger;-Heavens, When fearful wars point at me, her son gone, Pis. 1 Meaning her fingers. 2 That is, "take him up in your arms." Nor when she purposes return. 'Beseech your highness, Hold me your loyal servant. 1 Lord. Good my liege, I dare be bound he's true, and shall perform For Cloten, There wants no diligence in seeking him, Cym. The time's troublesome; We'll slip you for a season; but our jealousy Does yet dépend.3 1 Lord. [TO PISANIO. So please your majesty, The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn, Are landed on your coast; with a supply Of Roman gentlemen, by the senate sent. Cym. Now for the counsel of my son and queen!— I am amazed with matter.3 1 Lord. 4 Good my liege, Your preparation can affront no less Than what you hear of: come more, for more you're ready. The want is, but to put those powers in motion, Cym. Let's withdraw; [Exeunt. Pis. I heard no letter 5 from my master, since I wrote him Imogen was slain. 'Tis strange. Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise To yield me often tidings. Neither know I 1 This omission of the personal pronoun was by no means uncommon in Shakspeare's age. 2 "My suspicion is yet undetermined." We now say, the cause is depending. 3 i. e. confounded by a variety of business. 4 "Your forces are able to face such an army as we hear the enemy will bring against us." 5 Sir Thomas Hanmer reads, "I've had no letter." But perhaps "no letter" is here used to signify "no tidings,” not a syllable of reply. |