CYMBELINE DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. CYMBELINE, King of Britain. BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguised under Sons to Cymbeline, disguised PHILARIO, Friend to Posthumus, Italians. A French Gentleman, Friend to Philario. Two British Captains. PISANIO, Servant to Posthumus. Two Lords of Cymbeline's Court. QUEEN, Wife to Cymbeline. HELEN, a Lady attending on Imogen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, SCENE. Sometimes in Britain, sometimes in Italy. SCENE I.-Britain. ACT I. Too bad for bad report; and he that hath her,The Garden of CYMBE-I mean that married her, alack! good man! LINE'S Palace. Enter two Gentlemen. He purpos'd to his wife's sole son,—a widow Her husband banish'd, she imprison'd: all 8 Sec. Gent. And therefore banish'd-is a creature such In him that should compare. I do not think 32 Was called Sicilius, who did join his honour That most desir'd the match; but not a courtier, As he was born. The king, he takes the babe 40 To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus; 45 Breeds him and makes him of his bedchamber, I honour him, 53 Sec. Gent. Even out of your report. But pray you, tell me, Is she sole child to the king? First Gent. His only child. 56 He had two sons, -if this be worth your hearing, Mark it, the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing clothes the other, from their To bring him to the haven; left these notes This hath been Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour made my throne Cym. 145 What! art thou mad? Imo. Almost, sir; heaven restore me! Would I were A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus Cym. 148 He will remain so. SCENE II.-The Same. A Public Place. Enter CLOTEN and two Lords. First Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek Thou foolish thing! as a sacrifice. Where air comes out, air comes in; there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. 5 Re-enter QUEEN. They were again together; you have done Beseech your patience. Peace! Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign, Sec. Lord. [Aside.] No faith; not so much as his patience. 9 First Lord. Hurt him! his body's a passable Sec. Lord. [Aside.] So would I till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow and refuse me! 29 Sec. Lord. [Aside.] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. First Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together; she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit. Sec. Lord. [Aside.] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. 37 The shes of Italy should not betray At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at mid- 32 To encounter me with orisons, for then And like the tyrannous breathing of the north Lady. The queen, madam, 37 Desires your highness' company. Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch'd. I will attend the queen. Pis. SCENE IV.-Rome. Madam, I shall. [Exeunt. A Room in PHILARIO'S Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Iach. Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain; he was then of a crescent note, expected to prove so worthy as since he hath been 8 allowed the name of; but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration, though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items. Pis. 8 Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished than now he is with that which makes him both without and within. 19 French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he. 14 Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter,-wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than his own,-words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter. French. And then, his banishment. Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those that weep this lamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without less quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acquaintance? 26 Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life. Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertained amongst you as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality. Enter POSTHUMUS. 32 Iach. As fair and as good-a kind of handin-hand comparison-had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. 87 Post. I praised her as I rated her; so do I my stone. Iach. What do you esteem it at? 93 Post. You are mistaken; the one may be sold, or given; or if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift; the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods. Iach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. 100 Iach. You may wear her in title yours, but, youknow, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen, too; so your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that way accomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. 107 Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller; rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in my every action to be guided by Post. Your Italy contains none so accomothers' experiences; but, upon my mended judg-plished a courtier to convince the honour of my ment,-if I offend not to say it is mended, mistress, if, in the holding or loss of that, you my quarrel was not altogether slight. 54 term her frail. I do nothing doubt you have French. Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitre- store of thieves; notwithstanding I fear not my ment of swords, and by such two that would by ring. all likelihood have confounded one the other, or have fallen both. Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. 113 Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first. 117 |