CYMBELINE, BY WILL. SHAKSPERE: Printed Complete from the TEXT of SAM. JOHNSON and GEO. STEEVENS, And revised from the last Editions. When Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. LONDON: Printed for, and under the direction of, MDCCLXXXVI. OBSERVATIONS ON THE Fable AND Composition or CYMBELINE. MR. POPE supposed the story of this play to have been bor row'd from a novel of Boccace; but he was mistaken, as an imitation of it is found in an old story-book entitled, Westward for Smelts. This imitation differs in as many particulars from the Italian novelist, as from Shakspere, though they concur in the more considerable parts of the fable. It was published in a quarto pamphlet 1603. This is the only copy of it which I have hitherto seen. There is a late entry of it in the books of the Stationers' Company, Jan. 1619, where it is said to have been written by Kitt of Kingston. STEEVENS. This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but they are obtained at the expence of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names, and manners of different times, and the impossibility of the events in any system of life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecility, upon faults too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation. JOHNSON. Dramatis Perlonae. MEN. CYMBELINE, King of Britain. CLOTEN, Son to the Queen by a former Hushand. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a Gentleman married to the Princess. BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguised under the Name of Morgan. GUIDERIUS, disguised under the Names of Polydore and ARVIRAGUS, S Cadwal, supposed Sons to Belarius. PHILARIO, an Italian, Friend to Posthumus.. IACHIMO, Friend to Philario. CAIUS LUCIUS, Ambassador from Rome. PISANIO, Servant to Posthumus. A French Gentleman. CORNELIUS, a Physician. WOMEN. Queen, Wife to Cymbeline. IMOGEN, Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, a Tribune, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy. CYMBELIN E. ACT I. SCENE I. CYMBELINE's Palace in Britain. Enter two Gentlemen. 1 Gentleman. You do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods 2 Gent. But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow, Unto a poor, but worthy gentleman: She's wedded: Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king 10 Be touch'd at very heart. |