Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave To lie in watch there, and to think on him? To weep 'twixt clock and clock? if sleep charge nature, To break it with a fearful dream of him, And cry myself awake? that's false to his bed: Pis. Alas, good lady! Imo. I false? Thy conscience witness.-Iachimo, Thou didst accuse him of incontinency; Thou then look'dst like a villain; now, methinks, Pis. Good madam, hear me. Imo. True honest men being heard, like false Æneas, Were in his time thought false; and Sinon's weeping Did scandal many a holy tear; took pity From most true wretchedness: so thou, Posthumus, Goodly, and gallant, shall be false, and perjur'd, From thy great fail.—Come, fellow, be thou honest: I draw the sword myself: take it; and hit Thou may'st be valiant in a better cause, Pis. Thou shalt not damn my hand. Imo. Hence, vile instrument! Why, I must die; And if I do not by thy hand, thou art No servant of thy master's. Against self-slaughter That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my heart: The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, Corrupters of my faith! you shall no more Be stomachers to my heart. Thus may poor fools And thou, Posthumus, that didst set up 8 Something's AFORE'T:] The old printer, not understanding what was meant, misprinted these words "Something's a-foot," an error continued in the later folios, and corrected by Rowe. 9 Of princely FELLOWS,] "Princely fellows" means the equals of Imogen, who sought her hand in marriage. 1 when thou shalt be DISEDG'D by her That now thou TIR'ST on,] To "disedge" is, of course, to take off the edge of appetite to"tire on" is to feed on, or peck at ravenously, as a bird of prey. See Vol. iii. p. 465; Vol. v. p. 238; and Vol. vi. p. 551. Pis. O gracious lady! Since I receiv'd command to do this business, Imo. Do't, and to bed, then. Pis. I'll wake mine eye-balls blind first'. Wherefore, then, Didst undertake it? Why hast thou abus'd Pis. Imo. Talk thy tongue weary; speak: I have heard I am a strumpet, and mine ear, But if I were as wise as honest, then My purpose would prove well. It cannot be, But that my master is abus'd: Some villain, ay, and singular in his art, Imo. Some Roman courtezan. Pis. No, on my life. * I'll wake mine eye-balls BLIND first.] We adopt the received reading here: in all the old copies "blind" is omitted in this line, and that, or some other equivalent monosyllable, seems necessary for the sense and metre. I'll give but notice you are dead, and send him Imo. Dead to my husband? Pis. If you'll back to the court, Imo. No court, no father; nor no more ado That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me Pis. If not at court, Where then? Then not in Britain must you bide. Imo. Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day, night, In a great pool, a swan's nest: pr'ythee, think Pis. Imo. O, for such means! Though peril to my modesty, not death on't, I would adventure. Pis. Well then, here's the point. You must forget to be a woman; change Imo. Nay, be brief: I see into thy end, and am almost A man already. Pis. First, make yourself but like one. Forethinking this, I have already fit ('Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hose, all That answer to them: would you, in their serving, From youth of such a season, 'fore noble Lucius Present yourself, desire his service, tell him Wherein you are happy, (which you will make him know3, If that his head have ear in music) doubtless, With joy he will embrace you; for he's honourable, And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad, You have me, rich; and I will never fail Beginning nor supplyment. Imo. Thou art all the comfort The gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away: There's more to be consider'd, but we'll even This attempt All that good time will give us. 3 - (which you will make him know,] In the original it stands "which will make him know," you having perhaps accidentally dropped out. All the folios are alike in this respect. |