SCENE VII.

Rome.

Enter Two Senators and Tribunes.

1 Sen. This is the tenour of the emperor's writ :
That since the common men are now in action
'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians;

And that the legions now in Gallia are
Full weak to undertake our wars against
The fallen-off Britons, that we do incite
The gentry to this business. He creates
Lucius pro-consul; and to you, the tribunes,
For this immediate levy he commands
His absolute commission. Long live Cæsar!
Tri. Is Lucius general of the forces?
2 Sen.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia?

1 Sen.

Ay.

With those legions

Which I have spoke of, whereunto your levy

Must be suppliant: the words of your commission
Will tie you to the numbers, and the time

Of their despatch.

Tri.

We will discharge our duty.

[Exeunt.

8 'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians ;] The revolt of the Pannonians and Dalmatians has been already mentioned, in Act iii. sc. 1. Malone correctly observes, that this event occurred, not in the reign of Cymbeline, but in that of his father, Tenantius, whose name was introduced in the beginning of this play. Tenantius was nephew to Cassibelan. These were niceties of history, to which Shakespeare did not think it necessary to attend: he adapted history to his drama, not his drama to history.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

The Forest, near the Cave.

Enter CLOTEN.

Clo. I am near to the place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit his garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather (saving reverence of the word) for 'tis said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vainglory, for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber) I mean, the lines of my body are as welldrawn as his; no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions: yet this imperseverant thing' loves him in my despite. What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off, thy mistress enforced, thy garments cut to pieces before thy face; and all this done, spurn her home to her father, who may, haply, be a little angry for my so rough usage, but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied up safe: out, sword, and to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meeting-place, and the fellow dares not deceive me. [Exit.

9 this IMPERSEVERANT thing-] "Imperseverant" must be taken in the sense of persecerant, (as Steevens remarks) like impassioned, &c.; unless we suppose Cloten to mean imperceptire, or imperceiring, as regards his advantages over Posthumus. Hanmer reads "ill-perseverant.”

SCENE II.

Before the Cave.

Enter, from the Cave, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS,
ARVIRAGUS, and IMOGEN.

Bel. You are not well: [To IMOGEN.] remain here

But clay and clay differs in dignity,

Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.
Gui. Go you to hunting; I'll abide with him.
Imo. So sick I am not,-yet I am not well;
But not so citizen a wanton, as

To seem to die, ere sick. So please you, leave me;
Stick to your journal course: the breach of custom
Is breach of all. I am ill; but your being by me
Cannot amend me: society is no comfort

To one not sociable. I am not very sick,

Since I can reason of it: pray you, trust me here;
I'll rob none but myself, and let me die,

Stealing so poorly.

Gui.

I love thee; I have spoke it:
How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel.

What! how? how?

Arv. If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why
I love this youth; and I have heard you say,
Love's reason's without reason: the bier at door,

And a demand who is't shall die, I'd say,
My father, not this youth.

Bel.

[Aside.] O noble strain!

O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base:
Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt and grace.
I am not their father; yet who this should be,
Doth miracle itself, lov'd before me.-

"Tis the ninth hour o' the morn.

Arv.

Imo. I wish ye sport.

Arv.

Brother, farewell.

You health. So please you, sir.

Imo. [Aside.] These are kind creatures. Gods, what

lies I have heard!

Our courtiers say, all's savage but at court:
Experience, O! thou disprov'st report.

Th' imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish,
Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish.

I am sick still; heart-sick.-Pisanio,

I'll now taste of thy drug.

Gui.

I could not stir him:

He said, he was gentle, but unfortunate;

Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv. Thus did he answer me; yet said, hereafter I might know more.

Bel.

To the field, to the field!

We'll leave you for this time; go in, and rest.
Arv. We'll not be long away.

Bel.

For you must be our housewife.

Imo.

I am bound to you.

Bel.

Pray, be not sick,

Well, or ill,

And shalt be ever. [Exit IMOGEN.

This youth, howe'er distress'd, appears he hath had

Good ancestors.

Arv.

How angel-like he sings.

Gui. But his neat cookery: he cut our roots in

characters';

And sauc'd our broths, as Juno had been sick,

And he her dieter.

Arv.

Nobly he yokes

A smiling with a sigh, as if the sigh

Was that it was, for not being such a smile;
The smile mocking the sigh, that it would fly
From so divine a temple, to commix

With winds that sailors rail at.

Gui.

I do note,

That grief and patience, rooted in him both2,
Mingle their spurs together.

Arv.

Grow, patience!

And let the stinking elder, grief, untwine

His perishing root with the increasing vine!

Bel. It is great morning. Come; away!— Who's there?

Enter CLOTEN.

Clo. I cannot find those runagates: that villain Hath mock'd me.-I am faint.

Bel.

Those runagates!

Means he not us? I partly know him; 'tis
Cloten, the son o' the queen. I fear some ambush.
I saw him not these many years, and yet

I know 'tis he.-We are held as outlaws:-hence.

Gui. He is but one. You and my brother search What companies are near: pray you, away;

He cut our roots in characters ;] In the folio, 1623, (which is followed by those of later date) this part of the speech has the prefix of Arviragus, as well as the speech immediately following, so that he is represented as speaking twice together. "He cut our roots in characters" is probably a continuation of the speech of Guiderius, and so Steevens printed it.

2 rooted in HIM both ;] "Rooted in them both" in the folio, with evident corruption. "Spurs," in the next line, are the large roots of trees proceeding immediately from the trunk.