Enter the Guard, rushing in.

First Guard. Where is the queen?
Char.
Speak softly, wake her not.
First Guard. Cæsar hath sent-
Char.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. O, come apace, despatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguiled.

Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him.

First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess

Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier!

Re-enter DOLABELLA.

330 (Dies.

All dead. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder.

[Within 'A way there, a way for Cæsar!' Re-enter CESAR and all his train, marching. Dol. O sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done.

Cæs.

Bravest at the last, She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 339 Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol.

Who was last with them?

This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake:

I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood
And on the sudden dropp'd.
Cæs.
O noble weakness!
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony
350
In her strong toil of grace.

Dol.
Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood and something blown:
The like is on her arm.

First Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves

Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Cas. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument: 360 She shall be buried by her Antony: No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral; And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity. [Exeunt.

The garden of Cymbe line's palace.

Enter two Gentlemen.

First. Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods

No more obey the heavens than our courtiers Still seem as does the king.

Sec. Gent.

But what's the matter? First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom

He purposed to his wife's sole son-a widow
That late he married-hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she's
wedded;

Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though I think the king
Be touch'd at very heart.
Sec. Gent.
None but the king? 10
First Gent. He that hath lost her too; so is

the queen,

That most desired the match; but not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.
Sec. Gent.
And why so?
First Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess
is a thing

Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her-
I mean, that married her, alack, good man!
And therefore banish'd-is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth 20
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think
So fair an outward and such stuff within
Endows a man but he.

Sec. Gent.
You speak him far. [self,
First Gent. I do extend him, sir, within him-
Crush him together rather than unfold
His measure duly.

Apparitions.

Sec. Gent. What's his name and birth? First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father

30

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honor
Against the Romans with Cassibelan,
But had his titles by Tenantius whom
He served with glory and admired success,
So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who in the wars o' the time
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father,

Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow
That he quit being, and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman our theme, deceased
As he was born. The king he takes the babe 40
To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leo-

natus,

Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of: which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd,
Andin's spring became a harvest, lived in court-
Which rare it is to do-most praised, most loved,
A sample to the youngest, to the more mature
A glass that feated them, and to the graver
A child that guided dotards; to his mistress, 50
For whom he now is banish'd, her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read
What kind of man he is.

Sec. Gent.
I honor him
Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?
First Gent.

His only child. 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 [edge

nursery

Were stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowl. Which way they went. 61

Sec. Gent.

How long is this ago? First Gent. Some twenty years.

Sec. Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd,

So slackly guarded, and the search so slow,
That could not trace them!

First Gent.
Howsoe'er 'tis strange,
Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,
Yet it is true, sir.

Sec. Gent. I do well believe you. First Gent. We must forbear: here comes the gentleman,

The queen, and princess.

[Exeunt. Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most stepmothers,
Evil-eyed unto you: you're my prisoner, but
Your jailer shall deliver you the keys

70

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet,
The fire of rage is in him, and 'twere good
You lean'd unto his sentence with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

Please your highness,

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,

This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart,
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post.

How, how! another?
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death! (Putting on the ring.]
Remain, remain thou here
While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest,
fairest,

As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss, so in our trifles
I still win of you: for my sake wear this:
It is a manacle of love: I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

120

[Putting a bracelet upon her arm. Imo. O the gods! When shall we see again?

90

Cym. That mightst have had the sole son of

I something fear myfather's wrath; but nothing-
Always reserved my holy duty-what
His rage can do on me: you must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes, not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world
That I may see again.
Post.
My queen! my mistress!
O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man. I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth:
My residence in Rome at one Philario's,
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
Andwith mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne

A seat for baseness.
Imo.

A lustre to it.
Cym.
Imo.

No; I rather added

O thou vile one!

Sir,

It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus:
You bred him as my playfellow, and he is
A man worth any woman, overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.

Cym.

What, art thou mad? Imo. Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were

A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
Our neighbor shepherd's son !
Cym.

Thou foolish thing! 150 Re-enter QUEEN.

They were again together: you have done
Not after our command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

Beseech your patience. Peace,
Queen.
Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,

his part,

To draw upon an exile! O brave sir!

I would they were in Afric both together;
Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer-back. Why came yon from your master?
Pis. On his command: he would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven; left these notes 171
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When 't pleased you to employ me.
Queen.
This hath been
Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honor
He will remain so.

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk awhile.

Imo. About some half-hour hence, I pray you, speak with me: you shall at least Go see my lord aboard: for this time leave me. [Exeunt. 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 as a sacrifice: where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you

vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him?

Sec. Lord. (Aside] No, 'faith; not so much as his patience.

9

First Lord. Hurt him! his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a throughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

Sec. Lord. Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me. Sec. Lord. Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

First Lord Stand you! You have land enough of your own; but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

20

Sec. Lord. Aside] As many inches as you have occans. Puppies!

Clo. I would they had not come between us. Sec. Lord. Aside] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.

First Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beautyand 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.

Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done!

Sec. Lord. Aside] I wish not so: unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt Clo. You'll go with us?

First Lord, I'll attend your lordship.
Clo Nay, come, let's go together.
Sec. Lord. Well, my lord.

40

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A room in Cymbeline's palace.

Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o' the haven

And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost,
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?
Pis.
It was his queen, his queen!
Imo. Then waved his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!
And that was all?
Pis.
No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of's mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.
Thou shouldst have made him
As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.

Imo.

Pis.

ΤΟ

Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings: crack'd them, but

To look upon him, till the diminution
Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle,
Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from 20
The smallness of a gnat to air, and then
Have turn'd mine eye and wept. But, good
Pisanio,

When shall we hear from him?
Pis.

With his next vantage.

Be assured, madam,

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him How I would think on him at certain hours Such thoughts and such, or I could make him

swear

The shes of Italy should not betray Mine interest and his honor, or have charged him,

ვა At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, To encounter me with orisons, for then

am in heaven for him; or ere I could Give him that parting kiss which I had set Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father And like the tyrannous breathing of the north Shakes all our buds from growing.