Whose father then, (as men report, Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry, That he deserved the praise o' the world, 1 Bro. When once he was mature for man, That could stand up his parallel ; Or fruitful object be In eye of Imogen, that best Could deem his dignity? Moth. With marriage wherefore was he mocked, From Leonati' seat, and cast From her his dearest one, Sici. Why did you suffer Iachimo, To taint his nobler heart and brain And to become the geck1 and scorn 2 Bro. For this, from stiller seats we came, Fell bravely, and were slain; Our fealty, and Tenantius' right, With honor to maintain. 1 Bro. Like hardiment Posthumus hath To Cymbeline performed. Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods, Sici. Thy crystal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race, thy harsh And potent injuries. Moth. Since, Jupiter, our son is good, Take off his miseries. Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion, help; JUPITER descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle he throws a thunderbolt. on their knees. The ghosts fall Jup. No more, you petty spirits of region low, Offend our hearing; hush! How dare you, ghosts, Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know, Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coasts? Poor shadows of Elysium, hence; and rest Upon your never-withering banks of flowers. Be not with mortal accidents oppressed; No care of yours it is, you know, 'tis ours. His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent. And happier much by his affliction made. 1 Delighted for delightful, or causing delight. This tablet lay upon his breast; wherein [Ascends. More sweet than our blessed fields; his royal bird All. Thanks, Jupiter! Sici. The marble pavement closes; he is entered His radiant roof.-Away! and, to be blessed, Let us with care perform his great behest. [Ghosts vanish. Post. [Waking.] Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot A father to me; and thou hast created A mother and two brothers. But (O scorn!) That have this golden chance, and know not why. one! Be not, as is our fangled world, a garment 1 i. e. to grasp us in his pounces. "And till they foot and clutch their prey."-Herbert. 2 In ancient language, the cleys or clees of a bird or beast are the same with claws in modern speech. To claw their beaks, is an accustomed action with hawks and eagles. 3 i. e. trifling. Hence, new-fangled, still in use for new toys or trifles. [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty. 'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff as madmen Re-enter Jailers. Jail. Come, sir, are you ready for death? Post. Over-roasted rather; ready long ago. Jail. Hanging is the word, sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cooked. Post. So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish pays the shot. Jail. A heavy reckoning for you, sir. But the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills; which are often the sadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth. You come in faint for the want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; sorry that you have paid too much, and sorry that you are paid too much; purse and brain both empty; the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness. O! of this contradiction you shall now be quit.-O the charity of a penny cord! it sums up thousands in a trice; you have no true debitor and creditor but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge.-Your neck, sir, is pen, book, and counters; so the acquittance follows. Post. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. 1 Paid here means subdued or overcome by the liquor. Jail. Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the toothache. But a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think he would change places with his officer; for, look you, sir, you know not which way you shall go. Post. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow. Jail. Your death has eyes in's head, then; I have not seen him so pictured. You must either be directed by some that take upon them to know; or take upon yourself that which I am sure you do not know; or jump the after-inquiry on your own peril; and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell one. Post. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink, and will not use them. Jail. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes, to see the way of blindness! I am sure hanging's the way of winking. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king. Post. Thou bringest good news ;-I am called to be made free. Jail. I'll be hanged then. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a jailer; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and Messenger. Jail. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman; and there be some of them, too, that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good. O, there were desolation of jailers and gallowses! I speak against my present profit; but my wish hath a preferment in't. [Exeunt. 1 i. e. hazard. 2 Prone here signifies ready, prompt. |