Of my good purposes, and put your children Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus? Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus! I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Caes. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra! I approve Your wisdom in the deed. Cleo. See, Caesar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild. O slave, of no more trust, Than love that's hir'd! What, goest thou back? thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee! but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, soul-less villain, dog! O rarely base! Caes. Good queen, let us entreat you! Cleo. O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this; To one so meek, that mine own servant should As we greet modern friends withal; and say, With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me [To Seleucus. wert thou a man, [Exit Seleucus. Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are thought For things, that others do; and, when we fall, We answer others' merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied. Caes. Cleopatra, Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey, I tell you this: Caesar through Syria Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor. Adieu, good queen! I must attend on Caesar. Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras! Saucy lictors Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers Ballad us out o'tune: the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandria revels; Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Iras. O the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails To fool their preparation, and to conquer Show me, my women, like a queen! Go fetch leave To play till dooms-day.― Bring our crown and all! Wherefore's this noise? [Exit Iras. A noise within. Enter one of the guard. Guard. Here is a rural fellow, Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,[That will not be denied your highness' presence; Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours, [Exeunt Caesar, and his train. Caes. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not He brings you figs. Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instrument [Exit guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. Re-enter guard, with a Clown bringing a basket. [Applying another asp to her arm. party that should desire you to touch him, for his O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too! — Char. In this wild world? - Cleo, Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Enter the guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Too slow a messenger. (Applies the Asp. Clown. I wish you all joy o'the worm! Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman : — I know, that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell! Clown. Yes, forsooth!I wish you joy o'the worm! [Exit. Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, etc. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:Yare, yare, good Iras, quick!- Methinks, I hear Antony call; I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act; I hear him mock -- - The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worthy leave-taking. beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar;- 1 Guard. What work is here?- Charmian, is this Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess, Enter DOLABELLA. [Dies Dol. How goes it here? Within. Away there, way for Caesar! Enter CAESAR, and Attendants. Caes. Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, - Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs, This was his basket. Caes. Poison'd then. This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: Caes. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 'would appear Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown: Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The like is on her arm. The gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demaud of her: and spend that kiss, Char. O eastern star! Cleo. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? Char. O, break! O, break! 1 Guard.This is an aspick's trail: and these fig-leaves That so she died; for her physician tells me, Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle, High order in this great solemnity! [Exeunt Bersons of the Drama. CYMBELINE, king of Britain. GEN. PISANIO, servant to Posthumus. CORNELIUS, a Physician. Two Gentlemen. BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the Two Gaolers. name of Morgan. GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the Queen, wife to Cymbeline, Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Sothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attend ants. SCENE,-Sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy. АСТ I. Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd Britain. The garden behind CYMBE- To his protection; calls him Posthumus; LINE'S palace. Enter two Gentlemen. 1 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's. 2 Gent. But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom He purpos'd to his wife's sole son, (a widow, 2 Gent. None but the king? 1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen, That most desir'd 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 2 Gent. And why so? 1 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 For one his like, there would be something failing 2 Gent. You speak him far. 1 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly. 2 Gent. What's his name, and birth? 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root. His father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour Against the Romans with Cassibelan; But had his titles by Tenantius, whom Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber: SCENE II. - The same. [Exeunt. Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most step-mothers, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet, Exit Queen. Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant His rage can do on me. You must be gone; Post. My queen! my mistress! O, lady, weep no more! lest I give cause The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth. Re-enter Queen. Queen. Be brief, I pray you! If the king come, I shall incur I know not To walk this way: I never do him wrong, Post. Should we be taking leave [Aside. Cym. Thou foolish thing!- Queen. Bescech your patience! - Peace, Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Post. How! how! another? - [Putting on the ring. I still win of you. For my sake, wear this; Out of your best advice. Cym. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a-day; and, being aged, Enter PISANIO. Queen. Fye!—you must give way! [Exit How now, sir? What news? Pis. My lord, your son, drew on my master. Queen, Ha! No harm, I trust, is done? Pis. There might have been, But that my master rather play'd, than fought, Queen. I am very glad on't. Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part. [Putting a bracelet on her rm. To draw upon an exile! O brave sir! Imo. O, the gods! Enter CYMBELINE and Lords. I would they were in Afric both together; Queen. This hath been Your faithful servant. I dare lay mine honour, Pis. I humbly thank your highness. Imo. About some half hour hence, I pray you, speak with me! you shall, at least, [Exeunt. SCENE III. — A public place. Enter CLOTEN, and two Lords. 1 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? 2 Lord. No, faith! not so much as his patience. [Aside. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt. The smallness of a gnat to air; and then When shall we hear from him? Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him 2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the backside the town. Clo. The villain would not stand me. face. [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father, [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me! 2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [Aside. 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together. She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit. I Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch'd!— will attend the queen. Pis. Madam, I shall ! SCFNE V. [Exeunt. Rome. An apartment in PHILARIO'S house. Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Dutchman. and a Spaniard. Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove 2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflec-so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name tion should hurt her. [Aside. of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. 'Would, there had been some hurt done! 2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us? 1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together! 2 Lord. Well, my lord! [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. — 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, As offer'd mercy is. What was the last That he spake to thee? Pis. 'Twas, His queen, his queen! 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 Imo. Thou should'st have made him As little, as a crow, or less, ere left To after-eye him. Pis. Madam, so I did. Phi. You speak of him, when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within. French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes, as he. Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter. French. And then his banishment: Lach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acquaintance? Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less, than my life: --- Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for 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 courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still. French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had been pity, you should have been put together with |