I d'off my freedom; 'tis the main part; take
No ftricter render of me than my all.

I know you are more clement than vile men, -
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement; that's not my defire.
For Imogen's dear life, take mine; and though
'Tis not fo dear, yet 'tis a life; you coined it.
'Tween man and man, they weigh not every stamp;-
Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake;
You rather, mine being yours; and fo, great powers,
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel thofe old bonds. Oh, Imogen!
I'll fpeak to thee in filence.-

[He fleeps

Solemn Mufis: Enter as in an Apparition, SICILIUS
LEONATUS, Father to Pofthumus, an old Man,
attired like a Warrior; leading in his hand an·
ancient Matron, his Wife, and mother to Pofthu-
mus, with Mufic before them. Then, after other
Mufic, follow the two young LEONATI, brothers to»
Polthumus, with wounds as they died in the Warss
They circle Pofthumus round, as he lyes fleeping..-
Sici. No more, thou thunder-master, fhew
Thy fpite on mortal flies:

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,,
That thy adulteries »

Rates and revenges.

Hath my poor boy done aught but well,',
Whofe face I never faw?

I died, whilft in the womb he staid, „
Attending Nature's law.

elegance. i. e. To give all the fatisfaction I am able to your offended godheads, I voluntasily diveft myself of my freedom; 'tis the only thing i have worth offering by way of atonement, take no fricter render of me than my ail

Mr Warburton.-

Whofe father, Jove! (as men report

Thou orphans' father art;)

Thou shouldest have been, and shielded him
From his earth vexing fmart.
Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,
But took me in my throes,

That from me my Pofthumus ript,
Came crying 'mongst his foes,

A thing of pity.

Sici. Great Nature, like his ancestry,
Moulded the stuff fo fair,

That he deferved the praife o' th' world,
As great Sicilius' heir.

1 Bro. When once he was mature for man,

In Britain where was he

That could ftand up his parallel,
Or rival object be,

In eye of Imogen, that beft

Could deem his dignity?

Moth. With marriage therefore was he mock'd,
To be exiled, and thrown

From Leonatus feat, and caft
From her his dearest one?

Sweet Imogen!-

Sici. Why did you fuffer Iachimo,
Slight thing of Italy,

To taint his noble heart and brain
With needlefs jealoufy

And to become the geek and fcorn
O' th' other's villainy?

2 Bro. For this, from stiller feats we came,

Our parents,

and us twain,

That, ftriking in his country's caufe,

Fell bravely, and were flain;

Our fealty, and Tenantius' right,

With honour to maintain.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath Ta Cymbeline performed;

Then, Jupiter, thou King of Gods, Why haft thou thus adjourned graces for his merits due,

Being all to dolour turned?

The

Sici. Thy cryftal window

No longer exercise,

ope;

Upon à valiant race, thy harfh

And potent injuries.

look out;

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,

Take off his miferies.

Sici. Peep through thy marble manfion, help! Or we poor ghosts will cry

To the thining fynod of the rest,

Against thy deity.

2 Bro. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal, And from thy justice fly.

JUPITER defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an Eagle; he throws a thunder-bolt. The Ghofts fall on their knees.

Jupit. No more, you petty fpirits of region low,
Offend our hearing; hufh!-how dare you, ghofts,
Accufe the Thunderer, whofe bolt you know,
Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts?
Poor fhadows of Elyfium, hence and rest
Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.
Be not with mortal accidents oppreft,

No care of yours it is: you know, 'tis ours.
Whom beft I love, I crofs; to make my gift,
The more delayed, delighted. Be content,
Your low-laid fon our god-head will uplift:
His comforts thrive, his trials well are fpent;
Our Jovial star reigned at his birth, and in-

Our temple was he married: rife, and fade!

He fhall be Lord of Lady Imogen,

And happier much by his affliction made. This tablet lay upon his breast, wherein

[Jupiter drops a Tablet. Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine; -no farther with your din

And fo, away ;

Exprefs impatience, left you ftir up mine; Mount, Eagle, to my palace cryftalline. [Afcends.

Sici. He came in thunder, his cœleftial breath Was fulphurous to fmell; the holy eagle Stooped, as to foot us; his afcenfion is

More fweet than our blessed fields; his royal bird -
Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak,
As when his God is pleafed.

All. Thanks, Jupiter !

Sici. The marble pavement clofes, he is entered His radiant roof: away, and to be bleffed

Let us with care perform his great beheft. [Vanish. Poft. waking.] Sleep, thou hast been a grandfire, and begot

A father to me: and thou haft created

A mother and two brothers. But oh, fcorn!
Gone---they went hence fo foon as they were born;
And fo I am awake :---Poor wretches, that depend
On Greatnefs' favour, dream as I have done;
Wake, and find nothing.But alas, I fwerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve;
And yet are steeped in favours; fo am I

That have this golden chance, and know not why:
What fairies haunt this ground? a book! oh, rare

one !

Be not, as in our fangled world, a garment.
Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers;
As good as promise.

[Reads]

"When as the Lion's whelp fhall, to himself "unknown, without feeking find, and be embraced "by a piece of tender air; and when from a state"ly cedar fhall be lopped off branches, which, be

ing dead many years, fhall after revive, be joint"ed to the old ftack, and freshly grow, then fhall "Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be fortunate,. "and flourish in peace and plenty."

Tis ftill a dream; or elfe fuch ftuff as madmen Tongue, and brain not: (do either.both, or nothing) Or fenfelefs fpeaking, or a speaking fuch

As fenfe cannot untie. But what it is,

The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep
If but for fympathy.

Enter Goaler.

Goal. Come, Sir, are you ready for death? Peft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago. Goal. Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cooked.

Poft. So if it prove a good repaft to the spectators, the difh pays the fhot.

Goal. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir; but the comfort is, you fhall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills, which are often the fad. nefs of parting, as the procuring of mirth; you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; forry that you have paid too much, and forry that you are paid too much; purfe and brain both empty; the brain the heavier for being too light; the purfe too light, being drawn of heavinefs. Oh, of this contradiction you fhall now be quit! Oh, the charity of a penny cord, it fums up thousands in a trice; you have no true