[love, 30

I'll give no wound. to thee. Therefore, good 40 Let's reinforce, or fly.

Enter Lucius, Iachim, and the Roman Army at one 55
Door; and the British Army at another; Leonatus
Pofthumus following it like a poor Soldier. They
march over, and go out.
Then enter again in fkirmish

Jachimo and Psfibumus: be vanquisheth and dij-
armeth Iachims, and then leaves him.
Jach. The heavinefs, and guilt, within my bofom]

1 i. e. to incite, to infligate. 2 i. e. Where corruptions are, they grow with years, and the oldest finner is the greateft. You, Gods, permit fome to proceed in iniquity, and the older fuch are, the more their crime. 3 i. c. according to Mr. Steevens, to make them persevere in the commiffion of dreadful actions. 4 Carle is ufed by our old writers in oppofition to a gentleman. Carlot is a word of the fame fignification, and occurs in our author's As You Like It.

921

And yet died too? I, in mine own woe charm'd4,
Could not find death, where I did hear him groan;
Nor feel him, where he ftruck: Being an ugly
monster,

5"Tis ftrange, he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
Sweet words; or hath more minifters than we
That draw his knives i' the war. Well, I will
find him:

Which gave advantage to an ancient foldier,-
An honest one, I warrant; who deferv'd
So long a breeding, as his white beard came to,
In doing this for his country;-athwart the lane,
He, with two striplings (lads more like to run
The country base1, than to commit fuch flaughter;
With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer
Than those for preservation cas'd, or shame 2),
Made good the paffage; cry'd to those that fled
Our Britain's barts die flying, not our men:
To darkness fleet, fouls that fly backwards! Stand!
Or we are Romans, and will give you that
Like beafts, which you fhun beaftly; and may farve,
But to look back in frown: ftand, ftand.-These three,
Three thousand confident, in act as many,
(For three performers are the file, when all
The reft do nothing) with this word, ftand, ftand,
Accommodated by the place, more charming
With their own nobleness,(which could have turn'd
A distaff to a lance) gilded pale looks, [coward 20
Part, shame, part, spirit renew'd; that fome, turn'd
But by example (O, a fin in war,

Damn'd in the first beginners!)—'gan to look
The way that they did, and to grin like lions
Upon the pikes o' the hunters. Then began
A ftop i' the chafer, a retire; anon,

For, being now a favourer to the Roman,
10 No more a Briton, I have refum'd again
The part I came in : Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the veriest hind, that shall
Once touch my fhoulder. Great the flaughter is
Here made by the Roman; great the answer 5 be
15 Britons muft take: For me, my ranfom's death;
On either fide I come to spend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by fome means for Imogen.

Enter two British Captains, and Soldiers.

1 Cap. Great Jupiter be prais'd! Lucius is taken: 'Tis thought, the old man and his fons were angels. 2 Cap. There was a fourth man, in a filly 6 habit, That gave the affront 7 with them.

1 Cap. So 'tis reported;

[there?

25 But none of them can be found.-Stand! Who's Poft. A Roman;

A rout, confufion thick: Forthwith, they fly
Chickens,the way which they stoop'd eagles; flaves,
The ftrides they victors made: And now our cow-
(Like fragments in hard voyages, became [ards, 30
The life o' the need) having found the back-door
open
[wound!

Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they
Some, flain before; fome, dying; fome, their friends
O'erborne i' the former wave: ten, chac'd by one, 35
Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty:
Thofe, that would die or ere refist, are grown
The mortal bugs 3 o' the field.

Lord. This was ftrange chance:

A narrow lane! an old man, and two boys!

Poft. Nay, do not wonder at it: You are made
Rather to wonder at the things you hear,
Than to work any. Will you rhime upon 't,
And vent it for a mockery? Here
Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
Preferv'd the Britons, was the Romans' bane.

Lord. Nay, be not angry, fir.

Peft. 'Lack, to what end?

one:

Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend:
For if he'll do, as he is made to do,
I know, he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
You have put me into rhyme.

40

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds
Had anfwer'd him.

A leg of Rome shall not return to tell [his fervice
2 Cap. Lay hands on him; A dog!
What crows have peck'd them here: He brags
As if he were of note: bring him to the king.
Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pi-
Pofthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers bim over to a
fanio, and Roman Captives. The Captains prefent
Gaoler: after which, all go out.
SCENE
A Prifon.

IV.

Enter Pofthumus, and two Gaolers.

1 Gaol. You fhall not now be stolen, you have locks upon you;

So graze, as you find pasture.

2 Gal. Ay, or a stomach. Poft. Moft welcome, bondage! for thou art a way, [Exeunt Gaolers. 45I think, to liberty: Yet am I better

50

[Exit.

Lord. Farewel; you are angry.
Poft. Still going?-This is a lord: O noble
mifery!

To be i' the field, and afk, what news, of me!
To-day, how many would have given their honours
To have fav'd their carcafes? took heel to do't,

Than one that's fick o' the gout; fince he had rather
Groan fo in perpetuity, than be cur'd

By the fure physician, death; who is the key
To unbar thefe locks. My confcience! thou art
fetter'd
More than my shanks, and wrists: You good gods,
[give me
The penitent inftrument, to pick that bolt,
Then, free for ever! Is 't enough, I am sorry?
So children temporal fathers do appease;

55 Gods are more full of mercy. Must I repent? I cannot do it better than in gyves, Defir'd, more than constrain'd: to fatisfy, If of my freedom 'tis the main part, take This alludes to a rustic game cajed prison-bars, vulgarly prison-base. 3 j. e. terrors. 4 Alluding to the common superstition of charms being powerful enough to keep 2 Shame for modefty. men unhurt in battle. It was derived from our Saxon ancestors, and fo is common to us with the Germans, who are above all other people given to this fuperftition; which made Erafmus, where, in his Moria Encomium, he gives to each nation its proper characteristic, fay, "Germani corporum proceritate & magiæ cognitione fibi placent." 6 Silly is fimple or ruftic. 5 Anfrver, as once in this play before, means retaliation. 7 That is, that turned their faces to the enemy. gaoler alludes to the custom of putting a lock on a horfe's leg, when he is turned to pasture. 8 This wit of the

No

No ftricter render of me, than my all 1.

2 Bro. From this, from ftiller feats we came,
Our parents, and us twain,
That, ftriking in our country's caufe,
Fell bravely, and were flain;

5 Our fealty, and Tenantius' right,
With honour to maintain.

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 so dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it:
'Tween man and man, they weigh not every ftamp;
Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake;
You rather mine,being yours: And fo,great powers, 10
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel thefe cold bonds. O Imogen!
I'll speak to thee in filence.

[He fleeps.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath
To Cymbeline perform'd:
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
Why haft thou thus adjourn'd
The graces for his merits due;

Being all to dolours turn'd?

Sici. Thy chryftal window ope; look out:
No longer exercise,

And potent injuries:

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,

Take off his miferies.

Solemn Mufick. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius 15 Upon a valiant race, thy harsh
Leonatus, father to Pefthumus, an old man, attired
like a warrior; leading in bis band an ancient
matron, bis wife, and mother to Pofthumus, with
mufick before them. Then, after other mufick, follow
the two young Leonati, brothers to Pofthumus, with 20
wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Poft-
bumus round, as be lies fleeping.

Sici. No more, thou thunder-master, shew
Thy fpite on mortal flies:

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,

That thy adulteries

Rates, and revenges..

Hath my poor boy done ought but well,

Whofe face I never faw?

I dy'd, whilft in the womb he stay'd,
Attending Nature's law.

Whofe father then (as men report

Thou orphan's father art)

Thou should it have been, and shielded him

From this earth vexing fmart.

Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,
But took me in my throes;

That from me was Fofthumus ript,

Came crying 'mongst his foes,

A thing of pity!

Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry,

Moulded the ftuff to fair,

That he deferved the praife o' the 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 fruitful object be

In eye of Imogen, that beft

Could deem his dignity?

Meth. With marriage wherefore was he mock'd,
To be exil'd, and thrown

From Leonati' feat, and caft

From her his dearest one, Sweet Imogen?

Siri. Why did you fuffer Iachimo,

Slight thing of Italy,

To taint his nobler heart and brain
With needlefs jealoufy;

And to become the geck and fcorn

O' the other's villainy?

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

To the fhining synod of the rest,

Against thy deity.

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

25 Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon
an eagle: he throws a thunder-belt. The ghos
fall on their knees.

30

Jupit. No more, you petty fpirits of region low, Offend our hearing; hufh!-How dare you ghofts

Accufe the thunderer, whose bolt you know, Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coasts? Poor fhadows of Elyfium, hence; and reft Upon your never withering banks of flowers: 35 Be not with mortal accidents oppreft;

40

No care of yours it is: you know, 'tis ours. Whom beft I love, I crofs: to make my gift,

The more delay'd, delighted. Be content;
Your low-laid fon our godhead will uplift;

His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.
Our Jovial ftar reign'd 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. 45 This tablet lay upon his breast; wherein

50

Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine;
And fo, away: no farther with your din
Exprefs impatience, left you ftir up mine.-
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. [Afcends
Sici. He came in thunder; his celeftial breath
Was fulphurous to fmell: the holy eagle
Stoop'd, as to foot us; his afcenfion is

More fweet than our bleft fields; his royal bird Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys 3 his beak 55 As when his god is pleas'd.

All. Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici. The marble pavement clofes, he is enter'd His radiant roof:-Away! and, to be bleft Let us with care perform his great beheft. [Vanif. 60 Poft. [aking.] Sleep, thou haft been a grand fire, and begot

A father to me: and thou haft created

Meaning, his life, if it is the main part, the chief point, or principal condition of his freedom, 2 A bird is faid to prune himself when he clears his

i. e. of his freedom from future punishment. feathers from fuperfluities. 3 i. e. clarus. To claw their beaks, is an accustomed action with hawks and eagles.

A mother

A mother, and two brothers: But (O fcorn!)
Gone! they went hence fo foon as they were born.
And so I am awake.-Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour, dream as I have done;
Wake, and find nothing.-But, alas, I fwerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And yet are steep'd in favours; so am I,
That have this golden chance, and know not why.
What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O,

rare one!

Be not, as is 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.]

Gaol. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not feen him so pictur'd: you must either be directed by fome that take upon them to know; or take upon yourself that, which I am fure you 5 do not know; or jump the after-enquiry 5 on your own peril: and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think, you'll never return to tell one.

Peft. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want 10 eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but fuch as wink, and will not use them.

Gasl. What an infinite mock is this, that a man fhould have the best use of eyes, to fee the way of blindness! I am fure, hanging's the way 15 of winking. Enter a Messenger.

"When as a lion's whelp fhall, to himself un"known, without feeking find, and be embrac'd "by a piece of tender air; and when from a "ftately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which, be"ing dead many years, shall after revive, be joint-20 "ed to the old stock, 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 stuff as madmen Tongue, and brain not: either both, or nothing: Or fenfeless speaking, or a speaking fuch As fenfe cannot untie'. Be what it is, The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep if but for sympathy.

Re-enter Gaolers.

Gadl. Come, fir, are you ready for death?
Peft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago.
Gaol. Hanging is the word, fir; if you be
ready for that, you are well cook'd.

Mef. Knock off his manacles; bring your prifoner to the king.

Poft. Thou bring'ft good news; I am call'd to be made free.

Gaol. I'll be hang'd then.

Poft. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Pofthumus and Meffenger.

Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows, 25 and beget young gibbets, I never faw one fo prone. Yet, on my confcience, there are verier knaves defire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be fome of them too, that die against their wills; fo fhould I, if I were one. I would we 30 were all of one mind, and one mind good; O, there were defolation of gaolers, and gallowfes! I fpeak against my prefent profit; but my with hath a preferment in 't. [Exit.

Pefi. So, if I prove a good repaft to the fpec-35 tators, the dish pays the shot.

Gasl. A heavy reckoning for you, fir: But the comfort is, you fhall be call'd to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills; which are often the fadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth: you 40 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 2;} purfe and brain both empty: the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purfe too light, be-45 ing drawn 3 of heaviness: O! of this contradiction you shall be now quit.-O, the charity of a penny cord! it fums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor 4 but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge :Your neck, fir, is pen, book, and counters; fo the acquittance follows.

50

Poft. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Gaol. Indeed, fir, he that fleeps feels not the tooth-ach: But a man that were to fleep your 55 fleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think, he would change places with his officer: for, look you, fir, you know not which way you shall go. Peft. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow.

SCENE V.
Cymbeline's Tent.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus,
Pifanio, and Lords.

Cym. Stand by my fide, you, whom the gods

have made

The heir of his reward; which I will add
To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain,
[To Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.
By whom, I grant, the lives: 'Tis now the time
To afk of whence you are:-report it.

The meaning, according to Dr. Johnfen, is this: "This is a dream or madness, or both-or nothing but whether it be a fpeech without consciousness, as in a dream, or a speech unintelligible, as in madness, be it as it is, it is like my course of life." 2 i. e. forry that you have paid too much out of your pocket, and forry that you are paid or fubdued, too much by the liquor.

exenterated.

i.e. forward.

4 Debitor and crediter for an accounting book.

3 Drawn is emborvell'd,

5 That is, venture at it without thought. Bel

Cor. Hail, great king!

To four your happiness, I must report
The queen is dead.

Cym. Whom worse than a physician
Would this report become? But I confider,
By medicine life may be prolong'd, yet death
Will feize the doctor too.-How ended she?

Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life;
Which, being cruel to the world, concluded
Moft cruel to herself. What he confefs'd,
I will report, so please you: These her women
Can trip me, if I err; who, with wet cheeks,
Were present when she finish'd.

Cym. Pr'ythee, fay.

Cor. First, the confefs'd she never lov'd you; only
Affected greatness got by you, not you:
Married your royalty; was wife to your place;
Abhorr'd your perfon.

Cym. She alone knew this:

And, but the spoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.

[love

Cor. Your daughter, whom the bore in hand to

With fuch integrity, the did confefs

Was as a fcorpion to her fight; whofe life,

5

And prove it in thy feeling. Heaven mend all!
Enter Lucius, Iachimo, and other Roman prisoners;
Poftbumus bebind, and Imogen.

Thou com'ft not, Caius, now for tribute; that
The Britons have raz'd out, though with the lofs
Of many a bold one; whose kinsmen have made
fuit
[ter
That their good fouls may he appeas'd with flaugh-
Of you their captives, which ourself have granted;
10 So think of your estate.

Luc. Confider, fir, the chance of war: the day
Was yours by accident: had it gone with us,
We fhould not, when the blood was cold, have
threaten'd

15 Our prifoners with the fword. But fince the gods
Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives
May be call'd ranfom, let it come: fufficeth,
A Roman with a Roman's heart can fuffer:
Auguftus lives to think on't: And fo much
20 For my peculiar care. This one thing only
I will entreat; My boy, a Briton born,
Let him be ransom'd: never master had
A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,
So tender over his occafions, true,

25 So feat, fo nurfe-like: let his virtue join
With my requeft, which, I'll make bold, your
highnels

Cannot deny; he hath done no Briton harm, Though he have ferv'd a Roman: fave him, fir, 30 And fpare no blood befide.

Gym. I have furely feen him:

His favour is familiar to me :-Boy,
Thou haft look'd thyself into my grace, and art
Mine own. I know not why, wherefore, I say,
35 Live, boy: ne'er thank thy mafter; live:

40

For you a mortal mineral; which, being took,
Should by the minute feed on life, and ling'ring,
By inches wafte you: In which time the purpos'd, 45
By watching, weeping, tendance, kiffing, to
O'ercome you with her fhew: yes, and in time,
(When the had fitted you with her craft) to work
Her fon into the adoption of the crown.
But failing of her end by his strange abfence,
Grew fhameless-defperate; open'd, in despight
Of heaven and men, her purposes; repented
The ills the hatch'd were not effected; so,
Defpairing, dy'd.

Cym. Heard you all this, her women?
Lady. We did, fo please your highness.
Cym. Mine eyes

Were not in fault, for fhe was beautiful;

And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt,
Fitting my bounty, and thy state, I'll give it;
Yea, though thou do demand a prisoner,
The nobleft ta'en.

Imo. I humbly thank your highness.

Luc. I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad; And yet, I know, thou wilt.

Imo. No, no; alack,

There's other work in hand: I fee a thing
Bitter to me as death: your life, good mafter,
Muft fhuffle for itself.

Luc. The boy difdains me,

He leaves me, fcorns me: Briefly die their joys, That place them on the truth of girls and boys.50 Why ftands he so perplex'd?

Cym. What would'st thou, boy?

love thee more and more; think more and more What's best to ask. Know'ft him thou look'st on?

fpeak,

55 Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend?
Imo. He is a Roman; no more kin to me,
Than I to your highness; who, being born your
Am fomething nearer.

Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart,
That thought her like her feeming; it had been 60

vicious,

To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter!

That it was folly in me, thou may`st say,

Cym. Wherefore ey'st him fo?

[vallal,

Imo. I'll tell you, fir, in private, if you please To give me hearing.

Cym. Ay, with all my heart,

And lend my best attention. What's thy name?

1 i. e. fo ready; fo dexterous in waiting.

2 i. e. his countenance.

Im