Dost seem so ignorant, we'll enforce it from thee Pis. Sir, my life is life is yours, I humbly set it at your will: But, for my mistress, ness, Hold me your loyal servant. 1 Lord. Good my liege, The day that she was missing, he was here: For Cloten, There wants no diligence in seeking him, Cym. The time's troublesome: [TO PISANIO. We'll slip you for a season; but our jealousy Does yet depend. 1 Lord. So please your majesty, The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn, Are landed on your coast; with a supply Of Roman gentlemen, by the senate sent. Cym. Now for the counsel of my son, and I am amaz'd with matter.7 1 Lord. Good my liege, Your preparation can affront no less ready: hear of: come more, for more you're The want is, but to put those powers in motion, Сут. I thank you: Let's withdraw: And meet the time, as it seeks us. We fear not 7 I am amaz'd with matter.] i. e. confounded by a variety of business. 8 • Your preparation can affront, &c.] Your forces are able to face such an army as we hear the enemy will bring against us. What can from Italy annoy us; but Pis. I heard no letter from my master, since [Exeunt. Perplex'd in all. The heavens still must work: Aro. What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it From action and adventure? Gui. Nay, what hope Have we in hiding us? this way, the Romans Must or for Britons slay us; or receive us For barbarous and unnatural revolts1 During their use, and slay us after. Bel. Sons, We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us. 9 to the note o'the king,] I will so distinguish myself, the king shall remark my valour." revolts-] i. e. revolters. Where we have liv'd2; and so extort from us That which we've done, whose answer would be death Drawn on with torture. That when they hear the Roman horses neigh, That they will waste their time upon our note, Bel. O, I am known Of many in the army: many years, Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him Who find in my exíle the want of breeding, Gui. Than be so, Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army: Arv. By this sun that shines, I'll thither: What thing is it, that I never Did see man die? scarce ever look'd on blood, a render Where we have liv'd ;] An account of our place of abode. This dialogue is a just representation of the superfluous caution of an old man. 3 — their quarter'd fires,] Quarter'd fires, probably means no more than fires in the respective quarters of the Roman army. A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel To look upon the holy sun, to have Gui. By heavens, I'll go : So say I; Amen. you set Arv. Have with you, boys: That is my bed too, lads, and there I'll lie: Lead, lead. The time seems long: their blood thinks scorn, Till it fly out, and show them princes born. ACT V. [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-A Field between the British and Roman Camps. Enter POSTHUMUS, with a bloody Handkerchief." Post. Yea, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee; for I wish'd Thou should'st be colour'd thus. You married ones, ·bloody handkerchief.] The bloody token of Imogen's death, which Pisanio in the foregoing Act determined to send. Yea, bloody cloth, &c.] This is a soliloquy of nature, uttered when the effervescence of a mind agitated and perturbed, spontaneously and inadvertently discharges itself in words. The speech throughout all its tenor, if the last conceit be excepted, seems to issue warm from the heart. He first condemns his own violence, then tries to disburden himself by imputing part of the crime to Pisanio; he next soothes his mind to an artificial and momentary tranquillity, by trying If each of you would take this course, how many you Every good servant does not all commands; 6 The noble Imogen to repent; and struck Me, wretch, more worth your vengeance. But, alack, But Imogen is your own: Do your best wills, And make me bless'd to obey !—I am brought hither Among the Italian gentry, and to fight Against my lady's kingdom: 'Tis enough That, Britain, I have kill'd thy mistress; peace! I'll give no wound to thee. Therefore, good heavens, Hear patiently my purpose; I'll disrobe me Of these Italian weeds, and suit myself to think that he has been only an instrument of the gods for the happiness of Imogen. He is now grown reasonable enough to determine, that having done so much evil, he will do no more; that he will not fight against the country which he has already injured; but as life is not longer supportable, he will die in a just cause, and die with the obscurity of a man who does not think himself worthy to be remembered. JOHNSON. 7 And make them dread it to the doers' thrift.] Of the various meanings assigned by the commentators, the following appears the most intelligible: "Some you snatch from hence for little faults; others you suffer to heap ills on ills, and afterwards make them dread their having done so, to the eternal welfare of the doers." The whole speech is in a religious strain. Thrift signifies a state of prosperity. It is not the commission of the crimes that is supposed to be for the doer's thrift, but his dreading them afterwards, and of course repenting, which ensures his salvation. |