part thou, Pifanio, must at for me. If thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers, let thine hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at MilfordHaven. She bath my letter for the purpose; where, if thou fear to strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the Pander to ber difhonour, and equally to me difloyal. Pif. What fhall I need to draw my fword? the paper Hath cut her throat already.No, 'tis flander; Whofe edge is fharper than the fword, whole tongue Out venoms all the worms of Nile; whofe breath Rides on the pofting winds, and doth belye All corners of the world. Kings, Qees, and 7 ftates, What chear, Madam? Imo. Falfe to his bed! what is it to be falfe? To lie in watch there, and to think on him? To weep 'twixt clock and clock? if fleep charge na ture, To break it with a fearful dream of him, And cry myself awake? That's falfe to 's bed! is't? Pif. Alas, god lady! Imo. I falfe? thy confcience witnefs, lachimo, Thou didst accufe him of incontinency, 8 Thou then look'dft like a villain: now, methinks, I must I must be ript. To pieces with me. Oh, Put on for villainy; not born where 't grows; Pif. Good Madam, hear me Imo. True honeft men being heard, like falfe Æneas, Were in his time thought falfe: and Sinon's Weeping Did fcandal many a holy tear; From moft true wretchedness. took pity So thou, Pofibumus, Wilt lay the leven to all proper men ; Goodly, and gallant, fhall be falfe and perjur'd, I draw the fword myfelf, take it, and hit edition the M in mother happen- WARBURTON. The word meether I never read nor heard. The prefent reading, I think, may ftand; fome jay of Italy, made by art the creature, not of nature, but of painting. In this fente painting may be not improperly termed her mother. I So thou, Pofthumus, men ;] When Pofthumus thought his wife falfe, he unjuft ly fcandalized the whole fex. His Fear Fear not, 'tis empty of all things, but grief; Pif. Hence, vile inftrument! And, if I do not by thy hand, thou art 'Gainft felf-flaughter There is a prohibition fo divine, That cravens my weak hand: come, here's my heartSomething 's afore 't-foft, soft, we'll no defence; [Opening her breast. Obedient as the fcabbard!-What is here? The Scriptures of the loyal Leonatus [Pulling his letters out of her bofom. Stands in worfe cafe of woe. And thou, Pofthumus, Pr'ythee, difpatch; The lamb entreats the butcher. Where's thy knife? Thou art too flow to do thy mafter's bidding, When I defire it too. Pif. O gracious Lady! * Something's afore 't-] The old copy reads, Something's afoot. 3 Whom now thou tir'ft on,-] A hawk is faid to fire upon that which he pecks; from tirer, French. Y 4 Since Since I receiv'd command to do this business, Imo. Do 't, and to bed then. Pif. I'll wake mine eye-balls first. Didit undertake it? why haft thou abus'd So many miles, with a pretence? this place? Pif. But to win time To lofe fo bad employment, in the which, Hear me with patience. Good lady, Imo. Talk thy tongue weary, fpeak, I've heard, I am a ftrumpet; and mine ear, Nor tent to bottom that. But, speak. Pif. Then, Madam, I thought, you would not back again. Bringing me here to kill me. Pif. Not fo, neither; But if I were as wife as honeft, then My purpose would prove well. It cannot be, Imo. Some Roman Courtezan- 4 Ill wake mine eye balls firft.] Imo. Wher fore then.] This is the old reading. The modern editions for wake read break, and fupply the deficient fyllable by ah, wherefore. I read, I'll wake mine eye-balls out firft, or, blind first. 5 To be unbent,-] To have thy bow unbent, alluding to a hunter. I'll give him notice you are dead, and fend him Imo. Why, good fellow, What fhall I do the while? where 'bide? how live? Dead to my husband? Pif. If you'll back to th' Court Imo, No Court, no Father; nor no more ado Pif. If not at Court, Then not in Britain must you 'bide. Imo. Where then? Hath Britain all the Sun that fhines? Day, night, In a great pool, a fwan's neft. There's livers out of Britain, Pif. I'm molt glad, Pr'ythee, think, You think of other place: th' Ambaffador, To-morrow. |