Imatges de pàgina
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Cym. By peace we will begin: and, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we fubmit to Cæfar,
And to the Roman Empire; promifing
To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were diffuaded by our wicked Queen,
On whom heav'n's juftice (both on her, and hers)
Hath laid moft heavy hand.

Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace: the vision
Which I made known to Lucius ere the ftroke
Of this yet fcarce-cold battel, at this inftant
Is full accomplish'd. For the Roman eagle
From fouth to weft on wing foaring aloft
Leffen'd her felf, and in the beams o'th' fún

Sooth. Here, my good Lord.

Luc. Read, and declare the meaning.

[Reads.]

So

7Hen as a lion's whelp fhall, to himself unknown, without feeking find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a fately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which being dead mang years, fhall after revive, be jointed to the old flock, and freshly grow, then fball Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be fortunate, and flourif in peace and plenty.

Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp;
The fit and apt conftruction of thy name
Being Leonatus, doth import fo much:
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter,
Which we call Mollis Aer, and Mollis Aer
We term it Mulier: which Mulier I divine
Is this most conftant wife, who even now
Answering the letter of the oracle,

Unknown to you, unfought, were clipt about
With this moft tender air.

Cym. This hath fome feeming.

Sootb. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
Perfonates thee; and thy lopt branches point
Thy two fons forth: who by Bellarius ftol'n,
For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd,
To the majestick cedar join'd; whose iffue
Promises Britain peace and plenty.
Cym. By peace we will begin: &c.

[To Cymbeline.

So vanish'd; which fore-fhew'd our princely eagle,
Th' imperial Cæfar, fhould again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which fhines here in the weft.

Cym. Laud we the Gods!

And let the crooked fmoaks climb to their noftrils
From our bleft altars! Publish we this peace
To all our fubjects. Set we forward: let
A Roman and a British enfign wave

Friendly together; fo through Lud's town march.
And in the temple of great Jupiter

Our peace we'll ratifie. Seal it with feafts.
Set on there: Never was a war did cease,

Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with fuch a peace.

[Exeunt omnes.

ROMEO

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PROLOGUE.

WO Houfbolds, both alike in Dignity,

Two

In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene) From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil bands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whofe mif-adventur'd piteous overthrows,

Do, with their death, bury their parents ftrife.
The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love,

And the continuance of their parents rage,
Which but their childrens end nought could remove,
Is now the two hours traffick of our stage.
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What bere fhall mifs, our toil fhall strive to mend.

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