you sometime banish'd: Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd. Cym. O rare instinct! When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridgement Hath to it circumstantial branches, which Distinction should be rich in. Where? how lived you? And when came you to serve our Roman captive? How parted with your brothers? how first met them? Why fled you from the court? and whither? These, And your three motives to the battle, with Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punish-I know not how much more, should be demanded; ment Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd. Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes--- 359 Be pleased awhile. This gentleman, whom I call Polydore, Most worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius: This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus, Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lapp'd In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand Of his queen mother, which for more probation I can with ease produce. Cym. Guiderius had Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star; It was a mark of wonder. O, what, am I Cym. A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother 369 Rejoiced deliverance more. Blest pray you be, That, after this strange starting from your orbs, You may reign in them now! O Imogen, Thou hast lost by this a kingdom. Imo. No, my lord; I have got two worlds by 't. O my gentle brothers, Have we thus met? O, never say hereafter But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother, When I was but your sister; I you brothers, When ye were so indeed. Сут. Did you e'er meet? Arv. Ay, my good lord. Gui. And at first meeting loved; Continued so, until we thought he died. 380 And all the other by-dependencies, 390 From chance to chance: but nor the time nor place Will serve our long inter'gatories. See, And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting Each object with a joy: the counterchange Is severally in all. Let's quit this ground, And smoke the temple with our sacrifices. [To Belarius] Thou art my brother; so we'll hold thee ever. Imo. You are my father too, and did relieve 400 me, To see this gracious season. Cym. All o'erjoy'd, Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too, I will yet do you service. My good master, Happy be you! Luc. Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought, He would have well becomed this place, and graced The thankings of a king. Post. I am, sir, The soldier that did company these three The purpose I then follow'd. That I was he, 410 Iach. [Kneeling] I am down again: But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you, Which I so often owe: but your ring first; And here the bracelet of the truest princess Post. Cym. Arv. Post. Your servant, princes. Good my lord of Rome, Call forth your soothsayer: as I slept, methought Sooth. Here, my good lord. Luc. Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [Reads] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and plenty.' Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; The fit and apt construction of thy name, Being Leo-natus, doth import so much. [To Cymbeline] The piece of tender air, virtuous daughter, thy Which we call 'mollis aer;' and 'mollis aer' 450 Cym. This hath some seeming. Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Personates thee: and thy lopp'd branches point Thy two sons forth; who, by Belarius stol'n, For many years thought dead, are now revived, To the majestic cedar join'd, whose issue Promises Britain peace and plenty. Before the palace of Antioch. To glad your ear, and please your eyes, The purchase is to make men glorious; I tell you what mine authors say: This king unto him took a fere, Who died and left a female heir, Bad child; worse father! to entice his own ΙΟ 20 So for her many a wight did die, As yon grim looks do testify. 40 What now ensues, to the judgement of your eye I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. SCENE I. Antioch. A room in the palace. Enter ANTIOCHUS, PRINCE PERICLES, and followers. Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large received Music. Enter the Daughter of Antiochus. Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king You gods that made me man, and sway in love, 30 To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree, 20 Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. Ant. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides, With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd; For death-like dragons here affright thee hard: 30 Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view 40 That without covering, save yon field of stars, For death remember'd should be like a mirror, 50 [To the daughter of Antiochus. Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow, Antiochus. Ant. Scorning advice, read the conclusion, then: Of all say'd yet, I wish thee happiness! He reads the riddle. I am no viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh which did me breed. Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is throng'd By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't. Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law 's their And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill? All love the womb that their first being bred, But I will gloze with him.-Young prince of Tyre, As your fair self, doth tune us otherwise: 120 130 [Exeunt all but Pericles. Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, [Takes hold of the hand of the Princess. But being play'd upon before your time, Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, Re-enter ANTIOCHUS. 140 Ant. He hath found the meaning, for which we mean To have his head. He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy, And therefore instantly this prince must die: Per. [To Lords without] Let none disturb us. Why should this change of thoughts, The sad companion, dull-eyed melancholy, Be my so used a guest as not an hour, In the day's glorious walk, or peaceful night, The tomb where grief should sleep, can breed me quiet? Here pleasures court mine eyes, and mine eyes shun them, ΙΟ And danger, which I fear'd, is at Antioch, 20 And what may make him blush in being known, Peaceful and comfortable! Hel. Peace, peace, and give experience tongue. They do abuse the king that flatter him: Whereas reproof, obedient and in order, Per. All leave us else; but let your cares o'erlook What shipping and what lading's in our haven, And then return to us. [Exeunt Lords.] Helicanus, thou Hast moved us: what seest thou in our looks? Hel. An angry brow, dread lord. 50 Per. If there be such a dart in princes' frowns, How durst thy tongue move anger to our face? Hel. How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence They have their nourishment? Per. Thou know'st I have power To take thy life from thee. self; I thank thee for it; and heaven forbid That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid! Fit counsellor and servant for a prince, Who by thy wisdom makest a prince thy servant, What wouldst thou have me do? 70 Hel. To bear with patience Such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself. Per. Thou speak'st like a physician, Helicanus, That minister'st a potion unto me That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself. Attend me, then: I went to Antioch, Where as thou know'st, against the face of death, I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty, From whence an issue I might propagate, †Are arms to princes, and bring joys to subjects. Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder; The rest-hark in thine ear-as black as incest: Which by my knowledge found, the sinful father Seem'd not to strike, but smooth: but thou know'st this, 80 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss. |