CYMBELINE, King of Britaine. Guiderius, Difguis'd under the names of Paladour and Belarius, a banish'd Lord, difguis'd under the name of Morgan. Philario, an Italian, Friend to Queen, Wife to Cymbeline. Imogen, Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen Helen, Woman to Imogen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Ghofts, a Soothsayer, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants.MY (1) CYMBELINE A C T I. SCENE, Cymbeline's Palace in Britaine. Enter two Gentlemen. I GENTLEMAN. OU do not meet a man, but frowns: Our bloods No more obey the heavens than our Cour tiers; Still feem, as do's the King's. 2 Gent. But what's the matter? i Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's Kingdom, (whom He purpos'd to his wife's fole fon, a widow (1) CYMBELINE] That Part of the Fable, on which the Diftrefs of this Play is built, (viz. Pofthumus's Jealoufy of his Wife, from his own Indifcretion; ) is borrow'd, as Mr. Gildon and others have obferv'd, from Boccace, Day 2d, Novel 9th. And the Italian Novelift seems to me to extravagant duct the Rape of Lucrece was folely owing. Mr. Pope has remark'd, that little, befides the Names, is historical in this Play. On the contrary, appears to me, that the Author has taken pains to infert Points of History, both British and Roman, in the Detail of his Scenary. Indeed, he fometimes puts a Change upon Facts, as well as fubverts the Chronology of Actions; of which I fhall take particular Notice in the proper Places. So, with like Licence, amongst Names truly British and Roman, he jumbles fuch as thefe, Iachimo, Syenne, Richard du Champ, Fidele, Philario, and Pifanio; all of a more modern Origin and Deflection. to have founded his Tale on Code Con Prailes of his Wife to young Tarquin and others: it Z3 Unto J Unto a poor, but worthy gentleman. She's wedded; Her husband banish'd'; the imprison'd. Alfid bed Is outward forrow, though, think, the King 199 Be touch'd at very heart. 2 Gent. None but the King? da zobed bed LnA 1 Gent. He, that hath loft her,too: fo is the Queen, That most defir'd the match. But not a Courtier, (Although they wear their faces to the bent 9013 Of the King's look) but hath a heart Glad at the thing they fcoul at 2 Gent. And why fo? 29 smelineg us to gid 1 Gent. He, that hath mifs'd the Princefs, is a thing Too bad for bad report: and, he that hath her, bluc i (I mean that marry'd her, alack, good man And therefore banish'd) is a creature fuch, mid os esu I As, to feek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be fomething failing In him that thould compare. I do not think, So fair an outward, and fuch stuff within 15 dard ) Endows a man but him. 287 01 sqms) A 2 Gent. You speak him farr. (2) ot anda dalg A 1 Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself Cruth him together, rather than unfold Maid adası 703 His meafure fully,carevnb sas b quis renst Heid, salad. Hoy me I Gent What's his name and birth on visa) ni mada 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father fur eid sistu inad call'd Sicillius, who did join his honour (3) £ Was 01 'gildo dw hd wal ismans me to 2434 (2) 2 Gent. You Peak him fair, 1 Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself] HULD. I don't know what Confonance our modern Editors could find betwixt Speaking fair and extending: No more, I believe, than they have Au thority for the Reading. I have reftor'd with the old Books T + Tou peak bim farr. e. You fpeak widely, with Latitude, in his Praifes; and then the other anfwers with great Propriety; Sir, as Sir, as widely as I peak of him, I extend him within the Lifts and Compafs of his own Merit. 3) Who did Join bis Hondur Against the Romans, with Cafibelan;] Eud, (from whom, as fome fuppofe, Ludgate deriv'd its Name) began to reign over the Southern Parts of our Ile about 70 Years before the Chriftian MY a tow and 1009 S Against the Romans, with Caffibelan (Then old and fond of iffus, took fuch forrow, A Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamberson 1) Puts to him all the Learnings that his time Could make him the receiver of, which he took As we do air, faft as 'twas miniftred. His fpring became a harveft: liv'd in Court (Which rare it is to do,) moft prais'd, moft lov'd, A fample to the young'ft; to th' more mature, A glafs that featur'd them; and to the graver, s Chriftian Ara ra. He reign'd but Eleven Years; and, upon his Demife, (or, rather, his Murder; for the Hiftorians are exprefs, and concur in this Point: Calibelan,his Brother,ufurp'd the Government from Lud's two Sons then in their Minority. About the 9th Year of Gaffibelan's Reign, Julius Cafar made his firft Defcent upon Britaine, and met with Repulfe. The next Seafon, he again invaded us; and then, after feveral Skirmishes and fome pitch'd Battles wag'd with the Romans, the Britons being Worsted, and revolting by Degrees from Caffibelan, he was oblig'd to fue to Cafar for Terms, and to yield to the Payment of an annual Tribute to the Romans as Conquerors. POLYANUS (in his Stratage mata) tells us that the Britons fled, thro' the Terror they conceiv'd at fight of Cafar's Elephants. Cæfar, in his Commentaries, mentions not one Word of Elephants employ'd in this Service: it must be look'd upon therefore as an idle Fable and of no Credit. (4) TENANTIUS. Tenantius (or Theomantius) who was the younger Son of Lud, and whe had aided Julius Cafar against Caf belan, upon his Uncle's Death, about 45 Years before Chrift, recover'd the Dominions that had been ufurp'd from his Brother, and him by Caffibelan. He reign'd 22 Years; and in his 10th Year happen'd the Aflaffination of Julius Cæfar. Our Author hints here at this Prince having War with the Romans and the Queftion of his refufing the Tribute, agreed to by his Uncle, will be canvas'd in a fubfequent Man With Note. " H A child that guided dotards, affo his mistress, dɔ15ì If i (For whom he now is banithld) her owd priegasq Proclaims, how the esteem'd him and this virtuedɔ By her election may be truly read, gaildishiɑ .ord What kind of man he is, abow fl stedwaldɔiɔ ngƏ 2 Gent honour him, wev'n out of your reportinol I But tell me, is the fole child to the King?olor A I Gent. His only child.ro 19m no ob mɔ sger at He had two fons, (if this be worth your hearing, brA Mark it; the eldest of them at three years old,gas 10 I'th' fwathing cloaths the other, from their nursery 109 Were ftol'n; and to this hour, no guefs in knowledgel Which way they went. Myn, asɔuo yM. A o q 2 Gent. How long is this ago?mous on goow ybai O I Gent. Some twenty years. mom to befeqlul ed eT 2 Gent. That a King's children fhould be fo conveyid, So flackly guarded, and the fearch fo flow 'lisyoi adT That could not trace them, assbier VMM I Gent. Howfoe'er 'tis ftrange, onist ym os od W Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, wond Yet is it true, Sir. guintes ro sitim duw bae 2 Gent. I do well believe you.. med dai guodT I Gent. We muft forbear. Here comes the Gentle-' man, The Queen, and Princess. and sa[Exeunt. Enter the Queen, Pofthumus, Imogen, and attendants. H Queen. No, be affur'd, you fhall not find me,daughter, After the flander of moft ftep-mothers, w zida daw OT I'll-ey'd unto you: You're my pris'ner, butsoba ! Your goaler fhall deliver you the keysy 10 ab eve¶ That lock up your reftraint For you, Poftbumus So foon as I can win th' offended King, 191 & gol I will be known your advocates marry, yetjandiol sal The fire of rage is in him, and 'twere good, 1 om! You lean'd unto his Sentence, with what patiencę STS VI Your wildom may inforni you.q 207 pow quirsi ase Poft. Pleafe your Highness, our ym w bromsb 2.1 I will from hence to dayartoon cow nopdfi si good ra Queen. You know the peril: Lanka aspend 197 |
