A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on't

Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I thought

her

As chaste as unsunn'd snow :—O, all the devils ;—
This yellow Iachimo, in an hour-was't not?- 501
Or less-at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,
Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,
Cry'd, oh! and mounted: found no opposition
But what he look'd for should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I find out
The woman's part in me! For there's no motion
That tends to vice in man, but I affirm

It is the woman's part: Be't lying, note it,
509
The woman's; flattering, her's; deceiving, her's;
Lust and rank thoughts, her's, her's; revenges, her's;
Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain,
Nice longings, slanders, mutability,

All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows,
Why, her's, in part, or all; but, rather, all:
For even to vice

They are not constant, but are changing still

One vice, but of a minute old, for one

Not half so old as that. I'll write against them,

Detest them, curse them :-Yet 'tis greater skill 520

In a true hate, to pray they have their will:

The

very devils cannot plague them better.

[Exit.

ACT

ACT III. SCENE 1.

CYMBELINE'S Palace. Enter, in State, CYMBELINE, Queen, CLOTEN, and Lords, at one Door; and at another, CAIUS LUCIUS, and Attendants.

Cymbeline.

Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us?
Luc. When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance yet
Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues,
Be theme, and hearing ever) was in this Britain,
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle
(Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less

Than in his feats deserving it), for him,
And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,

Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately
Is left untender'd.

Queen. And, to kill the marvel,

Shall be so ever.

Clot. There be many Cæsars,

Ere such another Julius. Britain is

A world by itself; and we will nothing pay

For wearing our own noses.

Queen. That opportunity,

Which then they had to take from us, to resume

10

We have again. Remember, sir, my liege,

The kings your ancestors; together with

20

The natural bravery of your isle; which stands

As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in

With rocks unscaleable, and roaring waters;

With sands, that will not bear your enemies' boats, But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of con

quest

Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag Of, came, and saw, and overcame : with shame (The first that ever touch'd him) he was carried From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping (Poor ignorant baubles!) on our terrible seas, Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd As easily 'gainst our rocks: For joy whereof, The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point (0, giglet fortune!) to master Cæsar's sword, Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright, And Britons strut with courage.

30

Clot. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other of them may have crook'd noses; but, to own such strait arms, none.

Cym. Son, let your mother end.

41

Clot. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say, I am one; but I have a hand-Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute, pray

you now.

Cym. You must know,

'Till the injurious Roman did extort

50

This tribute from us, we were free: Cæsar's ambi

tion

(Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch
The sides o' the world), against all colour, here
Did put the yoke upon us; which to shake off,
Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
Ourselves to be; we do. Say then to Cæsar,
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, which
Ordain'd our laws; whose use the sword of Cæsar
Hath too much mangled; whose repair, and fran-

chise,

Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,

60

Though Rome be therefore angry. Mulmutius made our laws,

Who was the first of Britain, which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and call'd
Himself a king.

Luc. I am sorry, Cymbeline,

That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
(Cæsar, that hath more kings his servants, than

Thyself domestic officers) thine enemy:

Receive it from me then :-War, and confusion, 70

In Cæsar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look

For fury not to be resisted :-Thus defy'd,

I thank thee for myself.

Cym. Thou art welcome, Caius.

Thy Cæsar knighted me; my youth I spent
Much under him: of him I gather'd honour ;
Which he, to seek of me again, perforce,
Behoves me keep at utterance. I am perfect,

That

That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for

80

Their liberties, are now in arms: a precedent
Which, not to read, would shew the Britons cold:
So Cæsar shall not find them.

Luc. Let proof speak.

Clot. His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us a day, or two, or longer: If you seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our salt-water girdle: if you beat us out of it, it is your's, if you fall in the adventure, our crows shall fare the better for you; and there's an end.

Luc. So, sir.

go

Cym. I know your master's pleasure, and he mine: All the remain is, welcome.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Another Room. Enter PISANIO.

Pis. How! of adultery? Wherefore write you not What monsters her accuse?-Leonatus !

Q, master! what a strange infection

Is fallen into thy ear? What false Italian
(As poisonous tongu'd, as handed) hath prevail'd
On thy too ready hearing ?-Disloyal? No :
She's punish'd for her truth; and undergoes,
More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults
As would take in some virtue.-O my master !
Thy mind to her is now as low, as were
Thy fortunes,-How! that I should murder her?

100