That run i' the clock's behalf :-But this is fool- A cell of ignorance; travelling abed;

I This fantastical expreffion means no more than fand in an hour-glafs, used to measure time 3 That is, 1 * A franklin is literally a freeholder, with a small eftate, neither villain nor vaffal. can fee neither one way nor other, before me nor behind me, but all the ways are covered with a impenetrable fog." 4 The idea of a giant was, among the readers of romances, who were amoit all the readers of thofe times, always confounded with that of a Saracen.

whofe wings are enclofed within two dry hufks or fhards. Check may mean in this place a proof; but it rather feems to fignify command, controul. 7 Dr. Johnfon fufpe&ts, that the m reading of this paffage is as follows: "Richer than doing nothing for a brabe." Brabium badge of honour, or the enlign of an honour, or any thing worn as a mark of dignity. is found (he adds) in Holyoak's Dictionary, who terms it a reward; and that Cooper, in his 78 Jaurus, defines it to be a prize, or reward for any game. To overpafs his bound.

Thefe boys know little, they are fons to the king; And you fhall find me, wretched man, a thing
The moft difdain'd of fortune.
Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive.
They think, they are mine: and, though train'd

up thus meanly

I' the cave, wherein they bow, their thoughts do hit
The roofs of palaces; and nature prompts them,
In fimple and low things, to prince it, much
Beyond the trick of others. This Polydore,
The heir of Cymbeline and Britain, whom
The king his father call'd Guiderius,--Jove!
When on my three-foot ftool I fit, and tell
The warlike feats I have done, his fpirits fly out
Into my story say,-Thus mine enemy fell;
And thus I fet my foot on his neck; even then
The princely blood flows in his cheek, he sweats,
Strains his young nerves, and puts himself in posture
That acts my words. The younger brother, Cadwal,
(Once, Arviragus) in as like a figure,
Strikes life into my speech, and fhews much more
His own conceiving. Hark! the game is rouz'd
O Cymbeline! heaven, and my confcience, knows,
Thou didst unjustly banith me: whereon,
At three, and two years old, I ftole thefe babes;
Thinking to bar thee of fucceffion, as
Thou reft'ft me of my lands. Euriphile,

as

Imogen reads.

Thy mifirefs, Pifanio, bath play'd the firumpet in my bed; the tefiimonies subercof lie bleeding in me. I fpeak not out of weak furmifes; but from proof frong as my grief, and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part, thou, Pifanio, muft act for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers. Let thine own bands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at Milford-Haven: fhe bath my letter for the purpose: Where, if thou fear to trike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the pandar to her difhonour, and equally to me disloyal. Pif. What shall I need to draw my fword? the paper

-No, 'tis flander;
Hath cut her throat already.-
Whofe edge is fharper than the fword; whofe
tongue

Out-venoms all the worms 3 of Nile; whofe breath
Rides on the pofting winds, and doth belye
All corners of the world: kings, queens, and ftates 4,
Maids, matrons, nay, the fecrets of the grave
This viperous flander enters.-What cheer, madam?
Imo. Falfe to his bed! What is it to be fa fe?

Thou waft their nurse; they took thee for their To lie in watch there, and to think on him?

SCENE

The game

up.

[Exit.

IV.

Near Milford-Haven.

Enter Pifanio and Imogen.

To weep 'twixt clock and clock? if fleep charge

Pif. Alas, good lady!

Imo. I falfe? Thy confcience witnefs.-Lachimo,

Thou didft accufe him of incontinency;

Thou then look'dft like a villain; now, methinks,
Thy favour's good enough.-Some jay of Italy,

Ime. Thou told'ft me, when we came from Whofe mother was her painting 5, hath betray'd

horfe, the place

Was near at hand :-Ne'er long'd my mother fo
To see me first, as I have now :-Pifanio! Man!
Where is Pofthumus? What is in thy mind,
That makes thee ftare thus? Wherefore breaks
that figh

Poor I am ftale, a garment out of fashion; [him:
And, for I am richer than to hang by the walls,
I must be ript :-to pieces with me!-0,
Men's vows are women's traitors! All good feeming,
By thy revolt, O hufband, fhall be thought
Put on for villainy; not born, where 't grows;

Pif. Good madam, hear me.

From the inward of thee? One, but painted thus, But worn, a bait for ladies.
Would be interpreted a thing perplex'd
Beyond felf-explication: Put thyfelf
Into a haviour of lefs fear, ere wildness
Vanquish my ftaider fenfes. What's the matter?
Why tender'st thou that paper to me, with
A look untender? If it be fummer news,
Smile to't before: if winterly, thou need'ft
But keep that countenance ftill.-My hufband's

hand!

That drug-damn'd Italy 3 hath out-crafted him,
And he's at fome hard point.-Speak, man; thy
tongue

May take off fome extremity, which to read
Would be even mortal to me.

Pif. Please you, read;

Imo. True honeft men being heard, like falfe
Æneas,
[weeping
Were in his time, thought falfe: and Sinon's
Did fcandal many a holy tear; took pity [humug
From moft true wretchednefs: So, thou, Poft-
Wilt lay the leaven on all proper men ;.
Goodly, and gallant, fhall be falfe and perjur'd,
From thy great fail.-Come, fellow, be thou honest:
Do thou thy mafter's bidding: When thou fee'st
him,

A little witnefs my obedience: Look!

I draw the fword myfelf: take it; and hit
The innocent manfion of my love, my heart:
Fear not; 'tis empty of all things, but grief:

2 This is another allufion to Italian

1 i. e. Thus meanly brought up. Yet in this very cave, which is fo low that they muft bow or bend in entering it, yet are their thoughts fo exalted, &c. 4 Perfons of highett poilons. rank. 5 That is, Sume jay of Italy, made by art the creature, not of nature, but of painting. In this fenfe painting may be not improperly termed her mother.

3 Serpents and dragons by the old writers were called worms.

Thy

Thy mafter is not there; who was, indeed,
The riches of it: Do his bidding, strike.
Thou may'st be valiant in a better caufe;
But now thou feem'ft a coward.

Pif. Hence, vile inftrument!
Thou shalt not damn my hand.

Imo. Why, I must die;

And if I do not by thy hand, thou art

No fervant of thy mafter's: Against felf-flaughter
There is a prohibition fo divine,

That cravens my weak hand. Come, here's my
heart;

Something's afore 't :-Soft, foft; we'll no defonce;
Obedient as the fcabbard.- -What is here ?

The fcriptures of the loyal Leonatus,
All turn'd to herefy? Away, away,
Corrupters of my faith! you fhall no more

Be ftomachers to my heart! Thus may poor fools
Believe falie teachers: Though thofe that are
betray'd

Do feel the treafon fharply, yet the traitor
Stands in worfe cafe of woe.

And thou, Pofthumus, that diddeft fet up
My difobedience 'gainft the king my father,
And mad'ft me put into contempt the iuits
Of princely fellows, fhalt hereafter find
It is no act of common paffage, but
A ftrain of rarenefs: and 1 grieve myself,
To think, when thou fhalt be dif-edg'd by her
That now thou tir'ft on 1, how thy memory
Will then be pang'd by me.—Pr'ythee, difpatch:
The lamb entreats the butcher: Where's thy knife?
Thou art too flow to do thy master's bidding,
When I defire it too.

Pif. O gracious lady!

Since I receiv'd command to do this bufinefs,
I have not flept one wink.

Imo. Do 't, and to bed then.

Pif. I'll wake mine eye-balls blind first.
Imo. Wherefore then

Did'st undertake it? Why haft thou abus'd
So many miles, with a pretence? this place?
Mine action, and thine own? our horfes' labour?
The time inviting thee? the perturb'd court,
For my being abfent, whereunto I never
Purpofe return? Why haft thou gone so far,
To be unbent, when thou haft ta'en thy ftand,
The elected deer before thee?

Pif. But to win time

Pif. I am moft glad

You think of other place. The embassador,]
Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford-Haven
To-morrow: Now, if you could wear a mind
Dark as your fortune is; and but difguife
That, which to appear itself, muft not yet be,
But by felf-danger 2; you should tread a courfe
Pretty, and full of view 3: yea, haply, near
The refidence of Posthumus; so nigh, at least,
That though his actions were not vifible, yet
Report thould render him hourly to your ear,
As truly as he moves.

Imo. O, for fuch means!

Though peril to my modesty, not death on 't,
I would adventure.

Pif. Well, then here's the point:
You must forget to be a woman; change
Command into obedience; fear, and nicenefs,
(The handmaids of all women, or, more truly,
Woman its pretty felf) into a waggish courage;
Ready in gybes, quick-anfwer'd, faucy, and
As quarrellous as the weazel: nay, you must
Forget that rareft treasure of your cheek,
Expofing it, (but, O the harder heart!
Alack, no remedy) to the greedy touch
Of common-kiffing Titan; and forget
Your labourfome and dainty trims, wherein
You made great Juno angry.

Imo. Nay, be brief:

I fee into thy end, and am almoft
A man already.

1 A hawk is faid to tire upon that which he pecks; from tirer, French. 2 The meaning is, « You mufi disguise that greatnefs, which, to appear hereafter in its proper form, cannot yet appear without great danger to self." 3 i. c. with opportunities of examining your affairs with your own eyes.

Pif. First, make yourself but like one.
Fore-thinking this, I have already fit,
(Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hofe, all
That answer to them: Would you in their ferving,
And with what imitation you can borrow
From youth of fuch a season, 'fore noble Lucius
Prefent yourself, defire his fervice, tell him
Wherein you are happy, (which you'll make him
know,

If that his head have ear in mufic) doubtless,
With joy he will embrace you; for he's honourable,
And, doubling that, moft holy. Your means abroad
You have me, rich; and I will never fail
Beginning, nor fupplyment.

Imo. Thou art all the comfort

The gods will diet me with.

Pr'ythee, away:

There's more to be confider'd; but we'll even
All that good time will give us : This attempt
I am foldier to 2, and will abide it with
A prince's courage. Away, I pr'ythee. [wel;
Pif. Well, madam, we must take a fhort fare-
Left, being mifs'd, I be fufpected of
Your carriage from the court. My noble mistress,
Here is a box; I had it from the queen;
What's in't is precious: if you are fick at fea,
Or ftomach-qualm'd at land, a dram of this
Will drive away diftemper.To some shade,
And fit you to your manhood :--May the gods
Direct you to the best!

Imo. Amen: I thank thee.

S CE N E V.

The Palace of Cymbeline.

[Exeunt.

Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.

Cym. Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor
How it goes here. It fits us therefore, tipely,
Our chariots and our horfemen be in readiness:
The powers that he already hath in Gallia
Will foon be drawn to head, from whence he moves
His war for Britain.

Queen. 'Tis not fleepy business;
But muft be look'd to speedily, and strongly.

Cym. Our expectation that it should be thus,
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen,
Where is our daughter? She hath not appear'd
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender'd
The duty of the day: She looks us like
A thing more made of malice than of duty;
We have noted it -Call her before us; for
We have been too light in fufferance.

Queen. Royal fir,

[Exit a Servant.

Since the exile of Pofthumus, moit retir'd
Hath her life been! the cure whereof, my lord,
'Tis time muft do. 'Befeech your majesty,
Forbear sharp speeches to her : She's a lady
So tender of rebukes, that words are ftrokes,
And ftrokes death to her.

Re-enter the Servant.
Cym. Where is the, fir? How
Can her contempt be answer'd?
Ser. Pleafe you, fir,

Her chambers are all lock'd; and there's no anfwer
That will be given to the loud of noife we make.
Queen. My lord, when laft I went to vifit her,
She pray'd me to excufe her keeping clofe;

Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, Lucius, and Lords. Whereto conftrain'd by her infirmity,

Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself

To fhew lefs fovereignty than they, muft needs
Appear unkinglike.

Luc. So, fir, I defire of you

A conduct over land, to Milford-Haven.---
Madam, all joy befal your grace, and you!

Cym. My lords, you are appointed for that office;
The due of honour in no point omit:-
So, farewel, noble Lucius.

Luc. Your hand, my lord.

She fhould that duty leave unpaid to you,
Which daily fhe was bound to proffer: this
She with'd me to make known; but our great court
Made me to blame in memory.

Cym. Her doors lock'd?

[fear,

Queen. Son, I fay, follow the king.
Cist. That man of hers, Pifanio her old fervant,

[Exit.

I have not feen thefe two days.
Suren. Go, look after.-

Pifanio, thou that stand'ft fo for Pofthumus!———
He hath a drug of mine: I pray his abfence
Proceed by fwallowing that; for he believes
It is a thing moft precious. But for her, [hçr:
Where is the gone? Haply, defpair hath feiz'd

Clot. Receive it friendly: but from this time, wing'd with fervour of her love, fhe's flown

forth I wear it as your enemy.

Luc. Sir, the event

Is yet to name the winner: Fare you well. [lords, Cym. Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my 'Till he have croft the Severn-Happiness!

[Excunt Lucius, &c.

To her defir'd Pofthumus: Gone the is

To death, or to dishonour; and my end

have the placing of the British crown. Can make good ufe of either: She being down,

I

Re-enter Cloten.

How now, my fon?

Queen. He goes hence frowning: but it honours Clot. 'Tis certain, fhe is fled:

That we have given him caufe.

Clot. 'Tis all the better;

[us,

Go in, and cheer the king; he rages, none
Dare come about him.

1 i. e. we'll make our work even with our time; we'll do what time will allow. 2 i. e. I have inlifted and bound myself to it.

Queen. All the better: May

This night fore-stall him of the coming day!
[Exit Queen
Clot. I love and hate her for the's fair and
royal;

And that the hath all courtly parts more exquifite
Than lady, ladies, woman; from every one
The bett the hath, and the, of all compounded,
Outiells them all: I love her therefore; But,
Difdaining me, and throwing favours on

. The low Pofthumus, flanders fo her judgment,
That what's elfe rare, is choak'd; and, in that point,
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,
To be reveng'd upon her. For, when fools

Enter Pifanio.
Shall-Who is here? What! are you packing,
firrah ?

Come hither: Ah, you precious pandar!
Where is thy lady? In a word; or elfe
Thou art ftraightway with the fiends,

Pif. O, good my lord!

Glot. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter,

Villain,

I will not afk again. Clofe villain,
I'll have this fecret from thy heart, or rip
Is the with Pofthumus?
Thy heart to find it.

From whofe fo many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn.

Pif. Alas, my lord,

Pif. I fhall, my lord.

[Exie. Glot. Meet thee at Milford-Haven: forgot to afk him one thing; I'll remember't anon : -Even there, thou villain Pofthumus, will I kill thee.—I would, thefe garments were come. She faid upon a time, (the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart) that the held the very garment of Pofthumus in more refpect than my noble and natural perion, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that fuit upon my back, I will I ravifh her: First kill him, and in her eyes; there fhall the fee my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my fpeech of infultment ended on his dead body, and when my luft hath dined,

How can the be with him? when was the mifs'd? (which, as I fay, to vex her, I will execute in

Clot. It is Potthumus' hand; I know't. Sirrah, if thou wouldit not be a villain, but do me true 1ervice; undergo thofe employments, wherein I fhould have caufe to use thec, with a ferious induftry,—that is, what villainy foe'er I bid thee do, to perform it, directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man: thou should't neither want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment.

Pf. Well, my good lord.

the clothes that the fo prais'd) to the court I'll
knock her back, foot her home again. She hath
defpis'd me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my
revenge.

Re-enter Pifanio, with the clothes.

Be thofe the garments

Pil. Ay, my noble lord.

Clot. How long ist fince the went to Milford-
Haven ?

Pif. She can fcarce be there yet.

Clot. Bring this apparel to my chamber; that
is the fecond thing that I have commanded thee:
the third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to
my defign. Be but duteous, and true preferment
thall tender itself to thee.-My revenge is now
at Milford; would I had wings to follow it !-
Come, and be true.
[Exit.

Pif. Thou bid'it me to my lofs: for, true to
thee,

Were to prove falfe, which I will never be,
To him that is molt true.-To Milford go,
And find not her whom thou purtu'tt. Flow, flow,
You heavenly bleflings, on her! This fool's fpeed
Be croft with flownels; labour be his meed! [Exit.
SCEN E VI.

The Foreft and Cave.

Enter Imogen, in boy's clothes.

Imo. I fee, a man's life is a tedious one:
I have tir'd myself; and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. 1 thould be fxk,
But that my refolution helps me.-Milford,
When from the mountain top Pifanio fhew'd thee,
Thou waft within a ken: O Jove! I think,

That is, I muft either give him the paper freely, or perifh in my attempt to keep it.

Foundations

1