ITO

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty.

Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.
Post.

How, how! another ?
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death! (Putting on the ring:]

Remain, remain thou here
While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss, so in our trifles
I still win of you : for my sake wear this;
It is a manacle of love ; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

[Putting a bracelet upon her arm. Imo.

O the gods ! When shall we see again ?

120

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.
Post.

Alack, the king!
Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid ! hence, from

my sight!
If after this command thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest : away!
Thou 'rt poison to my blood.
Post.

The gods protect you!
And bless the good remainders of the court !
I am gone.

130

140

Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death
More sharp than this is.
Cym.

O disloyal thing,
That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap'st
A year's age on me.
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation :
I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.
Cym.

Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair ; that way, past

grace. Cym. That mightst have had the sole son of

my queen!
Imo. O blest, that I might not ! I chose an eagle,
And did avoid a puttock.
Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have

made my throne A seat for baseness. Imo.

I rather added
A lustre to it.

Cym. O thou vile one !
Imo.

Sir,
It is
your

fault that I have loved Posthumus :
You bred him as my playfellow, and he is
A man worth any woman, overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.
Сут.

What, art thou mad ?
Imo. Almost, sir : heaven restore me ! Would

I were
A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
Our neighbour shepherd's son!
Сут.

Thou foolish thing! 135. senseless of, insensible 137. that way, past grace;

' past grace' as being past 135. a touch more rare, a more blessedness. poignant feeling.

140. puttock, kite. 129

No;

150

to,

VOL. IV

K

Re-enter QUEEN.
They were again together : you have done
Not after our command. Away with her,
And
pen
her

up.
Queen. Beseech your patience. Peace,
Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,
Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort
Out of your best advice.
Cym.

Nay, let her languish
A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
Die of this folly! [Exeunt Cymbeline and Lords.
Queen.

Fie! you must give way.

Enter PISANIO.
Here is your servant. How now, sir ! What

news ?
Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.
Queen.

Ha ! 160
No harm, I trust, is done ?
Pis.

There might have been,
But that my master rather play'd than fought
And had no help of anger : they were parted
By gentlemen at hand.
Queen.

I am very glad on’t.
Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes

his part.

To draw upon an exile ! O brave sir !
I would they were in Afric both together;
Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer-back. Why came you from your master ?

Pis. On his command: he would not suffer

me

170

To bring him to the haven ; left these notes 168. needle (probably pronounced neeld).

Of what commands I should be subject to,
When 't pleased you to employ me.
Queen.

This hath been
Your faithful servant : I dare lay mine honour
He will remain so.
Pis..

I humbly thank your highness.
Queen. Pray, walk awhile.
Imo.

About some half-hour hence,
I pray you, speak with me : you shall at least
Go see my lord aboard : for this time leave me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same.

A public place.

و

Enter CLOTEN and two Lords. First Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: where air comes out, air comes in : there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him ?

Sec Lord. [Aside] No, 'faith ; not so much as his patience.

First Lord. Hurt him ! his body 's a passable 16 carcass, if he be not hurt : it is a throughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

Sec. Lord. (Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.
Sec. Lord. [Aside] No; but he fled forward
toward

still,

20

Oceans.

First Lord. Stand you! You have land enough
of your own : but he added to your having; gave
you some ground.
Sec. Lord. [Aside] As many inches as you have

Puppies !
Clo. I would they had not come between us.

Sec. Lord. [Aside] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.

Clo. And that she should love this fellow and refuse me!

Sec. Lord. [Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned.

First Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together : she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

Sec. Lord. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her.

Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done!

Sec. Lord. (Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt.

Clo. You 'll go with us ?
First Lord. I'll attend your lordship.
Clo. Nay, come, let's go together.
Sec. Lord. Well, my lord.

[Exeunt.

30

40

SCENE III. A room in Cymbeline's palace.

Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO.
Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o'

the haven,
And question'dst every sail : if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost,
33. sign, outward semblance; show.