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.

(Exit. 116. sear up, wither, shrivel shroud) suggested the latter away.

Grant White proposed phrase. cere, Singer seal, for sear; but

124. see, see each other. the bonds of death 'bind' by 125. avoid, begone! wasting away. Probably, how 126. fraught, burden. ever, the associations of 'cere' 129. the good remainders the and cere-cloth (the waxed linen 'good' whom I leave behind me.

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.
Сут. .

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.

No; 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. Cym. .

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 ! 150 135. 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

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.

How now,

Enter PISANIO. Here is your servant.

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

Ha ! 166
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 ford aboard : for this time leave me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same.

A public place.

10

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 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 still, toward

your

face. 176. walk, walk aside, with 13. it went o' the backside the draw.

town, i.e. slunk, like a debtor 10. passable, allowing free avoiding his creditors, round the passage.

outskirts of Cloten's person.

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.