2 Gent. And why fo?

1 Gent. He that hath mifs'd the princess, is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her, (I mean that marry'd her; alack, good man! And therefore banish'd) is a creature fuch As, to feek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be fomething failing In him that should compare. I do not think So fair an outward, and fuch ftuff within, Endows a man but him.

2 Gent. You speak him far.

1 Gent. 3 I do extend him, Sir, within himself; Crufh him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent. What's his name, and birth?

I Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour Against the Romans, with Caffibelan; But had his titles by Tenantius, whom He ferv'd with glory and admir'd fuccefs; So gain'd the fur-addition, Leonatus: And had, befides this gentleman in question, Two other fons; who, in the wars o'the time, Dy'd with their fwords in hand: for which their father, (Then old and fond of iffue) took fuch forrow, That he quit being; and his gentle lady, Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd As he was born. The king, he takes the babe To his protection; calls him Pofthumus;

3 I DO EXTEND him, Sir, within himself;] I extend him within himself: my praife, however extenfive, is within his merit. JOHNSON.

Perhaps this paffage may be fomewhat illuftrated by the following lines in Troilus and Creffida, act iii.

no man is the lord of any thing

"Till he communicate his parts to others:
"Nor doth he of himfelf know them for aught
"Till he behold them form'd in the applaufe
"Where they are extended," &c. STEEVENS.

Breeds

Breeds him,, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
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, and
In his fpring became a harvest: 4 liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do) moft prais'd, moft lov'd:
A fample to the youngeft; to the more mature,
5 A glafs that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards. To his mistress,
For whom he now is banished, her own price
Proclaims, how fhe efteem'd him and his virtue.
By her election may be truly read

What kind of man he is.

2 Gent. I honour him,

Even out of your report. But pray you tell me,
Is the fole child to the king?

(Which rare it is to do) moft prais'd, most lov'd:] This encomium is high and artful. To be at once in any great degree loved and praifed is truly rare. JOHNSON,

A glass that featur'd them -] Such is the reading in all the modern editions, I know not by whom firft fubftituted, for

A glafs that feared them;

I have displaced featur'd, though it can plead long prefcription, because I am inclined to think that feared has the better title. Mirrour was a favourite word in that age for an example, or a pattern, by noting which the manners were to be formed, as drefs is regulated by looking in a glafs. When Don Bellianis is tiled The Mirrour of Knighthood, the idea given is not that of a glfs in which every knight may behold his own refemblance, but an example to be viewed by kuights as often as a glais is looked upon by girls, to be viewed, that they may know, not what they are, but what they ought to be. Such a glafs may fear the more mature, as difplaying excellencies which they have arrived at maturity without attaining. To fear, is here, as in other places, to fright. JOHNSON.

I believe Dr. Johnfon is miitaken as to the reading of the folio, which is feated. The page of the copy which he confulted is very faintly printed; but I have feen another fince, which plainly gives this reading. STEEVENS.

If feated be the right word, it must, I think, be explained thus; a glass that formed them; a model, by the contemplation and infpection of which they formed their manners. JOHNSON.

1 Gent.

1 Gent. His only child.

He had two fons (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it) the eldeft of them at three years old,

I' the fwathing clothes the other, from their nursery Were stolen; and to this hour, no guess in knowledge Which way they went.

2 Gent. How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

2 Gent. That a king's children fhould be fo convey'd !

So flackly guarded! and the fearch fo flow
That could not trace them!

1 Gent. Howfoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,
Yet is it true, Sir.

2 Gent. I do well believe you.

1 Gent. We must forbear. Here comes the gentle

man,

The queen, and princess.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Queen, Pofthumus, Imogen, and attendants.

Queen. No, be affur'd, you fhall not find me, daughter,

After the flander of most step-mothers,

Evil-ey'd unto you. You are my prifoner, but
Your gaoler fhall deliver you the keys

That lock up your reftraint. For you, Pofthumus,
So foon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his fentence with what patience
Your wifdom may inform you.

Poft. Pleafe your highness,

I will from hence to-day.

Queen. You know the peril

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying

The

The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king
Hath charg'd, you should not speak together. [Exit.
Imo. O diffembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle, where the wounds! My deareft husband,
I fomething fear my father's wrath; but nothing
(Always referv'd my holy duty) what
His rage can do on me. You must be gone,
And I fhall here abide the hourly fhot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world
That I may fee again.

Poft. My queen! my mistress!

O lady, weep no more, left I give cause
To be fufpected of more tenderness

Than doth become a man! I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
My refidence in Rome, at one Philario's;
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter. Thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you fend,
2 Though ink be made of gall.

Re-enter Queen.

Queen. Be brief, I pray you:

If the king come, I fhall incur I know not

How much of his difpleasure.

Yet I'll move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends
Pays dear for my offences.

[Afide.

[Exit.

(Always refer'd my holy duty)] I fay I do not fear my father, fo far as I may fay it without breach of duty. JOHNS. 2 Though ink be made of gall.] Shakespeare, even in this poor conceit, has confounded the vegetable galls ufed in ink, with the animal gall, fuppofed to be bitter. JOHNSON.

The poet might mean either the vegetable or the animal galls with equal propriety, as the vegetable gall is bitter; and I have feen an ancient receipt for making ink beginning, "Take of "the black juice of the gall of oxen two ounces," &c. STEEV.

2

Poft.

Poft. Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The lothness to depart would grow.-Adieu!
Imo. Nay, ftay a little:

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.

Poft. How! how! another!

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And fear up my embracements from a next

With bonds of death! Remain, remain thou here

[Putting on the ring. 3 While fenfe can keep thee on! and fweeteft, faireft, As I my poor felf did exchange for you, To your fo infinite lofs; fo in our trifles I ftill win of you. For my fake wear this; It is a manacle of love; I'il place it

[Putting a bracelet on her arm.

Upon this faireft prifoner.

Imo. O, the gods!

When shall we fee again?

Enter Cymbeline, and lords.

Poft. Alack, the king!

Cym. Thou baseft thing, avoid! hence! from my
fight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou dy'st. Away!
Thou art poifon to my blood.

3 While fenfe can keep thee on!—

-] The folio (the only

ancient and authentic copy of this play) reads,

While fenfe can keep it on!

which I believe to be right. The expreffion means, while fenfe can maintain its operations; while fenfe continues to have power.

STEEVENS.

Poft.