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Imo. I am nothing: or if not,
Nothing to be were better. This was my master,
A very valiant Briton, and a good,
That here by mountaineers lies flain: alas!
There are no more fuch mafters: I may
wander
From Eaft to Occident, cry out for fervice,
Try many, all good, ferve truly, never
Find fuch another master.

Luc. 'Lack, good youth!

Thou mov't no lefs with thy complaining, than
Thy mafter in bleeding: fay his name, good friend.
Imo. 4 Richard du Champ. If I do lye, and do
No harm by it, though the gods hear, I hope, [Afide.
They'll pardon it. Say you, Sir?

Luc. Thy name?

Imo. Fidele, Sir.

Luc. Thou doft approve thyself the very fame; Thy name well fits thy faith; thy faith, thy name. Wilt take thy chance with me? I will not fay Thou shalt be fo well mafter'd; but, be fure, No lefs belov'd. The Roman emperor's letters, Sent by a conful to me, fhould not fooner Than thine own worth prefer thee. Go with me. Imo. I'll follow, Sir. But firft, an't please the gods, I'll hide my master from the flies, as deep

4 Richard du Champ.] Shakespeare may be fairly fuppofed to have been indebted for his modern names (which fometimes are mixed with ancient ones) as well as his anachronifms, to the fashionable novels of his time. In a collection of ftories entitled, A Petite Palace of Pettie his Pleasure, 1608, I find the following circumftances of ignorance and absurdity. In the ftory of the Horatii and the Curiatii, the roaring of cannons is mentioned. Cephalus and Procris are faid to be of the court of Venice, and " that her father wrought fo with "the duke, that this Cephalus was fent poft in ambassage to the “Turke.Eriphile, after the death of her husband Amphiaraus, calling to mind the affection wherein DoN INFORTUNIO was drowned towards her," &c. &c.

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STEEVENS.

As

As 5 these poor pickaxes can dig: and when
With wild wood-leaves and weeds I have ftrew'd his

grave,

And on it faid a century of prayers,

Such as I can, twice o'er, I'll weep and figh;

And, leaving fo his fervice, follow you,

So please you entertain me.

Luc. Ay, good youth;

And rather father thee, than mafter thee.
My friends,

The boy hath taught us manly duties. Let us
Find out the prettieft daizied plot we can,
And make him with our pikes and partizans
A grave. Come, 6 arm him. Boy, he is preferr'd
By thee to us, and he fhall be interr'd

As foldiers can. Be cheerful; wipe thine eyes:
Some falls are means the happier to arise.

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[Exeunt.

Cym. Again; and bring me word, how 'tis with

her.

A fever with the abfence of her fon;

A madness, of which her life's in danger: heavens ! How deeply you at once do touch me! Imogen, The great part of my comfort, gone: my queen Upon a desperate bed; and in a time

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thefe poor pickaxes] Meaning her fingers. JOHNS. arm him.-] That is, Take him up in your arms. HANMER,

Cymbeline's palace.] This fcene is omitted against all authority by Sir T. HANMER. It is indeed of no great use in the progrefs of the fable, yet it makes a regular preparation for the next act. JOHNSON.

When

When fearful wars point at me: her fon gone,
So needful for this prefent. It ftrikes me paft
The hope of comfort. But for thee, fellow,
Who needs must know of her departure, and
Dost seem so ignorant, we'll enforce it from thee
By a fharp torture.

Pif. Sir, my life is yours,

I humbly set it at your will: but, for my mistress,
I nothing know where the remains, why gone,
Nor when the purposes return. 'Beseech your high-
nefs,

Hold me your loyal servant.
Lord. Good my liege,

The day that she was miffing he was here:

I dare be bound he's true, and fhall perform
All parts of his fubjection loyally. For Cloten,
There wants no diligence in feeking him,

2 And will no doubt be found.

Cym. The time is troublesome;

We'll flip you for a feafon; but 3 our jealousy [To Pif Does yet depend.

Lord. So please your majesty,

The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,
Are landed on your coaft; with a supply
Of Roman gentlemen, by the fenate fent.
Cym. Now for the counsel of my fon and
I am amaz'd with matter.

Lord. Good my liege,

* Your preparation can affront no less

queen !—

Than what you hear of. Come more, for more you're ready;

2 And will

3

And he'll

-] I think it fhould read,
STEEVENS.

our jealousy

Does yet depend.] My fufpicion is yet undetermined; if I do not condemn you, I likewife have not acquitted you. We now fay, the caufe is depending. JOHNSON.

4 Your preparation, &c.] Your forces are able to face fuch an army as we hear the enemy will bring against us. JOHNS.

The

The want is, but to put thefe powers in motion
That long to move.

We fear not

Cym. I thank you. Let's withdraw,
And meet the time, as it feeks us.
What can from Italy annoy us; but

We grieve at chances here.Away. [Exeunt.
Pif. 5 I heard no letter from my mafter, fince
I wrote him, Imogen was flain. 'Tis ftrange:
Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promife
To yield me often tidings. Neither know I,
What is betid to Cloten; but remain

Perplex'd in all. The heavens ftill muft work."
Wherein I am false, I am honest; not true, to be true.
These present wars fhall find I love my country,
Even to the note o' the king, or I'll fall in them.
All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd:
Fortune brings in fome boats, that are not steer'd.

6

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Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Guid. The noife is round about us.

Bel. Let us from it.

[Exit.

Aro. What pleasure, Sir, find we in life, to lock it From action and adventure?

Guid. Nay, what hope

Have we in hiding us? this way, the Romans
Muft or for Britons flay us, or receive us

For barbarous and unnatural revolts

During their ufe, and flay us after.

3 I heard no letter-] I fuppofe we should read with HANMER,

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I've had no letter.

STEEVENS.

to the note o' the king,-] I will fo diftinguifh myself,

the king fhall remark my valour. JOHNSON.

Bel.

Bel. Sons,

We'll higher to the mountains; there fecure us.
To the king's party there's no going: newness
Of Cloten's death (we being not known, nor mufter'd
Among the bands) may drive us to a render
Where we have liv'd; and fo extort from us

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That which we have done, 2 whofe anfwer would be death

Drawn on with torture.

Guid. This is, Sir, a doubt,

In fuch a time, nothing becoming you,

Nor fatisfying us.

Arv. It is not likely,

That when they hear the Roman horfes neigh, Behold 3 their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes

And ears fo cloy'd importantly as now,

That they will waste their time upon our note
To know from whence we are.

Bel. Oh, I am known

Of many in the army: many years,

Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore

him

From my remembrance. And, befides, the king
Hath not deferv'd my fervice, nor your loves,
Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
The certainty of this hard life, aye hopeless
To have the courtefy your cradle promis'd;
But to be ftill hot fummer's tanlings, and
The fhrinking flaves of winter.

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Where we have liv'd;; -] An account of our place of abode. This dialogue is a juft reprefentation of the fuperfluous caution of an old man.

whose anfwer

JOHNSON.

-] The retaliation of the death of

Cloten would be death, &c. JOHNSON.

2

3

their quarter'd fires,-] Their fires regularly dif pofed. JOHNSON.

Guid.

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