CYMBELINE. THIS exquisite and romantic drama was not entered in the Stationers' books, nor prated, till 1623. It was probably written in about 1609. The plot is in a great degree taken from the Ninth Novel of the Second Day of the Decameron of Boccacio, of which a deformed and interpolated translation had appeared so early as 1518, and an initation, in an old story. book, entitled Westward for Smelts, was printed in 1603. Cymbeline, the king from whom the play takes its title, began names of Polydore and Cadwal, sup- PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus, } Italians. IACHIMO, friend to Philario, 4 French Gentleman, friend to Philario. CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman Forces. A Roman Captain. Two British Captains. PISANIO, servant to Posthumus. CORNELIUS, a physician. Two Gentlemen. Two Gaolers. QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline. IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen. his reign, according to Iolinshed, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Augustus Cæsar, and the play commences in or about the twenty fourth year of Cymbeline's reign, which was the forty second year of the reign of Augustus, and the sixteenth of the Christian era, notwithstanding which, Shak speare has peopled Rome with modern Italians; Philario, lachime, &c. Cymbeline is said to have reigned thirty-five years, leaving at his death two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus (I mean, that married her,-alack, good man!- 2 Gent. What's his name, and birth? 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus: And had, besides this gentleman in question, Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, ACT I. SCENE L-Britain. The Garden behind Cymbeline's Palace. 1 Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom He purpos'd to his wife's sole son, (a widow, 2 Gent. None but the king? Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber: 2 Gent. 1 Gent. 2 Gent. How long is this ago? 1 Gent. Some twenty years. 2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con 1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen, So slackly guarded! And the search so slow, [veyed! That most desir'd the match: but not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowl at. 2 Gent. And why so? 1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing! Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her, That could not trace them' 1 Gent. 2 Gent. I do well believe you. SCENE IL-The same. Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, After the s.ander of most step-mothers, [daughter, Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience I will from hence to-day. Please your highness, You know the peril :- His rage can do on me: You must be gone; Post. My queen! my mistress! Than doth become a man! I will remain The loyal'st husband that did e're plight troth. Re-enter QUEEN. Queen. Be brief, I pray you: If the king come, I shall incur I know not How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him To walk this way: I never do him wrong, [Aside. But he does buy my injuries, to be friends; Pays dear for my offences. [Exit. Post. Should we be taking leave As long a term as yet we have to live, The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu! Imo. Nay, stay a little: Queen. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace, Dear lady daughter, peace;-Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some comOut of best advice. your [fort Cym. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, Die of this folly! [Ext. Queen. Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Post. How! how! another?- [Putting on the ring. [Putting a bracelet on her arm Ŏ, the gods ! Imo. Whan shall wa sag again ↑ Enter CYMBELINE and Lords. Alack, the king! Enter PISANIO. No harm, I trust, is done? Ha! 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 To draw upon an exile!—O brave sir!— [part.~ 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 To bring him to the haven: left these notes Of what commands I should be subject to, When it pleas'd you to employ me. Queen. This hath been How swift his ship. Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour, He will remain so. SCENE III.—A public Place. 1 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? be not hurt. 3 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience. [Aside. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcase. if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it Lord. His steel was in debt: it went o'the back side the town. [Aside. Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground. Clo. The villain would not stand me. 3 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me! Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she [Aside. is damned. 1 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. 2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done! 2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us? 1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. 2 Lord. Well, my lord. [Aside. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-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, Pis. Imo. Thou should'st have made aim As little as a crow, or less, ere left To after eye him. Pis. Madam, so I did. [them, but With his next vantage. Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him, The shes of Italy should not betray At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, To encounter me with orisons, for then I am in heaven for him; or ere I could Give him that parting kiss, which I had set And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north Betwixt too charming words, comes in my father, Shakes all our buds from growing. Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House. lach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items. Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within. French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he. Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter. French. And then his banishment: Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgqueen!ment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how And kiss'd it, madam. comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acImo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!-quaintance? And that was all? 'Twas, His queen, his Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief? Pis. Pis. No, madam; for so long As he could make me with this eye or ear Distinguish him from others, he did keep The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief, Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life: Enter POSTHUMUS. Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.—I beseech you all, |