Queen.

Re-enter Queen.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not

Be brief, I pray you:

How much of his displeasure.-Yet I 'll move him

[aside.

[Exit.

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

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 :

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 sear1 up my embracements from a next

With bonds of death!-Remain, remain thou here

[putting on the ring. 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

1 Close.

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight!

1

If, after this command, thou fraught 1 the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest. Away!
Thou art poison to my blood.

Post.

The gods protect you,

[Exit.

And bless the good remainders of the court!

I am gone.

Imo.

There cannot be a pinch in death

More sharp than this is.

Harm not yourself with your vexation :

I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare 2 Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym.

Past grace? obedience?

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

grace.

1 Fill.

2 A more exquisite feeling.

Cym. That mightst have had the sole son of my

queen!

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an

eagle,

And did avoid a puttock.1

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne

A seat for baseness.

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 neatherd's daughter, and my Leonatus

Our neighbor shepherd's son !

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.1

Cym.

Nay, let her languish

[Exit.

A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Die of this folly!

Enter PISANIO.

Queen.

Fie!-you must give way:

Here is your servant. -How now, sir? What

news?

Pi. My lord your son drew on my master.
Queen.

No harm, I trust, is done?

Pi.

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

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? Pi. On his command: he would not suffer me

1 Consideration.

To bring him to the haven; left these notes
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When it pleased you to employ me.

Queen.

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

Pi.

I humbly thank your highness.

About some half-hour hence,

Queen. Pray, walk awhile.
Imo.

I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least,
Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A public place.

Enter CLOTEN and TWO LORDS.

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 itHave I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience.

[aside.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass if he be not hurt it is a thoroughfare for steel if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town. [aside.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.