ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF

CYMBELINE.

MR POPE supposed the story of this play to have been borrow'd from a novel of Boccace; but he was miftaken, as an imitation of it is found in an old storybook entitled, Weftward for Smelts. This imitation differs in as many particulars from the Italian novelift, as from Shakespeare, though they concur in the more confiderable parts of the fable. It was published in a quarto pamphlet, 1603. This is the only copy of it which I have hitherto feen.

There is a late entry of it in the books of the Stationers' Company, Jan. 1619, where it is faid to have been written by Kitt of King fton. STEEVENS.

This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and fome pleafing scenes, but they are obtained at the expence of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the abfurdity of the conduct, the confufion of the names, and manners of different times, and the impoffibility of the events in any fyftem of life, were to waste criticism upon unrefifting imbecillity, upon faults too evident for detection, and too grofs for aggravation. JOHNSON.

CYMBELINE.

MEN.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.

CLOTEN, Son to the Queen by a former husband. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a Gentleman married to the Princefs.

BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguifed under the nam of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS, disguised under the names of Polydore and
ARVIRAGUS, Cadwal, fuppofed Sons to Belarius,
PHILARIO, an Italian, Friend to Pofthumus.
IACHIMO, Friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, Ambassador from Rome,
PISANIO, Servant to Pofthumus.

A French Gentleman.

CORNELIUS, a Phyfician.
Two Gentlemen.

WOMEN,

Queen, Wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen, HELEN, Woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, a Tribune, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, Captains, Soldiers, Meffengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, fometimes in Britain; fometimes in Italy.

ACT I

SCENE I. CYMBELINE's palace in Britain.

YOU

Enter two Gentlemen.

I Gentleman.

OU do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers', Still feem, as does the king's.

2 Gent. But what's the matter?

1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom,
whom

He purpos'd to his wife's fole fon (a widow,
That late he married), hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor, but worthy gentleman: She's wedded
Her husband banifh'd; fhe imprifon'd: all
Is outward forrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent. None but the king?

1 Gent. He, that hath loft her, too: fo is the queen, That most defir'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 fcowl at.

2 Gent. And why fo?

1 Gent. He that hath mifs'd the princefs, 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,

A 2

As,