Show me, my women, like a queen: go fetch To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all. [Exit Iras. A noise within. Guard. Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guardsman. Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in Guard. a basket. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. (Exit Guardsman. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? Clown. Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover. Cleo. Rememberest thou any that have died on't? I 249 Clown. Very many, men and women too. heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt: truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm; but he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: but this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm. 260 Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. Cleo. Farewell. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, &c. Immortal longings in me: now no more If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world 300 Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I The gods themselves do weep! This proves me base: To an asp, which she applies to her breast. Char. O eastern star! Char. O Antony!--Nay, I will take thee too: Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be I'll mend it, and then play. 320 Enter the Guard, rushing in. First Guard. Where is the queen? Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. O, come apace, despatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguiled. Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him. First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Re-enter DOLABELLA. 330 (Dies. All dead. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder. [Within 'A way there, a way for Cæsar!' Re-enter CESAR and all his train, marching. Dol. O sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done. Cæs. Bravest at the last, She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 339 Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol. Who was last with them? This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem Dol. First Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Cas. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument: 360 She shall be buried by her Antony: No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral; And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity. [Exeunt. The garden of Cymbe line's palace. Enter two Gentlemen. First. Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens than our courtiers Still seem as does the king. Sec. Gent. But what's the matter? First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom He purposed to his wife's sole son-a widow Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all the queen, That most desired the match; but not a courtier, Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her- Sec. Gent. Apparitions. Sec. Gent. What's his name and birth? First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father 30 Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honor Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow natus, Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber, Sec. Gent. His only child. He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing, Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing-clothes the other, from their [edge nursery Were stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowl. Which way they went. 61 Sec. Gent. How long is this ago? First Gent. Some twenty years. Sec. Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd, So slackly guarded, and the search so slow, First Gent. Sec. Gent. I do well believe you. First Gent. We must forbear: here comes the gentleman, The queen, and princess. [Exeunt. Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most stepmothers, 70 That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet, Post. Please your highness, Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband, This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart, Post. How, how! another? As I my poor self did exchange for you, 120 [Putting a bracelet upon her arm. Imo. O the gods! When shall we see again? 90 Cym. That mightst have had the sole son of I something fear myfather's wrath; but nothing- Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne A seat for baseness. A lustre to it. No; I rather added O thou vile one! Sir, It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus: Cym. What, art thou mad? Imo. Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus Thou foolish thing! 150 Re-enter QUEEN. They were again together: you have done Beseech your patience. Peace, his part, To draw upon an exile! O brave sir! I would they were in Afric both together; Pis. I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk awhile. Imo. About some half-hour hence, I pray you, speak with me: you shall at least Go see my lord aboard: for this time leave me. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A public place. Enter CLOTEN and two Lords. First 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? Sec. Lord. (Aside] No, 'faith; not so much as his patience. 9 First Lord. Hurt him! his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a throughfare for steel, if it be not hurt. Sec. Lord. Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town. Clo. The villain would not stand me. Sec. Lord. Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. First Lord Stand you! You have land enough of your own; but he added to your having; gave you some ground. 20 Sec. Lord. Aside] As many inches as you have occans. Puppies! Clo. I would they had not come between us. Sec. Lord. Aside] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. First Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beautyand her brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit. Sec. Lord. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done! Sec. Lord. Aside] I wish not so: unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt Clo. You'll go with us? First Lord, I'll attend your lordship. 40 [Exeunt. SCENE III. 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, Imo. Pis. ΤΟ Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings: crack'd them, but To look upon him, till the diminution When shall we hear from him? With his next vantage. Be assured, madam, 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 The shes of Italy should not betray Mine interest and his honor, or have charged him, ვა At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, To encounter me with orisons, for then am in heaven for him; or ere I could Give him that parting kiss which I had set Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father And like the tyrannous breathing of the north Shakes all our buds from growing. |