Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we

Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
Caes. You shall advise me all for Cleopatra.
Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord. Upon his peril, that I have reserved

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,

I had rather seel' my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.

Cleo.

What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made

known.

[blocks in formation]

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain,
dog!
O rarely2 base!
Cas.

[ocr errors]

Good queen, let us entreat you.

Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this;
That, thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel' the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys of such dignity

As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia, and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded

6

With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
[To Seleucus.
Or I shall show the cinders" of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance:-Wert thou a

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Iras.
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors'
Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymera
Ballad us out o'tune: the quick1o comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandrian revels; Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy11 my greatness
I'the posture of a whore.

Iras.

O the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo.
Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian?—
Enter Charmian.

Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony :-Sirrah, Iras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee
leave

To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.
Wherefore's this noise? [Ex. Iras. Anoise within
Enter one of the Guard.

Guard. Here is a rural feilow, That will not be denied your highness' presence; He brings you figs.

(9) Beadles.

(10) Lively.

(11) Female characters were played by boys. (12) Jub of work.

[blocks in formation]

Guard.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.
This is the man.
Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard.
Hast thou the pretty worm2 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. Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I 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 sne 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. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.'

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, out in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm.

Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. Clown. Very good give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

Cleo. Will it eat me?

[blocks in formation]

Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown, &c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me: Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear Antony call; I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act; I hear him mock The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men

4

To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come;
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire, and air; my other elements
I give to baser life.-So,-have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

(1) Inconstant. (2) Serpent.
(3) Act according to his nature.

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that i may say, The gods themselves do weep! Cleo.

This proves me base If she first meet the curl'd Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wreten, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak! That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass Unpolicied!'

Char. Cleo.

O eastern star!

Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char.
O, break! O, break!
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, a
gentle,-

O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too :—
[Applying another asp to her arm.
What should I stav- [Falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well.-
Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char.

Speak softly, wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

O, come; apace, despatch: 1 Guard. Approach, ho! sar's beguil'd.

Too slow a messenger.
[Applies the asp.
I partly feel thee.
All's not well: Cœ-

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;call him.

1 Guard. What work is here ?-Chemian, is this well done,

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier!

Enter Dolabella.

Dol. How goes it here?
2 Guard.
Dol.

All dead.

Dien

Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou So sought's to hinder. [Within.]

A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter Cæsar, and Attendants. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear, is done.

Cas. Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way.-The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol.

1 Guard. A simple figs; This was his basket.

Cæs.

1 Guard.

Who was last with them? countryman, that brought her

Poison'd then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spaket

I found her trimming up the diadem.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

O noble weakness!-
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace.'
Dol.

Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood, and something blown:
The like is on her arm.

1 Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these

leaves

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

passions always interested. The continual hurry This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick fig-succession of one personage to another, call the mind forward without intermission, from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia.

The events, of which the principal are described according c i.is'oy re produced without any art of connection or rate of fisnosition.

JOHNSON.

[blocks in formation]

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Britain. The garden behind Cym-
beline's palace. Enter Two Gentlemen.
1 Gentleman.

You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods'
No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.
2 Gent.
But what's the matter?
1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his king-
dom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow,
That late he married,)hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent.
None but the king?
1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is
queen,

the

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
thing

Too bad for bad report: And he that hath her,
(I mear, that married her,-alack, good man!-
And therefore banish'd) is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.

[blocks in formation]

His measure duly.'

2 Gent.
What's his name, and birth?
1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius,* whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,'
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
a Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

(3) My praise, however extensive, is within his mierit.

2 Gent.

I honour him
But, 'pray you, tell me,

Even out of your report.
Is she sole child to the king?
1 Gent.
His only child.
He had two sons (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old,
'the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stolen and to this hour, no guess in know.
ledge
Which way they went.
2 Gent.

How long is this ago! 1 Gent. Some twenty years.

(4) The father of Cymbeline.
(5) Formed their manners.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con- | You gentle gods, give me but this I have, vey'd !

So slackly guarded! And the search so slow, That could not trace them!

1 Gent.

Howsoe'r 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, Yet is it true, sir. 2 Gent.

I do well believe you.

1 Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the queen, and princess. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and Imogen.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,
daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
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,
So soon as can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,

You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day. Queen.

Please your highness,

[ocr errors]

You know the peril :I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together. Imo.

[Exit Queen.

O,

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband,

I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing (Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what

His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,

But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post.

My queen? my mistress! O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause To be suspected of more tenderness Than doth become a man! I will remain The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth My residence in Rome at one Philario's; Who to my father was a friend, to me Known but by letter; thither write, my queen, And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send, Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter 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
[Aside.

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
Post.
[Exit.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!
1.no. 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.

[blocks in formation]

That should'st repair my youth: thou heapest
A year's age on me!

Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; 1
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym.

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

grace.

Cym. That might'st 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.

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne A seat for baseness.

Imo.

A lustre to it.

Сут. Imo.

No; I rather added

O thou vile one!

Sir,

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
A man, worth any woman; overbuys me
You bred him as my playfellow; and he is
Almost the sum he pays.

Cym.
What!-art thou mad!
Imo. Almost, sir :-Heaven restore me!-'Would
I were

Our neighbour shepherd's son!
A neat-herd's' daughter! and my Leonatus

Re-enter Queen.

Cym.
Thou foolish thing!—
They were again together: you have done
[To the Queen.
Not after our command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

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.
Cym.

Nay, let her lar.guish

How! how! another ?-A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

(1) Close up. (2) Sensation. (4) A more exquisite feeling.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »