Cymbeline.

A

TRAGEDY,

BY

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

ACCURATELY PRINTED

FROM THE TEXT OF

MR. STEEVENS'S LAST EDITION.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Cymbeline, King of Britain.
Cloten, son to the Queen by a former husband.
Leonatus Posthumus, a gentleman, husband to Imogen.
Belarius, a banished lord, disguised under the name of
Morgan.

Guiderius,disguised under the names of Polydore
Arviragus, and Cadwal, supposed sons to Belarius.
Philario, friend to Posthumus,

} Italians.

Iachimo, friend to Philario,
A 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.
Helen, woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy.

BRITAIN.

CYMBELINE.

ACT I. SCENE I.

THE GARDEN BEHIND CYMBELINE'S

PALACE.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 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'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 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 the queen,

That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent

B

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, (I mean, 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.

2 Gent. You speak him far. 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold

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 to him 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
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.

I honour him

Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me, 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, I' 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.

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so

convey'd!

So slackly guarded! And the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

1 Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,

How long is this ago?