First Lord.

So please your majesty,

The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,
Are landed on your coast, with a supply
Of Roman gentlemen, by the senate sent.

Cym. Now for the counsel of my son and
queen!

I am amazed with matter.

First Lord.

Good my liege,

Your preparation can affront no less

Than what you hear of: come more, for more

you're ready :

The want is but to put those powers in motion

That long to move.

Cym.
And meet the time as it seeks us.
What can from Italy annoy us; but
We grieve at chances here. Away!

I thank you. Let's withdraw;
We fear not

[Exeunt all but Pisanio.

Pis. I heard no letter from my master since I wrote him Imogen was slain: 'tis strange : Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise To yield me often tidings; neither know I

What is betid to Cloten; but remain

Perplex'd in all.

The heavens still must work. Wherein I am false I am honest; not true, to be

true.

These present wars shall find I love my country,
Even to the note o' the king, or I'll fall in them.
All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd:
Fortune brings in some boats that are not steer'd.

30

40

'had no letter.' Several of the older editions substitute have had no letter.'

44. Even to the note o' the king, so that even the king learns it.

SCENE IV. Wales: before the cave of Belarius.

Enter BELARIUS, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Gui. The noise is round about us.

Bel.

Let us from it.

Arv. What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to

lock it

From action and adventure?

Gui.

Nay, what hope

Have we in hiding us? This way, the Romans

Must or for Britons slay us, or receive us
For barbarous and unnatural revolts

During their use, and slay us after.

Bel.

Sons,

We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us.
To the king's party there's no going: newness
Of Cloten's death-we being not known, not
muster'd

Among the bands—may drive us to a render
Where we have lived, and so extort from 's that
Which we have done, whose answer would be

That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes
And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,

6. revolts, rebels.

7. During their use, (receive us) so long as they can make use of us.

II. render, report.

ΤΟ

That they will waste their time upon our note,
To know from whence we are.

Bel.

O, I am known

Of many in the army: many years,

Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore
him

From my remembrance. And, besides, the king
Hath not deserved my service nor your loves;
Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless
To have the courtesy your cradle promised,
But to be still hot summer's tanlings and
The shrinking slaves of winter.

Gui.

Than be so

Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army:
I and my brother are not known; yourself
So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,
Cannot be question'd.

Arv.

By this sun that shines,

I'll thither what thing is it that I never

Did see man die! scarce ever look'd on blood,
But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison !
Never bestrid a horse, save one that had

A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed
To look upon the holy sun, to have

The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

Gui.
By heavens, I'll go:
If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
I'll take the better care, but if you will not,
The hazard therefore due fall on me by

The hands of Romans!

Arv.

So say I amen.

29. tanlings, tanned boys.

33. o'ergrown, i.e. with shaggy, unkempt hair.

40

30

20

Bel. No reason I, since of your lives
So slight a valuation, should reserve
My crack'd one to more care.
boys!

you set

Have with you,

50

If in your country wars you chance to die,

That is my bed too, lads, and there I'll lie:
Lead, lead. [Aside] The time seems long; their
blood thinks scorn,

Till it fly out and show them princes born.

[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I. Britain. The Roman camp.

Enter POSTHUMUS, with a bloody handkerchief.

Post. Yea, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee, for I wish'd

Thou shouldst be colour'd thus. You married

ones,

If each of you should take this course, how

many

Must murder wives much better than themselves

For wrying but a little! O Pisanio!

Every good servant does not all commands:

No bond but to do just ones.

Gods! if you

Should have ta'en vengeance on my faults, I never

Had lived to put on this: so had you saved

The noble Imogen to repent, and struck

50. Have with you, take me with you.

I. I wish'd; Rowe's emenda

tion of Ff I am wish'd.

ΤΟ

9. to put on this, to instigate to Imogen's death.

Me, wretch more worth your vengeance. But,

alack,

You snatch some hence for little faults; that's

love,

To have them fall no more: you some permit
To second ills with ills, each elder worse,

And make them dread it, to the doers' thrift.
But Imogen is your own: do your best wills,
And make me blest to obey! I am brought hither
Among the Italian gentry, and to fight

Against my lady's kingdom: 'tis enough.

That, Britain, I have kill'd thy mistress; peace!
I'll give no wound to thee.

heavens,

Therefore, good

Hear patiently my purpose: I'll disrobe me
Of these Italian weeds and suit myself
As does a Briton peasant: so I'll fight
Against the part I come with; so I'll die
For thee, O Imogen, even for whom my life
Is every breath a death; and thus, unknown,
Pitied nor hated, to the face of peril

Myself I'll dedicate.

Let me make men know
More valour in me than my habits show.
Gods, put the strength o' the Leonati in me!
To shame the guise o' the world, I will begin
The fashion, less without and more within. [Exit.

20

30

15. make them dread it, to the doers' thrift, make the doers fear the final Nemesis to their own advantage, by causing them to repent in time.