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, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of Polydore and Cadwal, supposed sons to PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus, Italians. A French gentleman, friend to Philario. CORNELIUS, a physician. Two Gentlemen. Two Gaolers. QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline. IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a SCENE, sometimes in Britain; and sometimes in Italy. CYMBELINE. ACT I. SCENE I.-Britain. 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 Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowl at. 2 Gent. And why so? a You do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens, &c.] Blood is here used for dispositions. This very difficult passage might be set right by reading; than our courtiers' Still seem, as does the king That this passage is corrupt, appears evident from the confused manner in which the old copy has printed it. Archdeacon Nares says in his Glossary, " of this very difficult passage perhaps the more intelligible reading is, "You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens; they are courtiers, i. e. Our dispositions no longer obey the influences of heaven; they are courtiers, and still seem to resemble the disposition the king is in." 1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing Endows a man but he. 2 Gent. You speak him far. 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; What's his name, and birth? Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly. 2 Gent. 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour, b C extend-] i. e. Praise.-NARES. Tenantius,]-was the father of Cymbeline, and nephew of Cassibelan, being the younger son of his elder brother Lud, king of the southern part of Britain; on whose death Cassibelan was admitted king. Cassibelan repulsed the Romans on their first attack, but being vanquished by Julius Cæsar on his second invasion of Britain, he agreed to pay an annual tribute to Rome. After his death, Tenantius, Lud's younger son (his elder brother Androgeus having fled to Rome), was established on the throne, of which they had been unjustly deprived by their uncle. According to some authorities, Tenantius quietly paid the tribute stipulated by Cassibelan; according to others, he refused to pay it, and warred with the Romans. Shakspeare supposes the latter to be the truth. Holinshed furnished our poet with these facts. - MALONE. As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and What kind of man he is. 2 Gent. I honour him Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me, 1 Gent. I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery Were stolen; and to this hour, no guess in knowledge Which way they went. 2 Gent. How long is this ago? 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, d 2 Gent. I do well believe you. 1 Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the queen princess. Liv'd in court, and [Exeunt. (Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:] This encomium is high and artful. To be at once in any great degree loved and praised, is truly rare.— JOHNSON. e— that feated them;] i. e. That formed them; a model by the contemplation and inspection of which they formed their manners. To feat, is to render nice, exact.-JOHNSON and STEEVENS. 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 I 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. Please your highness, 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. [Exit Queen. Imo. 0 Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant (Always reserv'd my holy duty,f) what His rage can do on me: You must be gone; And I shall here abide the hourly shot 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; (Always reserv'd my holy duty,)] I say I do not fear my father, so far as I may say it without breach of duty. JOHNSON. |