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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,
ARVIRAGUS,

sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names

of Polydore 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, a
Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman,
Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and
other Attendants.

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,
Still seem, as does the king's.

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
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;

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,
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,

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
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:a
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 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,
Yet is it true, sir.

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.
Queen.

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
Can tickle where she wounds!- My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,

(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
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;

(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.

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