Cæs. First Guard. Poison'd, then. O Cæsar! This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood, Cæs. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear 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. First Guard. This is an aspic's trail; and these figleaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Cæs. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me, She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed, And bear her women from the monument. A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity, than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella; see [Exeunt. CYMBELINE, King of Britain. CLOTEN, Son to the Queen by a former Husband. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, Husband to Imogen. BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguised under the name of Morgan. GUIDERIUS, Sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of ARVIRAGUS, Polydore and Cadwal, supposed Sons to Belarius. PHILARIO, Friend to Posthumus, IACHIMO, Friend to Philario, } Italians. 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 Lords and two Gentlemen. Two Jailors. QUEEN, Wife to Cymbeline. IMOGEN, Daughter to Cymbeline by his former Queen. HELEN, attendant on 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, sometimes in Italy. Cymbeline, as far as we know, was never printed until it appeared in the folio 1623: it was also inserted in the later folios, and in all is placed last it was founded upon a novel by Boccacio. A list of the characters concerned in it was first made out by Rowe in 1709. CYMBELINE. ACT I. SCENE I.-Britain. A Garden behind Cymbeline's Palace. Enter two Gentlemen. First 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. Second Gent. But what's the matter? First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of 's 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 imprisoned: all Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king Be touch'd at very heart. Second Gent. None but the king? First 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. Second Gent. And why so? First 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!- So fair an outward, and such stuff within, Endows a man but he. Second Gent. You speak him far. First Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold. His measure duly. What's his name, and birth? Second Gent. First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root. Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour His father Against the Romans with Cassibelan, Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time, Died with their swords in hand; for which their father, To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus ; |