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, l' 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.

How long is this ago? i Gent. Some twenty years. 2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con

vey'd!

So slackly guarded! And the search so slow,
That could not trace them!
i Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,
Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,
Yet is it true, sir.
2 Gent.

I do well believe you.
i Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the

queen, and princess.

[Exeunt.

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
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

the keys

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.

Please

your highness, I will from hence to-day. Queen.

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,)? 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! 0, 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; Who to my father was a friend, to me Known but by letter: thither write, my queen, And with mine eyes I'll drink the words Though ink be made of gall.

you send,

Re-enter Queen.

Be brief, I pray you:

Queen.

7

(Always resero'd my holy duty,)] I say I do not fear my fa

. ther, so far as I may say it without breach of duty.

Post.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him

[ Aside.
To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.

[Exit.

Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!

Imo. Nay, stay a little:
Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.
Post.

How ! how! another
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring.
While sense can keep it on?' And sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. Imo.

o, the gods! When shall we see again?

A

A

A

& And sear up—] i. e. close up.

9 While sense can keep it on ?] i. e. while sense can maintain its operations; while sense continues to have its usual power. To keep on signifies to continue in a state of action.

a manacle-] A manacle properly means what we now call a hand-cuff.

A

3

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords. Post.

Alack, the king!
Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight!
If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!
Thou art poison to 'my blood.
Post.

The gods protect you!
And bless the good remainders of the court!
I am gone.

[Exit.
Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death
More sharp than this is.
Cym.

O disloyal thing,
That should'st repair my youth; thou heapest
A year's age on me!
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.?
Сут. .

Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past

grace. Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of

my queen! Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle, And did avoid a puttock.*

Cym. Thou took’st a beggar; would'st have made

my throne

A seat for baseness.

Imo.
A lustre to it.

No; I rather added

2

a touch more rare Subdues all pangs, all fears.] i.e. a more exquisite feeling ; a superior sensation.

a puttock.] A puttock is a mean degenerate species of hawk, too worthless to deserye training.

3

Cym.

O thou vile one!
Imo.

Sir,
It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is
A man, worth any woman; overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.

*
Cym.

What!-art thou mad! Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me!--'Would

I were
A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus
Our neighbour shepherd's son!

Re-enter Queen.
Cym.

Thou foolish thing! They were again together you have done

[To the Queen. Not after our command. Away with her, And pen her up.

Queen. 'Beseech your patience:-Peace, Dear lady daughter, peace;--Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort
Out of your best advice.
Сут.

Nay, let her languish
A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
Die of this folly!

[Exit.

Enter Pisanio.

Queen.

Fye!-you must give way: Here is your servant.-How

now,

sir? What news?

overbuys me Almost the sum he pays.] So small is my value, and so great is his, that in the purchase he has made (for which he paid himself,) for much the greater part, and nearly the whole, of what he has given, he has nothing in return. The most minute portion of his worth would be too high a price for the wife he has acquired.

your best advice.] i, e, consideration, reflection.

5