CYMBELINE. ACT I. SCENE I. Britain. The Garden behind Cymbeline's Palace. Enter two Gentlemen. 1 Gentleman. 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 purposed to his wife's sole son, (a widow That late he married,) hath referred herself Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king 2 Gent. None but the king? 1 Gent. He that hath lost her, too; so is the queen, That most desired the match. But not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent 1 "Our bloods [i. e. our dispositions or temperaments] are not more regulated by the heavens, by every skyey influence, than our courtiers are by the disposition of the king: when he frowns, every man frowns." In some editions, a different meaning is conveyed, by placing a semicolon after the word courtiers. Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not 2 Gent. And why so? 1 Gent. He that hath missed 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 banished,) 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; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly. 2 Gent. What's his name, and birth? 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root. His father Was called Sicilius, who did join his honor 2 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 (Which rare it is to do) most praised, most loved What kind of man he is. 2 Gent. I honor him But, 'pray you, tell me, Even out of your report. 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 conveyed! 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 laughed at, 2 Gent. I do well believe you. 1 Gent. We must forbear; here comes the queen and princess. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assured, you shall not find me, daughter, 1 Feate is well-fashioned, proper, trim, handsome, well-compact (concinnus). Feature was also used for fashion or proportion. The verb to feat was probably formed by Shakspeare himself. 2 "To his mistress," means as to his mistress. After the slander of most step-mothers, That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet 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 barred affections; though the king Imo. [Exit Queen. 0, Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant His rage can do on me. You must be gone; Post. To be suspected of more tenderness 1 "I say I do not fear my father, so far as I may say it without breach of duty." Queen. Re-enter Queen. Be brief, I pray you: If the king come, I shall incur I know not To walk this way. I never do him wrong, Post. [Aside. [Exit. Should we be taking leave As long a term as yet we have to live, Imo. Nay, stay a little; Adieu ! Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Such parting were too petty. Look here, love; 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, remain thou here 3 [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 Upon this fairest prisoner. Imo. [Putting a bracelet on her arm. O the gods! When shall we see again? 1 "He gives me a valuable consideration in new kindness (purchasing, as it were, the wrong I have done him), in order to renew our amity, and make us friends again." 2 Shakspeare poetically calls the cere-cloths, in which the dead are wrapped, the bonds of death. There was no distinction in ancient orthography between seare, to dry, to wither; and seare, to dress or cover with wax. Cere-cloth is most frequently spelled seare-cloth. 3 i. e. while I have sensation to retain it. |