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 you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter QUEEN.

Be brief, I pray you:

If the king come, I shall incur I know not

How much of his displeasure. [Aside.] Yet I'll move

him

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

Post.

[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, 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

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight!

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

I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym.
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.

No; I rather added

4 And did avoid a PUTTOCK.] "A puttock" is a hawk of a degenerate and

worthless breed.

A lustre to it.
Cym.
Imo.

O thou vile one!

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!

Cym.

Re-enter QUEEN.

Thou foolish thing!

[To the QUEEN.

They were again together: you have done

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.

Cym.

Nay, let her languish

[Exit.

A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Die of this folly!

Enter PISANIO.

Queen.

Fie!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir!

Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.

Queen.

No harm, I trust, is done?

Pis.

There might have been,

But that my master rather play'd than fought,
And had no help of anger: they were parted

What news?

Ha!

VOL. VIII.

L

By gentlemen at hand.

Queen.

I am very glad on't.

Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his

part.

To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir!

I would they were in Afric both together,

Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer back.-Why came you from your master?
Pis. On his command. He would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven: left these notes
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When 't pleas'd you to employ me.

Queen.
This hath been
Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour,
He will remain so.

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness.

Queen. Pray, walk a while.
Imo.

Pray you, speak with me.

About some half hour hence,

You shall, at least,

Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

A Public Place.

Enter CLOTEN, and Two Lords.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt: the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice. Where air comes out, air comes in; there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-Have I hurt him?

2 Lord [Aside.] No, faith; not so much as his patience.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. [Aside.] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. [Aside.] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own; but he added to your having, gave you some ground.

2 Lord. [Aside.] As many inches as you have oceans. -Puppies!

Clo. I would they had not come between us.

2 Lord. [Aside.] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.

Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. [Aside.] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. [Aside.] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her.

Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. [Aside.] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt.

Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. 2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Exeunt.