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[Striking her she falls. O, gentlemen! help

Pis. Mine, and your mistress.-O, my lord Posthumus! You ne'er kill'd Imogen till now.-Help, help!Mine honor'd lady! Cym. Does the world go round? Post. How come these staggers on me? Pis. Wake, my mistress! Cym. If this be so, the gods do mean to strike me To death with mortal joy. Pis.

How fares my mistress? Imo. O get thee from my sight; Thou gav'st me poison: dangerous fellow, hence! Breathe not where princes are.

Cym.
Pis. Lady,

The tune of Imogen !

The gods throw stones of sulphur on me, if That box I gave you was not thought by me A precious thing: I had it from the queen. Cym. New matter still?

Imo.

Cor.

It poison'd me.

O gods!

I left out one thing which the queen confess'd,
Which must approve thee honest: if Pisanio
Have, said she, given his mistress that confection
Which I gave him for a cordial, she is serv'd
As I would serve a rat.

Cym.

What's this, Cornelius?
Cor. The queen, sir, very oft importun'd me
To temper poisons for her; still pretending
The satisfaction of her knowledge, only
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs
Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose
Was of more danger, did compound for her
A certain stuff, which, being ta'en, would cease
The present power of life; but, in short time,
All offices of nature should again

Do their due functions.-Have you ta'en of it?
Imo. Most like I did, for I was dead.
Bel.

My boys,

There was our error.
Gui.
This is, sure, Fidele. [you?
Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady from
Think, that you are upon a rock; and now
[Embracing POSTHUMUS.
Hang there like fruit, my soul,

Throw me again.

Post.

Till the tree die ! Cym.

How now! my flesh, my child? What! mak'st thou me a dullard in this act? Wilt thou not speak to me!

Imo.

Your blessing, sir. [Kneeling, Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame ye You had a motive for't. [not; [To GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS. My tears that fall,

Сут.
Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,

Thy mother's dead.

Imo.

I am sorry for't, my lord.

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Murry, the gods forefend!
I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.
Gui.
I have spoke it, and I did it.
Cym. He was a prince.

Gui. A most uncivil one. The wrongs he did me
Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
With language that would make me spurn the sea,
If it could so roar to me. I cut off's head;
And am right glad, he is not standing here
To tell this tale of mine.

Сут.
I am sorry for thee:
By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must
Endure our law. Thou art dead.
Imo.

I thought had been my lord.
Cym.

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Take him hence.
The whole world shall not save him.

Bel.
Not too hot:
First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;

Cym. O! she was naught; and 'long of her it And let it be confiscate all, so soon

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And blood of your begetting. Cym.

How! my issue?

Bel. So sure as you your father's. I, old Morgan,
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd:
Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punishment
Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd
Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
(For such, and so they are) these twenty years
Have I train'd up; those arts they have, as I
Could put into them: my breeding was, sir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,

For that which I did then: beaten for loyalty
Excited me to treason. Their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world.—
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.
Сут.

Thou weep'st, and speak'st.
The service, that you three have done, is more
a Unlike than this thou tell'st. I lost my children:
If these be they, I know not how to wish

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And your three motives to the battle, with
I know not how much more, should be demanded,
And all the other by-dependencies,
From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor place,
Will serve our long inter'gatories. See,
Posthumus anchors upon Imogen;

And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye
On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting
Each object with a joy the counterchange
Is severally in all. Let's quit this ground,
And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.-
Thou art my brother: so we'll hold thee ever.
[To BELARIUS.
Imo. You are my father, too; and did relieve me,
To see this gracious season.
Cym.
All o'erjoy'd,

Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too,
For they shall taste our comfort.
Imo.

I will yet do you service.

Luc.

My good master,

Happy be you!

Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought, He would have well become this place, and grac'd The thankings of a king.

Post.

I am, sir,
The soldier that did company these three
In poor beseeming: 'twas a fitment for
The purpose I then follow'd.-That I was he,
Speak, Iachimo: I had you down, and might
Have made you finish.

Iach.
I am down again; [Kneeling.
But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,
Which I so often owe; but your ring first,
And here the bracelet of the truest princess
That ever swore her faith.

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You holp us, sir,

[Rome,

As you did mean indeed to be our brother;
Joy'd are we, that you are.

Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my lord of
Call forth your soothsayer. As I slept, methought,
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,
Appear'd to me, with other spritely shows
Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it: let him show
His skill in the construction.

Luc.

Philarmonus!

Luc. Sooth. Here, my good lord. [Coming forward. Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [Reads.] "When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which being dead many years shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty."

Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp;
The fit and apt construction of thy name,

"Your three motives," i. e., the motives of you three."Spritely shows," i. e., groups of sprites; ghostly appear. ances.-"Whose containing." i. e, the contents of which. -Make no collection of it," i. e., draw no conclusion from

it.

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Whom heavens, in justice, both on her and hers Have laid most heavy hand.

Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune The harmony of this peace. The vision, Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant Is full accomplish'd; for the Roman eagle, From south to west on wing soaring aloft, Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o' the sun So vanish'd: which foreshow'd our princely eagle, Th' imperial Cæsar, should again unite His favor with the radiant Cymbeline, Which shines here in the west.

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two Lords of Tyre.

SIMONIDES, King of Pentapolis.
CLEON, Governor of Tharsus.

LYSIMACHUS, Governor of Mitylene.

CERIMON, a Lord of Ephesus.

THALIARD, a Lord of Antioch.

PHILEMON, Servant to Cerimon.

LEONINE, Servant to Dionyza.

Marshal.

A Pander, and his Wife.
BOULT, their Servant.
GOWER, as Chorus.

The Daughter of Antiochus.
DIONYZA, Wife to Cleon.

THAISA, Daughter to Simonides.

MARINA, Daughter to Pericles and Thaisa.
LYCHORIDA, Nurse to Marina.
DIANA.

Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, Messengers, &c.
SCENE, dispersedly in various Countries.

ACT I.

Enter GoWER.

Before the Palace of Antioch.
To sing a song that old was sung,
From ashes ancient Gower is come;
Assuming man's infirmities,

To glad your ear, and please your eyes.
It hath been sung at festivals,
On ember-eves, and holy cales,
And lords and ladies in their lives
Have read it for restoratives:

The purpose is to make men glorious;
Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.
If you, born in these latter times,
When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,

Chorus, in the character of Gower, an old English poet, who has related the story of this play in his Confessio Amantis.-"Old," i. e., of old.-"Ales," i. e., Whitsun

ales.

And that to hear an old man sing,
May to your wishes pleasure bring,
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you, like taper-light.-
This Antioch, then: Antiochus the great
Built up this city for his chiefest seat,
The fairest in all Syria;

I tell you what my authors say:
This king unto him took a feere,
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
With whom the father liking took,
And her to incest did provoke.

Bad child, worse father, to entice his own
To evil, should be done by none.

By custom what they did begin
Was with long use faccount no sin.

"A feere," i. e., a mate or companion.-"Full of face," i. e., exceedingly beautiful.- Account for accounted

The beauty of this sinful dame
Made many princes thither a frame,
To seek her us a bed-fellow,

In marriage pleasures play-fellow :
Which to prevent he made a law,
To keep her still and men in awe,
That whoso ask'd her for his wife,
His riddle told not, lost his life:
So, for her many a wight did die,
As yond' grim looks do testify.
What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye
I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit.

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Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride, For the embracements even of Jove himself; At whose conception, (till Lucina reign'd) Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence, The senate-house of planets all did sit, To knit in her their best perfections.

Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS.

Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the spring,

d

Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king
Of every virtue gives renown to men!
Her face, the book of praises, where is read
Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence
Sorrow were ever ras'd, and testy wrath
Could never be her mild companion.

Ye gods, that made me man, and sway in love,
That have inflam'd desire in my breast,
To taste the fruit of yon celestial tree,
Or die in the adventure, be my helps,
As I am son and servant to your will,
To compass such a boundless happiness!
Ant. Prince Pericles,-

Per. That would be son to great Antiochus.
Ant. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides,
With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd;
For death-like dragons here affright thee hard:
Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view
Her countless glory, which desert must gain;
And which, without desert, because thine eye
Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die.
Yond' sometime famous princes, like thyself,
Drawn by report, adventurous by desire,
Tell thee with speechless tongues,and semblance pale,
That, without covering, save yond' field of stars,
They here stand martyrs, slain in Cupid's wars;
And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist,
For going on death's net, whom none resist
Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught
My frail mortality to know itself,
And by those fearful objects to prepare
This body, like to them, to what I must:
For death remember'd should be like a mirror,
Who tells us, life's but breath; to trust it, error.
I'll make my will, then; and as sick men do,

"Frame," i. e., shape, direct their course. — “To keep her still," I. e, to keep her still to himself Point. ing to the scene of the palace gate at Antioch, on which the heads of those unfortunate wights were fixed. "The book of praises," i. e., the book where may be read all that is praiseworthy." Her mild companion," i. e., the companion of her mildness.-"For going," i. e., for fear of going.

Who know the world, see heaven, but feeling woe,
Gripe not at earthly joys, as erst they did:
So, I bequeath a happy peace to you,
And all good men, as every prince should do:
My riches to the earth from whence they came,
But my unspotted fire of love to you.

[To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. Thus, ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow.

Ant. Scorning advice, read the conclusion, then ; Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee, thou thyself shalt bleed.

Daugh. Of all, 'say'd yet, may'st thou prove pros Of all, 'say'd yet, I wish thee happiness. [perous! Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Nor ask advice of any other thought But faithfulness, and courage. THE RIDDLE.

I am no viper, yet I feed

On mother's flesh, which did me breed; I sought a husband, in which labor, I found that kindness in a father: He's father, son, and husband mild, I mother, wife, and yet his child. How they may be, and yet in two, As you will live, resolve it you. Sharp physic is the last: but, O! you powers, That give heaven countless eyes to view men's acts, Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, If this be true, which makes me pale to read it! Fair glass of light, I lov'd you, and could still, Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill; But I must tell you,-now, my thoughts revolt, For he's no man on whom perfections & wait, That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate. You're a fair viol, and your sense the strings, Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, [en: Would draw heaven down and all the gods to hearkBut being play'd upon before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime. Good sooth, I cure not for you.

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Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life,
For that's an article within our law,
As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir'd:
Either expound now, or receive your sentence.
Per. Great king,

Few love to hear the sins they love to act;
'Twould 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it.
Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut, than shown;
For vice repeated is like the wandering wind,
Blows dust in others' eyes, to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear:
To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole
[throng'd
Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is
By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die

h

casts

for't.

Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's their will,
And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill?
It is enough you know; and it is fit,
What being more known grows worse, to smother it.
All love the womb that their first beings bred,
Then, give my tongue like leave to love my head.
Ant. [Aside.] Heaven, that I had thy head! he
has found the meaning;
[of Tyre,
But I will 'gloze with him. [To him.] Young prince
Though by the tenor of our strict edict,
Your exposition misinterpreting,

That is, no perfect or honest man.'-" conical." Gloze," i. e., flatter; insinuate,

"Copp'd," i, e.

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