(As poisonous tongue'd, as handed) hath prevail o * Thy fortunes-How! that I should murder her ? Have made to thy command ?-I, her ?-her blood? If it be so to do good service, never Let me be counted serviceable. How look I, So much as this fact comes to ? Do't: the letter I am ignorant in what I am commanded. § Pis. Madam, here is a letter from my lord. Imo. Who? thy lord? that is my lord? Leonatus ? O learn'd indeed were that astronomer, That knew the stars, as I his characters; He'd lay the future open.-You, good gods, Of my lord's health, of his content,-yet not, All but in that Good wax, thy leave:-Bless'd be, You clasp young Cupid's tables.-Good news, gods! [Reading. [Reads. Justice, and your father's wrath, should he take me in his dominion, could not be so cruel to me, as you, O the dearest of creatures, would not even renew me with your eyes. Take notice, that I am in Cambria, at Milford Haven. What your own love will, out of this, advise you, follow. So, he wishes you all happiness, that remains loyal to his vow, and your, increasing in love, LEONATUS POSTHUMUS. O for a horse with wings!-Hear'st thou, Pisanio? (Who long'st like me, to see thy lord; who long'st, * Conquer. ✰ Confederate. + As compared with hers I. e. unskilled in murder. O, let me 'bate,-but not like me:-yet long'st,- For mine's beyond beyond), say, and speak thick * Pis. One score, 'twixt sun and sun, Madam, 's enough for you; and too much too. Imo. Why, one that rode to his execution, man, That run i' the clock's behalf:-But this is foolery:- She'll home to her father: and provide me, presently, A franklin's housewife. Pis. Madam, you're best consider. Imo. I see before me, man, nor here, nor here, Nor what ensues; but have a fog in them, That I cannot look through. Away, I pr'ythee; Accessible is none but Milford way. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Wales. A mountainous Country, with a Cave. Bel. A goodly day not to keep house, with such Gui. Hail, heaven! Arv. Hail, heaven! Bel. Now, for our mountain sport. Up to yon hill, Your legs are young; I'll tread these flats. Consider, When you above perceive me like a crow, That it is place which lessens, and sets off. And you may then revolve what tales I have told you, * One word on another. + Why invent an excuse before its occasion has arisen. A freeholder. Strut. D 2 Of courts, of princes, of the tricks in war: Gui. Out of your proof you speak: we, poor unfledged, That have a sharper known; well corresponding Arv. What should we speak of, When we are old as you ? when we shall hear Bel. How you speak! Did you but know the city's usuries, And felt them knowingly: the art o' the court, Is certain falling, or so slippery, that The fear 's as bad as falling: the toil of the war, A pain that only seems to seek out danger I' the name of fame, and honour; which dies i' the search; As record of fair act; nay, many times, Doth ill deserve by doing well; what's worse, Must court'sey at the censure:-O, boys, this story Whose boughs did bend with fruit: but in one night, Scaly-winged. I. e. having charge of a ward. ↑ I. e. a command at court. & I. e. compared with ours. Shook down my mellow hangings, nay, my leaves, And left me bare to weather. Gui. Uncertain favour! Bel. My fault being nothing (as I have told you oft), The fore-end of my time.-But, up to the mountains; And we will fear no poison, which attends In place of greater state. I'll meet you in the valleys. [Exeunt GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS. How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature! These boys know little they are sons to the king; Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive. They think they are mine: and, though train'd up thus meanly The roofs of palaces; and nature prompts them, Strikes life into my speech, and shows much more At three and two years old, I stole these babes; Thinking to bar thee of succession, as Thou reft'st me of my lands. Euriphile, Thou wast their nurse; they took thee for their mother, And every day do honour to her grave: Myself, Belarius, that am Morgan call'd, They take for natural father. The game is up. SCENE IV.-Near Milford Haven. Enter PISANTO and IMOGEN. Exit. Imo. Thou told'st me, when we came from horse, the place Was near at hand: Ne'er long'd my mother so To see me first, as I have now:-Pisanio! Man! That makes thee stare thus? Wherefore breaks that sigh Beyond self-explication: Put thyself Into a 'haviour of less fear, ere wildness But keep that countenance still.-My husband's hand! And he's at some hard point.-Speak, man; thy tongue Would be even mortal to me. Pis. Please you, read; And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing Imo. [reads]. Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath played the strumpet in my bed; the testimonies whereof lie, bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises; from proof as strong as my grief, and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part, thou, Pisanio, must act for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers. Let thine own hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunities at Milford Haven: she hath my letter for the purpose: Where, if thou fear to strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the pander to her dishonour, and equally to me disloyal. Pis. What shall I need to draw my sword? the paper Hath cut her throat already.-No, 'tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword; whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie All corners of the world: kings, queens, and states, This viperous slander enters.-What cheer, madam ? To lie in watch there, and to think on him? To weep 'twixt clock and clock ? If sleep charge nature, And cry myself awake? that's false to his bed? Pis. Alas, good lady! Imo. I false? Thy conscience witness:-Iachimo, Thou didst accuse him of incontinency; Thou then look'dst like a villain; now, methinks Thy favour's good enough. Some jay of Italy, Whose mother was her painting,+ hath betrayed him: And, for I am richer than to hang by the walls,‡ I must be ripp'd:-to pieces with me !-0, For behaviour. † I. e. whose beauty was created by artifice. I. e. than to be hung up in a cupboard out of the way. |