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1' the posture of a whore. Iras.

Cleo. Nay, that is certain.

O the good gods!

Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.
Cleo.
Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian ?-
Enter Charmian.

Show me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony :-Sirrah, Iras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give
thee leave

To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all;
Wherefore's this noise?
[Exit Iras. A Noise within.
Enter one of the Guard.
Guard.
Here is a rural fellow,
That will not be denied your highness' presence;
He brings you figs.

ment

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru[Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: Now from head to foot I am marble constant: now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown, bringing a Basket.

Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those, that do die of it, do seldom or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty-how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt.-Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will be-. lieve all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm.

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the Basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm.

Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

Clown. Very good give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding. Cleo. Will it eat me?

Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the [Exit

worm.

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Immortal longings in me: now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip :-I
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear

I

Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come;
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
am fire, and air; my other elements
I give to baser life.-So,-have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian :-Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.
Have I the aspick in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.

may say,

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that The gods themselves do weep! Cleo.

This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wretch,

[To the Asp, which she applies to her Breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie; poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak! That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass Unpolicied:

Char. Cleo.

O eastern star!

Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char.
O, break! O, break!
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gen-
tle,-

O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too:-
[Applying another Asp to her Arm.
What should I stay-[Falls on a Bed, and dies.
Char. In this wild world?-So fare thee well.-
Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld
of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry ;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char.

Speak softly, wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the Asp. I partly feel thee. All's not well: Ca

O, come; apace, despatch; 1 Guard. Approach, ho! sar's beguil'd.

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: -call him.

1 Guard. What work is here 7-Charmian, is this well done?

Char. It is well done and fiting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ab, soldier!

Enter Dolabella.

All dead.

[Dies.

Dol. How goes it here?
2 Guard.
Dol.
Cæsar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming
To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou
So sought'st to hinder.
Within. A way there, a way for Cæsar!
Enter Cæsar, and Attendants.
Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear, is done.

Cas.

Bravest at the last She levell'd at our purposes, aud, being royal, Took her own way.-The manner of their deaths? do not see them bleed.

Dol

Who was last with them?

1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought| 1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these her figs;

This was his basket.
Cæs.

1 Guard.

Poison'd then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and
spake:

I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.

Cas.
O noble weakness!
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace.
Dol.
Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood, and something blown
The like is on her arm.

fig-leaves

Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves
Upon the caves of Nile.
Cæs.

Most probable,

That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument :-
She shall be buried by her Antony:
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them: and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,
In solemn show, attend this funeral;
And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity.

CYMBELINE.

[Exeunt.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.
CLOTEN, Son to the Queen by a former Hus-
band.

LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a Gentleman,
Husband to Imogen.
BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguised under
the name of Morgan.
Sons to Cymbeline, disguised
GUIDERIUS, under the names of Polydore,
ARVIRAGUS, and Cadwal, supposed Sons
to Belarius.

PHILARIO, Friend to Posthumus, Italians.
IACHIMO, Friend to Philario,

A French Gentleman, Friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces.

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Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other At tendants.

SCENE-sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy.

ACT I.

So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.

SCENE I. Britain. The Garden behind Cym-2 Gent. You speak him far.

beline's Palace.

Enter Two Gentlemen.

1 Gent. 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 king-
dom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow
That late he married,) hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: She's wed-

ded;

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None but the king? 1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen,

That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2 Gent.

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 call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success;
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars of the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus:
Breeds him, and makes him of his bedchamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of: which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court
(Which rare it is to do) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more maturo
l-A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards; to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue.
By her election may be truly read,

And why so? 1 Gent. He that hath miss'd 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 banish'd,) 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,

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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 convey'd !

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 laugh'd at, Yet is it true, sir. 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 assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthu-
mus,

So soon as I can win the offended king,

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.
Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest hus-
band,

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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!
O, 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 l'll drink the words you
send,
Though ink be made of gall.

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When shall we see again!

Enter Cymbeline and Lords.

Post.
Alack, the king!
Cym. Thon basest thing, avoid! hence, from
my sight!

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

And bless the good remainders of the court!
The gods protect you!

1 am gone. Imo.

[Exit. There cannot be a pinch in death

More sharp than this is. Cym.

That should'st repair my A year's age on me! Imo.

O disloyal thing, youth; thou heapest

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.

Cym.

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

grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an my queen!

eagle,

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Cym. Thou foolish thing!They were again together: you have done [To the QueenNot 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 soine comfort Out of your best advice. Сут. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, Die of this folly! [Brit.

Queen.

Enter Pisanio.

Fic!-you must give away

Here is your servant.-How now. sir? What| And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost news?

Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.

Queen.

No harm, I trust, is done?

Pis.

Ha!

There might have been,
But that my master rather play'd than fought,
And had no help of anger: they were parted
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 Africk 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 it 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.

About some half hour hence,
I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least,
Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A public Place.
Enter Cloten, and Two Lords.

As offer'd mercy is. What was the last. That he spake to thee 7

Pis. "Twas, His queen, his queen! Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief? Pis. And kiss'd it, madamImo. Senseless linen! happier therein than 1 And that was all? Pis.

No, madam; for so long As he could make me with this eye or ear Distinguish him from others, he did keep The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief, Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, How swift his ship. Thou should'st have made him As little as a crow, or less, ere left To after-eye him.

Imo.

Pis.

Madam, so I did. Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but

To look upon him; till the diminution
Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle:
Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from
The smallness of a gnat to air; and then
Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good
Pisanio,

When shall we hear from him?

Pis.

With his next vantage.

Be assur'd, madam,

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him

swear

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt: the violence of action hath made you reck as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: The shes of Italy should not betray there's none abroad so wholesome as that you Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd

vert.

him,

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight
Haye I hurt him?
To encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him: or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
Betwixt two charming words, comes in my

2 Lord. No, faith: not so much as his patience.

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

Clo. The villain would not stand me. 2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! you have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

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

Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

father,

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Rome. An Apartment in Philario's House. Enter Philario, lachimo, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, Iach. Believe it, sir: 1 have seen him in Brshe is damned. [Aside. tain: he was then of a crescent note, expected 1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, the name of: but I could then have looked on him but I have seen small reflection of her wit. without the help of admiration: though the cata2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the re-logue of his endowments had been tabled by his flection should hurt her. side, and I to peruse him by items.

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Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment:Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to for

tify her judgment, which else an easy battery frail, and the other casual: a cunning thief, or might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more a that-way accomplished courtier, would hazard quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with the winning both of first and last." you? How creeps acquaintance?

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

Enter Posthumus.

Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress; if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. I do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; notwithstanding I fear not my ring.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertain- Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen. ed amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-Isignior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; beseech you all, be better known to this gentle- we are familiar at first. man; whom I commend to you, as a noble friend of mine: How worthy he is, 1 will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.

French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans.

Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.

French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; it had been pity, you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a

nature.

Iach. With five times so much conversation I should get ground of your fair mistress: mak her go back, even to the yielding; had I admit tance, and opportunity to friend. Post. No, no.

Tach. I dare, thereupon, pawn the moiety o my estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'er-values it something: But I make my wager rather against your confidence, than her repn tation: and, to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any lady in the world. Post. You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt. Iach. What's that?

pray you, be better acquainted.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you traveller: rather shunn'd to go even with what call it, deserve more; a punishment too. I heard, than in my every action to be guided by Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in others' experiences: but, upon my mended judg-too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I ment (if I offend not to say it is mended,) my quarrel was not altogether slight. French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded one the other, or have fallen both.

Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

French Safely, I think 'twas a contention in publick, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses: This gentleman at that time vouching (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaste, constant-qualified, and less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind. Iach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; though I profess my self her adorer, not her friend.

Iach. 'Would I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke.

Post. What lady would you choose to assail?
Iach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think,
stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand
ducats to your ring, that, commend me to the
court where your lady is, with no more advan-
tage than the opportunity of a second conference,
and I will bring from thence that honour of hers,
which you imagine so reserved.
Post. 1 will wage against your gold, gold to it:
my ring I hold dear as my finger; 'tis part of it.

Iach. You are a friend, and therein the wiser. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram, you cannot preserve it from tainting: But, I see you have some religion in you, that you fear.

Post. This is but a custom in your tongue; you bear a graver purpose, I hope.

Iach. I am the master of my speeches; and would undergo what's spoken, I swear.

Phi. I will have it no lay.

Post. Will you ?-I shall but lend my diamond till your return:-Let there be covenants drawn between us: My mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking: I dare Iach. As fair, and as good, (a kind of hand-in-you to this match: here's my ring. hand comparison,) had been something too fair, and too good, for any lady in Britany. If she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the lady.

Post. I praised her, as I rated her: so do I my

stone.

Iach. What do you esteem it at?
Post. More than the world enjoys.
Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead,
or she's outpriz'd by a trifle.

Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold,
or given; if there were wealth enough for the
purchase, or merit for the gift: the other is not
a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.
Iach. Which the gods have given you?
Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep.
Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but,
you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring
ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your
brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but

Iach. By the gods, it is one: If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are yours; so is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in such ho nour as you have trust in, she your jewel, this your jewel, and my gold are yours:-provided I have your commendation, for my more free entertainment.

Post. I embrace these conditions; let us have articles betwixt us:-only, thus far you shall answer. If you make your voyage upon her, and give me directly to understand you have prevailed, I am no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate: if she remain unseduced (you not making it appear otherwise,) for your ill opinion, and the assault you have made to her chastity, you shall answer me with your sword.

Iach. Your hand; a covenant: We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain; lest the bargain should

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