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 Show me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all; 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. | Immortal longings in me: now no more I Antony call; I see him rouse himself 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! O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too:- 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? 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. 1 Guard. Poison'd then. O Cæsar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and I found her trimming up the diadem Cas. fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, CYMBELINE. [Exeunt. PERSONS REPRESENTED. CYMBELINE, King of Britain. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a Gentleman, PHILARIO, Friend to Posthumus, Italians. A French Gentleman, Friend to Philario. 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, 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: No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers; He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow ded; 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, 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 Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour (Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow, 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, 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, So soon as I can win the offended king, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet Please your highness, I something fear my father's wrath: but nothing Post. When shall we see again! Enter Cymbeline and Lords. Post. If, after this command, thon fraught the court And bless the good remainders of the court! 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 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, 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, To draw upon an exile !-O brave sir!- Pis. On his command: He would not suffer me About some half hour hence, SCENE III. A public Place. 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 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 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, 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. 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. 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. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, 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 |