SCENE I.
Britain. The Garden behind Cymbeline'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's1 note
.
-- 6 --
2 Gent.
But what's the matter?
1 Gent.
His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom
-- 7 --
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 wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow2 note
; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.
2 Gent.
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.
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
-- 8 --
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think,
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.
2 Gent.
You speak him far3 note
.
1 Gent.
I do extend him, sir, within himself4 note
;
Crush him5 note
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 Cassibelan6 note
;
-- 9 --
But had his titles by Tenantius7 note
, 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 o' 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 Posthumus8 note;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
-- 10 --
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'd9 note
:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them1 note
; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress2 note,
-- 11 --
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,
What kind of man he is.
2 Gent.
I honour him
Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?
1 Gent.
His only child.
He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old,
I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stolen; and to this hour, no guess in knowledge
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.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
