First Gaol. ^note
You shall not now be stol'n, you have ^note locks upon you: ^note
So graze as ^note you find pasture.

Sec. Gaol. ^note
Ay, or a stomach ^note. [Exeunt Gaolers. ^note

Post.
Most welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,
I think, to liberty: yet am I better
Than one that's sick o' the gout; since he had rather
Groan so in perpetuity than be cured
By the sure physician, death, who is the key
To unbar these locks. My conscience, thou art fetter'd
More than my shanks and wrists: you good gods, give me
The penitent instrument to pick that bolt,
Then, free for ever! ^note Is't ^note enough I am ^note sorry?
So children temporal fathers do appease;

Gods are more full of mercy. Must I repent? ^note
I cannot do it better than in gyves,
Desired more than constrain'd: to satisfy,
If of my freedom 'tis ^note the main part, take
No stricter render of me than my all. ^note
I know you are more clement than vile ^note men,
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A sixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement: that's not my desire:
For Imogen's dear life take mine; and though
'Tis not so dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it:
'Tween man and man they weigh not every stamp;
Though ^note light, take pieces for the figure's sake:
You rather mine, ^note being yours: and so, great powers, ^note
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel these ^note cold ^note bonds. O Imogen!
I'll speak to thee in silence. [Sleeps. ^note Solemn music. Enter, as in an ^note apparition, ^note Sicilius Leonatus, father to Posthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior; leading in his hand an ancient matron, his wife and mother to Posthumus, with music before them: then, after other music, follow ^note the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Posthumus round as he lies sleeping.

Sici.
No more, thou thunder-master, show
  Thy spite on mortal flies ^note:
With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,

  That thy adulteries ^note
    Rates and revenges.
Hath my poor boy done aught but well,
  Whose face I never saw?
I died whilst in the womb he stay'd
  Attending nature's law:
Whose father then—as men report
  Thou orphans' father art—
Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him
  From this ^note earth-vexing smart.

Moth.
Lucina lent not me her aid,
  But took me in my throes ^note;
That from me was ^note Posthumus ript,
  Came crying 'mongst his foes,
    A thing of pity!

Sici.
Great nature, like his ancestry,
  Moulded the stuff so fair,
That he deserved ^note the praise o' the world,
  As great Sicilius' heir.

First Bro.
When once he was mature for man,
  In Britain where was he
That could stand up his parallel,
  Or fruitful ^note object be ^note
In eye of Imogen, that best
  Could deem his dignity? ^note

Moth.
With marriage wherefore was he mock'd,
  To be exiled, and thrown
From Leonati ^note seat, and cast
  From her ^note his dearest one,
    Sweet Imogen?

Sici.
Why did you suffer Iachimo,
  Slight thing of Italy,
To taint his nobler heart and brain
  With needless jealousy;
And to become ^note the geck ^note and scorn
  O' the other's villany? ^note

Sec. Bro.
For this, from stiller seats we came ^note,
  Our parents and us ^note twain,
That striking in our country's cause
  Fell bravely and were slain,
Our fealty and Tenantius' right
  With honour to maintain. ^note

First Bro.
Like hardiment Posthumus hath
  To Cymbeline perform'd:
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
  Why hast thou thus adjourn'd
The graces for his ^note merits due;
  Being all to dolours turn'd? ^note

Sici.
Thy crystal window ope; look out ^note;
  No longer exercise
Upon a valiant race thy harsh
  And potent injuries. ^note

Moth.
Since, Jupiter, our son is good,
  Take off his miseries.

Sici.
Peep through thy marble mansion; help;
  Or we poor ghosts will cry
To the shining synod of the rest
  Against thy deity. ^note

Both Bro. ^note
Help, Jupiter; or we appeal,
  And from thy justice fly. Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle: he throws a thunderbolt. The Ghosts fall on their knees.

Jup.
No more, you petty spirits of region low,
  Offend our hearing; hush! How dare you ghosts
Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know,
  Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coasts? ^note
Poor shadows of Elysium, hence, and rest
  Upon your never-withering banks of flowers:
Be not with mortal accidents opprest;
  No care of yours it is; you know 'tis ours.
Whom best I love I cross; to make my gift,
  The more delay'd, delighted ^note. ^note Be content;
Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift:
  His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.
Our Jovial star reign'd at his birth, and in
  Our temple was he married. Rise, and fade.
He shall be lord of lady Imogen,
  And happier much by his affliction made. ^note
This tablet lay upon his breast, wherein
  Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine:
And so away: no farther ^note with your din
  Express impatience, lest you stir up mine. ^note
  Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. [Ascends.

Sici.
He came in thunder; his celestial ^note breath
Was sulphurous to smell: the holy eagle
Stoop'd, as to foot us: his ascension is
More sweet than our blest fields: his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing and cloys ^note his beak,
As when his god is pleased.

All.
Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici.
The marble pavement closes ^note, he is enter'd
His radiant roof. Away! and, to be blest,
Let us with care perform his great behest. [The Ghosts vanish. ^note

Post. [Waking ^note]
Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot
A father to me; and thou hast created
A mother and two brothers: but, O scorn!
Gone! ^note they went hence so soon as they were born:
And so I am awake. Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' ^note favour ^note dream as I have done; ^note
Wake, and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And yet are steep'd in favours; so am I,
That have this golden chance, and know not why.
What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O rare one!
Be not, as is ^note our fangled ^note world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers: let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,
As good as promise. [Reads.

‘When as ^note a ^note 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.’

Or senseless ^note speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie. Be what it is,
The action of my life is like it, which
I'll keep, ^note if but for sympathy. Re-enter Gaolers. ^note

First Gaol. ^note

Come, sir, are you ready for death?

Post.

Over-roasted rather; ready long ago.

First Gaol. ^note

Hanging is the word, sir: if you be ready for that, you are well cooked.

Post.

So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish pays the shot.

First Gaol. ^note

A heavy reckoning for you, sir. But the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern-bills; which are often ^note the sadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth: you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; sorry that you have paid too much, and sorry ^note that you are paid too ^note much; purse and brain both empty, the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness: of ^note this contradiction you shall now be quit. O, the charity of a penny cord! it sums up thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and creditor ^note but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge: your neck, sir ^note, is pen, book, and counters; so the acquittance follows.

Post.

I am merrier to die than thou art to live.

First Gaol. ^note

Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the toothache: but a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman ^note to help him to bed, I think he would change places with his officer; for, look you, sir, you know not which way you shall go.

Post.

Yes, indeed do I, fellow.

First Gaol. ^note

Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not seen him so pictured: you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know, or to take ^note upon yourself that which I am sure you do not know, or jump ^note the after-inquiry on your own peril: and how you shall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll never return to tell one.

Post.

I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going, but such as wink and will not use them.

First Gaol. ^note

What an infinite mock is this, that a man should have the best use of eyes to see the way of blindness! I am sure hanging's the way of winking.

Mess.

Knock off his manacles; bring your prisoner to the king.

Post.

Thou bringest good news, I am called to be made free.

First Gaol. ^note

I'll be hanged then.

Post.

Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead.

First Gaol. ^note

Unless a man would marry a gallows and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be some of them too, that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good; O, there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses! I speak against my present profit, but my wish hath a preferment in't.

^note

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