2 Lord.

Here comes the king.

Clo.

I am glad I was up so late, for that's the reason I was up so early: he cannot choose but take this service I have done, fatherly.—Good morrow to your majesty, and to my gracious mother.

Cym.
Attend you here the door of our stern daughter?
Will she not forth?

Clo.

I have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafes no notice.

Cym.
The exile of her minion is too new;
She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
Must wear the print of his remembrance out,
And then she's yours.

Queen.
You are most bound to the king;
Who lets go by no vantages, that may
Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself
To orderly solicits, and be friended
With aptness of the season: make denials
Increase your services: so seem, as if
You were inspir'd to do those duties which
You tender to her; that you in all obey her,
Save when command to your dismission tends,
And therein you are senseless.

Clo.
Senseless? not so. Enter a Messenger.

Mess.
So like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome:
The one is Caius Lucius.

Cym.
A worthy fellow,
Albeit he comes on angry purpose now;
But that's no fault of his: we must receive him
According to the honour of his sender;
And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us,
We must extend our notice.—Our dear son,
When you have given good morning to your mistress,
Attend the queen, and us; we shall have need
To employ you towards this Roman.—Come, our queen. [Exeunt Cym., Queen, Lords, and Mess.

Clo.
If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not,
Let her lie still, and dream.—By your leave, ho!— [Knocks.

I know her women are about her: what
If I do line one of their hands? 'Tis gold
Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes
Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
Their deer to the stand o' the stealer; and 'tis gold
Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the thief;
Nay, sometime, hangs both thief and true man: what
Can it not do, and undo? I will make
One of her women lawyer to me; for
I yet not understand the case myself.
By your leave. [Knocks. Enter a Lady.

Lady.
Who's there, that knocks?

Clo.
A gentleman.

Lady.
No more?

Clo.
Yes, and a gentlewoman's son.

Lady.
That's more
Than some, whose tailors are as dear as yours,
Can justly boast of. What's your lordship's pleasure?

Clo.
Your lady's person: is she ready?

Lady.
Ay,
To keep her chamber.

Clo.
There's gold for you: sell me your good report.

Lady.
How! my good name? or to report of you
What I shall think is good?—The princess— Enter Imogen.

Clo.
Good morrow, fairest: sister your sweet hand.

Imo.
Good morrow, sir. You lay out too much pains
For purchasing but trouble: the thanks I give,
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.

Clo.
Still, I swear, I love you.

Imo.
If you but said so, 'twere as deep with me:

If you swear still, your recompense is still
That I regard it not.

Clo.
This is no answer.

Imo.
But that you shall not say I yield, being silent,
I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: faith,
I shall unfold equal discourtesy
To your best kindness. One of your great knowing
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

Clo.
To leave you in your madness, 'twere my sin:
I will not.

Imo.
Fools are not mad folks.

Clo.
Do you call me fool?

Imo.
As I am mad, I do:
If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being so verbal: and learn now, for all,
That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
By the very truth of it, I care not for you;
And am so near the lack of charity,
(To accuse myself) I hate you; which I had rather
You felt, than make't my boast.

Clo.
You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
(One, bred of alms, and foster'd with cold dishes,
With scraps o' the court) it is no contract, none:
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,
(Yet who than he more mean?) to knit their souls
(On whom there is no more dependency
But brats and beggary) in self-figur'd knot,
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o' the crown, and must not foil^{5 note}

The precious note of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery^{6 note}, a squire's cloth,
A pantler, not so eminent.

Imo.
Profane fellow!
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more
But what thou art besides, thou wert too base
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,
Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styl'd
The under-hangman of his kingdom, and hated
For being preferr'd so well.

Clo.
The south-fog rot him!

Imo.
He never can meet more mischance, than come
To be but nam'd of thee. His meanest garment,
That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer
In my respect than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men.—How now, Pisanio! Enter Pisanio.

Clo.
His garment? Now, the devil—

Imo.
To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently.—

Clo.
His garment?

Imo.
I am sprighted with a fool;
Frighted, and anger'd worse.—Go, bid my woman
Search for a jewel, that too casually
Hath left mine arm: it was thy master's; 'shrew me,
If I would lose it for a revenue
Of any king's in Europe. I do think,
I saw't this morning: confident I am,
Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it.
I hope, it be not gone to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but he.

Pis.
'Twill not be lost.

Imo.
I hope so: go, and search. [Exit Pis.

Clo.
You have abus'd me.—
His meanest garment?

Imo.
Ay; I said so, sir.
If you will make't an action, call witness to't.

Clo.
I will inform your father.

Imo.
Your mother too:
She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,
To the worst of discontent. [Exit.

Clo.
I'll be reveng'd.—
His meanest garment?—Well. [Exit.

Previous section

Next section