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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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CYMBELINE A TRAGEDY.

-- 228 --

Introductory matter

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. CYMBELINE, King of Britaine. Cloten, Son to the Queen by a former Husband, Leonatus Posthumus [Posthumus Leonatus], a Gentleman in love with the Princess, and privately married to her. Guiderius, Disguis'd under the name of Paladour, supposed Son to Belarius. Arviragus, Disguis'd under the name of Cadwal, supposed Son to Belarius. Belarius, a banish'd Lord, disguis'd under the name of Morgan. Philario, an Italian, Friend to Posthumus. Iachimo, Friend to Philario. Caius Lucius, Ambassador from Rome. Pisanio, Servant to Posthumus. A French Gentleman, Friend to Philario. Cornelius, a Doctor, Servant to the Queen. Two Gentlemen [Gentleman 1], [Gentleman 2]. Queen, Wife to Cymbeline. Imogen, Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen. Helen, Woman to Imogen. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Ghosts, a Soothsayer, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. [Lord 1], [Lord 2], [Lady], [Lady 1], [Messenger], [Senator 1], [Senator 2], [Captain], [Lord], [Captain 1], [Captain 2], [Gaoler 1], [Gaoler 2], [Gaoler], [Apparition of Sicilius Leonatus], [Apparition of Posthumus's Mother], [Apparition of Brother to Posthumus 1], [Apparition of Brother to Posthumus 2] SCENE, sometimes in Britaine; sometimes in Italy.

-- 229 --

CYMBELINE. ACT I. SCENE I. Cymbeline's Palace in Britaine. Enter two Gentlemen.

1 Gentleman.
1 note










You do not meet a man, but frowns: Our brows
No more obey the heavens than our courtiers;
But seem, as does the King's.

2 Gent.
But what's the matter?

-- 230 --

1 Gent.
His daughter, and the heir of's Kingdom, (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 wedded;—
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: All
Is outward sorrow, 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 look) but hath a heart that is
Glad at the thing they scoul 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 marry'd 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,
So fair an outward, and such stuff within
Endows a man but him.

-- 231 --

2 Gent.
2 noteYou speak him far.

1 Gent.
3 note



I don't extend him, Sir: Within himself
Crush him together, rather than unfold
His measure fully.

2 Gent.
What's his name and birth?

1 Gent.
I cannot delve him to the root: his father
Was called Sicillius, 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 o' th' time,
Dy'd 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 theam, 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 bed-chamber:

-- 232 --


Puts to him all the Learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of, which he took
As we do air, fast as 'twas ministred.
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 young'st; to th' more mature,
A glass that featur'd 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,
What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.
I honour him, ev'n out of your report.
But 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' th' swathing cloaths the other, from their nursery
Were stol'n; 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 Gentleman,
The Queen, and Princess.
[Exeunt.

-- 233 --

SCENE II. Enter the Queen, Posthumus, Imogen, and attendants.

Queen.
No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,
After the slander of most step-mothers,
I'll-ey'd unto you: You're my pris'ner, but
Your goaler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win th' 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.

Imo.
Dissembling courtesie! how fine this tyrant
Can tickle, where she wounds! My dearest husband,
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 loyall'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

-- 234 --


Known but by letter; thither write, my Queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall. Re-enter Queen.

Queen.
Be brief, I pray you;
If the King come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure—yet I'll move him [Aside.
To walk this way; I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries: to be friends,
Pays dear for my offences.
[Exit.

Post.
Should we be taking leave,
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The lothness to depart would grow:—adieu!

Imo.
Nay, stay a little—
Were you but riding forth to air your self,
Such Parting were too petty. Look here, Love,
This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart,
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post.
How, how, another!
You gentle Gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death. Remain, remain thou here, [Putting on the ring.
While sense can keep thee on! and Sweetest, Fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles
I still win of you. For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love, I'll place it [Putting a bracelet on her arm.
Upon this fairest pris'ner.

Imo.
O, the Gods!
When shall we see again?

-- 235 --

SCENE III. Enter Cymbeline, and Lords.

Post.
Alack, the King!—

Cym.
Thou basest Thing, avoid; hence, from my sight:
If, after this Command, thou fraught the Court
With thy unworthiness, thou dy'st. Away!
Thou'rt poison to my blood.

Post.
The Gods protect you,
And bless the good remainders of the Court!
I'm gone.
[Exit.

Imo.
There cannot be a pinch in death
More sharp than this is.

Cym.
4 note




O disloyal thing,
That should'st repair my youth, thou heap'st
A yare age on me.

Imo.
I beseech you, Sir,
Harm not your self with your Vexation;
I'm senseless of your wrath; 5 notea touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym.
Past grace? obedience?

-- 236 --

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

Cym.
Thou might'st have had the sole son of my Queen.

Imo.
O, blest, that I might not! I chose an eagle,
And did avoid a puttock.

Cym.
Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my Throne
A Seat for Baseness.

Imo.
No, I rather added
A lustre to it.

Cym.
O thou vile one!

Imo.
Sir,
It is your fault, that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is
A man, worth any woman; over-buys me
Almost the sum he pays.

Cym.
What!—art thou mad?

Imo.
Almost, Sir; heav'n restore me! 'would I were
A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
Our neighbour-shepherd's son!
Enter Queen.

Cym.
Thou foolish Thing;—
They were again together, you have done [To the Queen.
Not after our Command. Away with her,
And pen her up.

Queen.
Beseech you patience; peace,
Dear lady daughter, peace. Sweet Sovereign,
Leave us t'our selves, and make your self some comfort
Out of your best advice.

Cym.
Nay, let her languish
A drop of blood a-day; and, being aged,
Die of this folly.
[Exit.

-- 237 --

Enter Pisanio.

Queen.
Fie, you must give way:
Here is your servant. How now, Sir? what news?

Pis.
My lord your son drew on my master.

Queen.
Hah!
No harm, I trust, is done?

Pis.
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'm 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't 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, pray you, speak with me;
You shall, at least, go see my Lord aboard.
From this time leave me.—
[Exeunt. SCENE IV. Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

1 Lord.

Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice. Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholsom as That you vent.

-- 238 --

Clot.

If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it— Have I hurt him?

2 Lord.

No, faith: Not so much as his patience.

[Aside.

1 Lord.

Hurt him? his body's a passable carkass, if he be not hurt. It is a thorough-fare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord.

His steel was in debt, it went o' th'backside the town.

[Aside.

Clot.

The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord.

No, but he fled forward still, towards 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.

Clot.

I would, they had not come between us.

2 Lord.

So would I, 'till you had measur'd how long a fool you were upon the ground.

[Aside.

Clot.

And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!—

2 Lord.

If it be a sin to make a true election, she's damn'd.

[Aside.

1 Lord.

Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together. 6 note
She's a good Shine, but
I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord.

She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her.

[Aside.

Clot.

Come, I'll to my chamber: 'would, there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord.

I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt.

[Aside.

-- 239 --

Clot.

You'll go with us?

1 Lord.

I'll attend your Lordship.

Clot.

Nay, come, let's go together.

2 Lord.

Well, my Lord.

[Exeunt. SCENE V. Imogen's Apartment. Enter Imogen, and Pisanio.

Imo.
I would, thou grew'st unto the shores o'th' haven,
And question'd'st every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 7 note


'twere a paper lost
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake with thee?

Pis.
'Twas, His Queen, his Queen!

Imo.
Then wav'd his handkerchief?

Pis.
And kiss'd it, Madam.

Imo.
Senseless linnen, happier therein than I!
And that was all?

Pis.
No, Madam; 8 note



for so long

-- 240 --


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's mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

Imo.
Thou should'st have made him
As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.

Pis.
Madam, so I did.

&plquo;Imo.
&plquo;I would have broke mine eye-strings; crackt 'em, but
&plquo;To look upon him; 9 note



'till the diminution
&plquo;Of's space had pointed him sharp as my needle;
&plquo;Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from
&plquo;The smallness of a gnat, to air; and then
&plquo;Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.—But, good Pisanio,&prquo;
When shall we hear from him?

Pis.
Be assur'd, Madam,
With his next vantage.

Imo.
I did not take my leave of him, but had
&wlquo;Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
&wlquo;How I would think on him, at certain hours,
&wlquo;Such thoughts, and such; or, I could make him swear,
&wlquo;The She's of Italy should not betray
&wlquo;Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him,
&wlquo;At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,

-- 241 --


&wlquo;T'encounter me with Orisons; (for then
&wlquo;I am in heaven for him;) 1 note


or ere I could
&wlquo;Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
&wlquo;Betwixt two charming words, 2 note



comes in my Father;

-- 242 --


&wlquo;And, like the tyrannous breathing of the North,
&wlquo;Shakes all our buds from blowing.&wrquo; Enter a Lady.

Lady.
The Queen, Madam,
Desires your Highness' company.

Imo.
Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch'd.
I will attend the Queen.

Pis.
Madam, I shall.
[Exeunt. SCENE VI. Changes to Rome. Enter Philario, Iachimo, and a French man.

Iach.

Believe it, Sir, I have seen him in Britaine; he was then of a crescent Note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he has been allowed the name of. But I could then have look'd on him, without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by Items.

Phil.

You speak of him when he was less furnish'd, 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 approbations of those, that weep this lamentable divorce under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortifie her Judgment, which else an easie battery might lay flat, for

-- 243 --

taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? how creeps acquaintance?

Phil.

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

Enter Posthumus.

Here comes the Briton. Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits with Gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality. I beseech you all, be better known to this Gentleman; whom I commend to you as a noble friend of mine. How worthy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.

French.

Sir, we have been 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.

Post.

By your pardon, Sir, I was then a young traveller; rather shun'd to go even with what I heard, than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences; but upon my mended judgment, (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 faln both.

Iach.

Can we with manners ask, what was the difference?

-- 244 --

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, chast, constant, qualified, and less attemptable 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 provok'd, as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; tho' I profess my self her adorer, not her friend.

Iach.

As fair, and as good, a kind of hand-in-hand comparison, had been something too fair and too good for any Lady in Britany. 3 noteIf she went before others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lusters many I have beheld, I could believe, she excelled many; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is, nor you the Lady.

Post.

I prais'd 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 unparagon'd Mistress is dead, or she's out-priz'd by a trifle.

-- 245 --

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 stoln too; so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail and the other casual. A cunning thief, or a that-way-accomplish'd courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Post.

Your Italy contains none so accomplish'd a Courtier 4 noteto 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.

Phil.

Let us leave here, Gentlemen.

Post.

Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first.

Iach.

With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair Mistress; make her go back, even to the yielding: had I admittance, and opportunity to friend.

Post.

No, no.—

Iach.

I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of 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 reputation: And to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it against any Lady in the world.

Post.

You are a great deal abus'd in too bold a perswasion;

-- 246 --

and, I doubt not, you'd sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt.

Iach.

What's That?

Post.

A repulse; though your attempt, as you call it, deserves more; a punishment too.

Phil.

Gentlemen, enough of this; it came in too suddenly, let it die as it was born; and I pray you, be better acquainted.

Iach.

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

Post.

What Lady would you chuse to assail?

Iach.

Yours; who 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 advantage than the opportunity of a second conference, I will bring from thence that honour of hers, which you imagine so reserv'd.

Post.

I will wage against your gold, gold to it: 5 note



my ring I hold dear as my finger, 'tis part of it.

Iach.

You are afraid, 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.

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 you to this match; here's my ring.

-- 247 --

Phil.

I will have it no Lay.

Iach.

By the Gods it is one. 6 note
If I bring you sufficient
testimony that I have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your mistress, my ten thousand ducats are mine; so is your diamond too. If I come off, and leave her in such honour 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 prevail'd, I am no further your enemy, she is not worth our debate. If she remain unseduc'd, you not making it appear otherwise; for your ill opinion, and th' 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 Britaine, lest the bargain should catch cold, and starve. I will fetch my gold, and have our two wagers recorded.

-- 248 --

Post.

Agreed.

[Exeunt Posthumus and Iachimo.

French.
Will this hold, think you?

Phil.
Signior Iachimo will not from it.
Pray, let us follow 'em.
[Exeunt. SCENE VII. Changes to Cymbeline's Palace in Britaine. Enter Queen, Ladies, and Cornelius with a Viol.

Queen.
While yet the dew's on ground, gather those flowers:
Make haste.—Who has the note of them?

1 Lady.
I, Madam.

Queen.
Dispatch. [Exeunt Ladies.
Now, master Doctor, you have brought those drugs?

Cor.
Pleaseth your Highness, ay; here they are, Madam;
But I beseech your Grace, without offence,
(My conscience bids me ask) wherefore you have
Commanded of me these most pois'nous compounds?
Which are the movers of a languishing death;
But, though slow, deadly.

Queen.
I do wonder, Doctor,
Thou ask'st me such a question; have I not been
Thy pupil long? hast thou not learn'd me how
To make perfumes? distil? preserve? yea, so,
That our great King himself doth woo me oft
For my confections? having thus far proceeded,
(Unless thou think'st me dev'lish,) is't not meet
That I did amplifie my judgment in
Other conclusions? I will try the forces
Of these thy compounds on such creatures as
We count not worth the hanging, (but none human;)
To try the vigour of them, and apply
Allayments to their act; and by them gather
Their sev'ral virtues and effects.

-- 249 --

Cor.
Your Highness
Shall from this practice but make hard your heart;
Besides, the seeing these effects will be
Both noysome and infectious.

Queen.
O, content thee. Enter Pisanio.
Here comes a flatt'ring rascal, upon him [Aside.
Will I first work; he's for his master's sake
An enemy to my son. How now, Pisanio?
Doctor, your service for this time is ended;
Take your own way.

Cor.
I do suspect you, Madam: [Aside.
But you shall do no harm.

Queen.
Hark thee, a word.—
[To Pisanio.

Cor.
I do not like her. She doth think, she has
Strange ling'ring poisons; I do know her spirit,
And will not trust one of her malice with
A drug of such damn'd nature. Those, she has,
Will stupifie and dull the sense a while;
Which first, perchance, she'll prove on cats and dogs,
Then afterwards up higher; but there is
No danger in what shew of death it makes,
More than the locking up the spirits a time,
To be more fresh, reviving. She is fool'd
With a most false effect; and I the truer,
So to be false with her.

Queen.
No further service, Doctor,
Until I send for thee.

Cor.
I humbly take my leave.
[Exit.

Queen.
Weeps she still, say'st thou? dost thou think, in time
She will not quench, and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? do thou work;
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I'll tell thee on the instant, thou art then
As great as is thy master; greater; for

-- 250 --


His fortunes all lye speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp. Return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is: to shift his being,
Is to exchange one misery with another;
And every day, that comes, comes to decay
A day's work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans?
Who cannot be new built, and has no friends,
So much as but to prop him?—Thou tak'st up [Pisanio looking on the Viol.
Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour;
It is a thing I make, which hath the King
Five times redeem'd from death; I do not know
What is more cordial. Nay, I pr'ythee, take it;
It is an earnest of a farther Good
That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do't, as from thyself:
Think, what a chance thou chancest on; but think;—
Thou hast thy mistress still: to boot, my son;
Who shall take notice of thee. I'll move the King
To any shape of thy preferment, such
As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound
To load thy merit richly. Call my women— [Exit Pisanio.
Think on my words—A sly and constant knave,
Not to be shak'd; the agent for his master;
And the remembrancer of her, to hold
The hand fast to her Lord.—I've giv'n him That,
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her
Of leidgers for her sweet; and which she, after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
To taste of too. Enter Pisanio, and Ladies.
So, so; well done, well done;
The violets, cowslips, and the primroses,

-- 251 --


Bear to my closet; fare thee well, Pisanio,
Think on my words. [Exeunt Queen and Ladies.

Pis.
And shall do:
But when to my good Lord I prove untrue,
I'll choak myself; there's all I'll do for you.
[Exit. SCENE VIII. Changes to Imogen's Apartments. Enter Imogen alone.

Imo.
A father cruel, and a Stepdame false,
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,
That hath her husband banish'd—O, that husband!
My supream crown of grief, 8 note
and those repeated
Vexations of it—Had I been thief-stoln,
As my two brothers, happy! 9 note
but most miserable
Is the desire, that's glorious. 1 note

Bless'd be those,
How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? fie!

-- 252 --

Enter Pisanio, and Iachimo.

Pis.
Madam, a noble Gentleman of Rome
Comes from my Lord with letters.

Iach.
Change you, Madam?
The worthy Leonatus is in safety,
And greets your Highness dearly.

Imo.
Thanks, good Sir,
You're kindly welcome.

Iach.
All of her, that is out of door, most rich!
If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare, [Aside.
She is alone th' Arabian bird; and I
Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend!
Arm me, Audacity, from head to foot:
Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight,
Rather directly fly.

Imogen reads.

He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tyed. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value your trust.

Leonatus.


So far I read aloud:
But even the very middle of my heart
Is warm'd by th' rest, and takes it thankfully.—
You are as welcome, worthy Sir, as I
Have words to bid you; and shall find it so,
In all that I can do,

Iach.
Thanks, fairest Lady—
What! are men mad? hath nature given them eyes
To see this vaulted arch, 2 note

and the rich cope
Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above, and the twinn'd stones

-- 253 --


3 note


Upon th' humbl'd beach? and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious
'Twixt fair and foul.

Imo.
What makes your admiration?

Iach.
It cannot be i' th' eye; (for apes and monkeys,
'Twixt two such she's, would chatter this way, and
Contemn with mowes the other:) Nor i' th' judgment;
For Ideots, in this case of favour, would
Be wisely definite: Nor i' th' appetite:
Slutt'ry, to such neat excellence oppos'd,
4 note
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed.

Imo.
What is the matter, trow?

Iach.
The cloyed will,
That satiate, yet unsatisfy'd desire, (that tub
Both fill'd and running;) ravening first the lamb,
Longs after for the garbage—

Imo.
What, dear Sir,
Thus raps you? are you well?

Iach.
Thanks, Madam, well—'Beseech you, Sir, [To Pisanio.
Desire my man's abode, where I did leave him;
5 note
He's strange, and peevish.

Pis.
I was going, Sir,

-- 254 --


To give him welcome.

Imo.
Continues well my Lord
His health, 'beseech you?

Iach.
Well, Madam.

Imo.
Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope, he is.

Iach.
Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger there
So merry, and so gamesome; he is call'd
The Britaine Reveller.

Imo.
When he was here,
He did incline to sadness, and oft times
Not knowing why.

Iach.
I never saw him sad,
There is a Frenchman his companion, one,
An eminent Monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home. He furnaces
The thick sighs from him; whiles the jolly Briton,
(Your Lord, I mean,) laughs from's free lungs, cries Oh!—
Can my sides hold, to think, that man, who knows
By history, report, or his own proof,
What woman is, yea, what she cannot chuse
But must be, will his free hours languish out
For assur'd bondage?

Imo.
Will my Lord say so?

Iach.
Ay, Madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter.
It is a recreation to be by,
And hear him mock the Frenchman: but heav'n knows,
Some men are much to blame.

Imo.
Not he, I hope.

Iach.
Not he. But yet heav'n's bounty tow'rds him might
Be us'd more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much;
In you, whom I count his, beyond all talents;
Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound
To pity too.

-- 255 --

Imo.
What do you pity, Sir?

Iach.
Two creatures heartily.

Imo.
Am I one, Sir?
You look on me; what wreck discern you in me,
Deserves your pity

Iach.
Lamentable! what!
To hide me from the radiant sun, and solace
I' th' dungeon by a snuff?

Imo.
I pray you, Sir,
Deliver with more openness your answers
To my demands. Why do you pity me?

Iach.
That others do,
I was about to say, enjoy your—but
It is an office of the Gods to venge it,
Not mine to speak on't.

Imo.
You do seem to know
Something of me, or what concerns me; pray you,
(Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more
Than to be sure they do; for certainties
Or are past remedies, or timely knowing,
The remedy then born;) discover to me
What both you spur and stop.

Iach.
Had I this cheek
To bath my lips upon; this hand, whose touch,
Whose ev'ry touch would force the feeler's soul
To th' oath of loyalty; this object, which
Takes pris'ner the wild motion of mine eye,
Fixing it only here; should I, (damn'd them note,)
Slaver with lips, as common as the stairs
That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands
Made hard with hourly falshood, as with labour;
Then glad myself by peeping in an eye,
Base and unlustrous as the smoaky light
That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit,
That all the plagues of hell should at one time
Encounter such revolt.

-- 256 --

Imo.
My Lord, I fear,
Has forgot Britaine.

Iach.
And himself. Not I,
Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce
The beggary of this change; but 'tis your graces,
That from my mutest conscience, to my tongue,
Charms this report out.

Imo.
Let me hear no more.

Iach.
Oh dearest soul! your cause doth strike my heart
With pity, that doth make me sick. A Lady
So fair, and fasten'd to an empery,
Would make the great'st King double! to be partner'd
With tomboys, hir'd with that self-exhibition
Which your own coffers yield!—with diseas'd ventures,
That play with all infirmities for gold,
Which rottenness lends nature! such boyl'd stuff,
As well might poison Poison! Be reveng'd;
Or she, that bore you, was no Queen, and you
Recoil from your great stock.

Imo.
Reveng'd!
How should I be reveng'd, if this be true?
(As I have such a heart, that both mine ears
Must not in haste abuse;) if it be true,
How shall I be reveng'd?

Iach.
Should he make me
Live like Diana's Priest, betwixt cold sheets?
Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps
In your despight, upon your purse? Revenge it:—
I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure,
More noble than that runagate to your bed;
And will continue fast to your affection,
Still close, as sure.

Imo.
What ho, Pisanio!—

Iach.
Let me my service tender on your lips.

Imo.
Away!—I do condemn mine ears, that have

-- 257 --


So long attended thee. If thou wert honourable,
Thou would'st have told this tale for virtue, not
For such an end thou seek'st; as base, as strange:
Thou wrong'st a Gentleman, who is as far
From thy report, as thou from honour; and
Sollicit'st here a Lady, that disdains
Thee, and the Devil alike. What ho, Pisanio!—
The King my father shall be made acquainted
Of thy assault; if he shall think it fit,
A saucy stranger in his court to mart
As in a Romish stew, and to expound
His beastly mind to us; he hath a court
He little cares for, and a daughter whom
He not respects at all. What ho, Pisanio!

Iach.
O happy Leonatus, I may say;
The credit, that thy Lady hath of thee,
Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness
Her assur'd credit! blessed live you long,
A Lady to the worthiest Sir, that ever
Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only
For the most worthiest fit! Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this, to know if your affiance
Were deeply rooted; and shall make your Lord,
That which he is, new o'er: and he is one
The truest-manner'd, such a holy witch,
That he enchants societies into him:
Half all men's hearts are his.

Imo.
You make amends.

Iach.
He sits 'mong men, like a descended God:
He hath a kind of honour sets him off,
More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,
Most mighty Princess, that I have adventur'd
To try your taking of a false report; which hath
Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment,
In the election of a Sir, so rare,
Which, you know, cannot err. The love I bear him,
Made me to fan you thus; but the Gods made you,

-- 258 --


Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon.

Imo.
All's well, Sir; take my pow'r i' th' court for yours.

Iach.
My humble thanks; I had almost forgot
T' intreat your Grace but in a small request,
And yet of moment too, for it concerns
Your Lord; myself, and other noble friends
Are partners in the business.

Imo.
Pray, what is't?

Iach.
Some dozen Romans of us, and your Lord,
(Best feather of our wing,) have mingled sums
To buy a present for the Emperor:
Which I, the factor for the rest, have done
In France; 'tis plate of rare device, and jewels
Of rich and exquisite form, their values great;
And I am something curious, being strange,
To have them in safe stowage: may it please you
To take them in protection?

Imo.
Willingly;
And pawn mine honour for their safety. Since
My Lord hath int'rest in them, I will keep them
In my bed-chamber.

Iach.
They are in a trunk,
Attended by my men: I will make bold
To send them to you, only for this night;
I must aboard to morrow.

Imo.
O no, no.

Iach.
Yes, I beseech you: or I shall short my word,
By length'ning my return. From Gallia,
I cross'd the seas on purpose, and on promise
To see your Grace.

Imo.
I thank you for your pains;
But not away to morrow?

Iach.
O, I must, Madam.
Therefore, I shall beseech you, if you please
To greet your lord with writing, do't to night.
I have outstood my time, which is material

-- 259 --


To th' tender of our present.

Imo.
I will write:
Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,
And truly yielded you: You're very welcome.
[Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. CYMBELINE's Palace. Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

Cloten.

Was there ever man had such luck! when I kiss'd the Jack upon an up-cast, to be hit away! I had an hundred pound on't; and then a whoreson jack-an-apes must take me up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

1 Lord.

What got he by that? you have broke his pate with your bowl.

2 Lord.

If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

[Aside.

Clot.

When a gentleman is dispos'd to swear, it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths. Ha?

2 Lord.

No, my lord; nor crop the ears of them.

[Aside.

Clot.

Whorson dog! I give him satisfaction? 'would, he had been one of my rank.

2 Lord.

To have smelt like a fool.—

[Aside.

Clot.

I am not vext more at any thing in the earth,—a pox on't! I had rather not be so noble as I am; they dare not fight with me, because of the Queen my mother; every Jack-slave hath his belly full of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that no body can match.

-- 260 --

2 Lord.

You are a cock and a capon too; and you crow, cock, with your comb on.

[Aside.

Clot.

Say'st thou?

2 Lord.

It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion, that you give offence to.

Clot.

No, I know that; but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors.

2 Lord.

Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.—

Clot.

Why, so I say.

1 Lord.

Did you hear of a stranger that's come to court to night?

Clot.

A stranger, and I not know on't?

2 Lord.

He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not.

[Aside.

1 Lord.

There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of Leonatus's friends.

Clot.

Leonatus! a banish'd rascal; and he's another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger?

1 Lord.

One of your lordship's pages.

Clot.

Is it fit I went to look upon him? is there no derogation in't?

2 Lord.

You cannot derogate, my lord.

Clot.

Not easily, I think.

2 Lord.

You are a fool granted, therefore your issues being foolish do not derogate.

[Aside.

Clot.

Come, I'll go see this Italian: what I have lost to day at bowls, I'll win to night of him. Come; go.

2 Lord.
I'll attend your lordship. [Exit Clot.
That such a crafty devil as his mother,
Should yield the world this ass!—a woman, that
Bears all down with her brain; and this her son
Cannot take two from twenty for his heart,
And leave eighteen.—Alas, Poor Princess,
Thou divine Imogen, what thou endur'st!
Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd,
A mother hourly coining plots; a wooer,

-- 261 --


More hateful than the foul expulsion is
Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act
Of the divorce (a) note Hell-made. The heav'ns hold firm
The walls of thy dear Honour; keep unshak'd
That Temple, thy fair Mind; that thou may'st stand
T' enjoy thy banish'd lord, and this great land! [Exeunt. SCENE II. Changes to a magnificent Bed-chamber; in one part of it a large trunk. Imogen is discover'd reading in her bed, a Lady attending.

Imo.
Who's there? my woman Helen?

Lady.
Please you, Madam—

Imo.
What hour is it?

Lady.
Almost midnight, Madam.

Imo.
I have read three hours then, mine eyes are weak,
Fold down the leaf where I have left; to bed—
Take not away the taper, leave it burning:
And if thou canst awake by four o'th' clock,
I pr'ythee, call me—sleep hath seiz'd me wholly. [Exit Lady.
To your protection I commend me, Gods;
From Fairies, and the Tempters of the night,
Guard me, 'beseech ye.
[Sleeps. [Iachimo rises from the trunk.

Iach.
The crickets sing, and man's o'er-labour'd sense
Repairs itself by rest: our Tarquin thus
Did softly press the rushes, ere he waken'd

-- 262 --


The chastity he wounded. Cytherea,
How bravely thou becom'st thy bed! fresh lilly,
And whiter than the sheets! that I might touch,
But kiss, one kiss—rubies unparagon'd,
How dearly they do't—'tis her breathing, that
Perfumes the chamber thus: the flame o'th' taper
Bows tow'rd her, and would under-peep her lids,
To see th' inclosed light, now canopy'd
Under these windows: white 1 note



with azure lac'd,
The blue of heav'n's own tinct—But my design's
To note the chamber—I will write all down,
Such, and such, pictures—there, the window,—such
Th' adornment of her bed—the arras, figures—
Why, such, and such—and the contents o'th' story—
Ah, but some nat'ral notes about her body,
Above ten thousand meaner moveables,
Would testify, t'enrich my inventory.
O Sleep, thou ape of Death, lye dull upon her!
And be her sense but as a monument,
Thus in a chappel lying!—Come off, come off.— [Taking off her bracelet.
As slipp'ry, as the Gordian knot was hard.—
'Tis mine; and this will witness outwardly,
As strongly as the conscience do's within,
To th' madding of her lord. On her left breast
A mole cinque-spotted, like the crimson drops
I'th' bottom of a cowslip. Here's a voucher,
Stronger than ever law could make: this secret
Will force him think, I've pick'd the lock; and ta'en
The treasure of her honour. No more—to what end?
Why should I write this down, that's rivetted,
Screw'd to my mem'ry? She hath been reading, late,

-- 263 --


The tale of Tereus; here the leaf's turn'd down,
Where Philomele gave up—I have enough.—
To th' trunk again, and shut the spring of it.
Swift, swift, you Dragons of the night! 2 note



that dawning
May bear the raven's eye: I lodge in fear,
Though this a heav'nly angel, hell is here. [Clock strikes.
One, two, three: time, time! [Goes into the trunk, the Scene closes. SCENE III. Changes to another part of the Palace, facing Imogen's Apartments. Enter Cloten, and Lords.

1 Lord.

Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the coldest that ever turn'd up ace.

Clot.

It would make any man cold to lose.

1 Lord.

But not every man patient, after the noble temper of your lordship; you are most hot, and furious, when you win.

Clot.

Winning will put any man into courage: If I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough: It's almost morning, is't not?

-- 264 --

1 Lord.

Day, my lord.

Clot.

I would, this musick would come: I am advis'd to give her musick o'mornings; they say, it will penetrate.

Enter Musicians.

Come on, tune; if you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too; if none will do, let her remain: but I'll never give o'er. First, a very excellent good conceited thing; after, a wonderful sweet air with admirable rich words to it; and then let her consider.


SONG.
Hark, hark! the lark at heav'n's gate sings,
  And Phœbus 'gins arise,
3 note
His steeds to water at those springs
  On chalic'd flowers that lyes:
And winking Mary-buds begin
  To ope their golden eyes;
With every thing (a) note that pretty bin,
  My lady sweet, arise:
    Arise, arise.

So, get you gone—if this penetrate, I will consider your musick the better: if it do not, it is a vice in her ears, which horse-hairs, and cats'-guts, nor the voice of unpav'd eunuch to boot, can never amend.

[Exeunt Musicians. Enter Queen and Cymbeline.

2 Lord.

Here comes the King.

Clot.

I am glad I was up so late, for that's the reason

-- 265 --

I was up so early: he cannot chuse 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?

Clot.

I have assail'd her with musicks, 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 th' King,
Who lets go by no vantages, that may
Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself
To orderly sollicits; and be friended
With aptness of the season; make denials
Encrease 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.

Clot.
Senseless? not so.
Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
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, 4 notehis goodness fore-spent on us,
We must extend our notice:—Our dear son,
When you have giv'n good morning to your mistress,

-- 266 --


Attend the Queen and us; we shall have need
T' employ you towards this Roman. Come, our Queen. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.

Clot.
5 noteIf she be up, I'll speak with her; if not,
Let her lye 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, makes
Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
Their deer to th' stand o'th' stealer: and 'tis gold,
Which makes the true man kill'd, and saves the thief;
Nay, sometimes, 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?

Clot.
A Gentleman.

Lady.
No more?

Clot.
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?

Clot.
Your lady's person; is she ready?

Lady.
Ay, to keep her chamber.

Clot.
There is gold for you, sell me your good report.

-- 267 --

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

Clot.
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.

Clot.
Still, I swear, I love you.

Imo.
If you but said so, 'twere as deep with me:
If you swear still, your recompence is still
That I regard it not.

Clot.
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 discourtesie
To your best kindness: 6 note



one of your great knowing
Should learn (being tort) forbearance.

-- 268 --

Clot.
7 note






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

Imo.
Fools cure not mad folks.

Clot.
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, who know my heart, do here pronounce
By th' very truth of it, I care not for you:
And am so near the lack of charity
T' accuse my self, I hate you: which I had rather
You felt, than make my boast.

Clot.
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'th' court,) it is no contract, none:
And though it be allow'd in meaner parties,

-- 269 --


(Yet who than he, more mean?) to knit their souls
(On whom there is no more dependency
But brats and beggary,) 8 note


in self-finger'd knot;
Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
The consequence o'th' crown; and must not foil
The precious note of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth;
A pantler; not so eminent.—

Imo.
Prophane 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 dignify'd enough,
Ev'n to the point of Envy, if 'twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be stil'd
The under-hangman of his realm; and hated
For being preferr'd so well.

Clot.
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 had but clipt his body, 's dearer
In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men. How now, Pisanio?
Enter Pisanio.

Clot.
His garment? now, the devil—

Imo.
To Dorothy, my woman, hye thee presently.

Clot.
His garment?

Imo.
I am sprighted with a fool.
Frighted, and angred worse—go, bid my woman

-- 270 --


Search for 9 note
a jewel, that too casually
Hath left mine arm—it was thy master's. 1 note
'Shrew me,
If I would lose it for a revenue
Of any King in Europe. I do think,
I saw't this morning; confident I am,
Last night 'twas on my arm; I kissed it.
2 note
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but him.

Pis.
'Twill not be lost.

Imo.
I hope so; go, and search.

Clot.
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.

Clot.
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 th' worst of discontent.
[Exit.

Clot.
I'll be reveng'd,—
His meanest garment?—well.
[Exit.

-- 271 --

SCENE V. Changes to Rome. Enter Posthumus, and Philario.

Post.
Fear it not, Sir; I would, I were so sure
To win the King, as I am bold, her honour
Will remain hers.

Phi.
What means do you make to him?

Post.
Not any, but abide the change of time;
Quake in the present winter's state, and wish,
That warmer days would come; in these fear'd hopes,
I barely gratifie your love; they failing,
I must die much your debtor.

Phi.
Your very goodness, and your company,
O'er-pays all I can do. By this, your King
Hath heard of great Augustus; Caius Lucius
Will do's commission throughly. And, I think,
He'll grant the tribute; send th' arrearages,
E'er look upon our Romans, whose remembrance
Is yet fresh in their grief.

Post.
I do believe,
(Statist though I am none, nor like to be,)
That this shall prove a war; and you shall hear
The legions, now in Gallia, sooner landed
In our not fearing Britain, than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our Countrymen
Are men more order'd, than when Julius Cæsar
Smil'd at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy of frowning at. Their discipline,
Now mingled with their courages, will make known
3 noteTo their approvers, they are people such
As mend upon the world.

-- 272 --

SCENE VI. Enter Iachimo.

Phil.
See, Iachimo.—

Post.
Sure, the swift harts have posted you by land,
And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails,
To make your vessel nimble.

Post.
Welcome, Sir.

Phi.
I hope, the briefness of your answer made
The speediness of your Return.

Iach.
Your lady
Is of the fairest I e'er look'd upon.

Post.
And, therewithal, the best; or let her beauty
Look through a casement to allure false hearts,
And be false with them.

Iach.
Here are letters for you.

Post.
Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach.
'Tis very like.

Post.
Was Caius Lucius in the Britain Court,
When you were there?

Iach.
He was expected then,
But not approach'd.

Post.
All is well yet.
Sparkles this stone as it was wont, or is't not
Too dull for your good wearing?

Iach.
If I've lost it,
I should have lost the worth of it in gold;
I'll make a journey twice as far, t' enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.

Post.
The stone's too hard to come by.

Iach.
Not a whit,
Your lady being so easie.

Post.
Make not, Sir,
Your loss your sport; I hope, you know, that we
Must not continue friends.

-- 273 --

Iach.
Good Sir, we must,
If you keep covenant; had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant,
We were to question farther; but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.

Post.
If you can make't apparent
That you have tasted her in bed; my hand,
And ring is yours. If not, the foul opinion,
You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses
Your sword or mine; or masterless leaves both
To who shall find them.

Iach.
Sir, my circumstances
Being so near the truth, as I will make them,
Must first induce you to believe; whose strength
I will confirm with oath, which, I doubt not,
You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall find
You need it not.

Post.
Proceed.

Iach.
First, her bed-chamber—
(Where, I confess, I slept not; but profess,
Had That was well worth watching) it was hang'd
With tapestry of silk and silver; the story
&wlquo;Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
&wlquo;4 note







And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for&wrquo;
The press of boats, or pride,—A piece of work

-- 274 --


So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive
In workmanship, and value; which, I wonder'd,
Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,
Since the true life on't was—

Post.
This is true;
And this you might have heard of here, by me,
Or by some other.

Iach.
More Particulars
Must justify my knowledge.

Post.
So they must,
Or do your honour injury.

Iach.
The chimney
Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece,
Chast Dian, bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves; the cutter
5 note



Was as another nature, dumb; out-went her,
Motion and breath left out.

Post.
This is a thing,
Which you might from relation likewise reap;
Being, as it is, much spoke of.

Iach.
The roof o' th' chamber
With golden cherubims is fretted: Th' andirons,

-- 275 --


(I had forgot them) were two winking Cupids
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands.

Post.
What's this t' her honour?
Let it be granted you have seen all this,
Praise be to your remembrance, the description
Of what is in her chamber nothing saves
The wager you have laid.

Iach.
Then, if you can [Pulling out the Bracelet.
Be pale, I beg but leave to air this jewel; see!—
And now 'tis up again; it must be married
To that your diamond. I'll keep them.

Post.
Jove!
Once more let me behold it: Is it That,
Which I left with her?

Iach.
Sir, I thank her, That:
She strip'd it from her arm, I see her yet,
Her pretty action did out-sell her gift,
And yet enrich'd it too; she gave it me,
And said, she priz'd it once.

Post.
May be, she pluck'd it off
To send it me.

Iach.
She writes so to you? doth she?

Post.
O, no, no, no; 'tis true. Here, take this too;
It is a basilisk unto mine eye,
Kills me to look on't; let there be no honour,
Where there is beauty; truth, where semblance; love,
Where there's another man. The vows of women
Of no more bondage be, to where they're made,
Than they are to their virtues, which is nothing;
O, above measure false!—

Phi.
Have patience, Sir,
And take your ring again: 'tis not yet won;
It may be probable, she lost it; or,
Who knows, one of her women, being corrupted,
Hath stoln it from her.

-- 276 --

Post.
Very true,
And so, I hope, he came by't;—back my ring;—
Render to me some corporal sign about her,
More evident than this; for this was stole.

Iach.
By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.

Post.
Hark you, he swears; by Jupiter he swears.
'Tis true—nay, keep the ring—'tis true; 6 note


I'm sure
She could not lose it; her attendants are
All honourable; they induc'd to steal it!
And, by a stranger!—no, he hath enjoy'd her.
The cognizance of her incontinency
Is this; she hath bought the name of Whore thus dearly;
There, take thy hire, and all the fiends of hell
Divide themselves between you!

Phi.
Sir, be patient;
This is not strong enough to be believ'd,
Of one persuaded well of.—

Post.
Never talk on't;
She hath been colted by him.

Iach.
If you seek
For further satisfying, under her breast,
Worthy the pressing, lyes a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging. By my life,

-- 277 --


I kist it; and it gave me present hunger
To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain upon her?

Post.
Ay, and it doth confirm
Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.

Iach.
Will you hear more?

Post.
Spare your arithmetick.
Count not the Turns: once, and a million!

Iach.
I'll be sworn—

Post.
No swearing:
If you will swear you have not done't, you lie.
And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny
Thou'st made me cuckold.

Iach.
I'll deny nothing.

Post.
O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!
I will go there, and do't i' th' Court, before
Her father—I'll do something—
[Exit.

Phi.
Quite besides
The government of patience! you have won;
Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath
He hath against himself.

Iach.
With all my heart.
[Exeunt. SCENE VII. Re-enter Posthumus.

&plquo;Post.
&plquo;Is there no way for men to be, but women
&plquo;Must be half-workers? we are bastards all;
&plquo;And that most venerable man, which I
&plquo;Did call my father, was I know not where,
&plquo;When I was stampt. Some coyner with his tools
&plquo;Made me a counterfeit; yet my mother seem'd
&plquo;The Dian of that time; so doth my wife
&plquo;The non-pareil of this—Oh vengeance, vengeance!
&plquo;Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
&plquo;And pray'd me, oft, forbearance; did it with

-- 278 --


&plquo;A pudency so rosie, the sweet view on't
&plquo;Might well have warm'd old Saturn—that I thought her
&plquo;As chaste, as unsunn'd snow. Oh, all the Devils!
&plquo;This yellow Iachimo in an hour—was't not?—
&plquo;Or less: at first? perchance, he spoke not, but
&plquo;Like a full-acorn'd Boar, a churning on,
&plquo;Cry'd oh! and mounted; found no opposition
&plquo;From what he look'd for should oppose, and she
&plquo;Should from encounter guard. Could I find out
&plquo;The woman's part in me—for there's no motion
&plquo;That tends to vice in man, but, I affirm,
&plquo;It is the woman's part; be't lying, note it,
&plquo;The woman's; flattering, hers; deceiving, hers;
&plquo;Lust, and rank thoughts, hers, hers; revenges, hers;
&plquo;Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain,
&plquo;Nice longings, slanders, mutability:
&plquo;All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell knows,
&plquo;Why, hers, in part, or all; but rather all.—For even to vice
&plquo;They are not constant, but are changing still;
&plquo;One vice, but of a minute old, for one
&plquo;Not half so old as that. I'll write against them,
&plquo;Detest them, curse them—yet 'tis greater skill,
&plquo;In a true hate to pray, they have their Will;
&plquo;The very Devils cannot plague them better.&prquo; [Exit.

-- 279 --

ACT III. SCENE I. Cymbeline's Palace. Enter, in State, Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, and Lords at one door; and at another, Caius Lucius and attendants.

Cymbeline.
Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us?

Luc.
When Julius Cæsar, (whose remembrance yet
Lives in men's eyes, and will to ears and tongues
Be theme, and hearing ever) was in this Britaine,
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle,
(Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less
Than in his feats deserving it) for him,
And his succession, granted Rome a Tribute,
Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately
Is left untender'd.

Queen.
And, to kill the marvail,
Shall be so ever.

Clot.
There be many Cæsars,
Ere such another Julius: Britaine is
A world by't self; and we will nothing pay
For wearing our own noses.

Queen.
That opportunity,
Which then they had to take from's, to resume
We have again. Remember, Sir, my liege,
The Kings your ancestors: together with
The nat'ral Brav'ry of your Isle; which stands,
As Neptune's Park, ribbed and paled in
(a) noteWith rocks unskaleable, and roaring waters;
With Sands, that will not bear your enemies' boats,

-- 280 --


But suck them up to th' top-mast. A kind of Conquest
Cæsar made here, but made not here his brag
Of, came, and saw, and overcame. With shame,
(The first, that ever touch'd him) he was carried
From off our coast, 'twice beaten; and his shipping,
(1 notePoor ignorant baubles) on our terrible seas,
Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd
As easily 'gainst our rocks. For joy whereof,
The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point
(Oh, giglet fortune!) to master Cæsar's sword,
Mad Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright,
And Britons strut with courage.

Clot.

Come, there's no more Tribute to be paid. Our Kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars; other of them may have crook'd noses, but, to own such strait arms, none.

Cym.

Son, let your mother end.

Clot.

We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan; I do not say, I am one; but I have a hand.—Why, Tribute? Why should we pay Tribute? if Cæsar can hide the Sun from us with a blanket, or put the Moon in his pocket, we will pay him Tribute for light; else, Sir, no more Tribute, pray you now.

Cym.
You must know,
'Till the injurious Roman did extort
This tribute from us, We were free. Cæsar's ambition,
Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch
The sides o' th' world, against all colour, here
Did put the yoke upon's; which to shake off,
Becomes a warlike people (which we reckon
Our selves to be) to do. Say then to Cæsar,
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, who
Ordain'd our Laws, whose use the sword of Cæsar
Hath too much mangled; whose repair and franchise

-- 281 --


Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,
Though Rome be therefore angry: That Mulmutius,
Who was the first of Britaine, which did put
His brows within a golden Crown, and call'd
Himself a King.

Luc.
I'm sorry, Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
(Cæsar, that hath more Kings his servants, than
Thyself domestick officers) thine enemy.
Receive it from me then.—War and Confusion
In Cæsar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look
For Fury, not to be resisted. Thus defy'd,
I thank thee for my self.

Cym.
Thou'rt welcome, Caius;
Thy Cæsar knighted me; my youth I spent
Much under him: of him I gather'd honour,
Which he to seek of me again perforce,
Behooves me 2 notekeep at utterance. I am perfect,
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for
Their Liberties, are now in arms: a Precedent
Which, not to read, would shew the Britons cold:
So Cæsar shall not find them.

Luc.

Let proof speak.

Clot.

His Majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us a day or two, or longer: If you seek us afterwards on other terms, you shall find us in our salt water girdle, if you beat us out of it, it is yours: if you fall in the adventure, our crows shall fare the better for you; and there's an end.

Luc.

So, Sir.—

Cym.
I know your master's pleasure, and he mine:
All the Remain is, Welcome.
[Exeunt.

-- 282 --

SCENE II. Enter Pisanio, reading a Letter.

Pis.
How? of adultery? wherefore write you not
What monsters have accus'd her? Leonatus!
Oh master, what a strange infection
Is fall'n into thy ear? what false Italian,
(As pois'nous-tongu'd, as handed) hath prevail'd
On thy too ready Hearing!—Disloyal? no,
She's punish'd for her truth; and undergoes
More Goddess-like, than wife-like, such assaults
As would take in some virtue. &wlquo;Oh, my master!
&wlquo;Thy mind to her's is now as low, as were
&wlquo;Thy fortunes.&wrquo; How? that I should murder her?
Upon the love and truth and vows, which I
Have made to thy Command!—I, her!—her blood!
If it be so to do good service, never
Let me be counted serviceable.—How look I,
That I should seem to lack humanity,
So much as this fact comes to? Do't—the letter, [Reading.
That I have sent her, by her own command
Shall give thee opportunity.—Damn'd paper!
Black as the ink that's on thee: senseless bauble!
Art thou a fœdarie for this act, and look'st
So virgin-like without? Lo, here she comes. Enter Imogen.
I'm ignorant in what I am commanded.

Imo.
How now, Pisanio?

Pis.
Madam, here is a letter from my lord.

Imo.
Who! thy lord? that is my lord Leonatus:
3 noteOh, learn'd, indeed, were that astrologer,

-- 283 --


That knew the stars, as I his characters:
He'd lay the Future open.—You good Gods,
Let what is here contain'd relish of love,
Of my lord's health, of his content;—yet not,
That we two are asunder; let that grieve him!
Some griefs are medicinable; that is one of them,
For it doth physick love;—of his content,
All but in that,—Good wax, thy leave,—Blest be
You bees, that make these locks of counsel! Lovers,
And men in dang'rous bonds, pray not alike.
Though forfeitures you cast in prison, yet
You clasp young Cupid's tables: good news, Gods! [Reading.

Justice, and your father's wrath, should he take me in his Dominion, could not be so cruel to me; but you, oh the dearest of creatures, would even renew me with your eyes. Take notice, that I am in Cambria, at Milford-Haven: what your own love will, out of this, advise you, follow. So, he wishes you all happiness, that remains loyal to his vow, and your increasing in love;

Leonatus Posthumus.


&wlquo;Oh, for a horse with wings! hear'st thou, Pisanio?
&wlquo;He is at Milford-Haven: read and tell me
&wlquo;How far 'tis thither. If one of mean affairs
&wlquo;May plod it in a week, why may not I
&wlquo;Glide thither in a day? then, true Pisanio,
&wlquo;Who long'st like me to see thy lord; who long'st,
&wlquo;(Oh, let me 'bate) but not like me; yet long'st—
&wlquo;But in a fainter kind—oh, not like me;
&wlquo;For mine's beyond, beyond—Say, and speak thick;&wrquo;
Love's counsellor should fill the bores of Hearing
To th' smoth'ring of the Sense—&wlquo;How far it is
&wlquo;To this same blessed Milford: and, by th' way,
&wlquo;Tell me how Wales was made so happy, as
&wlquo;T' inherit such a haven. But, first of all,
&wlquo;How may we steal from hence? and for the gap

-- 284 --


&wlquo;That we shall make in time, from our hence going
&wlquo;Till our return, t'excuse—but first, how get hence?
&wlquo;Why should excuse be born, or ere begot?
&wlquo;We'll talk of that hereafter. Pr'ythee, speak,
&wlquo;How many score of miles may we well ride
&wlquo;'Twixt hour and hour?

Pis.
One score 'twixt sun and sun,
Madam, 's enough for you: and too much too.

&wlquo;Imo.
&wlquo;Why, one that rode to's execution, man,
&wlquo;Could never go so slow:&wrquo; I've heard of riding wagers,
Where horses have been nimbler than the sands
4 noteThat run i'th' clock's behalf. But this is fool'ry.
Go, bid my woman feign a sickness; say,
She'll home t' her father: and provide me, present,
A riding suit; no costlier than would fit
A Franklin's housewife.

Pis.
Madam, you'd best consider.

Imo.
5 note

I see before me, man: nor here, nor here,
Nor what ensues, that have a fog in them,
That I cannot look thro'. Away, I pr'ythee,
Do as I bid thee; there's no more to say;
Accessible is none but Milford way.
[Exeunt.

-- 285 --

SCENE III. Changes to a Forest with a Cave, in Wales. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

&plquo;Bel.
6 note
&plquo;A goodly day! not to keep house, with such
&plquo;Whose roof's as low as ours: see, boys! this gate
&plquo;Instructs you how t'adore the heav'ns; and bows you
&plquo;To morning's holy office. Gates of monarchs
&plquo;Are arch'd so high, that Giants may jet through
&plquo;And keep their impious Turbands on, without
&plquo;Good morrow to the Sun. Hail, thou fair heav'n!
&plquo;We house i'th' rock, yet use thee not so hardly
&plquo;As prouder livers do.&prquo;

Guid.
Hail, heaven!

Arv.
Hail, heav'n!

&plquo;Bel.
&plquo;Now for our mountain sport, up to yond hill,
&plquo;Your legs are young: I'll tread these flats. Consider,
&plquo;When you, above, perceive me like a crow,
&plquo;That it is place which lessens and sets off;
&plquo;And you may then revolve what tales I told you,
&plquo;Of Courts, of Princes, of the tricks in war;
&plquo;That service is not service, so being done,
&plquo;But being so allow'd. 7 note
To apprehend thus,
&plquo;Draws us a profit from all things we see:
&plquo;And often, to our comfort, shall we find

-- 286 --


&plquo;The sharded beetle in a safer hold,
&plquo;Than is the full-wing'd eagle. Oh, this life
&plquo;Is nobler than attending for a check;
&plquo;Richer, 8 notethan doing nothing for a bauble;
&plquo;Prouder, than rustling in unpaid-for silk:
&plquo;Such gain the cap of him, that makes them fine,
&plquo;Yet keeps his book uncross'd; no life to ours.&prquo;

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Out of your proof you speak; we, poor, unfledg'd,
&plquo;Have never wing'd from view o'th' nest; nor know,
&plquo;What air's from home. Hap'ly, this life is best,
&plquo;If quiet life is best; sweeter to you,
&plquo;That have a sharper known: well corresponding
&plquo;With your stiff age; but unto us, it is
&plquo;A cell of ign'rance; travelling a-bed;
&plquo;A prison, for a debtor that not dares
&plquo;To stride a limit.&prquo;

&plquo;Arv.
&plquo;What should we speak of,
&plquo;When we are old as you? when we shall hear
&plquo;The rain and wind beat dark December? how,
&plquo;In this our pinching Cave, shall we discourse
&plquo;The freezing hours away? We have seen nothing;
&plquo;We're beastly; subtle as the fox for prey,
&plquo;Like warlike as the wolf, for what we eat:
&plquo;Our valour is to chase what flies; our cage
&plquo;We make a choir, as doth the prison'd bird,
&plquo;And sing our bondage freely.&prquo;

&plquo;Bel.
&plquo;How you speak!
&plquo;Did you but know the city's usuries,
&plquo;And felt them knowingly; the art o'th' Court,
&plquo;As hard to leave, as keep; whose top to climb,
&plquo;Is certain falling; or so slipp'ry, that
&plquo;The fear's as bad as falling; the toil of war;
&plquo;A pain, that only seems to seek out danger

-- 287 --


&plquo;I'th' name of fame and honour; which dies i'th' search,
&plquo;And hath as oft a sland'rous epitaph,
&plquo;As record of fair act; nay, many time,
&plquo;Doth ill deserve, by doing well: what's worse,
&plquo;Must curt'sie at the censure:&prquo;—&wlquo;Oh, boys, this story
&wlquo;The world may read in me: my body's mark'd
&wlquo;With Roman swords; and my Report was once
&wlquo;First with the best of note. Cymbeline lov'd me;
&wlquo;And when a soldier was the theam, my name
&wlquo;Was not far off: then was I as a tree,
&wlquo;Whose boughs did bend with fruit. But, in one night,
&wlquo;A storm, or robbery, call it what you will,
&wlquo;Shook down my mellow hangings, nay, my leaves;
&wlquo;And left me bare to weather.&wrquo;

Guid.
Uncertain favour!

Bel.
My fault being nothing, as I have told you oft,
But that two villains (whose false oaths prevail'd
Before my perfect honour) swore to Cymbeline,
I was confed'rate with the Romans: so,
Follow'd my banishment; and, this twenty years,
This rock and these demeasnes have been my world;
Where I have liv'd at honest freedom; pay'd
More pious debts to heaven, than in all
The fore-end of my time.—But, up to th' mountains!
This is not hunters' language; he, that strikes
The venison first, shall be the lord o'th' feast;
To him the other two shall minister,
And we will fear no poison, which attends
In place of greater State:
I'll meet you in the valleys. [Exeunt Guid. and Arvir.
  How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature!
These boys know little, they are Sons to th' King;
Nor Cymbeline dreams, that they are alive.

-- 288 --


They think, they're mine, 9 note







tho' trained up thus meanly.
I'th' Cave, wherein they bow, their thoughts do hit
The roof of Palaces; and nature prompts them,
In simple and low things, to prince it, much
1 noteBeyond the trick of others. This Paladour,
(The heir of Cymbeline and Britaine, whom
The King his father call'd Guiderius,) Jove!—
&wlquo;When on my three-foot-stool I sit, and tell
&wlquo;The warlike feats I've done, his spirits fly out
&wlquo;Into my story: say, thus mine enemy fell,
&wlquo;And thus I set my foot on's neck—even then
&wlquo;The princely blood flows in his cheek, he sweats,
&wlquo;Strains his young nerves, and puts himself in posture
&wlquo;That acts my words—The younger brother Cadwall,&wrquo;
(Once, Arviragus,) in as like a figure
Strikes life into my speech, and shews much more
His own conceiving. Hark, the game is rouz'd—
Oh Cymbeline! heav'n and my conscience know,
Thou didst unjustly banish me: whereon,
At three and two years old, I stole these babes;

-- 289 --


Thinking to bar thee of succession, as
Thou reft'st me of my lands. Euriphile,
Thou wast their nurse; they take thee for their mother,
And every day do honour to thy Grave;
My self Belarius, that am Morgan call'd,
They take for natural father. The game's up. [Exit. SCENE IV. Enter Pisanio, and Imogen.

Imo.
Thou told'st me, when we came from horse, the place
Was near at hand. Ne'er long'd my mother so
To see me first, as I have now—Pisanio,
Where is Posthumus? What is in thy mind,
That makes thee stare thus? wherefore breaks that sigh
From th' inward of thee? one, but painted thus,
Would be interpreted a thing perplex'd
Beyond self-explication. Put thy self
Into a 'haviour of less fear, ere wilderness note
Vanquish my stayder senses—what's the matter?
Why tender'st thou that paper to me, with
A look untender? if't be summer news,
Smile to't before; if winterly, thou need'st
But keep that count'nance still. My husband's hand?
That drug-damn'd Italy hath out-craftied him,
And he's at some hard point. Speak man; thy tongue
May take off some extremity, which to read
Would be e'en mortal to me.

Pis.
Please you, read;
And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing
The most disdain'd of fortune.
Imogen reads.

Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath play'd the strumpet in my bed: the testimonies whereof lye bleeding in me. I

-- 290 --

speak not out of weak surmises, but from proof as strong as my grief, and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part thou, Pisanio, must act for me. If thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers, let thine hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at Milford-Haven. She hath my letter for the purpose; where, if thou fear to strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the Pander to her dishonour, and equally to me disloyal.

&plquo;Pis.
&plquo;What shall I need to draw my sword? the paper
&plquo;Hath cut her throat already.—No, 'tis slander;
&plquo;Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue
&plquo;Out-venoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath
&plquo;Rides on the posting winds, and doth belye
&plquo;All corners of the world. Kings, Queens, and states,
&plquo;Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the Grave
&plquo;This viperous slander enters. What chear, Madam?&prquo;

&plquo;Imo.
&plquo;False to his bed! what is it to be false?
&plquo;To lye in watch there, and to think on him?
&plquo;To weep 'twixt clock and clock? if sleep charge nature,
&plquo;To break it with a fearful dream of him,
&plquo;And cry my self awake? that false to's bed!&prquo;

Pis.
Alas, good lady!

Imo.
I false? thy conscience witness, Iachimo,—
Thou didst accuse him of incontinency,
Thou then look'dst like a villain: now, methinks,
Thy favour's good enough. 2 noteSome Jay of Italy
(3 noteWhose meether was her painting) hath betray'd him:

-- 291 --


Poor I am stale, a garment out of fashion;
And, for I'm richer than to hang by th' walls,
I must be ript: to pieces with me: oh,
Men's vows are womens' traitors.—All good Seeming
By thy revolt, oh husband, shall be thought
Put on for villany: not born, where't grows;
But worn, a bait for ladies.

Pis.
Madam, hear me—

&plquo;Imo.
&plquo;True honest men being heard, like false Æneas,
&plquo;Were in his time thought false: and Sinon's Weeping
&plquo;Did scandal many a holy tear; took pity
&plquo;From most true wretchedness. 4 note
So thou, Posthumus,
&plquo;Wilt lay the leven to all proper men;
&plquo;Goodly, and gallant, shall be false and perjur'd,
&plquo;From thy great fail.&prquo; Come, fellow, be thou honest,
Do thou thy master's bidding: when thou seest him,
A little witness my obedience. Look!
I draw the sword my self, take it, and hit
The innocent mansion of my love, my heart;
Fear not, 'tis empty of all things, but grief;

-- 292 --


Thy master is not there; who was, indeed,
The riches of it. Do his Bidding, strike;
Thou may'st be valiant in a better cause,
But now thou seem'st a coward.

Pis.
Hence, vile instrument!
Thou shalt not damn my hand.

Imo.
Why, I must die;
And, if I do not by thy hand, thou art
No servant of thy master's. 'Gainst self-slaughter
There is a prohibition so divine,
5 noteThat cravens my weak hand: come, here's my heart—
(Something's afore't)—soft, soft, we'll no defence; [Opening her breast.
Obedient as the scabbard!—What is here?
The Scriptures of the loyal Leonatus
All turn'd to Heresie? away, away, [Pulling his letters out of her bosom.
Corrupters of my faith! you shall no more
Be stomachers to my heart: thus may poor fools
Believe false teachers: tho' those, that are betray'd,
Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor
Stands in worse case of woe. And thou, Posthumus,
That set my disobedience 'gainst the King,
And mad'st me put into contempt the suits
Of princely fellows, shalt hereafter find,
It is no act of common passage, but
A strain of rareness: and I grieve my self,
To think, when thou shalt be dis-edg'd by her
Whom now thou tir'st on, how thy memory
Will then be pang'd by me.—Pr'ythee, dispatch;
The lamb entreats the butcher. Where's thy knife?
Thou art too slow to do thy master's bidding,
When I desire it too.

Pis.
O gracious lady!

-- 293 --


Since I receiv'd command to do this business,
I have not slept one wink.

Imo.
Do't, and to bed then.

Pis.
I'll break mine eye-balls first.

Imo.
Ah, wherefore then
Didst undertake it? why hast thou abus'd
So many miles, with a pretence? this place?
Mine action? and thine own? our horses' labour?
The time inviting thee? the perturb'd Court,
For my being absent? whereunto I never
Purpose Return. Why hast thou gone so far,
To be unbent, when thou hast ta'en thy stand,
Th' elected deer before thee?

Pis.
But to win time
To lose so bad employment, in the which
I have consider'd of a course; good lady,
Hear me with patience.

Imo.
Talk thy tongue weary, speak,
I've heard, I am a strumpet; and mine ear
(Therein false struck) can take no greater wound,
Nor tent to bottom That. But, speak.

Pis.
Then, Madam,
I thought, you would not back again.

Imo.
Most like,
Bringing me here to kill me.

Pis.
Not so neither;
But if I were as wise as honest, then
My purpose would prove well; it cannot be,
But that my master is abus'd; some villain,
And singular in his art, hath done you both
This cursed injury.

Imo.
Some Roman Curtezan—

Pis.
No, on my life.
I'll give him notice you are dead, and send him
Some bloody sign of it: for 'tis commanded,
I should do so. You shall be miss'd at Court,
And that will well confirm it.

-- 294 --

Imo.
Why, good fellow,
What shall I do the while? where 'bide? how live?
Or in my life what comfort, when I am
Dead to my husband?

Pis.
If you'll back to th' Court—

Imo.
No Court, no Father; nor no more ado
With that harsh, noble, simple, Nothing, Cloten:
That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me
As fearful as a siege.

Pis.
If not at Court,
Then not in Britaine must you 'bide.

Imo.
Where then?
Hath Britaine all the Sun that shines? Day, night,
Are they not but in Britaine? I'th' world's volume
Our Britaine seems as of it, but not in it;
In a great pool, a swan's nest. Pr'ythee, think,
There's living out of Britaine.

Pis.
I'm most glad,
You think of other place: th' Ambassador,
Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford-Haven
To morrow. 6 note



Now, if you could wear a Mien
Dark as your fortune is, and but disguise
That, which, t'appear it self, must not yet be,
But by self-danger; you should tread a course
Pretty, 7 noteand full of view; yea, haply, near
The residence of Posthumus; so nigh, at least,
That though his actions were not visible,

-- 295 --


Report should render him hourly to your ear,
As truly as he moves.

Imo.
Oh! for such means,
Though peril to my modesty, not death on't
I would adventure.

Pis.
Well then, here's the point:
&plquo;You must forget to be a woman; change
&plquo;Command into obedience; fear and niceness
&plquo;(The handmaids of all women, or, more truly,
&plquo;Woman its pretty self,) to waggish courage;
&plquo;Ready in gybes, quick-answer'd, saucy, and
&plquo;As quarrellous as the weazel: 8 note



nay, you must
&plquo;Forget that rarest treasure of your cheek;
&plquo;Exposing it (but, oh, the harder Hap!
&plquo;Alack, no remedy) to the greedy touch
&plquo;Of common-kissing Titan; and forget
&plquo;Your laboursome and dainty trims, wherein
&plquo;You made great Juno angry.&prquo;

Imo.
Nay, be brief:
I see into thy end, and am almost
A man already.

Pis.
First, make your self but like one.
Fore-thinking this, I have already fit,
('Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hose, all
That answer to them. 'Would you in their serving,
And with what Imitation you can borrow
From youth of such a season, 'fore noble Lucius

-- 296 --


Present your self, desire his service, tell him
Wherein you're happy; (which will make him (a) note so,
If that his head have ear in musick;) doubtless,
With joy he will embrace you; for he's honourable,
And, doubling That, most holy. 9 note
Your means abroad
You have me, rich; and I will never fail
Beginning, nor supply.

Imo.
Thou'rt all the comfort
The Gods will diet me with. Pr'ythee, away.
There's more to be consider'd; but we'll even
All that good time will give us. 1 note
This attempt
I'm soldier to, and will abide it with
A Prince's courage. Away, I pr'ythee.

Pis.
Well, Madam, we must take a short farewel;
Lest, being miss'd, I be suspected of
Your carriage from the Court. My noble Mistress,
Here is a box; I had it from the Queen,
What's in't is precious: if you're sick at sea,
Or stomach-qualm'd at land, a dram of this
Will drive away distemper—To some shade,
And fit you to your manhood; may the Gods
Direct you to the best!

Imo.
Amen: I thank thee.
[Exeunt, severally.

-- 297 --

SCENE V. Changes to the Palace of Cymbeline. Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten, Lucius, and Lords.

Cym.
Thus far, and so farewel.

Luc.
Thanks, royal Sir.
My Emperor hath wrote; I must from hence;
And am right sorry, that I must report ye
My master's enemy.

Cym.
Our Subjects, Sir,
Will not endure his yoak; and for our self
To shew less Sovereignty than they, must needs
Appear un-kinglike.

Luc.
So, Sir: I desire of you
A conduct over land, to Milford-Haven.
Madam, all joy befal your Grace, and you!

Cym.
My lords, you are appointed for that office;
The due of Honour in no point omit:
So, farewel, noble Lucius.

Luc.
Your hand, my Lord.

Clot.
Receive it friendly; but from this time forth
I wear it as your enemy.

Luc.
Th' event
Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well.

Cym.
Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my Lords,
'Till he have crost the Severn. Happiness!
[Exit Lucius, &c.

Queen.
He goes hence frowning; but it honours us,
That we have giv'n him cause.

Clot.
'Tis all the better;
Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.

Cym.
Lucius hath wrote already to the Emperor,
How it goes here. It fits us therefore ripely,
Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness;
The Powers, that he already hath in Gallia,

-- 298 --


Will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves
His war for Britaine.

Queen.
'Tis not sleepy business;
But must be look'd to speedily, and strongly.

Cym.
Our expectation, that it should be thus,
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle Queen,
Where is our Daughter? She hath not appear'd
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender'd
The duty of the day. She looks as like
A thing more made of malice, than of duty;
We've noted it. Call her before us, for
We've been too light in sufferance.
[Exit a Servant.

Queen.
Royal Sir,
Since the exile of Posthumus, most retir'd
Hath her life been; the cure whereof, my lord,
'Tis time must do. 'Beseech your Majesty,
Forbear sharp speeches to her. She's a lady
So tender of rebukes, that words are strokes,
And strokes death to her.
Re-enter the Servant.

Cym.
Where is she, Sir? how
Can her contempt be answer'd?

Serv.
Please you, Sir,
Her chambers are all lock'd, and there's no answer
That will be given to th' loudest noise we make.

Queen.
My lord, when last I went to visit her,
She pray'd me to excuse her keeping close;
Whereto constrain'd by her infirmity,
She should that duty leave unpaid to you,
Which daily she was bound to proffer; this
She wish'd me to make known; but our great court
Made me to blame in mem'ry.

Cym.
Her doors lock'd?
Not seen of late? grant heav'ns, That, which I fear,
Prove false!
[Exit.

Queen.
Son, I say, follow the King.

-- 299 --

Clot.
That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant,
I have not seen these two days.
[Exit.

Queen.
Go, look after—
Pisanio, thou that stand'st so for Posthumus!—
He hath a drug of mine; I pray, his absence
Proceed by swallowing That; for he believes,
It is a thing most precious. But for her,
Where is she gone? haply, despair hath seiz'd her;
Or, wing'd with fervor of her love, she's flown
To her desir'd Posthumus; gone she is
To death, or to dishonour; and my end
Can make good use of either. She being down,
I have the placing of the British crown. Re-enter Cloten.
How now, my son?

Clot.
'Tis certain, she is fled,
Go in and cheer the King, he rages, none
Dare come about him.

Queen.
All the better; may
This night fore-stall him of the coming day! [Exit Queen.

Clot.
I love, and hate her;—for she's fair and royal,
2 note


And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite
Than lady Ladies; winning from each one
The best she hath, and she of all compounded

-- 300 --


Out-sells them all: I love her therefore;—but,
Disdaining me, and throwing favours on
The low Posthumus, slanders so her judgment,
That what's else rare, is chok'd; and in that point
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,
To be reveng'd upon her. For when fools
Shall— SCENE VI. Enter Pisanio.


Who is here? what! are you packing, sirrah?
Come hither; ah! you precious pander, villain,
Where is thy lady? in a word, or else
Thou'rt straightway with the fiends.
[Drawing his Sword.

Pis.
Oh, my good lord!

Clot.
Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter,
I will not ask again. Close villain,
I'll have this secret from thy heart, or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus?
From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn.

Pis.
Alas, my lord,
How can she be with him? when was she miss'd?
He is in Rome.

Clot.
Where is she, Sir? come nearer;
No farther halting; satisfie me home,
What is become of her.

Pis.
Oh, my all-worthy lord!

Clot.
All-worthy villain!
Discover where thy mistress is, at once,
At the next word; no more of worthy lord.
Speak, or thy silence on the instant is
Thy condemnation and thy death.

-- 301 --

Pis.
Then, Sir,
This paper is the history of my knowledge
Touching her flight.

Clot.
Let's see't; I will pursue her
Ev'n to Augustus' throne.

Pis. Aside.
Or this, or perish.
She's far enough; and what he learns by this,
May prove his travel, not her danger.

Clot.
Humh.

Pis. Aside.
I'll write to my lord, she's dead. Oh, Imogen,
Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!

Clot.

Sirrah, is this letter true?

Clot.

Sir, as I think.

Clot.

It is Posthumus's hand, I know't. Sirrah, if thou would'st not be a villain, but do me true service; undergo those employments, wherein I should have cause to use thee, with a serious industry; that is, what villany soe'er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man; thou shouldst neither want my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy preferment.

Pis.

Well, my good lord.

Clot.

Wilt thou serve me? for since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou can'st not in the course of gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou serve me?

Pis.

Sir, I will.

Clot.

Give me thy hand, here's my purse. Hast any of thy late master's garments in thy possession?

Pis.

I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.

Clot.

The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither; let it be thy first service, go.

Pis.

I shall, my lord.

[Exit.

-- 302 --

Clot.

Meet thee at Milford-Haven?—(I forgot to ask him one thing, I'll remember't anon;) even there, thou villain Posthumus, will I kill thee. I would, these garments were come. She said upon a time, (the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart,) that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that suit upon my back will I ravish her; first kill him, and in her eyes— (there shall she see my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt.) He on the ground, my speech of insultment ended on his dead body;— and when my lust hath dined, (which, as I say, to vex her, I will execute in the cloaths that she so prais'd) to the court I'll kick her back, foot her home again. She hath despised me rejoycingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge.

Enter Pisanio, with a suit of cloaths.

Be those the garments?

Pis.

Ay, my noble Lord.

Clot.

How long is't since she went to Milford-Haven?

Pis.

She can scarce be there yet.

Clot.

Bring this apparel to my chamber, that is the second thing that I have commanded thee. The third is, that thou wilt be a voluntary Mute to my design. Be but duteous, and true preferment shall tender itself to thee. My revenge is now at Milford, 'would I had wings to follow it! come and be true.

[Exit.

Pis.
2 noteThou bidd'st me to my loss: for true to thee,
Were to prove false, which I will never be,
To him that is most true. To Milford go,
And find not her, whom thou pursu'st. Flow, flow,

-- 303 --


You heav'nly Blessings on her! this fool's speed
Be crost with slowness; labour be his meed! [Exit. SCENE VII. Changes to the Forest and Cave. Enter Imogen, in boy's cloaths.

Imo.
I see, a man's life is a tedious one:
I've tir'd myself; and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. &wlquo;I should be sick,
&wlquo;But that my resolution helps me. Milford,
&wlquo;When from the mountain top Pisanio shew'd thee,
&wlquo;Thou wast within a ken.—O Jove, I think,
&wlquo;Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean,
&wlquo;Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars told me,
&wlquo;I could not miss my way. Will poor folks lie,
&wlquo;That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis
&wlquo;A punishment, or tryal? yes; no wonder,
&wlquo;When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fullness
&wlquo;Is sorer, than to lie for need; and falshood
&wlquo;Is worse in Kings, than Beggars. My dear lord!
&wlquo;Thou'rt one o' th' false ones; now I think on thee,
&wlquo;My hunger's gone; but ev'n before, I was&wrquo;
At point to sink for food. But what is this? [Seeing the Cave.
Here is a path to't—'tis some savage hold;
'Twere best, not call; I dare not call; yet famine,
Ere it clean o'er-throw nature, makes it valiant.
&wlquo;Plenty, and peace, breeds cowards; hardness ever&wrquo;
Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here?

-- 304 --


3 note




If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage,
Take 'or't end—ho! no answer? then I'll enter.
Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy
But fear the sword like me, he'll scarcely look on't.
Grant such a foe, good heav'ns! [She goes into the Cave. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Bel.
You, Paladour, have prov'd best woodman, and
Are master of the feast; Cadwal and I
Will play the cook, and servant; 'tis our match:
The sweat of industry would dry, and die,
But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs
Will make what's homely savoury; weariness
Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth
Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'st thyself!

Guid.
I'm thoroughly weary.

Arv.
I'm weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.

Guid.
There is cold meat i' th' cave, we'll brouze on that,
Whilst what, we've kill'd, be cook'd.

Bel.
Stay, come not in— [Looking in.
&wlquo;But that it eats our victuals, I should think,
&wlquo;It were a Fairy.&wrquo;

Guid.
What's the matter, Sir?

-- 305 --

Bel.
By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not,
An earthly Paragon. Behold divineness
No elder than a boy.—
Enter Imogen.

&wlquo;Imo.
&wlquo;Good masters harm me not;
&wlquo;Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought
&wlquo;T' have begg'd, or bought, what I have took: good troth,
&wlquo;I have stoln nought, nor would not, though I'd found
&wlquo;Gold strew'd i' th' floor. Here's mony for my meat;
&wlquo;I would have left it on the board, so soon
&wlquo;As I had made my meal; and parted thence
&wlquo;With prayers for the provider.&wrquo;

Guid.
Mony, youth?

&wlquo;Arv.
&wlquo;All gold and silver rather turn to dirt!
&wlquo;As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those
&wlquo;Who worship dirty Gods.&wrquo;

&wlquo;Imo.
&wlquo;I see, you're angry:
&wlquo;Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
&wlquo;Have dy'd, had I not made it.&wrquo;

Bel.
Whither bound?

Imo.
To Milford-Haven.

Bel.
What's your name?

Imo.
Fidele, Sir; I have a kinsman, who
Is bound for Italy: he embark'd at Milford;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I'm faln in this offence.

Bel.
Prythee, fair youth,
Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!
'Tis almost night, you shall have better cheer
Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.

Guid.
Were you a woman, youth,
I should wooe hard, but be your groom in honesty;

-- 306 --


I bid for you, as I do buy.

Arv.
I'll make't my comfort,
He is a man: I'll love him as my brother:
And such a welcome as I'd give to him,
After long absence, such is yours. Most welcome!
Be sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.

Imo.
'Mongst friends,
If brothers;—'Would it had been so, that they Aside.
Had been my father's sons! (a) note then had my price Aside.
Been less, and so more equal ballancing Aside.
To thee, Posthumus.

Bel.
He wrings at some distress.

Guid.
'Would I could free't!

Arv.
Or I, whate'er it be,
What pain it cost, what danger, Gods!

Bel.
Hark, boys.
[Whispering.

Imo.
Great men,
That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves, and had the virtue
Which their own conscience seal'd them; laying by
That nothing-gift of 4 notedefering multitudes,
Could not out-peer these twain—Pardon me, Gods!
I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus is false.

Bel.
It shall be so:
Boys, we'll go dress our Hunt. Fair youth, come in;
Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we've supp'd,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak.

Guid.
I pray, draw near.

Arv.
The night to th' owl, and morn to th' lark, less welcome!

Imo.
Thanks, Sir.

Arv.
I pray, draw near.
[Exeunt.

-- 307 --

SCENE VIII. Changes to ROME. Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.

1 Sen.
This is the tenor of the Emperor's Writ;
That since the common men are now in action
'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians,
And that the legions now in Gallia are
Full weak to undertake our war against
The fall'n-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this business. He creates
Lucius Pro-consul; 5 note



and to you, the tribunes
For this immediate levy, he commends
His absolute commission. Long live Cæsar!

Tri.
Is Lucius Gen'ral of the Forces?

2 Sen.
Ay.

Tri.
Remaining now in Gallia?

1 Sen.
With those legions
Which I have spoke of, whereunto your Levy
Must be suppliant. The words of your commission
Will tie you to the numbers and the time
Of their dispatch.

Tri.
We will discharge our duty.
[Exeunt.

-- 308 --

ACT IV. SCENE I. The Forest in Wales.

Enter Cloten alone.

I am near to th' place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments serve me! why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (saving reverence of the word,) because, 'tis said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman; I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber;) I mean, the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services and more remarkable in single oppositions; yet this (a) note ill perseverant thing loves him in my despight. What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which is now growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off, thy mistress enforc'd, thy garments cut to pieces 1 notebefore her face; and all this done, spurn her home to her father, who may, happily, be a little angry for my so rough usage; but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is ty'd up safe: out, sword, and to a sore purpose! fortune put them into my hand; this is the very description of

-- 309 --

their meeting place, and the fellow dares not deceive me.

Exit. SCENE II. Changes to the Front of the Cave. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, and Imogen, from the Cave.

Bel.
You are not well: remain here in the cave;
We'll come t' you after hunting.

Arv.
Brother, stay here: [To Imogen.
Are we not brothers?—

Imo.
So man and man should be;
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose dust is both alike. I'm very sick,

Guid.
Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him.

Imo.
So sick I am not, yet I am not well;
But not so citizen a wanton, as
To seem to die, ere sick: so please you, leave me;
Stick to your journal course; the breach of custom
Is breach of all. I'm ill, but your being by me
Cannot amend me. Society is no comfort
To one not sociable: I'm not very sick,
Since I can reason of it. Pray you trust me here,
I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing so poorly.

Guid.
I love thee: I have spoke it;
How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel.
What? how? how?

Arv.
If it be sin to say so, Sir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why
I love this youth, and I have heard you say,
Love reasons without reason. The bier at door,
And a demand who is't shall die, I'd say,
My father, not this youth.

Bel.
O noble strain!

-- 310 --


O worthiness of nature, breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards, and base things sire the base:
Nature hath meal and bran; contempt and grace.
I'm not their father; yet who this should be,
Doth miracle itself, lov'd before me!—
'Tis the ninth hour o' th' morn.

Arv.
Brother, farewel.

Imo.
I wish ye sport.

Arv.
You health—so please you, Sir.

Imo.
These are kind creatures. Gods, what lies I've heard!
Our courtiers say, all's savage, but at court:
Experience, oh, how thou disprov'st report,—
Th' imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish,
Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish;
I am sick still, heart-sick—Pisanio,
I'll now taste of thy drug.
[Drinks out of the viol.

Guid.
I could not stir him;
He said, he was gentle, but unfortunate;
Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv.
Thus did he answer me; yet said, hereafter
I might know more.

Bel.
To th' field, to th' field:
We'll leave you for this time; go in and rest.

Arv.
We'll not be long away.

Bel.
Pray, be not sick,
For you must be our housewife.

Imo.
Well or ill,
I am bound to you.
[Exit Imogen, to the Cave.

Bel.
And shall be ever.
This youth, howe'er distress'd, appears to have had
Good ancestors.

Arv.
How angel-like he sings!

Guid.
But his neat cookery!

Arv.
He cut our roots in characters;
And sauc'd our broth, as Juno had been sick,
And he her dieter.

-- 311 --

Arv.
Nobly he yokes
A smiling with a sigh, as if the sigh
Was that it was, for not being such a smile:
The smile mocking the sigh, that it would fly
From so divine a temple, to commix
With winds that sailors rail at.

Guid.
I do note,
That grief and patience, rooted in him both,
2 noteMingle their spurs together.

Arv.
Grow, Patience!
And let the stinking Elder, Grief, untwine
His perishing root, with the encreasing vine!

Bel.
It is great morning. Come, away: who's there?
SCENE III. Enter Cloten.

Clot.
I cannot find those runagates: that villain
Hath mock'd me.—I am faint.

Bel.
Those runagates!
Means he not us? I partly know him; 'tis
Cloten, the son o' th' Queen; I fear some ambush—
I saw him not these many years, and yet
I know, 'tis he: we're held as Out-laws; hence.

Guid.
He is but one; you and my brother search
What companies are near: pray you, away:
Let me alone with him.
[Exeunt Belarius and Arviragus.

Clot.
Soft! what are you,
That fly me thus? some villain-mountaineer.—
I've heard of such. What slave art thou?

Guid.
A thing
More slavish did I ne'er, than answering
A slave without a knock.

-- 312 --

Clot.
Thou art a robber,
A law-breaker, a villain; yield thee, thief.

Guid.
To whom? to thee? what art thou? have not I
An arm as big as thine? a heart as big?
Thy words, I grant, are bigger: for I wear not
My dagger in my mouth. Say, what thou art,
Why I should yield to thee?

Clot.
Thou villain base,
Know'st me not by my cloaths?

Guid.
No, nor thy tailor, rascal,
Who is thy grandfather; he made those cloaths,
Which, as it seems, make thee.

Clot.
Thou precious varlet!
My tailor made them not.

Guid.
Hence then, and thank
The man that gave them thee. Thou art some fool;
I'm loth to beat thee.

Clot.
Thou injurious thief,
Hear but my name, and tremble.

Guid.
What's thy name?

Clot.
Cloten, thou villain.

Guid.
Cloten, then, double villain, be thy name,
I cannot tremble at it; were it toad, adder, spider,
'Twould move me sooner.

Clot.
To thy further fear,
Nay, to thy meer confusion, thou shalt know
I'm son to th' Queen.

Guid.
I'm sorry for't; not seeming
So worthy as thy birth.

Clot.
Art not afraid?

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Those that I rev'rence, those I fear; the wife:&prquo;
At fools I laugh, not fear them.

Clot.
Die the death!—
When I have slain thee with my proper hand,
I'll follow those that even now fled hence,

-- 313 --


And on the gates of Lud's town set your heads;
Yield, rustick mountaineer. [Fight, and Exeunt. SCENE IV. Enter Belarius and Arviragus.

Bel.
No company's abroad.

Arv.
None in the world; you did mistake him, sure.

Bel.
I cannot tell: long is it since I saw him,
But time hath nothing blurr'd those lines of favour
Which then he wore; the snatches in his voice,
And burst of speaking, were as his: I'm absolute,
'Twas very Cloten.

Arv.
In this place we left them;
I wish my brother make good time with him,
You say he is so fell.

Bel.
Being scarce made up,
I mean, to man, he had not apprehension
Of roaring terrors; for defect of judgment
(a) noteIs oft the cure of fear. But see, thy brother.
Enter Guiderius, with Cloten's Head.

Guid.
This Cloten was a fool, an empty purse,
There was no mony in't; not Hercules
Could have knock'd out his brains, for he had none:
Yet I not doing this, the fool had borne
My head, as I do his.

Bel.
What hast thou done?

Guid.
I'm perfect, what; cut off one Cloten's head,
Son to the Queen, after his own report;
Who call'd me traitor, mountaineer, and swore
With his own single hand he'd take us in;
Displace our heads, where, thanks to th' Gods, they grow,
And set them on Lud's town.

-- 314 --

Bel.
We're all undone!

Guid.
Why, worthy father, what have we to lose,
But what he swore to take, our lives? the law
Protects not us; then why should we be tender,
To let an arrogant piece of flesh threat us?
Play judge, and executioner, all himself?
For we do fear the law. What company
Discover you abroad?

Bel.
No single soul
Can we set eye on; but, in all safe reason,
He must have some attendants. 3 note
Though his honour
Was nothing but mutation, ay, and that
From one bad thing to worse; yet not his frenzy,
Not absolute madness, could so far have rav'd,
To bring him here alone; although, perhaps,
It may be heard at court, that such as we
Cave here, haunt here, are Out-laws, and in time
May make some stronger head: the which he hearing,
(As it is like him,) might break out, and swear,
He'd fetch us in; yet is't not probable
To come alone, nor he so undertaking,
Nor they so suffering; then on good ground we fear,
If I do fear, this body hath a tail
More perilous than the head.

Arv.
Let ordinance
Come, as the Gods foresay it; howsoe'er,
My brother hath done well.

Bel.
I had no mind
To hunt this day: the boy Fidele's sickness
Did make my way long forth.

Guid.
With his own sword,

-- 315 --


Which he did wave against my throat, I've ta'en
His head from him: I'll throw't into the creek
Behind our rock; and let it to the sea,
And tell the fishes, he's the Queen's son, Cloten.
4 noteThat's all I reck. [Exit.

Bel.
I fear, 'twill be reveng'd:
'Would, Paladour, thou hadst not done't! though valour
Becomes thee well enough.

Arv.
'Would I had done't,
So the revenge alone pursu'd me! Paladour,
I love thee brotherly, but envy much,
Thou'st robb'd me of this deed; I would, revenges,
That possible strength might meet, would seek us thro',
And put us to our answer.

Bel.
Well, 'tis done:
We'll hunt no more to day, nor seek for danger
Where there's no profit. Pr'ythee, to our rock,
You and Fidele play the cooks: I'll stay
'Till hasty Paladour return, and bring him
To dinner presently.

Arv.
Poor sick Fidele!
I'll willingly to him: To gain his colour,
5 note


I'd let a marish of such Clotens blood,
And praise myself for charity. [Exit.

Bel.
O thou Goddess,
Thou divine Nature! how thyself thou blazon'st
&plquo;In these two princely boys! they are as gentle,
&plquo;As Zephyrs blowing below the violet,

-- 316 --


&plquo;Not wagging his sweet head; and yet as rough,
&plquo;(Their royal blood enchaf'd,) as the rud'st wind,
&plquo;That by the top doth take the mountain pine,
&plquo;And make him stoop to th' vale—'Tis wonderful,
&plquo;6 noteThat an invisible instinct should frame them
&plquo;To royalty unlearn'd, honour untaught,
&plquo;Civility not seen from other; valour,
&plquo;That wildly grows in them; but yields a crop
&plquo;As if it had been sow'd.&prquo; Yet still it's strange
What Cloten's being here to us portends,
Or what his death will bring us. Re-enter Guiderius.

Guid.
Where's my brother?
I have sent Cloten's clot-pole down the stream,
In embassie to his mother; his body's hostage
For his return.
[Solemn musick.

Bel.
My ingenious instrument!
Hark, Paladour! it sounds: but what occasion
Hath Cadwall now to give it motion? hark!

Guid.
Is he at home?

Bel.
He went hence even now.

Guid.
What does he mean? Since death of my dear'st Mother,
It did not speak before. All solemn things
Should answer solemn accidents. The matter!—

-- 317 --


Triumphs for nothing, and lamenting toys,
Is jollity for apes, and grief for boys.
Is Cadwall mad? SCENE V. Enter Arviragus, with Imogen dead, bearing her in his arms.

Bel.
Look, here he comes!
And brings the dire occasion, in his arms,
Of what we blame him for.

&plquo;Arv.
&plquo;The bird is dead,
&plquo;That we have made so much on! I had rather
&plquo;Have skipt from sixteen years of age to sixty;
&plquo;And turn'd my leaping time into a crutch,
&plquo;Than have seen this.&prquo;

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Oh sweetest, fairest lilly!
&plquo;My brother wears thee not one half so well,
&plquo;As when thou grew'st thyself.&prquo;

&plquo;Bel.
&plquo;7 note




O melancholy!
&plquo;Who ever yet could sound thy bottom? find
&plquo;The ooze, to shew what coast thy sluggish carrack
&plquo;Might eas'liest harbour in?—thou blessed thing!
&plquo;Jove knows, what man thou might'st have made; but ah!
&plquo;Thou dy'dst, a most rare boy, of melancholy!
&plquo;How found you him?&prquo;

-- 318 --

&plquo;Arv.
&plquo;Stark, as you see:
&plquo;Thus smiling, as some fly had tickled slumber!
&plquo;Not as Death's dart being laugh'd at: his right cheek
&plquo;Reposing on a cushion.&prquo;

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Where?&prquo;

&plquo;Arv.
&plquo;O'th' floor:
&plquo;His arms thus leagu'd; I thought, he slept; and put
&plquo;My clouted brogues from off my feet, whose rudeness
&plquo;Answer'd my steps too loud.&prquo;

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Why, he but sleeps;&prquo;
&wlquo;If he be gone, he'll make his grave a bed;
&wlquo;With female Fairies will his tomb be haunted,
&wlquo;And worms will not come near thee.&wrquo;

&wlquo;Arv.
&wlquo;With fairest flow'rs,
&wlquo;'Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele,
&wlquo;I'll sweeten thy sad grave. Thou shalt not lack
&wlquo;The flow'r that's like thy face, pale Primrose; nor
&wlquo;The azur'd Hare-bell, like thy veins, no, nor
&wlquo;The leaf of Eglantine; which not to slander,
&wlquo;Out-sweeten'd not thy breath. 8 note



The Raddock would,
&wlquo;With charitable bill, (oh bill, sore-shaming
&wlquo;Those rich-left heirs, that let their fathers lye
&wlquo;Without a Monument!) bring thee all this;
&wlquo;Yea, and furr'd moss besides, when flow'rs are none,
&wlquo;To winter-gown thy coarse.—&wrquo;

Guid.
Pr'ythee, have done;

-- 319 --


And do not play in wench-like words with that
Which is so serious. Let us bury him,
And not protract with admiration what
Is now due debt.—To th' grave.

Arv.
Say, where shall's lay him?

Guid.
By good Euriphile, our mother.

Arv.
Be't so:
And let us, Paladour, though now our voices
Have got the mannish crack, sing him to th' ground;
As, once, our mother: use like note, and words,
Save that Euriphile must be Fidele.

Guid.
Cadwall,
I cannot sing: I'll weep, and word it with thee;
&wlquo;For notes of sorrow, out of tune, are worse
&wlquo;Than Priests and Fanes that lie.&wrquo;

Arv.
We'll speak it then.

Bel.
Great griefs, I see, med'cine the less. For Cloten
Is quite forgot. He was a Queen's son, boys,
And though he came our enemy, remember,
(a) noteHe has paid for that: the mean and mighty, rotting
Together, have one dust; yet Reverence,
(That angel of the world,) doth make distinction
Of place 'twixt high and low. Our foe was princely,
And though you took his life, as being our foe,
Yet bury him as a Prince.

Guid.
Pray, fetch him hither.
Thersites' body is as good as Ajax,
When neither are alive.

Arv.
If you'll go fetch him,
We'll say our song the whilst: Brother, begin.

Guid.
Nay, Cadwall, we must lay his head to th' East;
My father hath a reason for't.

Arv.
'Tis true.

-- 320 --

Guid.
Come on then, and remove him.

Arv.
So, begin.

SONG.

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;9 noteFear no more the heat o'th' Sun,
  &plquo;Nor the furious winter's rages;
&plquo;Thou thy worldly task hast done,
  &plquo;Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages.&prquo;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney sweepers, come to dust.

&plquo;Arv.
&plquo;Fear no more the frown o'th' Great,
  &plquo;Thou art past the tyrant's stroke;
&plquo;Care no more to cloath and eat;
  &plquo;To thee the reed is as the oak:&prquo;
The scepter, learning, physick, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Fear no more the lightning-flash.&prquo;

Arv.
  Nor th' all-dreaded thunder-stone.

&plquo;Guid.
&plquo;Fear no slander, censure rash.&prquo;

&plquo;Arv.
  &plquo;Thou hast finish'd joy and moan.&prquo;

Both.
All lovers young, all lovers must
  Consign to thee, and come to dust.

Guid.
No exorciser harm thee!

Arv.
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Guid.
Ghost, unlaid, forbear thee!

Arv.
Nothing ill come near thee!

Both.
Quiet consummation have,
  And renowned be thy Grave! Enter Belarius, with the body of Cloten.

Guid.
We've done our obsequies: come, lay him down.

&wlquo;Bel.
&wlquo;Here's a few flow'rs, but about midnight more;

-- 321 --


&wlquo;The herbs, that have on them cold dew o'th' night,
&wlquo;Are strewings fitt'st for Graves.—Upon their faces—
&wlquo;You were as flow'rs, now wither'd; even so
&wlquo;These herbelets shall, which we upon you strow.
&wlquo;Come on, away, apart upon our knees—
&wlquo;The ground, that gave them first, has them again:
&wlquo;Their pleasure here is past, so is their pain.&wrquo; [Exeunt. Imogen, awaking.

&plquo;Imo.
&plquo;Yes, Sir, to Milford-Haven, which is the way?—
&plquo;I thank you—by yond bush?—pray, how far thither?—
&plquo;'Ods pittikins—can it be six mile yet?—
&plquo;I've gone all night—'faith, I'll lye down and sleep.
&plquo;But, soft! no bedfellow—Oh Gods, and Goddesses! [Seeing the body.
&plquo;These flow'rs are like the pleasures of the world;
&plquo;This bloody man the care on't—I hope, I dream;
&plquo;For, sure, I thought I was a cave-keeper,
&plquo;And cook to honest creatures. But 'tis not so:
&plquo;'Twas but a bolt of nothing, shot at nothing,
&plquo;Which the brain makes of fumes: Our very eyes
&plquo;Are sometimes like our judgments, blind. Good faith,
&plquo;I tremble still with fear; but if there be
&plquo;Yet left in heav'n as small a drop of pity
&plquo;As a wren's eye, oh Gods! a part of it!
&plquo;The dream's here still; ev'n when I wake, it is
&plquo;Without me, as within me; not imagin'd, felt.&prquo;
A headless man!—the garments of Posthumus?
I know the shape of's leg, this is his hand,
His foot mercurial, his martial thigh,
The brawns of Hercules: but his jovial face—
Murther in heaven?—how!—'tis gone!—Pisanio!
All curses madded Hecuba gave the Greeks,
And mine to boot, be darted on thee! thou,

-- 322 --


'Twas thou, conspiring with that devil Cloten,
Hast here cut off my lord. To write, and read,
Be henceforth treach'rous!—Damn'd Pisanio
Hath with his forged letters—damn'd Pisanio!—
From this the bravest vessel of the world
Struck the main-top! oh Posthumus, alas,
Where is thy head? where's That? ah me, where's That?
Pisanio might have kill'd thee at the heart,
And left thy head on. How should this be, Pisanio?—
'Tis he and Cloten. Malice and lucre in them
Have laid this woe here. Oh, 'tis pregnant, pregnant!
The drug he gave me, which, he said, was precious
And cordial to me, have I not found it
Murth'rous to th' senses? that confirms it home:
This is Pisanio's deed, and Cloten's. Oh!
Give colour to my pale cheek with thy blood,
That we the horrider may seem to those
Which chance to find us. Oh, my lord! my lord! SCENE VII. Enter Lucius, Captains, and a Soothsayer.

Cap.
To them, the legions garrison'd in Gallia,
After your will, have cross'd the sea, attending
You here at Milford-Haven, with your Ships:
They are in readiness.

Luc.
But what from Rome?

Cap.
The Senate hath stirr'd up the Confiners,
And Gentlemen of Italy, most willing spirits,
That promise noble service: and they come
Under the conduct of bold Iachimo,
Syenna's Brother.

Luc.
When expect you them?

Cap.
With the next benefit o'th' wind.

Luc.
This forwardness

-- 323 --


Makes our hopes fair. Command, our present numbers
Be muster'd; bid the Captains look to't. Now, Sir,
What have you dream'd, of late, of this war's purpose?

Sooth.
9 note


Last night, the very Gods shew'd me a vision.
(I fast, and pray'd for their intelligence)
I saw Jove's bird, the Roman eagle, wing'd
From the spungy south, to this part of the West,
There vanish'd in the sun-beams; which portends
(Unless my sins abuse my divination)
Success to th' Roman Host.

Luc.
Dream often so,
And never false!—Soft, ho, what Trunk is here
Without his top? the ruin speaks, that sometime
It was a worthy building. How! a page!—
Or dead, or sleeping on him? but dead, rather:
For Nature doth abhor to make his couch
With the defunct, or sleep upon the dead.
Let's see the boy's face.

Cap.
He's alive, my lord.

Luc.
He'll then instruct us of this body. Young one,
Inform us of thy fortunes, for, it seems,
They crave to be demanded: who is this,
Thou mak'st thy bloody pillow? 1 note

who was he,
That, otherwise than noble Nature did,
Hath alter'd that good picture? what's thy interest

-- 324 --


In this sad wreck? how came it, and who is it?
What art thou?

Imo.
I am nothing; or if not,
Nothing to be, were better. This was my master,
A very valiant Briton, and a good,
That here by mountaineers lyes slain: alas!
There are no more such masters: I may wander
From East to Occident, cry out for service,
Try many, all good, serve them truly, never
Find such another master.

Luc.
'Lack, good youth!
Thou mov'st no less with thy complaining, than
Thy master in bleeding: say his name, good friend.

Imo.
Richard du Champ. If I do lye, and do
No harm by it, though the Gods hear, I hope, [Aside.
They'll pardon it. Say you, Sir?

Luc.
Thy name?

Imo.
Fidele, Sir.

Luc.
Thou dost approve thy self the very same;
Thy name well fits thy faith; thy faith, thy name.

-- 325 --


Wilt take thy chance with me? I will not say
Thou shalt be so well master'd, but, be sure,
No less belov'd. The Roman Emperor's letters,
Sent by a Consul to me, should no sooner,
Than thine own worth, prefer thee: go with me.

Imo.
I'll follow, Sir. But first, an't please the Gods,
I'll hide my master from the flies as deep
As these door note pickaxes can dig: and when
With wild wood-leaves and weeds I ha' strew'd his Grave,
And on it said a century of pray'rs,
(Such as I can,) twice o'er, I'll weep and sigh;
And, leaving so his service, follow you,
So please you entertain me.

Luc.
Ay, good youth,
And rather father thee, than master thee.
My friends,
The boy hath taught us manly duties: let us
Find out the prettiest dazied-plot we can,
And make him with our pikes and partizans
A Grave; come, arm him: boy, he is preferr'd
By thee to us, and he shall be interr'd
As soldiers can. Be chearful, wipe thine eyes:
Some Falls are means the happier to arise.
[Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Changes to Cymbeline's Palace. Enter Cymbeline, Lords, and Pisanio.

Cym.
Again; and bring me word, how 'tis with her!
A fever with the absence of her son;
Madness, of which her life's in danger; heav'ns!
How deeply you at once do touch me. Imogen,

-- 326 --


The great part of my comfort, gone! my Queen
Upon a desperate bed, and in a time
When fearful wars point at me! her son gone,
So needful for this present! it strikes me, past
The hope of comfort. But for thee, fellow,
Who needs must know of her departure, and
Dost seem so ignorant, we'll force it from thee
By a sharp torture.

Pis.
Sir, my life is yours,
I set it at your will: but, for my mistress,
I nothing know where she remains; why, gone;
Nor when she purposes Return. 'Beseech your Highness,
Hold me your loyal servant.

Lord.
Good my liege,
The day that she was missing, he was here;
I dare be bound he's true, and shall perform
All parts of his subjection loyally. For Cloten,
There wants no diligence in seeking him,
And will no doubt be found.

Cym.
The time is troublesome;
We'll slip you for a season, but our jealousy
Do's yet depend.

Lord.
So please your Majesty,
The Roman Legions, all from Gallia drawn,
Are landed on your coast, with large supply
Of Roman Gentlemen, by th' Senate sent.

Cym.
Now for the counsel of my Son and Queen!—
I am amaz'd with matter.

Lord.
Good my liege,
Your preparation can affront no less
Than what you hear of. Come more, for more you're ready;
The want is, but to put these Powers in motion,
That long to move.

Cym.
I thank you; let's withdraw,
And meet the time, as it seeks us. We fear not

-- 327 --


What can from Italy annoy us, but
We grieve at chances here.—Away.— [Exeunt.

Pis.
(a) noteI heard no letter from my master, since
I wrote him, Imogen was slain. 'Tis strange;
Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise
To yield me often tidings. Neither know I,
What is betide to Cloten; but remain
Perplext in all. The heavens still must work;
Wherein I'm false, I'm honest: not true, to be true.
These present wars shall find, I love my Country,
Ev'n to the note o' th' King, or I fall in them;
All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd;
Fortune brings in some boats, that are not steer'd.
[Exit. SCENE IX. Changes to the Forest. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Guid.
The noise is round about us.

Bel.
Let us from it.

Arv.
What pleasure, Sir, find we in life, to lock it
From action and adventure?

Guid.
Nay, what hope
Have we in hiding us? this way the Romans
Must or for Britons slay us, or receive us
For barb'rous and unnatural Revolts
During their use, and slay us after.

Bel.
Sons,
We'll higher to the mountains, there secure us.
To the King's Party there's no going; newness
Of Cloten's death (we being not known, nor muster'd
Among the bands) may drive us 2 noteto a Render

-- 328 --


Where we have liv'd: and so extort from us
That which we've done, whose answer would be death
Drawn on with torture.

Guid.
This is, Sir, a doubt
(In such a time) nothing becoming you,
Nor satisfying us.

Arv.
It is not likely,
That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
Behold their quarter'd fires, 3 note


have both their eyes
And ears so 'ploy'd importantly as now,
That they will waste their time upon our note
To know from whence we are.

Bel.
Oh, I am known
Of many in the army; many years,
Though Cloten then but young, (you see,) not wore him
From my remembrance. And, besides, the King
Hath not deserv'd my service, nor your loves,
Who find in my exile the want of breeding;
The certainty of this hard life, aye hopeless
To have the courtesie your cradle promis'd;
But to be still hot summer's tanlings, and
The shrinking slaves of winter.

Guid.
Than be so,
Better to cease to be. Pray, Sir, to th' army;
I and my brother are not known; your self
So out of thought, and thereto so o'er-grown,

-- 329 --


Cannot be question'd.

Arv.
By this Sun that shines,
I'll thither; what thing is it, that I never
Did see man die, scarce ever look'd on blood,
But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison?
Never bestrid a horse save one, that had
A rider like myself who ne'er wore rowel,
Nor iron on his heel? I am asham'd
To look upon the holy Sun, to have
The benefit of his best beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

Guid.
By heav'ns, I'll go;
If you will bless me, Sir, and give me leave,
I'll take the better care; but if you will not,
The hazard therefore due fall on me, by
The hands of Romans!

Arv.
So say I, Amen.

Bel.
No reason I (since of your lives you set
So slight a valuation) should reserve
My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys;
If in your country wars you chance to die,
That is my bed too, lads; and there I'll lye.
Lead, lead; the time seems long: their blood thinks scorn
'Till it flie out, and shew them Princes born.
[Exeunt.

-- 330 --

ACT V. SCENE I. A Field between the British and Roman Camps. Enter Posthumus, with a bloody hankerchief.

Posthumus.
Yea, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee; for I wisht,
Thou should'st be colour'd thus. You married Ones,
If each of you would take this course, how many
Must murder wives much better than themselves
For wrying but a little? oh, Pisanio!
Every good servant does not all Commands;
No bond, but to do just ones.—Gods! if you
Should have ta'en vengeance on my faults, I never
Had lived to put on this; so had you saved
The noble Imogen to repent, and struck
Me, wretch, more worth your vengeance. But alack,
You snatch from hence for little faults; that's love;
To have them fall no more:—you some permit
To second ills with ills, each worse than other,
And make them dread note, to the doers' thrift.—
But Imogen's your own: do your best wills,
And make me blest t'obey! I am brought hither
Among th' Italian Gentry, and to fight
Against my lady's Kingdom; 'tis enough,
That, Britaine, I have kill'd thy mistress: Peace!
I'll give no wound to thee. Therefore, good heav'ns,
Hear patiently my purpose. I'll disrobe me
Of these Italian weeds, and suit myself
As do's a Briton peasant; so I'll fight
Against the part I come with; so I'll die
For thee, O Imogen, for whom my life
Is, ev'ry breath, a death; and thus unknown,
Pitied, nor hated, to the face of peril

-- 331 --


Myself I'll dedicate. Let me make men know
More valour in me, than my Habits shew;
Gods, put the strength o'th' Leonati in me!
To shame the guise o'th' world, I will begin
The fashion, less without, and more within. [Exit. Enter Lucius, Iachimo, and the Roman army at one door; and the British army at another; Leonatus Posthumus following like a poor soldier. They march over, and go out. Then enter again in skirmish Iachimo, and Posthumus; he vanquisheth and disarmeth Iachimo, and then leaves him.

Iach.
The heaviness and guilt, within my bosom,
Takes off my manhood; I've bely'd a lady,
The Princess of this country; and the air on't
Revengingly enfeebles me: or could this carle,
A very drudge of nature, have subdu'd me
In my profession? Knighthoods, and Honours born,
As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn:
If that thy gentry, Britaine, go before
This lowt, as he exceeds our lords, the odds
Is, that we scarce are men, and you are Gods.
[Exit. The battle continues; the Britons fly, Cymbeline is taken; then enter to his rescue, Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Bel.
Stand, stand; we have th' advantage of the ground;
That lane is guarded: nothing routs us, but
The villany of our fears.

Guid. Arv.
Stand, stand, and fight.
Enter Posthumus, and seconds the Britons. They rescue Cymbeline, and exeunt. Then Enter Lucius, Iachimo, and Imogen.

Luc.
Away, boy, from the troops, and save thyself;
For friends kill friends, and the disorder's such

-- 332 --


As war were hood-wink'd.

Iach.
'Tis their fresh supplies.

Luc.
It is a day turn'd strangely. Or betimes
Let's re-inforce, or fly.
[Exeunt. SCENE II. Another Part of the Field of Battle. Enter Posthumus, and a British Lord.

Lord.
Cam'st thou from where they made the Stand?

Post.
I did.
Though you, it seems, came from the fliers.

Lord.
I did.

Post.
No blame be to you, Sir, for all was lost,
But that the heavens fought: the King himself
&plquo;Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
&plquo;And but the backs of Britaine seen; all flying
&plquo;Through a straight lane, the enemy full-hearted,
&plquo;Lolling the tongue with slaughtering, having work
&plquo;More plentiful, than tools to do't, struck down
&plquo;Some mortally, some slightly touch'd, some falling
&plquo;Meerly through fear, that the straight Pass was damn'd
&plquo;With dead men, hurt behind, and cowards living
&plquo;To die with lengthen'd shame.&prquo;

Lord.
Where was this lane?

Post.
Close by the battle, ditch'd, and wall'd with turf,
Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier,
(An honest one, I warrant,) who deserv'd
So long a breeding as his white beard came to,
In doing this for's Country. 'Thwart the lane,
He, with two striplings, (lads, more like to run
The country Base, than to commit such slaughter;
With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer

-- 333 --


Than those 1 notefor preservation cas'd, or shame,)
Made good the passage, cry'd to those that fled,
Our Britaine's Harts die flying, not our men;
To darkness fleet souls, that fly backwards! stand;
Or we are Romans, and will give you That
Like beasts, which you shun beastly, and may save
But to look back in frown: stand, stand.—These three,
Three thousand confident, in act as many;
(For three performers are the file, when all
The rest do nothing;) with this word, Stand, stand,
Accommodated by the place, (more charming
With their own Nobleness, which could have turn'd
A distaff to a lance) gilded pale looks;
Part, shame, part, spirit-renew'd; 2 notethat some, turn'd coward
But by example, (oh, a sin in war,
Damn'd in the first beginners!) 'gan to look
The way that they did, and to grin like lions
Upon the pikes o'th' hunters. Then began
A stop i'th' chaser, a retire; anon,
3 noteA rout, confusion-thick. Forthwith they flie
Chickens, the way which they stoop'd eagles: slaves,
The strides they victors made; and now our cowards,
Like fragments in hard voyages, became
The life o'th' need; having found the back door open
Of the unguarded hearts, heav'ns, how they wound
Some slain before, some dying; some, their friends
O'er-borne i'th' former wave; ten, chac'd by one,
Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty;

-- 334 --


Those, that would die or ere resist, are grown
The mortal hugs o'th' field.

Lord.
This was strange chance,
A narrow lane! an old man, and two boys!

Post.
Nay, do not wonder at it; you are made
Rather to wonder at the things you hear,
Than to work any. Will you rhime upon't?
And vent it for a mockery? here is one:
Two boys, an old man, (twice a boy,) a lane,
Preserv'd, the Britons, was the Romans' bane.

Lord.
Nay, be not angry, Sir.

Post.
Lack! to what end?
Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
For if he'll do, as he is made to do,
I know, he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
You have put me into rhimes.

Lord.
Farewel, you are angry.
[Exit.

Post.
This is a lord—oh noble misery,
To be i'th' field, and ask what news, of me!
To day, how many would have given their honours
To've sav'd their carcasses? took heel to do't,
And yet died too? &wlquo;4 note

I, in mine own woe charm'd,
&wlquo;Could not find death, where I did hear him groan;
&wlquo;Nor feel him, where he struck. This ugly monster,—
&wlquo;'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
&wlquo;Sweet words; or hath more ministers than we,
&wlquo;That draw his knives i'th' war—Well, I will find him:&wrquo;

-- 335 --


For being now a favourer to the Briton,
No more a Briton, I've resum'd again
The part I came in. Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the veriest hind, that shall
Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
Here made by th' Roman; great the answer be,
Britons must take. For me, my ransom's death;
On either side I come to spend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by some means for Imogen. Enter two British Captains, and Soldiers.

1 Cap.
Great Jupiter be prais'd, Lucius is taken!
'Tis thought, the old man, and his sons, were angels.

2 Cap.
There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,
That gave th' affront with them.

1 Cap.
So 'tis reported;
But none of them can be found. Stand, who's there?

Post.
A Roman
Who had not now been drooping here, if Seconds
Had answer'd him.

2 Cap.
Lay hands on him; a dog!
A leg of Rome shall not return to tell
What crows have peck'd them here; he brags his service,
As if he were of note; bring him to th' King.
Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio, and Roman captives. The captains present Posthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a Goaler. After which, all go out.

-- 336 --

SCENE III. Changes to a Prison. Enter Posthumus, and two goalers.

1 Goal.
You shall not now be stoln, you've locks upon you;
So, graze, as you find pasture.

2 Goal.
Ay, or stomach.
[Exeunt Goalers.

Post.
Most welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,
I think, to liberty; yet am I better
Than one that's sick o'th' gout, since he had rather
Groan so in perpetuity than be cur'd
By th' sure physician, death; who is the key
T'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. Is't enough, I'm sorry?
So children temp'ral fathers do appease;
Gods are more full of mercy.—Must I repent?
I cannot do it better than in gyves,
Desir'd, more than constrain'd; 5 note






to satisfie,

-- 337 --


I d'off my freedom; 'tis the main part; take
6 noteNo stricter Render of me, than my all.
I know, you are more clement than vile 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 light, take pieces for the figure's sake;
You rather, mine being yours: and so, great Powers,
If you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel those old bonds. Oh Imogen!
I'll speak to thee in silence.— [He sleeps. 7 noteSolemn musick: Enter, as in an apparition, 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 musick before them. Then, after other musick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Posthumus round, as he lyes sleeping.

Sici.
No more, thou thunder-master, shew
  Thy spite on mortal flies:
With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,
  That thy Adulteries
Rates and revenges.—

-- 338 --


Hath my poor boy done aught but well,
  Whose face I never saw?
I dy'd, whilst in the womb he stay'd,
  Attending Nature's Law.
Whose father, Jove! (as men report,
  Thou orphans' father art;)
Thou should'st have been, and shielded him
  From his earth-vexing smart.

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

Sici.
Great Nature, like his ancestry,
  Moulded the stuff so fair;
That he deserv'd the praise o'th' world,
  As great Sicilius' heir.

1 Bro.
When once he was mature for man,
  In Britaine where was he,
That could stand up his parallel,
  Or rival object be
In eye of Imogen, that best
  Could deem his dignity?

Moth.
With marriage therefore was he mockt,
  To be exil'd, and thrown
From Leonatus' seat, and cast
  From her his dearest one?
Sweet Imogen!—

Sici.
Why did you suffer Iachimo,
  Slight thing of Italy,
To taint his noble heart and brain
  With needless jealousie,
And to become the geek and scorn
  O'th' other's villany?

2 Bro.
For this, from stiller seats we came,
  Our parents, and us twain,

-- 339 --


That, striking in our country's cause,
  Fell bravely and were slain;
Our fealty, and Tenantius' right,
  With honour to maintain.

1 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 merits due,
  Being all to dolours turn'd?

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

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 th' shining synod of the rest,
  Against thy Deity.

2 Breth.
Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,
  And from thy justice flie.
Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle; he throws a thunder-bolt. The ghosts fall on their knees.

Jupit.
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?
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. Be content,
Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift:
  His comforts thrive, his tryals well are spent;

-- 340 --


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.
This tablet lay upon his breast, wherein [Jupiter drops a tablet.
  Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine;
  And so, away;—no farther with your din
  Express impatience, lest you stir up mine;
  Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. [Ascends.

Sici.
He came in thunder, his cœlestial 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 his beak,
As when his God is pleas'd.

All.
Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici.
The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd
His radiant roof: away, and to be blest
Let us with care perform his great behest.
[Vanish.

Post. [waking.]
Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot
A father to me: and thou hast created
A mother and two brothers. But, oh scorn!
Gone—they went hence so soon as they were born;
And so I am awake—Poor wretches, that depend
On Greatness' favour, dream as I have done;
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! oh rare one!
Be not, as in our fangled world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our Courtiers;
As good as promise.

-- 341 --

[Reads.]

When as the lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopt branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britaine be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty.


8 note


'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff, as madmen
Tongue, and brain not—do either both, or nothing—
Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie. But what it is,
The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep
If but for sympathy. Enter Goaler.

Goal.

Come, Sir, are you ready for death?

Post.

Over-roasted rather: ready long ago.

Goal.

Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cookt.

Post.

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

Goal.

A heavy reckoning for you, Sir; but the comfort is, you shall be call'd to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills, which are often 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 that you

-- 342 --

are paid too much; purse and brain, both empty, the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purse too light being drawn of heaviness. Oh, of this contradiction you shall now be quit: oh, the charity of a penny cord, it sums up thousands in a trice; you have no true debtor, and creditor, but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge; your neck, Sir, is pen, book, and counters; so the acquittance follows.

Post.

I am merrier to die, than thou art to live.

Goal.

Indeed, Sir, he that sleeps, feels not the tooth-ache: but a man that were to sleep your sleep, and a hangman 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.

Goal.

Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not seen him so pictur'd: you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know; or to take upon your self that, which, I am sure, you do not know; or lump the after-enquiry 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.

Goal.

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.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes.

Knock off his manacles, bring your prisoner to the King.

Post.

Thou bring'st good news; I am called to be made free.

Goal.

I'll be hang'd then.

Post.

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

[Exeunt Posthumus and Messenger.

-- 343 --

Goal.

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 goalers and gallowses; I speak against my present profit, but my wish hath a preferment in't.

[Exit. SCENE IV. Cymbeline's Tent. Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio, and lords.

Cym.
Stand by my side, you, whom the Gods have made
Preservers of my Throne. Wo is my heart,
That the poor Soldier, that so richly fought,
(Whose rags sham'd gilded arms; whose naked breast
Stept before shields of proof,) cannot be found:
He shall be happy that can find him, if
Our grace can make him so.

Bel.
9 note



I never saw
Such noble fury in so poor a thing:
Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought
But begg'ry and poor Luck.

-- 344 --

Cym.
No tydings of him?

Pis.
He hath been search'd among the dead and living,
But no trace of him.

Cym.
To my grief, I am
The heir of his reward; which I will add
To you, (the liver, heart, and brain of Britaine;) [To Bel. Guid. and Arvirag.
By whom, I grant, she lives. 'Tis now the time
To ask of whence you are. Report it.

Bel.
Sir,
In Cambria are we born, and Gentlemen:
Farther to boast, were neither true nor modest,
Unless I add, we're honest.

Cym.
Bow your knees;
Arise my Knights o'th' battle; I create you
Companions to our person, and will fit you
With dignities becoming your estates. Enter Cornelius, and Ladies.
There's business in these faces: why so sadly
Greet you our victory? you look like Romans,
And not o'th' Court of Britaine.

Cor.
Hail, great King!
To sour your happiness, I must report
The Queen is dead.

Cym
Whom worse than a physician
Would this report become? but I consider,
By med'cine life may be prolong'd, yet death
Will seize the Doctor too. How ended she?

Cor.
With horror, madly dying, like herself;
Who, being cruel to the world, concluded
Most cruel to her self. What she confest,
I will report, so please you: These her women
Can trip me, if I err; who, with wet cheeks,
Were present when she finish'd.

Cym.
Pr'thee, say.

-- 345 --

Cor.
First, she confess'd, she never lov'd you: only
Affected Greatness got by you, not you:
Married your Royalty, was wife to your Place;
Abhorr'd your person.

Cym.
She alone knew this:
And, but she spoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.

Cor.
Your Daughter, whom she bore in hand to love
With such integrity, she did confess,
Was as a scorpion to her sight; whose life,
But that her flight prevented it, she had
Ta'en off by poison.

Cym.
O most delicate fiend!
Who is't can read a woman? is there more?

Cor.
More, Sir, and worse. She did confess, she had
For you a mortal mineral; which, being took,
Should by the minute feed on life, and lingring
By inches waste you. In which time she purpos'd,
By watching, weeping, tendance, kissing, to
O'ercome you with her shew: yes, and in time,
(When she had fitted you with her craft,) to work
Her son into th' adoption of the Crown:
But failing of her end by his strange absence,
Grew shameless, desperate; open'd, in despight
Of heaven and men, her purposes: repented,
The ills she hatch'd were not effected: so,
Despairing, dy'd.

Cym.
Heard you all this, her Women?

Lady.
We did, so please your Highness.

Cym.
Mine eyes
Were not in fault, for she was beautiful:
Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart,
That thought her like her Seeming. It had been vicious
To have mistrusted her. Yet, oh my daughter!
That it was folly in me, thou may'st say,
And prove it in thy feeling. Heav'n mend all!

-- 346 --

SCENE V. Enter Lucius, Iachimo, and other Roman prisoners; Leonatus behind, and Imogen.


Thou com'st not, Caius, now for Tribute; That
The Britons have raz'd out, though with the loss
Of many a bold one; whose kinsmen have made suit,
That their good souls may be appeas'd with slaughter
Of you their Captives, which our self have granted.
So, think of your estate.

Luc.
Consider, Sir, the chance of war; the day
Was yours by accident: had it gone with us,
We should not, when the blood was cold, have threatned
Our Prisoners with the sword. But since the Gods
Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives
May be call'd ransome, let it come. Sufficeth,
A Roman with a Roman's heart can suffer.—
Augustus lives to think on't—And so much
For my peculiar care. This one thing only
I will intreat: my boy, a Briton born,
Let him be ransom'd; never master had
A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,
So tender over his occasions, true,
So feat, so nurse-like; let his virtue join
With my request, which, I'll make bold, your Highness
Cannot deny: he hath done no Briton harm,
Though he hath serv'd a Roman. Save him, Sir,
And spare no blood beside.

Cym.
I've surely seen him;
His favour is familiar to me. Boy,
Thou hast look'd thy self into my grace,
And art mine own. I know not why, nor wherefore,
To say, live, boy: ne'er thank thy master, live;
And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt,

-- 347 --


Fitting my bounty, and thy state, I'll give it:
Yea, though thou do demand a prisoner,
The noblest ta'en.

Imo.
I humbly thank your Highness.

Luc.
I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad;
And yet, I know, thou wilt.

Imo.
No, no, alack,
There's other work in hand; I see a thing
Bitter to me, as death; your life, good master,
Must shuffle for it self.

Luc.
The boy disdains me,
He leaves me, scorns me: briefly die their joys,
That place them on the truth of girls and boys!
Why stands he so perplext?

Cym.
What would'st thou, boy?
I love thee more and more: think more and more,
What's best to ask. Know'st him thou look'st on? speak,
Wilt have him live? is he thy kin? thy friend?

Imo.
He is a Roman; no more kin to me,
Than I to your Highness: who, being born your vassal,
Am something nearer.

Cym.
Wherefore eye'st him so?

Imo.
I'll tell you, Sir, in private, if you please
To give me hearing.

Cym.
Ay, with all my heart,
And lend my best attention. What's thy name?

Imo.
Fidele, Sir.

Cym.
Thou art my good youth, my page;
I'll be thy master: walk with me, speak freely.
[Cymbel. and Imo. walk aside.

Bel.
Is not this boy reviv'd from death?

Arv.
1 note

One sand another

-- 348 --


Not more resembles, than He th' sweet rosie lad,
Who dy'd and was Fidele. What think you?

Guid.
The same dead thing alive.

Bel.
Peace, peace, see more; he eyes us not; forbear,
Creatures may be alike: were't he, I'm sure,
He would have spoke t'us.

Guid.
But we saw him dead.

Bel.
Be silent: let's see further.

Pis.
'Tis my mistress— [Aside.
Since she is living, let the time run on,
To good, or bad.
[Cymb. and Imog. come forward.

Cym.
Come, stand thou by our side.
Make thy demand aloud.—Sir, Step you forth, [To Iachimo.
Give answer to this boy, and do it freely;
Or, by our Greatness and the Grace of it,
Which is our Honour, bitter torture shall
Winnow the truth from falshood—On; speak to him.

Imo.
My boon is, that this Gentleman may render
Of whom he had this ring.

Post.
What's that to him?

Cym.
That diamond upon your finger, say,
How came it yours?

Iach.
Thou'lt torture me to leave unspoken That,
Which to be spoke would torture thee.

Cym.
How? me?

Iach.
I am glad to be constrain'd to utter what
Torments me to conceal. By villany
I got this ring; 'twas Leonatus' jewel,
Whom thou didst banish: and (which more may grieve thee,
As it doth me) a nobler Sir ne'er liv'd
'Twixt sky and ground. Will you hear more, my lord?

Cym.
All that belongs to this.

-- 349 --

Iach.
That paragon, thy daughter,
For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits
Quail to remember,—give me leave, I faint.—

Cym.
My daughter, what of her? renew thy strength;
I'd rather thou should'st live, while nature will,
Than die ere I hear more: strive, man, and speak.

Iach.
Upon a time, (unhappy was the clock,
That struck the hour;) it was in Rome, (accurs'd
The mansion where) 'twas at a feast, (oh, would
Our viands had been poison'd! or at least,
Those which I heav'd to head:) the good Posthumus
(What should I say? he was too good to be
Where ill men were; and was the best of all
Amongst the rar'st of good ones)—sitting sadly,
Hearing us praise our Loves of Italy
For Beauty, that made barren the swell'd Boast
Of him that best could speak; 2 note






for feature, laming
The shrine of Venus, or straight-pight Minerva,

-- 350 --


Postures beyond brief nature; for condition,
A shop of all the qualities, that man
Loves woman for; besides that hook of wiving,
Fairness, which strikes the eye—

Cym.
I stand on fire.
Come to the matter.

Iach.
All too soon I shall,
Unless thou wouldst grieve quickly.—This Posthumus,
(Most like a noble lord in love, and one
That had a royal lover) took his hint;
And, not dispraising whom we prais'd, (therein
He was as calm as virtue) he began
His mistress' picture; which by his tongue being made,
And then a mind put in't, either our brags
Were crack'd-of kitchen-trulls, or his description
Prov'd us unspeaking sots.

Cym.
Nay, nay, to th' purpose.

Iach.
Your daughter's chastity;—there it begins:
He spake of her, as Dian had hot dreams,

-- 351 --


And she alone were cold; whereat, I, wretch!—
Made scruple of his praise; and wag'd with him
Pieces of gold, 'gainst This which then he wore
Upon his honour'd finger, to attain
In suit the place of's bed, and win this ring
By hers and mine adultery. He, true Knight,
No lesser of her honour confident
Than I did truly find her, stakes this ring;
And would so, had it been a carbuncle
Of Phœbus' wheel; and might so safely, had it
Been all the worth of's Car. Away to Britaine
Post I in this design: well may you, Sir,
Remember me at court, where I was taught
By your chaste daughter the wide difference
'Twixt amorous, and villainous. Being thus quench'd
Of Hope, not Longing, mine Italian brain
'Gan in your duller Britaine operate
Most vilely: for my vantage excellent;
And, to be brief, my practice so prevail'd,
That I return'd with simular proof enough
To make the noble Leonatus mad,
By wounding his belief in her renown,
With tokens thus, and thus; averring notes
Of chamber-hanging, pictures, this her bracelet;
(Oh, cunning! how I got it) nay, some marks
Of secret on her person; that he could not
But think her bond of chastity quite crack'd,
I having ta'en the forfeit; whereupon,
Methinks, I see him now—

Post.
Ay, so thou do'st, [Coming forward.
Italian fiend! ah me, most credulous fool,
Egregious murtherer, thief, any thing
That's due to all the villains past, in Being,
To come—oh, give me cord, or knife, or poison,
Some upright justicer! Thou, King, send out
For torturers ingenious; it is I
That all th' abhorred things o' th' earth amend,

-- 352 --


By being worse than they. I am Posthumus
That kill'd thy daughter;—villain-like, I lie;
That caus'd a lesser villain than myself,
A sacrilegious thief, to do't. The temple
Of virtue was she, yea, and She herself.—
Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set
The dog o' th' street to bay me: every villain
Be call'd Posthumus Leonatus, and
Be villany less than 'twas!—Oh Imogen!
My Queen, my life, my wife! oh Imogen,
Imogen, Imogen!

Imo.
Peace, my lord, hear, hear—

Post.
Shall's have a Play of this?
Thou scornful page, there lie thy part,
[Striking her, she falls.

Pis.
Oh, gentlemen, help,
Mine, and your mistress—Oh, my lord Posthumus!
You ne'er kill'd Imogen 'till now—help, help,
Mine honour'd lady—

Cym.
Does the world go round?

Post.
How come these staggers on me?

Pis.
Wake, my mistress!

Cym.
If this be so, the Gods do mean to strike me
To death with mortal joy.

Pis.
How fares my mistress?

Imo.
O, get thee from my sight;
Thou gav'st me poison: dang'rous fellow, hence!
Breathe not, where Princes are.

Cym.
The tune of Imogen!

Pis.
Lady, the Gods throw stones of sulphur on me,
If what I gave you was not thought by me.
A precious thing: I had it from the Queen.

Cym.
New matter still?

Imo.
It poison'd me.

Cor.
Oh Gods!
I left out one thing which the Queen confess'd,
Which must approve thee honest. If Pisanio

-- 353 --


Have, said she, giv'n his mistress that confection,
Which I gave him for cordial, she is serv'd
As I would serve a rat.

Cym.
What's this, Cornelius?

Cor.
The Queen, Sir, very oft importun'd me
To temper poisons for her; still pretending
The satisfaction of her knowledge, only
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs
Of no esteem; I, dreading that her purpose
Was of more danger, did compound for her
A certain stuff, which, being ta'en would seize
The present power of life; but, in short time,
All offices of nature should again
Do their due functions. Have you ta'en of it?

Imo.
Most like I did, for I was dead.

Bel.
My boys, there was our error.

Guid.
This is, sure, Fidele.

Imo.
Why did you throw your wedded lady from you?
3 note




Think, that you are upon a mock, and now
Throw me again. [Throwing her arms about his neck.

Post.
Hang there like fruit, my soul,
'Till the tree die!

Cym.
How now, my flesh? my child?
What, mak'st thou me a dullard in this act?
Wilt thou not speak to me?

Imo.
Your Blessing, Sir.
[Kneeling.

Bel.
Tho' you did love this youth, I blame you not,
You had a motive for't.
[To Guid. Arvir.

-- 354 --

Cym.
My tears, that fall,
Prove holy-water on thee! Imogen,
Thy mother's dead.

Imo.
I'm sorry for't, my lord.

Cym.
Oh, she was naught; and long of her it was,
That we meet here so strangely; but her son
Is gone, we know not how, nor where.

Pis.
My lord,
Now fear is from me, I'll speak truth. Lord Cloten,
Upon my lady's missing, came to me
With his sword drawn, foam'd at the mouth, and swore,
If I discover'd not which way she went,
It was my instant death. By accident
I had a feigned letter of my master's
Then in my pocket; which directed her
To seek him on the mountains near to Milford:
Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments,
Which he inforc'd from me, away he posts
With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
My lady's honour: What became of him,
I further know not.

Guid.
Let me end the story;
I slew him there.

Cym.
Marry, the Gods forefend!
I would not, thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.

Guid.
I've spoke it, and I did it.

Cym.
He was a Prince.

Guid.
A most incivil one. The wrongs he did me,
Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
With language that would make me spurn the sea,
Could it so roar to me. I cut off's head;
And am right glad, he is not standing here
To tell this tale of mine.

Cym.
I'm sorry for thee;

-- 355 --


By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must
Endure our law: thou'rt dead.

Imo.
That headless man
I thought had been my lord.

Cym.
Bind the offender,
And take him from our presence.

Bel.
Stay, Sir King,
This man is better than the man he slew,
As well descended as thyself; and hath
More of thee merited, than a band of Clotens
Had ever scar for.—Let his arms alone; [To the Guard.
They were not born for bondage.

Cym.
Why, old Soldier,
Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for,
4 note


By hasting of our wrath? how of descent
As good as we?

Arv.
In that he spake too far.

Cym.
And thou shalt die for't.

Bel.
We will die all three,
But I will prove, that two on's are as good
As I've giv'n out of him. My sons, I must,
For my own part, unfold a dangerous speech,
Though, haply, well for you.

Arv.
Your danger's ours.

Guid.
And our good, his.

Bel.
Have at it then, by leave:
Thou had'st, great King, a subject, who was call'd Belarius.

Cym.
What of him? a banish'd traitor.

Bel.
He it is, that hath

-- 356 --


Assum'd this age; indeed, a banish'd man;
I know not how, a traitor.

Cym.
Take him hence,
The whole world shall not save him.

Bel.
Not too hot:
First, pay me for the nursing of thy sons;
And let it be confiscate all, so soon
As I've receiv'd it.

Cym.
Nursing of my sons?

Bel.
I am too blunt, and saucy; here's my knee:
Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons,
Then spare not the old father. Mighty Sir,
These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
And blood of your begetting.

Cym.
How? my issue?

Bel.
So sure, as you, your father's: I, old Morgan,
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd;
Your pleasure was my near offence, my punishment
Itself, and all my treason: That I suffer'd,
Was all the harm I did. These gentle Princes
(For such and so they are,) these twenty years
Have I train'd up; such arts they have, as I
Could put into them. Sir, my breeding was,
As your Grace knows. Their nurse Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,
For That which I did then. Beaten for loyalty,
Excited me to treason. Their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, Sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world.
The benediction of these covering heav'ns
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy

-- 357 --


5 noteTo in-lay heav'n with stars.

Cym.
Thou weep'st, and speak'st:
The service, that you three have done, is more
Unlike, than this thou tell'st. I lost my children—
If these be they, I know not how to wish
A pair of worthier sons.

Bel.
Be pleas'd a while—
This gentleman, whom I call Paladour,
Most worthy Prince, as yours, is true Guiderius:
This gentleman, my Cadwall, Arviragus,
Your younger princely son; he, Sir, was lapt
In a most curious mantle, wrought by th' hand
Of his Queen-mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.

Cym.
Guiderius had
Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;
It was a mark of wonder.

Bel.
This is he;
Who hath upon him still that nat'ral stamp:
It was wise Nature's end, in the donation,
To be his evidence now.

Cym.
Oh, what am I
A mother to the birth of three! ne'er mother
Rejoic'd deliverance more; blest may you be,
That, after this strange starting from your orbs,
You may reign in them now! oh Imogen,
Thou'st lost by this a kingdom.

Imo.
No, my lord:
I've got two worlds by't. Oh, my gentle brothers,
Have we thus met? oh, never say hereafter,
But I am truest speaker. You call'd me brother,
When I was but your sister: I, you brothers;
When ye were so, indeed.

-- 358 --

Cym.
Did you e'er meet?

Arv.
Ay, my good lord.

Guid.
And at first meeting lov'd;
Continued so, until we thought he died.

Cor.
By the Queen's dram she swallow'd.

Cym.
O rare instinct!
When shall I hear all through? this fierce abridgment
Hath to it circumstantial branches, which
Distinction should be rich in.—Where? how liv'd you?
And when came you to serve our Roman captive?
How parted with your brothers? how first met them?
Why fled you from the court? and whither?—These,
And your three motives to the battle, with
I know not how much more, should be demanded;
And all the other by-dependances
From chance to chance: but not the time, nor place,
Will serve long interrogatories. See,
Posthumus anchors upon Imogen;
And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye
On him, her brothers, me, her master; hitting
Each object with a joy. The counter-change
Is sev'rally in all. Let's quit this ground,
And smoak the temple with our sacrifices.
Thou art my brother; so we'll hold thee ever.
[To Belarius.

Imo.
You are my father too, and did relieve me,
To see this gracious season!

Cym.
All o'er-joy'd,
Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too,
For they shall taste our comfort.

Imo.
My good master,
I will yet do you service.

Luc.
Happy be you!

Cym.
The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought,
He would have well become this place, and grac'd
The thankings of a King.

Post.
'Tis I am, Sir,

-- 359 --


The soldier, that did company these three,
In poor Beseeming: 'twas a fitment for
The purpose I then follow'd. That I was he,
Speak, Iachimo, I had you down, and might
Have made your finish.

Iach.
I am down again:
But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, [Kneels.
And then your force did. Take that life, 'beseech you,
Which I so often owe: but, your ring first;
And here the bracelet of the truest Princess,
That ever swore her faith.

Post.
Kneel not to me:
The power, that I have on you, is to spare you:
The malice tow'rds you, to forgive you. Live,
And deal with others better!

Cym.
Nobly doom'd:
We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;
Pardon's the word to all.

Arv.
You help'd us, Sir,
As you did mean, indeed, to be our brother;
Joy'd are we, that you are.

Post.
Your servant, Princes. Good my lord of Rome,
Call forth your Soothsayer. As I slept, methought,
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,
Appear'd to me, with other sprightly shews
Of mine own kindred. When I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it. Let him shew
His skill in the construction.

Luc.
Philarmonus,—

Sooth.
Here, my good Lord.

Luc.
Read, and declare the meaning. [Reads.]

When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopt

-- 360 --

branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britaine be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty.


Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp;
The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being Leonatus, doth import so much:
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, [To Cymbeline.
Which we call Mollis Aer; and Mollis Aer
We term it Mulier: which Mulier, I divine,
Is this most constant wife; who, even now,
Answering the letter of the Oracle,
Unknown to you, unsought, were clipt about
With this most tender air.

Cym.
This has some seeming.

Sooth.
The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
Personates thee; and thy lopt branches point
Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stol'n,
For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd,
To the majestick cedar join'd; whose Issue
Promises Britaine peace and plenty.

Cym.
My peace we will begin, and, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar,
And to the Roman Empire; promising,
To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were dissuaded by our wicked Queen;
On whom heav'n's justice (both on her, and hers)
Hath laid most heavy hand.

Sooth.
The singers of the Powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace: the vision,
Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplish'd. For the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o'th' sun
So vanish'd; which fore-shew'd our princely eagle,

-- 361 --


Th' imperial Cæsar, should again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.

Cym.
Laud we the Gods!
And let the crooked smoaks climb to their Nostrils
From our blest altars! publish we this Peace
To all our Subjects. Set we forward: let
A Roman and a British Ensign wave
Friendly together; so through Lud's town march:
And in the Temple of great Jupiter
Our Peace we'll ratifie. Seal it with feasts.
Set on, there: Never was a War did cease,
Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a Peace.
[Exeunt omnes.

-- 363 --

-- --

Introductory matter

Dramatis Personæ. PRIAM, TROJAN. Hector, TROJAN. Troilus, TROJAN. Paris, TROJAN. Deiphobus, TROJAN. Helenus, TROJAN. Æneas [Aeneas], TROJAN. Pandarus, TROJAN. Antenor, TROJAN. A bastard Son of Priam [Margarelon]. Agamemnon, GREEK. Achilles, GREEK. Ajax, GREEK. Menelaus, GREEK. Ulysses, GREEK. Nestor, GREEK. Diomedes, GREEK. Patroclus, GREEK. Thersites, GREEK. Calchas, GREEK. Helen, Wife to Menelaus, in Love with Paris. Andromache, Wife to Hector. Cassandra, Daughter to Priam, a Prophetess. Cressida, Daughter to Calchas, in love with Troilus. Alexander, Cressida's Man. Boy, Page to Troilus. Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other Attendants. [Servant], [Myrmidon], [Soldiers] SCENE, Troy; and the Grecian Camp, before it.

-- --

1 noteTroilus and Cressida.

PROLOGUE.
In Troy, there lies the scene: from Isles of Greece
The Princes orgillous, their high blood chaf'd,
Have to the Port of Athens sent their ships,
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
Their Crownets regal, from th' Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
To ransack Troy; within whose strong Immures,
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' Queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; and That's the Quarrel.
To Tenedos they come—
And the deep-drawing Barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains,
The fresh, and yet unbruised, Greeks do pitch
Their brave Pavillions. Priam's six Gates i'th' City,
(Dardan, and Thymbria, Ilia, Scæa, Troian,
And Antenorides,) with massy staples
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
1 noteSperre up the sons of Troy.—
Now expectation tickling skittish spirits
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come
A Prologue arm'd, (but not in confidence
Of Author's pen, or Actor's voice; but suited
In like conditions as our Argument;)
To tell you, (fair Beholders) that our play
Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
'Ginning i'th' middle: starting thence away,
To what may be digested in a Play.
Like, or find fault,—do, as your pleasures are;
Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.

-- --

ACT I. SCENE I. The Palace in Troy. Enter Pandarus and Troilus.

Troilus.
Call here my varlet; I'll unarm again.
Why should I war without the walls of Troy,
That find such cruel battle here within?
Each Trojan, that is master of his heart,
Let him to field; Troilus, alas! hath none.

Pan.
Will this geer ne'er be mended?

&plquo;Troi.
&plquo;The Greeks are strong, and skilful to their strength,

-- 368 --


&plquo;Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant.
&plquo;But I am weaker than a woman's tear,
&plquo;Tamer than sleep, 2 notefonder than ignorance;
&plquo;Less valiant than the virgin in the night,
&plquo;And skill-less as unpractis'd infancy.&prquo;

Pan.

Well, I have told you enough of this: for my part, I'll not meddle nor make any farther. He, that will have a cake out of the wheat, must needs tarry the grinding.

Troi.

Have I not tarried?

Pan.

Ay, the grinding; but you must tarry the boulting.

Troi.

Have I not tarried?

Pan.

Ay, the boulting; but you must tarry the leav'ning.

Troi.

Still have I tarried.

Pan.

Ay, to the leav'ning: but here's yet in the word hereafter, the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking; nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips.

Troi.
Patience herself, what Goddess e'er she be,
Doth lesser blench at sufferance, than I do.
At Priam's royal table do I sit;
And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts,
So, traitor!—when she comes? when is she thence?

Pan.

Well, she look'd yesternight fairer than ever I saw her look, or any woman else.

Troi.
I was about to tell thee, when my heart,
As wedged with a sigh, would rive in twain,
Lest Hector or my father should perceive me;
I have (as when the sun doth light a storm)
Buried this sigh in wrinkle of a smile:
But sorrow, that is couch'd in seeming gladness,
Is like that mirth Fate turns to sudden sadness.

-- 369 --

Pan.

An her hair were not somewhat darker than Helen's—well, go to, there were no more comparison between the women. But, for my part, she is my kinswoman; I would not (as they term it) praise her— but I would, somebody had heard her talk yesterday, as I did: I will not dispraise your sister Cassandra's wit, but,—

Troi.
O Pandarus! I tell thee, Pandarus
When I do tell thee, there my hopes lye drown'd,
Reply not in how many fathoms deep
They lye indrench'd. I tell thee, I am mad
In Cressid's love. Thou answer'st, she is fair;
Pour'st in the open ulcer of my heart
Her eyes, her hair, her cheek, her gate, her voice;
Handlest in thy discourse—O that! her hand!
(In whose comparison, all whites are ink
Writing their own reproach) to whose soft seizure
The cignet's down is harsh, 3 note
and (spite of sense)
Hard as the palm of ploughman. This thou tell'st me;
(As, true thou tell'st me;) when I say, I love her:
But saying thus, instead of oil and balm,
Thou lay'st, in every gash that love hath given me,
The knife that made it.

Pan.
I speak no more than truth.

Troi.
Thou dost not speak so much.

Pan.

'Faith, I'll not meddle in't. Let her be as she is, if she be fair, 'tis the better for her; and she be not, 4 noteshe has the 'mends in her own hands.

Troi.

Good Pandarus; how now, Pandarus?

-- 370 --

Pan.

I have had my labour for my travel, ill thought on of her, and ill thought on of you: gone between and between, but small thanks for my labour.

Troi.

What, art thou angry, Pandarus? what, with me?

Pan.

Because she is kin to me, therefore she's not so fair as Helen; and she were not kin to me, she would be as fair on Friday, as Helen is on Sunday. But what care I? I care not, an she were a black-a-moor; 'tis all one to me.

Troi.

Say I, she is not fair?

Pan.

I do not care whether you do or no. She's a fool to stay behind her father; let her to the Greeks, and so I'll tell her the next time I see her: for my part, I'll meddle nor make no more i'th' matter.

Troi.

Pandarus,—

Pan.

Not I.

Troi.

Sweet Pandarus,—

Pan.

Pray you, speak no more to me; I will leave all as I found it, and there's an end.

[Exit Pandarus. [Sound Alarum.

Troi.
Peace, you ungracious clamours! peace, rude sounds!
Fools on both sides.—Helen must needs be fair,
When with your blood you daily paint her thus.
I cannot fight upon this argument,
It is too starv'd a subject for my sword:
But Pandarus—O Gods! how do you plague me!
I cannot come to Cressid, but by Pandar;
And he's as teachy to be woo'd to wooe,
As she is stubborn-chast against all sute.
Tell me, Apollo, for thy Daphne's love,
What Cressid is, what Pandar, and what we:
Her bed is India, there she lyes, a pearl:
Between our Ilium, and where she resides,
Let it be call'd the wild and wandering flood;

-- 371 --


Our self the merchant, and this sailing Pandar,
Our doubtful hope, our convoy, and our bark. SCENE II. [Alarum.] Enter Æneas.

Æne.
How now, Prince Troilus? wherefore not i'th' field?

Troi.
Because not there; this woman's answer sorts,
For womanish it is to be from thence:
What news, Æneas, from the field to day?

Æne.
That Paris is returned home, and hurt.

Troi.
By whom, Æneas?

Æne.
Troilus, by Menelaus.

Troi.
Let Paris bleed, 'tis but a scar to scorn:
Paris is gor'd with Menelaus' horn.
[Alarum.

Æne.
Hark, what good sport is out of town to day?

Troi.
Better at home, if would I might, were may
But to the sport abroad—are you bound thither?

Æne.
In all swift haste.

Troi.
Come, go we then together.
[Exeunt. SCENE III. Changes to a publick Street, near the Walls of Troy. Enter Cressida, and her Servant.

Cre.
Who were those went by?

Ser.
Queen Hecuba and Helen.

Cre.
And whither go they?

Serv.
Up to th' eastern tower,
Whose height commands as subject all the vale,
To see the fight. 6 note






Hector, whose patience

-- 372 --


Is, as the Virtue, fix'd, to day was mov'd:
He chid Andromache, and struck his armorer;
And like as there were husbandry in war,
7 note



Before the Sun rose, he was harnest light,
And to the field goes he; where ev'ry flower
Did as a prophet weep what it foresaw,
In Hector's wrath.

Cre.
What was his cause of anger?

Ser.
The noise goes thus; There is among the Greeks

-- 373 --


A lord of Trojan blood, nephew to Hector,
They call him Ajax.

Cre.
Good; and what of him?

Ser.

They say, he is a very man per se, and stands alone.

Cre.

So do all men, unless they are drunk, sick, or have no legs.

Ser.

This man, lady, hath robb'd many beasts of their particular additions; he is as valiant as the lyon, churlish as the bear, slow as the elephant; a man into whom Nature hath so crouded humours, 8 notethat his valour is crusted into folly, his folly sauced with discretion: there is no man hath a virtue, that he has not a glimpse of; nor any man an attaint, but he carries some stain of it. He is melancholy without cause, and merry against the hair; he hath the joints of every thing, but every thing so out of joint, that he is a gouty Briareus, many hands and no use; or purblind Argus, all eyes and no sight.

Cre.

But how should this man, that makes me smile, make Hector angry?

Ser.

They say, he yesterday cop'd Hector in the battle and struck him down, the disdain and shame whereof hath ever since kept Hector fasting and waking.

-- 374 --

SCENE IV. Enter Pandarus.

Cre.

Who comes here?

Ser.

Madam, your uncle Pandarus.

Cre.

Hector's a gallant man.

Ser.

As may be in the world, lady.

Pan.

What's that? what's that?

Cre.

Good morrow, uncle Pandarus.

Pan.

Good morrow, cousin Cressid; what do you talk of? 9 noteGood morrow, Alexander;—how do you, cousin? when were you at Ilium?

Cre.

This morning, uncle.

Pan.

What were you talking of, when I came? was Hector arm'd and gone, ere you came to Ilium? Helen was not up? was she?

Cre.

Hector was gone; but Helen was not up.

Pan.

E'en so; Hector was stirring early.

Cre.

That were we talking of, and of his anger.

Pan.

Was he angry?

Cre.

So he says, here.

Pan.

True, he was so; I know the cause too: he'll lay about him to day, I can tell them that; and there's Troilus will not come far behind him, let them take heed of Troilus; I can tell them that too.

Cre.

What is he angry too?

Pan.

Who, Troilus?—Troilus is the better man of the two.

Cre.

Oh, Jupiter! there's no comparison.

Pan.

What, not between Troilus and Hector? do you know a man, if you see him?

Cre.

Ay, if I ever saw him before, and knew him.

Pan.

Well, I say, Troilus is Troilus.

Cre.

Then you say, as I say; for, I am sure, he is not Hector.

-- 375 --

Pan.

No, nor Hector is not Troilus, in some degrees.

Cre.

'Tis just to each of them, he is himself.

Pan.

Himself? alas, poor Troilus! I 'would, he were.

Cre.

So he is.

Pan.

'Condition, I had gone bare-foot to India.

Cre.

He is not Hector.

Pan.

Himself? no, he's not himself; 'would, he were himself! well, the Gods are above; time must friend, or end; well, Troilus, well, I would, my heart were in her body!—no, Hector is not a better man than Troilus.

Cre.

Excuse me.

Pan.

He is elder.

Cre.

Pardon me, pardon me.

Pan.

Th' other's not come to't; you shall tell me another tale, when th' other's come to't: Hector shall not have his wit this year.

Cre.

He shall not need it, if he have his own.

Pan.

Nor his Qualities.

Cre.

No matter.

Pan.

Nor his beauty.

Cre.

'Twould not become him, his own's better.

Pan.

You have no judgment, Neice; Helen herself swore th' other day, that Troilus for a brown favour, (for so 'tis, I must confess) not brown neither—

Cre.

No, but brown.

Pan.

Faith, to say truth, brown and not brown.

Cre.

To say the truth, true and not true.

Pan.

She prais'd his complexion above Paris.

Cre.

Why, Paris hath colour enough.

Pan.

So he has.

Cre.

Then Troilus should have too much; if she prais'd him above, his complexion is higher than his; he having colour enough, and the other higher, is too flaming a praise for a good complexion. I had as lieve Helen's golden tongue had commended Troilus for a copper nose.

-- 376 --

Pan.

I swear to you, I think, Helen loves him better than Paris.

Cre.

Then she's a merry Greek, indeed.

Pan.

Nay, I am sure, she does. She came to him th' other day into the compass-window; and, you know, he has not past three or four hairs on his chin.

Cre.

Indeed, a tapster's arithmetick may soon bring his particulars therein to a total.

Pan.

Why, he is very young; and yet will he within three pound lift as much as his brother Hector.

Cre.

Is he so young a man, and so old a lifter?—

Pan.

But to prove to you that Helen loves him, she came and puts me her white hand to his cloven chin.

Cre.

Juno, have mercy! how came it cloven?

Pan.

Why, you know, 'tis dimpled. I think, his smiling becomes him better, than any man in all Phrygia.

Cre.

Oh, he smiles valiantly.

Pan.

Does he not?

Cre.

O yes, an 'twere a cloud in autumn.

Pan.

Why, go to then—but to prove to you that Helen loves Troilus.—

Cre.

Troilus will stand to the proof, if you'll prove it so.

Pan.

Troilus? why, he esteems her no more than I esteem an addle egg.

Cre.

If you love an addle egg, as well as you love an idle head, you would eat chickens i'th' shell.

Pan.

I cannot chuse but laugh to think how she tickled his chin; indeed, she has a marvellous white hand, I must needs confess.

Cre.

Without the Rack.

Pan.

And she takes upon her to spy a white hair on his chin.

Cre.

Alas, poor chin! many a wart is richer.

-- 377 --

Pan.

But there was such laughing. Queen Hecuba laught, that her eyes run o'er.

Cre.

With milstones.

Pan.

And Cassandra laught.

Cre.

But there was more temperate fire under the pot of her eyes; did her eyes run o'er too?

Pan.

And Hector laught.

Cre.

At what was all this laughing?

Pan.

Marry, at the white hair that Helen spied on Troilus's chin.

Cre.

An't had been a green hair, I should have laught too.

Pan.

They laught not so much at the hair, as at his pretty answer.

Cre.

What was his answer?

Pan.

Quoth she, here's but one and fifty hairs on your chin, and one of them is white.

Cre.

This is her question.

Pan.

That's true, take no question of that: one and fifty hairs, quoth he, and one white; that white hair is my father, and all the rest are his sons. Jupiter! quoth she, which of these hairs is Paris, my husband? the forked one, quoth he, pluck it out and give it him: but there was such laughing, and Helen so blush'd, and Paris so chaf'd, and all the rest so laught, that it past.

Cre.

So let it now, for it has been a great while going by.

Pan.

Well, cousin, I told you a thing Yesterday; think on't.

Cre.

So I do.

Pan.

I'll be sworn, 'tis true; he will weep you, an 'twere a man born in April.

[Sound a retreat.

Cre.

And I'll spring up in his tears, an 'twere a nettle against May.

Pan.

Hark, they are coming from the field; shall we stand up here, and see them, as they pass towards Ilium? good neice, do; sweet neice Cressida.

-- 378 --

Cre.

At your pleasure.

Pan.

Here, here, here's an excellent place, here we may see most bravely; I'll tell you them all by their names as they pass by; but mark Troilus above the rest.

Æneas passes over the stage.

Cre.

Speak not so loud.

Pan.

That's Æneas; is not that a brave man? he's one of the flowers of Troy, I can tell you; but mark Troilus, you shall see anon.

Cre.

Who's that?

Antenor passes over the stage.

Pan.

That's Antenor, he has a shrewd wit, I can tell you, and he's a man good enough; he's one o'th' soundest judgment in Troy whosoever, and a proper man of person; when comes Troilus? I'll shew you Troilus anon; if he see me, you shall see him nod at me.

Cre.

Will he give you the nod?

Pan.

You shall see.

Cre.

If he do, 1 note



the mich shall have more.

Hector passes over.

Pan.

That's Hector, that, that, look you, that: there's a fellow! go thy way, Hector; there's a brave man, neice: O brave Hector! look how he looks! there's a countenance! is't not a brave man?

Cre.

O brave man!

-- 379 --

Pan.

Is he not? It does a man's heart good,— look you, what hacks are on his helmet, look you yonder, do you see? look you there! there's no jesting; there's laying on, take't off who will, as they say, there be hacks.

Cre.

Be those with swords?

Paris passes over.

Pan.

Swords, any thing, he cares not, an the devil come to him, it's all one; by godslid, it does one's heart good. Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Paris: look ye yonder, neice, is't not a gallant man too, is't not? why, this is brave now: who said, he came home hurt to day? he's not hurt; why, this will do Helen's heart good now, ha? 'would, I could see Troilus now; you shall see Troilus anon.

Cre.

Who's that?

Helenus passes over.

Pan.

That's Helenus. I marvel, where Troilus is: that's Helenus—I think, he went not forth to day; that's Helenus.

Cre.

Can Helenus fight, uncle?

Pan.

Helenus, no—yes, he'll fight indifferent well— I marvel, where Troilus is? hark, do you not hear the people cry Troilus? Helenus is a priest.

Cre.

What sneaking fellow comes yonder?

Troilus passes over.

Pan.

Where! yonder? that's Deiphobus. 'Tis Troilus! there's a man, neice—hem—brave Troilus! the prince of chivalry!

Cre.

Peace, for shame, peace,

Pan.

Mark him, note him: O brave Troilus! look well upon him, neice, look you how his sword is bloodied, and his helm more hack'd than Hector's, and how he looks, and how he goes! O admirable youth! he ne'er saw three and twenty. Go thy way,

-- 380 --

Troilus, go thy way; had I a sister were a Grace, or a daughter a Goddess, he should take his choice. O admirable man! Paris?—Paris is dirt to him, and, I warrant, Helen to change would give money to boot.

Enter common Soldiers.

Cre.

Here come more.

Pan.

Asses, fools, dolts, chaff and bran, chaff and bran; porridge after meat. I could live and dye i'th' eyes of Troilus. Ne'er look, ne'er look; the eagles are gone; crows and daws, crows and daws. I had rather be such a man as Troilus, than Agamemnon and all Greece.

Cre.

There is among the Greeks Achilles, a better man than Troilus.

Pan.

Achilles? a dray-man, a porter, a very camel.

Cre.

Well, well.

Pan.

Well, well—why, have you any discretion? have you any eyes? do you know, what a man is? is not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, manhood, learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality, and so forth, the spice and salt, that seasons a man?

Cre.

Ay, a minc'd man; and then to be bak'd with no date in the pye, for then the man's date is out.—

Pan.

You are such another woman, one knows not at what ward you lye.

Cre.

Upon my back, to defend my belly; upon my wit to defend my wiles; upon my secresie, to defend mine honesty; my mask to defend my beauty, and you to defend all these; and at all these wards I lye, at a thousand watches.

Pan.

Say one of your watches.

Cre.

Nay, I'll watch you for that, and that's one of the chiefest of them too; If I cannot ward what I would not have hit, I can watch you for telling how I took the blow; unless it swell past hiding, and then it is past watching.

-- 381 --

Pan.

You are such another.

Enter Boy.

Boy.

Sir, my lord would instantly speak with you.

Pan.

Where?

Boy.

2 noteAt your own house, there he unarms him.

Pan.

Good boy, tell him I come; I doubt, he be hurt. Fare ye well, good neice.

Cre.

Adieu, uncle.

Pan.

I'll be with you, neice, by and by.

Cre.

To bring, uncle—

Pan.

Ay, a token from Troilus.

Cre.
By the same token, you are a bawd. [Exit Pan.
Words, vows, gifts, tears, and love's full sacrifice,
He offers in another's enterprize:
But more in Troilus thousand-fold I see,
Than in the glass of Pandar's praise may be;
Yet hold I off. Women are angels, wooing;
Things won are done; the soul's joy lyes in doing:
That She belov'd knows nought, that knows not this;
Men prize the thing ungain'd, more than it is.
That She was never yet, that ever knew
Love got, so sweet, as when Desire did sue:
Atchievement is Command; ungain'd, beseech.
Therefore this maxim out of love I teach;
That though 3 notemy heart's content firm love doth bear,
Nothing of That shall from mine eyes appear.
[Exit.

-- 382 --

SCENE V. Changes to Agamemnon's Tent in the Grecian Camp. Trumpets. Enter Agamemnon, Nestor, Ulysses, Diomedes, Menelaus, with others.

Agam.
Princes,
What grief hath set the jaundice on your cheeks?
The ample proposition, that hope makes
In all designs begun on earth below,
Fails in the promis'd largeness: Checks and disasters
Grow in the veins of actions highest rear'd;
As knots by the conflux of meeting sap
Infect the sound pine, and divert his grain
Tortive and errant from his course of growth.
Nor, Princes, is it matter new to us,
That we come short of our Suppose so far,
That after sev'n years' siege, yet Troy-walls stand;
Sith every action that hath gone before,
Whereof we have record, tryal did draw
Bias and thwart; not answering the aim,
And that unbodied figure of the thought
That gave't surmised shape. Why then, you Princes,
Do you with cheeks abash'd behold our Works?
And think them shame, which are, indeed, nought else
But the protractive tryals of great Jove,
To find persistive constancy in men?
The fineness of which metal is not found
In fortune's love; for then, the bold and coward,
The wise and fool, the artist and unread,
The hard and soft, seem all affin'd, and kin;
But in the wind and tempest of her frown,
Distinction with a broad and powerful fan,

-- 383 --


Puffing at all, winnows the light away;
And what hath mass, or matter by itself,
Lies rich in virtue, and unmingled.

Nest.
With due observance of thy goodly Seat,
Great Agamemnon, 4 note




Nestor shall supply
Thy latest words. In the reproof of Chance
Lies the true proof of men: the Sea being smooth,
How many shallow bauble boats dare sail
Upon her patient breast, making their way
With those of nobler bulk?
But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage
The gentle Thetis, and anon, behold,

-- 384 --


The strong-ribb'd Bark through liquid mountains cuts;
Bounding between the two moist elements,
Like Perseus' horse: Where's then the sawcy boat,
Whose weak untimber'd sides but even now
Co-rival'd Greatness? or to harbour fled,
Or made a toast for Neptune. Even so
Doth valour's shew and valour's worth divide
In storms of fortune. For in her ray and brightness,
The herd hath more annoyance by the brize
Than by the tyger: but when splitting winds
Make flexible the knees of knotted oaks,
And flies get under shade; 5 notethe thing of courage
As rowz'd with rage, with rage doth sympathize;
And, with an accent tun'd in self-same key,
6 noteReturns to chiding fortune.

Ulyss.
Agamemnon,
Thou great commander, nerve and bone of Greece,
Heart of our numbers, soul, and only spirit,
In whom the tempers and the minds of all
Should be shut up: hear, what Ulysses speaks.
Besides th' applause and approbation
The which, most mighty for thy place and sway, [To Agamemnon.
And thou, most rev'rend for thy stretcht-out life, [To Nestor.
I give to both your speeches; which were such,
As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece
Should hold up high in brass; and such again,
As venerable Nestor (hatch'd in silver)
Should with a bond of air, strong as the axle-tree
On which heav'n rides, knit all the Grecians' ears
To his experienc'd tongue: yet let it please both

-- 385 --


(Thou great, and wise) to hear Ulysses speak.

Aga.
Speak, Prince of Ithaca: we less expect,
That matter needless, of importless burthen,
Divide thy lips; than we are confident,
When rank Thersites opes his mastiff jaws,
We shall hear music, wit, and oracle.

Ulyss.
Troy, yet upon her basis, had been down,
And the great Hector's sword had lack'd a master,
But for these instances.
The speciality of Rule hath been neglected;
And, look, how many Grecian Tents do stand
Hollow upon this Plain, so many hollow factions.
7 note


When that the General not likes the hive,
To whom the Foragers shall all repair,
What honey is expected? degree being vizarded,
Th' unworthiest shews as fairly in the mask.
8 noteThe heavens themselves, the planets, and this center,
Observe degree, priority and place.
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
Office and custom, in all line of order:
And therefore is the glorious planet Sol

-- 386 --


In noble eminence enthron'd and spher'd
Amidst the rest, whose med'cinable eye
Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil,
And posts like the commandment of a King,
Sans check, to good and bad. 9 note
But when the Planets
In evil mixture to disorder wander,
What plagues, and what portents, what mutiny?
What raging of the Sea? shaking of earth?
Commotion in the winds? frights, changes, horrors,
Divert and crack, rend and deracinate
The unity and married calm of states
Quite from their fixure? Oh, when degree is shaken,
(Which is the ladder to all high designs)
The enterprize is sick. How could communities,
Degrees in schools, and brotherhoods in cities,
Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
The primogeniture, and due of birth,
Prerogative of age, crowns, scepters, lawrels,
(But by degree) stand in authentick place?
Take but degree away, untune that string,
And hark what discord follows; each thing meets
In meer oppugnancy. The bounded waters
Would lift their bosoms higher than the shores,
And make a sop of all this solid Globe:
Strength would be lord of imbecillity,
And the rude son would strike his father dead:
&plquo;Force would be Right; or rather, 1 note






Right and Wrong
&plquo;(Between whose endless jar Justice presides)

-- 387 --


&plquo;Would lose their names, and so would Justice too.
&plquo;Then every thing includes itself in power,
&plquo;Power into will, will into appetite;
&plquo;And appetite (an universal wolf,
&plquo;So doubly seconded with will and power)
&plquo;Must make perforce an universal prey,&prquo;
And last eat up itself. Great Agamemnon!
This Chaos, when degree is suffocate,
Follows the choaking:
And this neglection of degree is it,

-- 388 --


That by a pace goes backward, in a purpose
It hath to climb. The General's disdain'd
By him one step below; he, by the next;
That next, by him beneath: so every step,
Exampled by the first pace that is sick
Of his Superior, grows to an envious feaver
Of pale and bloodless emulation.
And 'tis this feaver that keeps Troy on foot,
Not her own sinews. To end a Tale of length,
Troy in our weakness lives, not in her strength.

Nest.
Most wisely hath Ulysses here discover'd
The feaver, whereof all our power is sick.

Aga.
The nature of the sickness found, Ulysses,
What is the remedy?

&wlquo;Ulyss.
&wlquo;The great Achilles, whom opinion crowns
&wlquo;The sinew and the fore-hand of our Host,
&wlquo;Having his ear full of his airy fame,
&wlquo;Grows dainty of his worth, and in his tent
&wlquo;Lies mocking our designs. With him, Patroclus,
&wlquo;Upon a lazy bed, the live-long day
&wlquo;Breaks scurril jests;
&wlquo;And with ridiculous and aukward action
&wlquo;(Which, slanderer, he imitation calls)
&wlquo;He pageants us. Sometimes, great Agamemnon,
&wlquo;2 noteThy stopless Deputation he puts on;
&wlquo;And, like a strutting Player, (whose conceit
&wlquo;Lies in his ham-string, and doth think it rich
&wlquo;To hear the wooden dialogue and sound
&wlquo;'Twixt his stretch'd footing and the scaffoldage)
&wlquo;Such to-be-pitied and o'er-wrested Seeming
&wlquo;He acts thy Greatness in: and when he speaks,
&wlquo;'Tis like a chime a mending: with terms unsquar'd:
&wlquo;Which, from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropt,

-- 389 --


&wlquo;Would seem hyperboles. At this fusty stuff
&wlquo;The large Achilles, on his prest-bed lolling,
&wlquo;From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause:
&wlquo;Cries—excellent!—'tis Agamemnon just—
&wlquo;Now play me Nestor—hum, and stroke thy beard,
&wlquo;As he, being 'drest to some oration.
&wlquo;That's done—as near as the extremest ends
&wlquo;Of parallels; as like, as Vulcan and his wife:
&wlquo;Yet good Achilles still cries, excellent!
&wlquo;'Tis Nestor right! now play him me, Patroclus,
&wlquo;Arming to answer in a night-alarm:
&wlquo;And then, forsooth, the faint defects of age
&wlquo;Must be the scene of mirth, to cough and spit,
&wlquo;And with a palsie fumbling on his gorget,
&wlquo;Shake in and out the rivet—and at this sport,&wrquo;
Sir Valour dies; cries O!—enough, Patroclus
Or give me ribs of steel, I shall split all
In pleasure of my spleen. And, in this fashion,
3 note




All our abilities, gifts, natures, shapes,

-- 390 --


Severals and generals of grace; exacts,
Atchievements, plots, orders, preventions,
Excitements to the field, or speech for truce,
Success or loss, what is, or is not, serves
As stuff for these two to make paradoxes.

Nest.
And in the imitation of these twain,
(Whom, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
With an imperial voice) many are infect:
Ajax is grown self-will'd, and bears his head
In such a rein, in full as proud a pace,
As broad Achilles; and keeps his tent like him;
Makes factious feasts, rails on our state of war,
Bold as an Oracle; and sets Thersites
(A slave, whose gall coins slanders like a mint)
To match us in comparisons with dirt;
To weaken and discredit our exposure,
How hard soever rounded in with danger.

Ulyss.
They tax our policy, and call it cowardise,
Count wisdom as no member of the war;
Fore-stall our prescience, and esteem no Act
But that of hand: &plquo;The still and mental parts,
&plquo;That do contrive how many hands shall strike,
&plquo;When fitness call them on, and know by measure
&plquo;Of their observant toil the enemies' weight;
&plquo;Why, this hath not a finger's dignity;
&plquo;They call this bed-work Mapp'ry, closet war:
&plquo;So that the ram, that batters down the wall,
&plquo;For the great swing and rudeness of his poize,
&plquo;They place before his hand that made the engine;
&plquo;Or those, that with the fineness of their souls
&plquo;By reason guide his execution.&prquo;

Nest.
Let this be granted, and Achilles' horse
Makes many Thetis' sons.
[Tucket sounds.

Aga.
What trumpet? look, Menelaus.

Men.
From Troy.

-- 391 --

SCENE VI. Enter Æneas.

Aga.
What would you 'fore our tent?

Æne.
Is this great Agamemnon's tent, I pray you?

Aga.
Even this.

Æne.
May one, that is a Herald and a Prince,
Do a fair message to his kingly ears?

Aga.
With surety stronger than Achilles' arm,
'Fore all the Greekish heads, which with one voice
Call Agamemnon Head and General.

Æne.
Fair leave, and large security. How may
A stranger to those most imperial looks
Know them from eyes of other mortals?

Aga.
How?

Æne.
I ask, that I might waken Reverence,
And bid the cheek be ready with a blush
Modest as morning, when she coldly eyes
The youthful Phœbus:
Which is that God in office, guiding men?
Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon?

Aga.
This Trojan scorns us, or the men of Troy
Are ceremonious courtiers.

Æne.
Courtiers as free, as debonair, unarm'd,
As bending Angels; that's their fame in peace:
But when they would seem soldiers, they have galls,
Good arms, strong joints, true swords; and, (Jove's Accord,)
Nothing so full of heart. But peace, Æneas;
Peace, Trojan; lay thy finger on thy lips;
The worthiness of praise distains his worth,
If he, that's prais'd, himself bring the praise forth:
What the repining enemy commends,
That breath Fame blows, that praise sole pure transcends.

Aga.
Sir, you of Troy, call you yourself Æneas?

-- 392 --

Æne.
Ay, Greek, that is my name.

Aga.
What's your affair, I pray you?

Æne.
Sir, pardon; 'tis for Agamemnon's ears.

Aga.
He hears nought privately that comes from Troy.

Æne.
Nor I from Troy come not to whisper him;
I bring a trumpet to awake his Ear,
To set his sense on the attentive bent,
And then to speak.

Aga.
Speak frankly as the wind,
It is not Agamemnon's sleeping hour;
That thou shalt know, Trojan, he is awake,
He tells thee so himself.

Æne.
Trumpet, blow loud:
Send thy brass voice thro' all these lazy tents;
And every Greek of mettle, let him know
What Troy means fairly, shall be spoke aloud. [The trumpets sound.
We have, great Agamemnon, here in Troy
A Prince call'd Hector (Priam is his father)
Who in this dull and long-continu'd truce
Is rusty grown; he bad me take a trumpet,
And to this purpose speak: Kings, Princes, Lords,
If there be one amongst the fair'st of Greece,
That holds his honour higher than his ease,
That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril,
That knows his valour and knows not his fear,
That loves his mistress 4 notemore than in confession,
(With truant vows to her own lips, he loves,)
And dare avow her beauty and her worth
In other arms than hers: to him this Challenge.
Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks,
Shall make it good, (or do his best to do it)
He hath a lady, wiser, fairer, truer,
Than ever Greek did compass in his arms;
And will to morrow with his trumpet call

-- 393 --


Midway between your tents and walls of Troy,
To rouze a Grecian that is true in love.
If any come, Hector shall honour him:
If none, he'll say in Troy when he retires,
The Grecian Dames are sun-burn'd, and not worth
The splinter of a lance;—even so much.

Aga.
This shall be told our lovers, lord Æneas.
If none of them have soul in such a kind,
We've left them all at home: but we are soldiers;
And may that soldier a meer recreant prove,
That means not, hath not, or is not in love!
If then one is, or hath, or means to be,
That one meets Hector; if none else, I'm he.

Nest.
Tell him of Nestor; one, that was a man
When Hector's Grandsire suckt; he is old now,
But if there be not in our Grecian Host
One noble man that hath one spark of fire,
To answer for his love: tell him from me,
I'll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver
5 noteAnd in my vantbrace put this wither'd brawn;
And, meeting him, will tell him, that my lady
Was fairer than his grandam, and as chaste
As may be in the world: his youth in flood,
I'll pawn this truth with my three drops of blood.

Æne.
Now heav'ns forbid such scarcity of youth!

Ulyss.
Amen.

Aga.
Fair lord Æneas, let me touch your hand:
To our Pavilion shall I lead you first:
Achilles shall have word of this intent,
So shall each lord of Greece from tent to tent:
Your self shall feast with us before you go,
And find the welcome of a noble foe.
[Exeunt.

-- 394 --

SCENE VII. Manent Ulysses and Nestor.

Ulyss.
Nestor,—

Nest.
What says Ulysses?

Ulyss.
I have a young conception in my brain,
Be you my time to bring it to some shape.

Nest.
What is't?

Ulyss.
This 'tis:
Blunt wedges rive hard knots; the seeded pride,
That hath to this maturity blown up
In rank Achilles, must or now be cropt,
Or, shedding, breed a nursery of like evil,
To over-bulk us all.

Nest.
Well, and how now?

Ulyss.
This Challenge that the gallant Hector sends,
However it is spread in general name,
Relates in purpose only to Achilles.

Nest.
6 note
The purpose is perspicuous even as Substance,
Whose grossness little characters sum up.
And, in the publication, make no strain,
But that Achilles, were his brain as barren
As banks of Libya, (tho', Apollo knows,
'Tis dry enough,) will with great speed of judgment,
Ay, with celerity, find Hector's purpose
Pointing on him.

Ulyss.
And wake him to the answer, think you?

Nest.
Yes, 'tis most meet; whom may you else oppose,

-- 395 --


That can from Hector bring his honour off,
If not Achilles? though a sportful combat,
Yet in this tryal much opinion dwells.
For here the Trojans taste our dear'st Repute
With their fin'st palate: and trust to me, Ulysses,
Our imputation shall be odly pois'd
In this wild action. For the success,
Although particular, shall give a scantling
Of good or bad unto the general:
And in such indexes, although small pricks
To their subsequent volumes, there is seen
The baby figure of the giant-mass
Of things to come, at large. It is suppos'd,
He, that meets Hector, issues from our Choice;
And Choice, being mutual act of all our souls,
Makes merit her election; and doth boil,
As 'twere, from forth us all, a man distill'd
Out of our virtues; who miscarrying,
What heart from hence receives the conqu'ring part,
To steel a strong opinion to themselves!
Which entertain'd, limbs are his instruments,
In no less working, than are swords and bows
Directive by the limbs.

Ulyss.
Give pardon to my Speech;
Therefore 'tis meet, Achilles meet not Hector.
Let us, like merchants, shew our foulest wares,
And think, perchance, they'll sell; if not,
The lustre of the better, yet to shew,
Shall shew the better. Do not then consent,
That ever Hector and Achilles meet:
For both our honour and our shame in this
Are dogg'd with two strange followers.

Nest.
I see them not with my old eyes: what are they?

Ulyss.
What Glory our Achilles shares from Hector,
Were he not proud, we all should share with him:
But he already is too insolent;
And we were better parch in Africk Sun,
Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes,

-- 396 --


Should he 'scape Hector fair. If he were foil'd,
Why, then we did our main opinion crush
In taint of our best man. No, make a Lott'ry;
And by device let blockish Ajax draw
The Sort to fight with Hector: 'mong our selves,
Give him allowance as the worthier man,
For that will physick the great Myrmidon,
Who broils in loud applause, and make him fall
His crest, that prouder than blue Iris bends.
If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off,
We'll dress him up in voices: if he fail,
Yet go we under our opinion still,
That we have better men. But, hit or miss,
Our project's life this shape of Sense assumes,
Ajax, imploy'd, plucks down Achilles' plumes.

Nest.
Ulysses, Now I relish thy advice,
And I will give a taste of it forthwith
To Agamemnon; go we to him streight;
Two curs shall tame each other; pride alone
7 note

Must tar the mastiffs on, as 'twere their bone.
[Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The Grecian Camp. Enter Ajax and Thersites.

Ajax.

Thersites,—

Ther.

Agamemnon—how if he had boiles—full, all over, generally.

[Talking to himself.

-- 397 --

Ajax.

Thersites,—

Ther.

And those boils did run—say so—did not the General run? were not that a botchy core?

Ajax.

Dog!—

Ther.

Then there would come some matter from him: I see none now.

Ajax.

Thou bitch-wolf's son, canst thou not hear? feel then.

[Strikes him.

Ther.

The plague of Greece upon thee, thou mungrel beef-witted lord!

Ajax.

1 noteSpeak then, you windyest leaven, speak; I will beat thee into handsomness.

Ther.

I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness; but, I think, thy horse will sooner con an oration, than thou learn a prayer without book: thou canst strike, canst thou? a red murrain o' thy jade's tricks!

Ajax.

Toads-stool, learn me the proclamation.

Ther.

Doest thou think, I have no sense, thou strik'st me thus?

Ajax.

The proclamation—

Ther.

Thou art proclaim'd a fool, I think.

Ajax.

Do not, porcupine, do not; my fingers itch.

Ther.

I would, thou didst itch from head to foot, and I had the scratching of thee; I would make thee the loathsom'st scab in Greece.

Ajax.

I say, the proclamation—

Ther.

Thou grumblest and railest every hour on Achilles, and thou art as full of envy at his Greatness, as Cerberus is at Proserpina's Beauty: ay, that thou bark'st at him.

Ajax.

Mistress Thersites!—

Ther.

Thou shouldst strike him.

Ajax.

Cobloaf!

-- 398 --

Ther.

He would pound thee into shivers with his fist, as a sailor breaks a bisket.

Ajax.

You whorson cur!—

[Beating him.

Ther.

Do, do.

Ajax.

Thou stool for a witch!—

Ther,

Ay, do, do, thou sodden-witted lord; thou hast no more brain than I have in my elbows: an Assinego may tutor thee. Thou scurvy valiant ass! thou art here but to thrash Trojans, and thou art bought and sold among those of any wit, like a Barbarian slave. If thou use to beat me, I will begin at thy heel, and tell what thou art by inches, 2 note


thou thing of no bowels, thou!

Ajax.

You dog!

Ther.

You scurvy lord!

Ajax.

You cur!

[Beating him.

Ther.

Mars his ideot! do, rudeness; do, camel, do, do.

SCENE II. Enter Achilles and Patroclus.

Achil.
Why, how now, Ajax? wherefore do you this?
How now, Thersites? what's the matter, man?

Ther.

You see him there, do you?

Achil.

Ay, what's the matter?

Ther.

Nay, look upon him.

Achil.

So I do, what's the matter?

Ther.

Nay, but regard him well.

Achil.

Well, why, I do so.

-- 399 --

Ther.

But yet you look not well upon him: for whosoever you take him to be, he is Ajax.

Achil.

I know that, fool.

Ther.

Ay, but that fool knows not himself.

Ajax.

Therefore I beat thee.

Ther.

Lo, lo, lo, lo, what modicums of wit he utters; his evasions have ears thus long. I have bobb'd his brain, more than he has beat my bones: I will buy nine sparrows for a penny, and his Pia Mater is not worth the ninth part of a sparrow. This lord (Achilles) Ajax, who wears his wit in his belly, and his guts in his head, I'll tell you what I say of him.

Achil.

What?

[Ajax offers to strike him, Achilles interposes.

Ther.

I say, this Ajax

Achil.

Nay, good Ajax.

Ther.

Has not so much wit—

Achil.

Nay, I must hold you.

Ther.

As will stop the eye of Helen's needle, for whom he comes to fight.

Achil.

Peace, fool!

Ther.

I would have peace and quietness, but the fool will not: he there, that he, look you there.

Ajax.

O thou damn'd cur, I shall—

Achil.

Will you set your wit to a fool's?

Ther.

No, I warrant you; for a fool's will shame it.

Pat.

Good words, Thersites.

Achil.

What's the quarrel?

Ajax.

I bad the vile owl go learn me the tenour of the proclamation, and he rails upon me.

Ther.

I serve thee not.

Ajax.

Well, go to, go to.

Ther.

I serve here voluntary.

Achil.

Your last service was sufferance, 'twas not voluntary; no man is beaten voluntary; Ajax was here the voluntary, and you as under an impress.

Ther.

Ev'n so—a great deal of your wit too lies

-- 400 --

in your sinews, or else there be liars. Hector shall have a great catch, if he knock out either of your brains; he were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel.

Achil.

What, with me too, Thersites?

Ther.

There's Ulysses and old Nestor, (whose wit was mouldy 3 noteere your Grandsires had nails on their toes,) yoke you like draft oxen, and make you plough up the wair.

Achil.

What! what!

Ther.

Yes, good sooth; to, Achilles! to, Ajax! to—

Ajax.

I shall cut out your tongue.

Ther.

'Tis no matter, I shall speak as much as thou afterwards.

Pat.

No more words, Thersites.

Ther.

I will hold my peace, when Achilles' brach bids me, shall I?

Achil.

There's for you, Patroclus.

Ther.

I will see you hang'd like clotplotes, ere I come any more to your Tents. I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools.

[Exit.

Pat.

A good riddance.

Achil.
Marry, this, Sir, is proclaim'd through all our Host,
That Hector, by the fifth hour of the Sun,
Will, with a trumpet, 'twixt our Tents and Troy,
To morrow morning call some Knight to arms,
That hath a stomach, such a one that dare
Maintain I know not what: 'tis trash, farewel.

Ajax.
Farewel! who shall answer him?

Achil.
I know not, 'tis put to lott'ry; otherwise
He knew his man.

Ajax.
O, meaning you: I'll go learn more of it.
[Exeunt.

-- 401 --

SCENE III. Changes to Priam's Palace in Troy. Enter Priam, Hector, Troilus, Paris and Helenus.

Pri.
After so many hours, lives, speeches spent,
Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks:
Deliver Helen, and all damage else
(As honour, loss of time, travel, expence,
Wounds, friends, and what else dear that is consum'd
In hot digestion of this cormorant war)
Shall be struck off. Hector, what say you to't?

Hect.
Though no man lesser fear the Greeks than I,
As far as touches my particular, yet
There is no lady of more softer bowels,
More spungy to suck in the sense of fear,
More ready to cry out, who knows what follows?
Than Hector is. The Wound of Peace is Surety,
Surety secure; but modest Doubt is call'd
The beacon of the wise; the tent that searches
To th' bottom of the worst. Let Helen go.
Since the first sword was drawn about this question,
Ev'ry tithe soul 'mongst many thousand dismes
Hath been as dear as Helen. I mean, of ours.
If we have lost so many tenths of ours
To guard a thing not ours, not worth to us
(Had it our name) the value of one ten;
What merit's in that reason which denies
The yielding of her up?

Tro.
Fie, fie, my brother:
Weigh you the worth and honour of a King
(So great as our dread father) in a scale
Of common ounces? will you with counters sum
The vast proportion of his infinite?
And buckle in a waste most fathomless,
With spans and inches so diminutive
As fears and reasons? fie, for godly shame!

Hel.
No marvel, though you bite so sharp at reasons,

-- 402 --


You are so empty of them. Should not our father
Bear the great sway of his affairs with reasons;
Because your speech hath none, that tells him so?

Troi.
You are for dreams and slumbers, brother Priest,
You fur your gloves with reasons. Here are your reasons.
You know, an enemy intends you harm;
You know, a sword imploy'd is perillous;
And reason flies the object of all harm.
Who marvels then, when Helenus beholds
A Grecian and his sword, if he do set
The very wings of reason to his heels,
4 note
And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove,
Or like a star disorb'd!—Nay, if we talk of reason,
Let's shut our gates, and sleep: manhood and honour
Should have hare-hearts, would they but fat their thoughts
With this cramm'd reason: reason and respect
Make livers pale, and lustyhood deject.

Hect.
Brother, she is not worth what she doth cost
The holding.

Troi.
What is aught, but as 'tis valued?

Hect.
But value dwells not in particular will;
It holds its estimate and dignity
As well wherein 'tis precious of it self,
As in the prizer: 'tis mad idolatry,
To make the service greater than the God;
5 noteAnd the Will dotes, that is inclinable
To what infectiously itself affects,
6 note


Without some image of th' affected's merit.

-- 403 --

Troi.
I take to day a wife, and my election
Is led on in the conduct of my will;
My will enkindled by mine eyes and ears,
Two traded pilots 'twixt the dangerous shores
Of Will and Judgment; how may I avoid
(Although my Will distaste what is elected)
The wife I chuse? there can be no evasion
To blench from this, and to stand firm by honour.
We turn not back the silks upon the merchant,
When we have spoil'd them; nor th' remainder viands
We do not throw in unrespective place,
Because we now are full. It was thought meet,
Paris should do some vengeance on the Greeks:
Your breath of full consent bellied his sails;
The seas and winds (old wranglers) took a truce,
And did him service: he touch'd the Ports desir'd;
And, for an old aunt, whom the Greeks held captive,
He brought a Grecian Queen, whose youth and freshness
Wrinkles Apollo's, and makes stale the morning.
Why keep we her? the Grecians keep our aunt:
Is she worth keeping? why, she is a pearl,
Whose price hath launch'd above a thousand ships,
And turn'd crown'd Kings to merchants—
If you'll avouch, 'twas wisdom Paris went,
(As you must needs, for you all cry'd, go, go:)
If you'll confess, he brought home noble prize,
(As you must needs, for you all clap'd your hands,
And cry'd, inestimable!) why do you now
The issue of your proper wisdoms rate,
And do a deed that fortune never did,
Beggar that estimation which you priz'd
Richer than sea and land? O theft most base!
7 note



What we have stoln that we do fear to keep!

-- 404 --


Base thieves, unworthy of a thing so stol'n.
Who in their country did them that disgrace,
We fear to warrant in our native place!

Cas. [within.]
Cry, Trojans, cry!

Pri.
What noise, what shriek is this?

Troi.
'Tis our mad sister, I do know her voice.

Cas. [within.]
Cry, Trojans!

Hect.
It is Cassandra.
SCENE IV. Enter Cassandra, with her hair about her ears.

Cas.
Cry, Trojans, cry; lend me ten thousand eyes,
And I will fill them with prophetick tears.

Hect.
Peace, sister, peace.

Cas.
Virgins and boys, mid-age and wrinkled old,
Soft infancy, that nothing can but cry,
Add to my clamour! let us pay betimes
A moiety of that mass of moan to come:
Cry, Trojans, cry; practise your eyes with tears.
Troy must not be, nor goodly Ilion stand:
Our fire-brand brother, Paris, burns us all.
Cry, Trojans, cry! a Helen and a wo;
Cry, cry, Troy burns, or else let Helen go.
[Exit.

Hect.
Now, youthful Troilus, do not these high strains
Of Divination in our sister work
Some touches of remorse? Or is your blood
So madly hot, that no discourse of reason,
Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause,
Can qualifie the same?

Troi.
Why, brother Hector,
We may not think the justness of each act
Such and no other than event doth form it;
Nor once deject the courage of our minds,
Because Cassandra's mad; her brain-sick raptures

-- 405 --


Cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel,
Which hath our several honours all engag'd
To make it gracious. For my private part,
I am no more touch'd than all Priam's sons;
And, Jove forbid! there should be done amongst us
Such things, as might offend the weakest spleen
To fight for and maintain.

Par.
Else might the world convince of levity
As well my undertakings, as your counsels:
But I attest the Gods, your full consent
Gave wings to my propension, and cut off
All fears attending on so dire a project.
For what, alas, can these my single arms?
What propugnation is in one man's valour,
To stand the push and enmity of those
This quarrel would excite? yet I protest,
Were I alone to pass the difficulties,
And had as ample Power, as I have Will,
Paris should ne'er retract what he hath done,
Nor faint in the pursuit.

Pri.
Paris, you speak
Like one besotted on your sweet delights;
You have the honey still, but these the gall;
So, to be valiant, is no praise at all.

Par.
Sir, I propose not merely to myself
The pleasures such a Beauty brings with it:
But I would have the soil of her fair rape
Wip'd off, in honourable keeping her.
What treason were it to the ransack'd Queen,
Disgrace to your great worths, and shame to me,
Now to deliver her possession up,
On terms of base compulsion? can it be,
That so degenerate a strain, as this,
Should once set footing in your generous bosoms?
There's not the meanest spirit on our party,
Without a heart to dare, or sword to draw,
When Helen is defended: none so noble,

-- 406 --


Whose life were ill bestow'd, or death unfam'd,
When Helen is the subject. Then, I say,
Well may we fight for her, whom, we know well,
The world's large spaces cannot parallel.

Hect.
Paris and Troilus, you have both said well:
(a) noteBut on the cause and question now in hand
Have gloz'd but superficially; not much
Unlike young men, whom Aristotle thought
Unfit to hear moral philosophy.
The reasons, you alledge, do more conduce
To the hot passion of distemper'd blood,
Than to make up a free determination
'Twixt right and wrong: &wlquo;for pleasure and revenge
&wlquo;Have ears more deaf than adders, to the voice
&wlquo;Of any true decision.&wrquo; Nature craves,
All dues be render'd to their owners; now
What nearer debt in all humanity,
Than wife is to the husband? If this law
Of nature be corrupted through affection,
And that great minds of partial indulgence
To their benummed wills, resist the same;
There is a law in each well-order'd nation,
To curb those raging appetites that are
Most disobedient and refractory.
If Helen then be wife to Sparta's King,
(As, it is known, she is) these moral laws
Of Nature, and of Nation, speak aloud
To have her back return'd. Thus to persist
In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong,
But makes it much more heavy. Hector's opinion
Is this in way of truth; yet ne'ertheless,
My sprightly brethren, I propend to you
In resolution to keep Helen still;
For 'tis a cause that hath no mean dependance
Upon our joint and several dignities.

-- 407 --

Troi.
Why, there you touch'd the life of our design:
Were it not glory that we more affected
Than the performance of our heaving spleens,
I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood
Spent more in her defence. But, worthy Hector,
She is a theam of honour and renown;
A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds;
Whose present courage may beat down our foes,
And Fame, in time to come, canonize us.
For, I presume, brave Hector would not lose
So rich advantage of a promis'd glory,
As smiles upon the forehead of this action,
For the wide world's revenue.

Hect.
I am yours,
You valiant off-spring of great Priamus.—
I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks,
Will strike amazement to their drowsie spirits.
I was advertiz'd, their great General slept,
Whilst emulation in the army crept:
This, I presume, will wake him.
[Exeunt. SCENE V. Before Achilles's Tent, in the Grecian Camp.

Enter Thersites solus.

How now, Thersites? what, lost in the labyrinth of thy fury? shall the elephant Ajax carry it thus? he beats me, and I rail at him: O worthy satisfaction! 'would, it were otherwise; that I could beat him, whilst he rail'd at me: 'sfoot, I'll learn to conjure and raise devils, but I'll see some issue of my spiteful execrations. Then there's Achilles, a rare engineer. If Troy be not taken 'till these two undermine it, the walls will stand 'till they fall of themselves. O thou

-- 408 --

great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget that thou art Jove the King of Gods; and, Mercury, lose all the serpentine craft of thy Caduceus, if thou take not that little, little, less than little wit from them that they have; which short-arm'd ignorance itself knows is so abundant scarce, it will not in circumvention deliver a fly from a spider, without drawing the massy irons and cutting the web. After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or rather the bone-ach, for that, methinks, is the curse dependant on those that war for a placket. I have said my prayers, and devil Envy say Amen. What ho! my lord Achilles!

Enter Patroclus.

Patr.

Who's there? Thersites? Good Thersites, come in and rail.

Ther.

If I could have remember'd a gilt counter, thou could'st not have slipt out of my contemplation; but it is no matter, thyself upon thyself! The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance, be thine in great revenue! heaven bless thee from a tutor, and discipline come not near thee! Let thy blood be thy direction 'till thy death, then if she, that lays thee out, says thou art a fair coarse, I'll be sworn and sworn upon't, she never shrowded any but Lazars; Amen. Where's Achilles?

Patr.

What, art thou devout? wast thou in prayer?

Ther.

Ay, the heav'ns hear me?

Enter Achilles.

Achil.

Who's there?

Patr.

Thersites, my lord.

Achil.

Where, where? art thou come, why, my cheese, my digestion—why hast thou not served thy self up to my table, so many meals? come, what's Agamemnon!

-- 409 --

Ther.

Thy commander, Achilles; then tell me, Patroclus, what's Achilles?

Patr.

Thy lord, Thersites: then tell me, I pray thee, what's thyself?

Ther.

Thy knower, Patroclus: then tell me, Patroclus, what art thou?

Patr.

Thou may'st tell, that know'st.

Achil.

O tell, tell,—

Ther.

I'll decline the whole question. Agamemnon commands Achilles, Achilles is my lord, I am Patroclus's knower, and Patroclus is a fool.

Patr.

You rascal—

Ther.

Peace, fool, I have not done.

Achil.

He is a privileg'd man. Proceed, Thersites.

Ther.

Agamemnon is a fool, Achilles is a fool, Thersites is a fool, and, as aforesaid, Patroclus is a fool.

Achil.

Derive this; come.

Ther.

Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achilles, Achilles is a fool to be commanded of Agamemnon, Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool, and Patroclus is a fool positive.

Patr.

Why am I a fool?

Ther.

Make that demand to thy creator;—it suffices me, thou art.

SCENE VI. Enter Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor, Diomedes, Ajax, and Calchas.

Look you, who comes here?

Achil.

Patroclus, I'll speak with no body: come in with me, Thersites.

[Exit.

Ther.

Here is such patchery, such jugling, and such knavery: all the argument is a cuckold and a whore, a good quarrel to draw emulous factions, and bleed to death upon: now the dry Serpigo on the subject, and war and lechery confound all!

[Exit.

-- 410 --

Aga.
Where is Achilles?

Patr.
Within his tent, but ill dispos'd, my lord.

Aga.
Let it be known to him that we are here.
8 note


He shent our messengers, and we lay by
Our appertainments, visiting of him:
Let him be told so, lest, perchance, he think
We dare not move the question of our place;
Or know not what we are.

Patr.
I shall so say to him.
[Exit.

Ulyss.
We saw him at the opening of his tent,
He is not sick.

Ajax.

Yes, lion-sick, sick of a proud heart: you may call it melancholy, if you will favour the man; but, by my head, 'tis pride; but why, why?—let him shew us the cause. A word, my lord.

[To Agamemnon.

Nest.

What moves Ajax thus to bay at him?

Ulyss.

Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him.

Nest.

Who, Thersites?

Ulyss.

He.

Nest.

Then will Ajax lack matter, if he have lost his argument.

Ulyss.

No, you see, he is his argument, that has his argument, Achilles.

Nest.

All the better; their fraction is more our wish than their faction; but it was a strong counsel, that a fool could disunite.

Ulyss.

The amity, that wisdom knits not, folly may easily untye.

-- 411 --

SCENE VII. Enter Patroclus.


Here comes Patroclus.

Nest.
No Achilles with him?

Ulyss.
The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesie;
His legs are for necessity, not flexure.

Patr.
Achilles bids me say, he is much sorry,
If any thing more than your sport and pleasre
Did move your greatness, and this noble state,
To call on him; he hopes, it is no other,
But for your health and your digestion-sake;
An after-dinner's breath.

Aga.
Hear you, Patroclus;
We are too well acquainted with these answers:
But his evasion, wing'd thus swift with scorn,
Cannot outflie our apprehensions.
Much attribute he hath, and much the reason
Why we ascribe it to him; yet all his virtues
(Not virtuously on his own part beheld)
Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss;
And like fair fruit in an unwholsome dish,
Are like to rot untasted. Go and tell him,
We come to speak with him; and you shall not sin,
If you do say, we think him over-proud,
In self-assumption greater than in note
Of judgment: say, men worthier than himself
Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on,
Disguise the holy strength of their command,
And under-go in an observing kind
His humourous predominance; yea, watch
(a) noteHis pettish lunes, his ebbs and flows; as if
The passage and whole carriage of this action
Rode on his tide. Go tell him this, and add,

-- 412 --


That if he over-hold his price so much,
We'll none of him; but let him, like an engine
Not portable, lye under this report,
Bring action hither, this can't go to war:
A stirring dwarf we do allowance give,
Before a sleeping giant; tell him so.

Patr.
I shall, and bring his answer presently.
[Exit.

Aga.
In second voice we'll not be satisfied,
We come to speak with him. Ulysses, enter.
[Exit Ulysses.

Ajax.
What is he more than another?

Aga.
No more than what he thinks he is.

Ajax.

Is he so much? do you not think, he thinks himself a better man than I am?

Aga.

No question.

Ajax.

Will you subscribe his thought, and say, he is?

Aga.

No, noble Ajax, you are as strong, as valiant, as wise, no less noble, much more gentle, and altogether more tractable.

Ajax.

Why should a man be proud? how doth pride grow? I know not what it is.

Aga.

Your mind is clearer, Ajax, and your virtues the fairer; he, that is proud, eats up himself. Pride is his own glass, his own trumpet, his own chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the deed, devours the deed in the praise.

SCENE VIII. Re-enter Ulysses.

Ajax.

I do hate a proud man, as I hate the engendring of toads.

Nest.
Yet he loves himself: is't not strange?

Ulyss.
Achilles will not to the field to morrow.

Aga.
What's his excuse?

Ulyss.
He doth rely on none;

-- 413 --


But carries on the stream of his dispose,
Without observance or respect of any,
9 noteIn will-peculiar, and in self-admission.

Aga.
Why will he not, upon our fair request,
Un-tent his person, and share the air with us?

Ulyss.
Things small as nothing, for request's sake only,
He makes important: 1 notehe's possest with greatness,
And speaks not to himself, but with a pride
That quarrels at self-breath. Imagin'd worth
Holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse,
That, 'twixt his mental and his active parts,
Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages,
And batters down himself; what should I say?
He is so plaguy proud, that the death-tokens of it
Cry, no recovery.

Aga.
Let Ajax go to him.
Dear lord, go you and greet him in his tent;
'Tis said, he holds you well, and will be led
At your request a little from himself.

Ulyss.
O, Agamemnon, let it not be so.
We'll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes,
When they go from Achilles. Shall the proud lord,
That bastes his arrogance with his own seam,
And never suffers matters of the world
Enter his thoughts, (save such as do revolve
And ruminate himself,) shall he be worshipp'd
Of That, we hold an idol more than he?
No, this thrice-worthy and right-valiant lord
Must not so stale his palm, nobly acquir'd;
Nor, by my will, assubjugate his merit,

-- 414 --


(As amply titled, as Achilles is,) by going to Achilles:
That were t' inlard his pride, already fat,
And add more coals to Cancer, when he burns
With entertaining great Hyperion.
This lord go to him? Jupiter forbid,
And say in thunder, Achilles go to him!

Nest.
O, this is well, he rubs the vein of him.

Dio.
And how his silence drinks up this applause!

Ajax.
If I go to him—with my armed fist
I'll pash him o'er the face.

Aga.
O no, you shall not go.

Ajax.

An he be proud with me, I ll pheese his pride; let me go to him.

Ulyss.

Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel.

Ajax.

A paltry insolent fellow—

Nest.

How he describes himself!

Ajax.

Can he not be sociable?

Ulyss.

The raven chides blackness.

Ajax.

I'll let his humours blood.

Aga.

He'll be the physician, that should be the patient.

Ajax.

And all men were o' my mind—

Ulyss.

Wit would be out of fashion.

Ajax.

He should not bear it so, he should eat swords first: shall pride carry it?

Nest.
An 'twould, you'd carry half.

Ulyss.
He would have ten shares.

2 noteAjax.
I will knead him, I'll make him supple—

Nest.

He is not yet through warm: force him with praises; pour in, pour in; his ambition is dry.

Ulyss.
My lord, you feed too much on this dislike.

Nest.
Our noble General, do not do so.

Dio.
You must prepare to fight without Achilles.

Ulyss.
Why, 'tis this naming of him doth him harm.

-- 415 --


Here is a man—but 'tis before his face—
I will be silent.

Nest.
Wherefore should you so?
He is not emulous, as Achilles is.

Ulyss.
Know the whole world, he is as valiant.

Ajax.
A whorson dog! that palters thus with us—
Would he were a Trojan!

Nest.
What a vice were it in Ajax now—

Ulyss.
If he were proud.

Dio.
Or covetous of praise.

Ulyss.
Ay, or surly borne.

Dio.
Or strange, or self-affected.

Ulyss.
Thank the heav'ns, lord, thou art of sweet composure;
Praise him that got thee, her that gave thee suck:
Fam'd be thy Tutor, and thy parts of nature
Thrice-fam'd beyond, beyond all erudition;
But he that disciplin'd thy arms to fight,
Let Mars divide eternity in twain,
And give him half; and for thy vigor,
Bull-bearing Milo his Addition yields
To sinewy Ajax; I'll not praise thy wisdom,
Which, like a bourn, a pale, a shore, confines
Thy spacious and dilated parts. Here's Nestor,
Instructed by the Antiquary times;
He must, he is, he cannot but be wise:
But pardon, father Nestor, were your days
As green as Ajax, and your brain so temper'd,
You should not have the eminence of him,
But be as Ajax.

Ajax.
Shall I call you father?

Ulyss.
Ay, my good son.

Dio.
Be rul'd by him, lord Ajax.

Ulyss.
There is no tarrying here; the Hart Achilles
Keeps thicket; please it our great General
To call together all his State of war;
Fresh Kings are come to Troy: to morrow, friends,

-- 416 --


We must with all our main of pow'r stand fast:
And here's a lord, come Knights from East to West,
And cull their flow'r, Ajax shall cope the best.

Aga.
Go we to Council, let Achilles sleep;
Light boats sail swift, though greater hulks draw deep.
[Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. Paris's Apartments in the Palace, in Troy. Enter Pandarus, and a Servant. [Musick within.]

Pandarus.

Friend! you! pray you, a word: do not you follow the young lord Paris?

Ser.

Ay, Sir, when he goes before me.

Pan.

You do depend upon him, I mean?

Ser.

Sir, I do depend upon the lord.

Pan.

You do depend upon a noble gentleman: I must needs praise him.

Ser.

The lord be praised!

Pan.

You know me, do you not?

Ser.

Faith, Sir, superficially.

Pan.

Friend, know me better; I am the lord Pandarus.

Ser.

I hope, I shall know your honour better.

Pan.

I do desire it.

Ser.

You are in the state of Grace.

Pan.

Grace? not so, friend: honour and lordship, are my titles:

What musick is this?

Ser.

I do but partly know, Sir; it is musick in parts.

Pan.

Know you the musicians?

-- 417 --

Ser.

Wholly, Sir.

Pan.
Who play they to?

Ser.

To the hearers, Sir.

Pan.

At whose pleasure, friend?

Ser.

At mine, Sir, and theirs that love musick.

Pan.

Command, I mean, friend.

Ser.

Who shall I command, Sir?

Pan.

Friend, we understand not one another: I am too courtly, and thou art too cunning. At whose request do these men play?

Ser.

That's to't, indeed, Sir; marry, Sir, at the request of Paris my lord, who's there in person; with him the mortal Venus, the heart-blood of beauty, (a) notelove's visible soul.

Pan.

Who, my cousin Cressida?

Ser.

No, Sir, Helen; could you not find out That by her attributes?

Pan.

It should seem, fellow, that thou hast not seen the lady Cressida. I come to speak with Paris from the Prince Troilus: I will make a complemental assault upon him, for my business seethes.

Ser.

Sodden business! there's a stew'd phrase, indeed.

SCENE II. Enter Paris and Helen, attended.

Pan.

Fair be to you, my lord, and to all this fair company! fair Desires in all fair measure fairly guide them; especially to you, fair Queen, fair thoughts be your fair pillow!

Helen.

Dear lord, you are full of fair words.

Pan.

You speak your fair pleasure, sweet Queen: fair Prince, here is good broken musick.

Par.

You have broken it, cousin, and, by my life,

-- 418 --

you shall make it whole again; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance. Nell, he is full of harmony.

Pan.

Truly, lady, no.

Helen.

O, Sir—

Pan.

Rude, in sooth; in good sooth, very rude.

Par.

Well said, my lord; well, you say so in fits.

Pan.

I have business to my lord, dear Queen; my lord, will you vouchsafe me a word?

Helen.

Nay, this shall not hedge us out; we'll hear you sing, certainly.

Pan.

Well, sweet Queen, you are pleasant with me; but marry thus, my lord;—my dear lord, and most esteemed Friend, your brother Troilus

Helen.
My lord Pandarus, honey-sweet lord,—

Pan.
Go to, sweet Queen, go to—
Commends himself most affectionately to you.

Helen.
You shall not bob us out of our melody:
If you do, our melancholy upon your head!

Pan.

Sweet Queen, sweet Queen, that's a sweet Queen, I'faith—

Helen.

And to make a sweet lady sad, is a sower offence. Nay, that shall not serve your turn, that shall it not in truth, la. Nay, I care not for such words, no, no—

Pan.

And, my lord, he desires you, that if the King call for him at supper, you will make his excuse.

Helen.

My lord Pandarus,—

Pan.

What says my sweet Queen, my very very sweet Queen?

Par.

What exploit's in hand, where sups he to night?

Helen.

Nay, but my lord,—

Pan.

What says my sweet Queen? my cousin will fall out with you.

Helen.

You must not know where he sups.

-- 419 --

Par.

I'll lay my life, 1 notewith my dispouser Cressida.

Pan.

No, no, no such matter, you are wide; come, your dispouser is sick.

Par.

Well, I'll make excuse.

Pan.

Ay, good my lord; why should you say, Cressida? no, your poor dispouser's sick.

Par.

I spy—

Pan.

You spy, what do you spy? come, give me an instrument now, sweet Queen.

Helen.

Why, this is kindly done.

Pan.

My neice is horribly in love with a thing you have, sweet Queen.

Helen.

She shall have it, my lord, if it be not my lord Paris.

Pan.

He? no, she'll none of him, they two are twain.

Helen.

Falling in after falling out, may make them three.

Pan.

Come, come, I'll hear no more of this. I'll sing you a song now.

Helen.

Ay, ay, pr'ythee now; by my troth, sweet lord, thou hast a fine fore-head.

Pan.

Ay, you may, you may—

Helen.

Let thy song be love: this love will undo us all. Oh, Cupid, Cupid, Cupid!

Pan.

Love!—ay, that it shall, i' faith.

Par.

Ay, good now, love, love, nothing but love.

Pan.

In good troth, it begins so.



Love, love, nothing but love, still more:
For O, love's bow
Shoots buck and doe;
The shaft confounds
Not that it wounds,
But tickles still the sore.

-- 420 --


These lovers cry, oh! oh! they dye:
Yet That, which seems the wound to kill,
Doth turn, oh! oh! to ha, ha, he:
So dying love lives still.
O ho, a while; but ha, ha, ha;
O ho groans out for ha, ha, ha—hey ho!

Helen.

In love, i' faith, to the very tip of the nose!

Par.

He eats nothing but doves, love, and that breeds hot blood, and hot blood begets hot thoughts, and hot thoughts beget hot deeds, and hot deeds are love.

Pan.

Is this the generation of love? hot blood, hot thoughts, and hot deeds? why they are vipers; is love a generation of vipers?—Sweet lord, who's a-field to day?

Par.

Hector, Deiphobus, Helenus, Antenor, and all the gallantry of Troy. I would fain have arm'd to day, but my Nell would not have it so. How chance my brother Troilus went not?

Helen.

He hangs the lip at something; you know all, lord Pandarus.

Pan.

Not I, honey sweet Queen: I long to hear how they sped to day. You'll remember your brother's excuse?

Par.

To a hair.

Pan.

Farewel, sweet Queen.

Helen.

Commend me to your neice.

Pan.

I will, sweet Queen.

[Exit. Sound a Retreat.

Par.
They're come from field: let us to Priam's Hall,
To greet the warriors—Sweet Helen, I must woo you
To help unarm our Hector: his stubborn buckles,
With these your white enchanting fingers toucht,
Shall more obey, than to the edge of steel,
Or force of Greekish sinews: you shall do more
Than all the island Kings, disarm great Hector.

Helen.
'Twill make us proud to be his servant, Paris:

-- 421 --


Yea, what he shall receive of us in duty
Gives us more palm in beauty than we have,
Yea, over-shines our self.

Par.
Sweet, above thought I love thee.
[Exeunt. SCENE III. An Orchard to Pandarus's House. Enter Pandarus, and Troilus's Man.

Pan.
Now, where's thy master? at my cousin Cressida's?

Ser.
No, Sir, 2 notehe prays you to conduct him thither.
Enter Troilus.

Pan.
O, here he comes; how now, how now?

Troi.
Sirrah, walk off.

Pan.
Have you seen my cousin?

Troi.
No, Pandarus: I stalk about her door,
Like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks
Staying for waftage. O, be thou my Charon,
And give me swift transportance to those fields,
Where I may wallow in the lilly beds
Propos'd for the deserver! O gentle Pandarus,
From Cupid's shoulder pluck his painted wings,
And fly with me to Cressid.

Pan.
Walk here i' th' orchard, I will bring her straight. [Exit Pandarus.

Troi.
I'm giddy; expectation whirls me round.
Th' imaginary relish is so sweet,
That it enchants my sense: what will it be,
When that the watry palate tastes indeed,
Love's thrice-reputed nectar? death, I fear me;
Swooning destruction, or some joy too fine,
Too subtle-potent, and too sharp in sweetness,

-- 422 --


For the capacity of my rude powers;
I fear it much, and I do fear besides,
That I shall lose distinction in my joys;
As doth a battle, when they charge on heaps
The flying enemy. Re-enter Pandarus.

Pan.

She's making her ready, she'll come straight; you must be witty now. She does so blush, and fetches her wind so short, as if she were fraid with a sprite: I'll bring her. It is the prettiest villain, she fetches her breath as short as a new-ta'en sparrow.

[Exit Pandarus.

Troi.
Ev'n such a passion doth embrace my bosom:
My heart beats thicker than a fev'rous pulse;
And all my pow'rs do their bestowing lose,
Like vassalage at unawares encountring
The eye of Majesty.
SCENE IV. Enter Pandarus and Cressida.

Pan.

Come, come; what need you blush? Shame's a baby. Here she is now: swear the oaths now to her, that you have sworn to me. What, are you gone again? you must be watch'd ere you be made tame, must you? come your ways, come your ways; if you draw backward, we'll put you i' th' files: Why do you not speak to her? Come, draw this curtain, and let's see your picture. Alas the day, how loth you are to offend day-light? an 'twere dark, you'd close sooner. So, so, rub on, and kiss the Mistress; how now, a kiss in fee-farm? build there, carpenter, the air is sweet. Nay, you shall fight your hearts out, ere I part you. The faulcon as the tercel, for all the ducks i' th' river: go to, go to.

Troi.

You have bereft me of all words, lady.

-- 423 --

Pan.

Words pay no debts, give her deeds: but she'll bereave you of deeds too, if she call your activity in question: what, billing again? here's, in witness whereof the parties interchangeably—come in, come in, I'll go get a fire.

[Exit Pandarus.

Cre.

Will you walk in, my lord?

Troi.

O Cressida, how often have I wisht me thus?

Cre.

Wisht, my lord! the Gods grant—O my lord.

Troi.

What should they grant? what makes this pretty abruption? what too curious dreg espies my sweet lady in the fountain of our love?

Cre.

More dregs than water, if my fears have eyes.

Troi.

Fears make devils of cherubims, they never see truly.

Cre.

Blind fear, which seeing reason leads, finds safer footing than blind reason stumbling without fear. To fear the worst, oft cures the worse.

Troi.

O, let my lady apprehend no fear; in all Cupid's Pageant there is presented no monster.

Cre.

Nor nothing monstrous neither?

Troi.

Nothing, but our Undertakings; when we vow to weep seas, live in fire, eat rocks, tame tygers; thinking it harder for our mistress to devise imposition enough, than for us to undergo any difficulty imposed. This is the monstruosity in love, lady, that the will is infinite, and the execution confin'd: that the desire is boundless, and the act a slave to limit.

Cre.

They say, all lovers swear more performance than they are able; and yet reserve an ability, that they never perform: vowing more than the perfection of ten, and discharging less than the tenth part of one. They that have the voice of lions, and the act of hares, are they not monstrous?

Troi.

Are there such? such are not we; praise us as we are tasted, allow us as we prove: our head shall go bare, till merit crown it; no perfection in reversion

-- 424 --

shall have a praise in present; we will not name desert before his birth, and, being born, his addition shall be humble; few words to fair faith. Troilus shall be such to Cressida, as what envy can say worst, shall be a mock for his truth; and what truth can speak truest, not truer than Troilus.

Cre.

Will you walk in, my lord?

SCENE V. Enter Pandarus.

Pan.

What blushing still? have you not done talking yet?

Cre.

Well, uncle, what folly I commit, I dedicate to you.

Pan.

I thank you for that; if my lord get a boy of you, you'll give him me; be true to my lord; if he flinch, chide me for it.

Troi.

You know now your hostages; your uncle's word and my firm faith.

Pan.

Nay, I'll give my word for her too; our kindred, though they be long ere they are woo'd, they are constant, being won; they are burrs, I can tell you, they'll stick where they are thrown.

Cre.
Boldness comes to me now, and brings me heart:
Prince Troilus, I have lov'd you night and day,
For many weary months.

Troi.
Why was my Cressid then so hard to win?

Cre.
Hard to seem won: but I was won, my lord,
With the first glance that ever—pardon me—
If I confess much, you will play the tyrant;
I love you now; but not till now, so much
But I might master it—in faith, I lie—
My thoughts were, like unbridled children, grown
Too headstrong for their mother; see, we fools!
Why have I blabb'd? who shall be true to us,

-- 425 --


When we are so unsecret to our selves?
But though I lov'd you well, I woo'd you not;
And yet, good faith, I wisht my self a man:
Or that We women had men's privilege,
Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue;
For in this rapture I shall surely speak
The thing I shall repent; see, see, your silence
(Cunning in dumbness) from my weakness draws
My very soul of counsel. Stop my mouth.

Troi.
And shall, albeit sweet musick issues thence.
[Kissing.

Pan.
Pretty, i'faith

Cre.
My lord, I do beseech you, pardon me;
'Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss:
I am asham'd;—O heavens, what have I done!—
For this time will I take my leave, my lord.

Troi.
Your leave, sweet Cressid?

Pan.
Leave! an you take leave till to morrow morning—

Cre.
Pray you, content you.

Troi.
What offends you, lady?

Cre.
Sir, mine own company.

Troi.
You cannot shun your self.

Cre.
Let me go try:
I have a kind of self resides with you:
But an unkind self, that it self will leave,
To be another's fool. Where is my wit?
I would be gone: I speak, I know not what.

Troi.
Well know they what they speak, that speak so wisely.

Cre.
Perchance, my lord, I shew more craft than love,
And fell so roundly to a large confession,
To angle for your thoughts: but you are wise,
Or else you love not: To be wise and love,
Exceeds man's might, and dwells with Gods above.

Troi.
O, that I thought it could be in a woman,

-- 426 --


(As, if it can, I will presume in you,)
To feed for ay her lamp and flames of love,
To keep her constancy in plight and youth
Out-living Beauties outward; with a mind
That doth renew swifter than blood decays!
Or, that perswasion could but once convince me,
That my integrity and truth to you
Might be affronted with the match and weight
Of such a winnow'd purity in love:
How were I then up-lifted! but alas,
I am as true as Truth's simplicity,
3 noteAnd simpler than the infancy of truth.

Cre.
In that I'll war with you.

Troi.
O virtuous fight!
When Right with Right warrs who shall be most right.
&plquo;True swains in love shall in the world to come
&plquo;Approve their truths by Troilus; when their rhimes,
&plquo;Full of protest, of oath, and big compare,
&plquo;Want similies: truth, tired with iteration,
&plquo;As true as steel, as 4 note





Plantage to the Moon,
&plquo;As Sun to day, as turtle to her mate,
&plquo;As iron to adamant, as earth to th' center:
&plquo;Yet after all comparisons of truth,

-- 427 --


&plquo;5 note


As truth authentick, ever to be cited,
&plquo;As true as Troilus, shall crown up the verse,
&plquo;And sanctifie the numbers.&prquo;

Cre.
Prophet may you be!
&plquo;If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth,
&plquo;When time is old and hath forgot it self,
&plquo;When water-drops have worn the stones of Troy,
&plquo;And blind Oblivion swallow'd Cities up,
&plquo;And mighty States characterless are grated
&plquo;To dusty Nothing; yet let Memory,
&plquo;From false to false, among false maids in love,
&plquo;Upbraid my falsehood! when they've said, as false
&plquo;As air, as water, as wind, as sandy earth;
&plquo;As fox to lamb, as wolf to heifer's calf;
&plquo;Pard to the hind, or step-dame to her son;
&plquo;Yea, let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood,
&plquo;As false as Cressid.—&prquo;

Pan.

Go to, a bargain made: seal it, seal it, I'll be the witness.—Here I hold your hand; here my cousin's; if ever you prove false to one another, since I have taken such pains to bring you together, let all pitiful Goers-between be call'd to the world's end after my name; call them all Pandars: (a) note let all inconstant men be Troilus's, all false women Cressida's, and all brokers between Pandars: say, Amen.

Troi.

Amen!

Cre.

Amen!

Pan.

Amen. Whereupon I will shew you a bedchamber; which bed, because it shall not speak of

-- 428 --

your pretty encounters, press it to death: away.


And Cupid grant all tongue-ty'd maidens here,
Bed, chamber, and Pandar to provide this Geer! [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Changes to the Grecian Camp. Enter Agamemnon, Ulysses, Diomedes, Nestor, Ajax, Menelaus, and Calchas.

Cal.
Now, Princes, for the service I have done you,
Th' advantage of the time prompts me aloud
To call for recompense: 6 note






appear it to you,

-- 429 --


That, through the sight I bear in things to come,
I have abandon'd Troy, left my possession,
Incurr'd a traitor's name, expos'd myself,
From certain and possest conveniences,
To doubtful fortunes; sequestred from all
That time, acquaintance, custom, and condition,
Made tame and most familiar to my nature:
And here, to do you service, am become
As new into the world, strange, unacquainted.
I do beseech you, as in way of taste,
To give me now a little benefit,
Out of those many registred in promise,
Which, you say, live to come in my behalf.

Aga.
What wouldst thou of us, Trojan? make demand.

Cal.
You have a Trojan prisoner, call'd Antenor,
Yesterday took: Troy holds him very dear.

-- 430 --


Oft have you (often have you thanks therefore;)
Desir'd my Cressid in right-great exchange,
Whom Troy hath still deny'd: but this Antenor,
I know, is such a wrest in their affairs,
That their negotiations all must slack,
Wanting his Manage; and they will almost
Give us a Prince o'th' blood, a son of Priam,
In change of him. Let him be sent, great Princes,
And he shall buy my daughter: and her presence
Shall quite strike off all service I have done,
(a) noteIn most accepted pay.

Aga.
Let Diomedes bear him,
And bring us Cressid hither: Calchas shall have
What he requests of us. Good Diomede,
Furnish you fairly for this enterchange;
Withall, bring word, if Hector will to morrow
Be answer'd in his challenge. Ajax is ready.

Dio.
This shall I undertake, and 'tis a burthen
Which I am proud to bear.
SCENE VII. Enter Achilles and Patroclus, before their Tent.

Ulys.
Achilles stands i'th' entrance of his Tent,
Please it our General to pass strangely by him,
As if he were forgot; and, Princes all,
Lay negligent and loose regard upon him:
I will come last; 'tis like, he'll question me,
Why such unplausive eyes are bent on him:
If so, I have decision medicinable
To use between your strangeness and his pride,
Which his own will shall have desire to drink.
It may do good: Pride hath no other glass
To shew itself, but pride; for supple knees

-- 431 --


Feed arrogance, and are the proud man's fees.

Aga.
We'll execute your purpose, and put on
A form of strangeness as we pass along;
So do each lord; and either greet him not,
Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more
Than if not look'd on. I will lead the way.

Achil.
What, comes the General to speak with me?
You know my mind. I'll fight no more 'gainst Troy.

Aga.
What says Achilles? would he aught with us?

Nest.
Would you, my lord, aught with the General?

Achil.
No.

Nest.
Nothing, my lord.

Aga.
The better.

Achil.
Good day, good day.

Men.
How do you? how do you?

Achil.
What, does the cuckold scorn me?

Ajax.
How now, Patroclus?

Achil.
Good morrow, Ajax.

Ajax.
Ha?

Achil.
Good morrow.

Ajax.
Ay, and good next day too.
[Exeunt.

Achil.
What mean these fellows? know they not Achilles?

Patr.
They pass by strangely: they were us'd to bend,
To send their smiles before them to Achilles,
To come as humbly as they us'd to creep
To holy altars.

Achil.
What, am I poor of late?
&plquo;'Tis certain, Greatness, once fall'n out with fortune,
&plquo;Must fall out with men too: what the declin'd is,
&plquo;He shall as soon read in the eyes of others,
&plquo;As feel in his own Fall: for men, like butterflies,
&plquo;Shew not their mealy wings but to the summer;
&plquo;And not a man, for being simply man,
&plquo;Hath honour, but is honour'd by those honours
&plquo;That are without him; as place, riches, favour,

-- 432 --


&plquo;Prizes of accident as oft as merit:
&plquo;Which, when they fall, (as being slipp'ry standers)
&plquo;The love that lean'd on them, as slipp'ry too,
&plquo;Doth one pluck down another, and together
&plquo;Die in the Fall.&prquo; But 'tis not so with me:
Fortune and I are friends; I do enjoy
At ample point all that I did possess,
Save these men's looks; who do, methinks, find out
Something in me not worth that rich beholding,
As they have often giv'n. Here is Ulysses.
I'll interrupt his reading.—Now, Ulysses?

Ulys.
Now, Thetis' son!

Achil.
What are you reading?

Ulys.
A strange fellow here
Writes me, that man, 7 notehow dearly ever parted,
How much in Having, or without, or in,
Cannot make boast to have that which he hath,
Nor feels not what he owes, but by reflection;
As when his virtues shining upon others
Heat them, and they retort that heat again
To the first giver.

Achil.
This is not strange, Ulysses.
The beauty that is borne here in the face
The bearer knows not, but commends itself
8 note
To others' eyes: nor doth the eye itself
(That most pure spirit of sense) behold itself
Not going from itself; but eyes oppos'd
Salute each other with each others' form.
For speculation turns not to itself,
'Till it hath travell'd, and is marry'd there
Where it may see its self; this is not strange.

-- 433 --

Ulys.
I do not strain at the position,
It is familiar; but the author's drift;
Who, in his circumstance, expresly proves
That no man is the lord of any thing,
(Tho' in, and of, him there is much consisting)
'Till he communicate his parts to others;
Nor doth he of himself know them for aught,
'Till he behold them formed in th' applause
Where they're extended; which, like an arch, reverb'rates
The voice again; or, like a gate of steel
Fronting the Sun, receives and renders back
His figure and his heat. I was much rapt in this,
And apprehended here immediately
The unknown Ajax
Heav'ns! what a man is there? a very horse,
That has he knows not what. Nature! what things there are,
Most abject in regard, and dear in use?
What things again most dear in the esteem,
And poor in worth? now shall we see to morrow
An Act, that very Chance doth throw upon him:
Ajax renown'd! Oh heav'ns, what some men do,
While some men leave to do!
9 note


How some men sleep in skittish Fortune's hall,
While others play the ideots in her eyes;
How one man eats into another's pride,
While pride is feasting in his wantonness!

-- 434 --


To see these Grecian lords! why ev'n already
They clap the lubber Ajax on the shoulder,
As if his foot were on brave Hector's breast,
And great Troy shrinking.

Achil.
This I do believe;
For they passed by me, as misers do by beggars,
Neither gave to me good word, nor good look:
What! are my deeds forgot?

&plquo;Ulys.
&plquo;Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,
&plquo;Wherein he puts alms for Oblivion:
&plquo;(A great-siz'd monster of ingratitudes)
&plquo;Those scraps are good deeds past, which are devour'd
&plquo;As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
&plquo;As done: Perseverance keeps Honour bright:
&plquo;To have done, is to hang quite out of fashion,
&plquo;Like rusty mail in monumental mockery.&prquo;
&wlquo;For honour travels in a streight so narrow,
&wlquo;Where one but goes abreast? keep then the path;
&wlquo;For Emulation hath a thousand sons,
&wlquo;That one by one pursue; if you give way,
&wlquo;Or turn aside from the direct forth-right,
&wlquo;Like to an entred tide, they all rush by,
&wlquo;And leave you hindermost; and there you lye,
&wlquo;1 note
Like to a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,
&wlquo;For pavement to the abject Rear, o'er-run
&wlquo;And trampled on: Then what they do in present,
&wlquo;Tho' less than yours in past, must o'er-top yours.&wrquo;
&plquo;For time is like a fashionable host,
&plquo;That slightly shakes his parting guest by th' hand;
&plquo;But with his arms out-stretch'd, as he would fly,
&plquo;Grasps in the comer; Welcome ever smiles,
&plquo;And Farewel goes out sighing. O, let not virtue seek&prquo;

-- 435 --


&wlquo;Remuneration for the thing it was;
&wlquo;For beauty, wit, high birth, desert in service,
&wlquo;Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all
&wlquo;To envious and calumniating time.
&wlquo;One touch of nature makes the whole world kin;
&wlquo;That all, with one consent, praise new-born Gawds,
&wlquo;Tho' they are made and moulded of things past;
&wlquo;And give to dust, that is a little gilt,
&wlquo;(a) noteMore laud than they will give to gold o'er-dusted:
&wlquo;The present eye praises the present object.
Then marvel not, thou great and complete man,
That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax;
Since things in motion sooner catch the eye,
Than what not stirs. The Cry went once for thee,
And still it might, and yet it may again,
If thou would'st not entomb thyself alive,
And case thy reputation in thy tent;
Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late,
2 noteMade emulous missions 'mongst the Gods themselves,
And drave great Mars to faction.

Achil.
Of my privacy
I have strong reasons.

Ulys.
'Gainst your privacy
The reasons are more potent and heroical.
'Tis known, Achilles, that you are in love
With one of Priam's daughters.

Achil.
Ha! known!

Ulys.
Is that a wonder?
The providence, that's in a watchful State,
Knows almost every grain of Pluto's Gold;
Finds bottom in th' uncomprehensive Deep;

-- 436 --


3 noteKeeps place with thought; and almost, like the Gods,
Does ev'n our thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles.
There is a mystery (with which relation
Durst never meddle) in the Soul of State;
Which hath an operation more divine,
Than breath, or pen, can give expressure to.
All the commerce that you have had with Troy
As perfectly is ours, as yours, my lord.
And better would it fit Achilles much,
To throw down Hector, than Polyxena.
But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home,
When Fame shall in his island sound her trump;
And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing,
Great Hector's sister did Achilles win;
But our great Ajax bravely beat down him.
Farewel, my lord—I, as your lover, speak;
The fool slides o'er the ice, that you should break. [Exit. SCENE VIII.

Patr.
To this effect, Achilles, have I mov'd you;
A woman, impudent and mannish grown,
Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man
In time of act.—I stand condemn'd for this;
They think, my little stomach to the war,
And your great love to me, restrains you thus:
&plquo;Sweet, rouse your self; and the weak wanton Cupid
&plquo;Shall from your neck unloose his am'rous fold;
&plquo;And, like a dew-drop from the lion's mane,
&plquo;Be shook to air.&prquo;

Achil.
Shall Ajax fight with Hector!—

-- 437 --

Patr.
Ay, and, perhaps, receive much honour by him.

Achil.
I see, my reputation is at stake;
My fame is shrewdly gor'd.

Patr.
O then beware:
Those wounds heal ill, that men do give themselves:
Omission to do what is necessary
Seals a Commission to a Blank of Danger;
And Danger, like an ague, subtly taints
Even then, when we sit idly in the Sun.

Achil.
Go call Thersites hither, sweet Patroclus:
I'll send the fool to Ajax, and desire him
T'invite the Trojan lords, after the Combat,
To see us here unarm'd: I have a woman's Longing,
An appetite that I am sick withal,
To see great Hector in the Weeds of peace;
To talk with him, and to behold his visage,
Ev'n to my full of view.—A labour sav'd!
SCENE IX. Enter Thersites.

Ther.

A wonder!

Achil.

What?

Ther.

Ajax goes up and down the field, asking for himself.

Achil.

How so?

Ther.

He must fight singly to morrow with Hector, and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling, that he raves in saying nothing.

Achil.

How can that be?

Ther.

Why, he stalks up and down like a peacock, a stride and a stand; ruminates like an hostess, that hath no arithmetick but her brain, to set down her reckoning; bites his lip with a politick regard, as who should say, there were wit in his head, if 'twou'd out; and so there is, but it lies as coldly in him as

-- 438 --

fire in a flint, which will not shew without knocking. The man's undone for ever: for if Hector break not his neck i'th' combat, he'll break't himself in vain-glory. He knows not me: I said, good morrow, Ajax: And he replies, thanks, Agamemnon. What think you of this man, that takes me for the General? he's grown a very land-fish, language-less, a monster. &wlquo;4 noteA plague of opinion! a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather Jerkin.&wrquo;

Achil.

Thou must be my ambassador to him, Thersites.

Ther.

Who, I?—why, he'll answer no body; he professes not answering; speaking is for beggars; he wears his tongue in's arms. I will put on his presence; let Patroclus make his demands to me, you shall see the Pageant of Ajax.

Achil.

To him, Patroclus—tell him, I humbly desire the valiant Ajax, to invite the most valorous Hector to come unarm'd to my tent, and to procure safe Conduct for his Person of the magnanimous and most illustrious, six or seven times honour'd, captain general, of the Grecian army, Agamemnon, &c. Do this.

Patr.

Jove bless great Ajax!

Ther.

Hum—

Patr.

I come from the worthy Achilles.

Ther.

Ha!

Patr.

Who most humbly desires you to invite Hector to his Tent.

Ther.

Hum—

Patr.

And to procure safe Conduct from Agamemnon.

Ther.

Agamemnon!—

-- 439 --

Patr.

Ay, my lord.

Ther.

Ha!

Patr.

What say you to't?

Ther.

God be wi'you, with all my heart.

Patr.

Your answer, Sir.

Ther.

If to morrow be a fair day, by eleven o'clock it will go one way or other; howsoever, he shall pay for me ere he has me.

Patr.

Your answer. Sir.

Ther.

Fare ye well with all my heart.

Achil.

Why, but he is not in this tune, is he?

Ther.

No, but he's out o'tune thus; what musick will be in him, when Hector has knock'd out his brains, I know not. But, I am sure, none; unless the fidler Apollo get his sinews to make Catlings on.

Achil.

Come, thou shalt bear a letter to him straight.

Ther.

Let me carry another to his horse; for that's the more capable creature.

Achil.
My mind is troubled like a fountain stirr'd,
And I my self see not the bottom of it.
[Exit.

Ther.

'Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at it! I had rather be a tick in a sheep, than such a valiant ignorance.

[Exe. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Street in Troy. Enter at one door Æneas, with a torch; at another, Paris, Deiphobus, Antenor, and Diomede; Grecians, with Torches.

Paris.
See, ho! who is that there?

Dei.
It is the lord Æneas.

Æne.
Is the Prince there in person?
Had I so good occasion to lie long,

-- 440 --


As you, Prince Paris, nought but heav'nly business
Should rob my bed-mate of my company.

Dio.
That's my mind too: good morrow, lord Æneas.

Par.
A valiant Greek, Æneas; take his hand;
Witness the process of your speech, wherein
You told, how Diomede a whole week, by days,
Did haunt you in the field.

Æne.
Health to you, valiant Sir,
1 noteDuring all question of the gentle Truce:
But when I meet you arm'd, as black defiance
As heart can think, or courage execute.

Dio.
The one and th'other Diomede embraces.
Our bloods are now in calm, and, so long, health;
But when contention and occasion meet,
By Jove, I'll play the hunter for thy life,
With all my force, pursuit and policy.

Æne.
And thou shalt hunt a lion that will flie
With his face backward.—In humane gentleness,
Welcome to Troy—Now, by Anchises' life,
Welcome, indeed!—2 noteby Venus' hand I swear,
No man alive can love, in such a sort,
The thing he means to kill, more excellently.

Dio.
We sympathize.—Jove, let Æneas live
(If to my sword his Fate be not the Glory)
A thousand complete courses of the Sun:
But in mine emulous honour let him die,
With every joint a wound, and that to morrow.

Æne.
We know each other well.

Dio.
We do; and long to know each other worse.

Par.
This is the most despightful, gentle greeting;

-- 441 --


The noblest, hateful love, that e'er I heard of.
What business, lord, so early?

Æne.
I was sent for to the king; but why, I know not.

Par.
His purpose meets you; 'twas, to bring this Greek
To Calchas' house, and there to render him
(For the enfreed Antenor) the fair Cressid.
Let's have your company; or, if you please,
Haste thee before. I constantly do think,
(Or rather call my thought a certain knowledge)
My brother Troilus lodges there to night.
Rouse him, and give him note of our approach,
With the whole quality whereof, I fear,
We shall be much unwelcome.

Æne.
That assure you.
Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece,
Than Cressid borne from Troy.

Par.
There is no help;
The bitter disposition of the time
Will have it so. On, lord, we'll follow you.

Æne.
Good morrow all.
[Exit.

Par.
And tell me, noble Diomede; tell me true,
Ev'n in the soul of good sound fellowship,
Who in your thoughts merits fair Helen most?
My self, or Menelaus?

Dio.
Both alike.
He merits well to have her, that doth seek her,
(Not making any scruple of her soilure,)
With such a hell of pain, and world of charge.
And you as well to keep her, that defend her
(Not palating the taste of her dishonour,)
With such a costly loss of wealth and friends.
He, like a puling cuckold, would drink up
The lees and dregs of 3 notea flat tamed piece;

-- 442 --


You, like a letcher, out of whorish loins
Are pleas'd to breed out your inheritors:
Both merits pois'd, each weighs no less nor more,
But he as he, which heavier for a whore.

Par.
You are too bitter to your Country-woman.

Dio.
She's bitter to her Country: hear me, Paris,
For ev'ry false drop in her baudy veins
A Grecian's life hath sunk; for every scruple
Of her contaminated carrion weight,
A Trojan hath been slain. Since she could speak,
She hath not giv'n so many good words breath,
As, for her, Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death.

Par.
Fair Diomede, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy:
But we in silence hold this virtue well;
4 note


We'll not commend what we intend not sell.
Here lyes our way. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Changes to Pandarus's House. Enter Troilus and Cressida.

Troi.
Dear, trouble not your self; the morn is cold.

Cre.
Then, sweet my lord, I'll call my uncle down:
He shall unbolt the gates.

-- 443 --

Troi.
Trouble him not—
To bed, to bed—sleep seal those pretty eyes,
And give as soft attachment to thy senses,
As infants empty of all thought!

Cre.
Good morrow then.

Troi.
I pr'ythee now, to bed.

Cre.
Are you a weary of me?

Troi.
O Cressida! but that the busie day,
Wak'd by the lark, has rous'd the ribald crows,
And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer,
I would not from thee.

Cre.
Night hath been too brief.

&wlquo;Troi.
&wlquo;Beshrew the witch! 5 note
with venomous wights she stays,
&wlquo;Tedious as hell; but flies the grasps of love,
&wlquo;With wings more momentary-swift than thought:&wrquo;
You will catch cold, and curse me.

Cre.
Pr'ythee, tarry—you men will never tarry—
O foolish Cressida—I might have still held off,
And then you would have tarried. Hark, there's one up.

Pan. [within.]
What's all the doors open here?

Troi.
It is your uncle.
Enter Pandarus.

Cre.
A pestilence on him! now will he be mocking;
I shall have such a life—

Pan.
How now, how now? how go maiden-heads?
Hear you, maid; where's my cousin Cressida?

Cre.
Go hang your self, you naughty mocking uncle:
You bring me to do—and then you flout me too.

Pan.
To do what? to do what? let her say, what:
What have I brought you to do?

-- 444 --

Cre.

Come, come, beshrew your heart; you'll never be good; nor suffer others.

Pan.

Ha, ha! alas, poor wretch; a poor Capocchia,— hast not slept to night? would he not (a naughty man) let it sleep? a bugbear take him!

[One knocks.

Cre.

Did not I tell you?—'would he were knock'd o' th' head!—who's that at door?—good uncle, go and see!—my lord, come you again into my chamber; —you smile and mock me, as if I meant naughtily.

Troi.

Ha, ha—

Cre.
Come, you are deceived, I think of no such thing.
How earnestly they knock—pray you, come in. [Knock.
I would not for half Troy have you seen here.
[Exeunt.

Pan.

Who's there? what's the matter? will you beat down the door; how now? what's the matter?

SCENE III. Enter Æneas.

Æne.

Good morrow, lord, good morrow.

Pan.

Who's there? my lord Æneas? by my troth, I knew you not; what news with you so early?

Æne.

Is not Prince Troilus here?

Pan.

Here! what should he do here?

Æne.

Come, he is here, my lord, do not deny him. It doth import him much to speak with me.

Pan.

Is he here, say you? 'tis more than I know, I'll be sworn; for my own part, I came in late: what should he do here?

Æne.

Pho!—nay, then:—come, come, you'll do him wrong, ere y'are aware: you'll be so true to him, to be false to him: do not you know of him, but yet go fetch him hither, go.

[As Pandarus is going out.

-- 445 --

Enter Troilus.

Troi.
How now? what's the matter?

Æne.
My lord, I scarce have leisure to salute you,
My matter is so rash: there is at hand
Paris your brother, and Deiphobus,
The Grecian Diomede, and our Antenor
Deliver'd to us; and for him forthwith,
Ere the first sacrifice, within this hour,
We must give up to Diomedes' hand
The lady Cressida.

Troi.
Is it concluded so?

Æne.
By Priam, and the general State of Troy,
They are at hand, and ready to effect it.

Troi.
How my atchievements mock me!
I will go meet them; and (my lord Æneas)
We met by chance, you did not find me here.

Æne.
Good, good, my lord; (a) note the secretest of natures
Have not more gift in taciturnity.
[Exeunt. SCENE IV. Enter Cressida to Pandarus.

Pan.

Is't possible? no sooner got, but lost: the Devil take Antenor! the young Prince will go mad: a plague upon Antenor! I would, they had broke's neck.

Cre.

How now? what's the matter? who was here?

Pan.

Ah, ah!

Cre.

Why sigh you so profoundly? where's my lord? gone! tell me, sweet uncle, what's the matter?

Pan.

'Would I were as deep under the earth, as I am above!

Cre.

O the Gods! what's the matter?

-- 446 --

Pan.

Pr'ythee, get thee in; 'would, thou hadst ne'er been born: I knew, thou would'st be his death. O poor gentleman! a plague upon Antenor!—

Cre.

Good uncle, I beseech you, on my knees, I beseech you, what's the matter?

Pan.

Thou must be gone, wench, thou must be gone: thou art chang'd for Antenor; thou must go to thy father, and be gone from Troilus: 'twill be his death; 'twill be his bane; he cannot bear it.

Cre.
O you immortal Gods! I will not go.

Pan.
Thou must.

Cre.
I will not, uncle: I've forgot my father,
I know no touch of Consanguinity:
No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me,
As the sweet Troilus. O you Gods divine!
Make Cressid's name the very Crown of falshood,
If ever she leave Troilus. Time, Force, and Death,
Do to this body what extreams you can;
But the strong Base and Building of my Love
Is as the very centre of the earth,
Drawing all to it.—I'll go and weep,—

Pan.
Do, do.

Cre.
Tear my bright hair, and scratch my praised cheeks.
Crack my clear voice with sobs, and break my heart
With sounding Troilus. I'll not go from Troy.
[Exeunt. SCENE V. Before Pandarus's House. Enter Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Deiphobus, Antenor, and Diomedes.

Par.
It is great morning and the hour prefixt
Of her Delivery to this valiant Greek
Comes fast upon us: good my brother Troilus,

-- 447 --


Tell you the Lady what she is to do,
And haste her to the purpose.

Troi.
Walk into her house:
I'll bring her to the Grecian presently;
And to his hand when I deliver her,
Think it an altar, and thy brother Troilus
A priest, there offering to it his heart.

Par.
I know, what 'tis to love;
And 'would, as I shall pity, I could help!
Please you, walk in, my lords.
[Exeunt. SCENE VI. An Apartment in Pandarus's House. Enter Pandarus and Cressida.

Pan.
Be moderate, be moderate.

Cre.
Why tell you me of moderation?
The grief is fine, full, perfect that I taste,
And in its sense is no less strong, than That
Which causeth it. How can I moderate it?
If I could temporize with my affection,
Or brew it to a weak and colder palate,
The like allayment could I give my grief:
My love admits no qualifying dross: Enter Troilus.
No more my grief, in such a precious loss.

Pan.
Here, here, here he comes,—a, sweet duck!—

Cre.
O Troilus, Troilus!

Pan.
What a pair of spectacles is here! let me embrace too:
Oh heart, (as the goodly saying is;)

O heart, O heavy heart,
Why sigh'st thou without breaking?

-- 448 --


where he answers again;

Because thou can'st not ease thy smart,
By friendship, nor by speaking.

There was never a truer rhyme. &wlquo;Let us cast away nothing, for we may live to have need of such a verse; we see it, we see it. How now, lambs?&wrquo;

Troi.
Cressid, I love thee in so strange a purity,
That the blest Gods, as angry with my fancy,
(More bright in zeal than the devotion, which
Cold lips blow to their Deities) take thee from me.

Cre.
Have the Gods envy?

Pan.
Ay, ay, 'tis too plain a case.

Cre.
And is it true, that I must go from Troy?

Troi.
A hateful truth!

Cre.
What, and from Troilus too?

Troi.
From Troy, and Troilus.

Cre.
Is it possible?

Troi.
And suddenly: while injury of chance
Puts back leave-taking, justles roughly by
All time of pause, rudely beguiles our lips
Of all rejoyndure, forcibly prevents
Our lock'd embraces, strangles our dear vows,
Ev'n in the birth of our own labouring breath.
We two, that with so many thousand sighs
Each other bought, must poorly sell our selves
With the rude brevity and discharge of one.
Injurious Time now, with a robber's haste,
Crams his rich thiev'ry up, he knows not how.
As many farewels as be stars in heaven,
With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them,
He fumbles up all in one loose adieu;
And scants us with a single famish'd kiss,
Distasted with the salt of broken tears.

Æneas. [within.]
My lord, is the lady ready?

Troi.
Hark! you are call'd. Some say, the Genius so
Cries, come, to him that instantly must die.
Bid them have patience; she shall come anon.

-- 449 --

Pan.

Where are my tears? rain, to lay this wind, or my heart will be blown up by the root.

[Exit Pandarus.

Cre.
I must then to the Grecians?

Troi.
No remedy.

Cre.
A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks!
When shall we see again?

Troi.
Hear me, my love; be thou but true of heart—

Cre.
I true! how now? what wicked Deem is this?

Troi.
Nay; we must use expostulation kindly,
For it is parting from us:—
I speak not, be thou true, as fearing thee:
For I will throw my Glove to Death himself,
That there's no maculation in thy heart;
But, be thou true, say I, to fashion in
My sequent protestation: be thou true,
And I will see thee.

Cre.
O, you shall be expos'd, my lord, to dangers
As infinite, as imminent: but, I'll be true.

Troi.
And I'll grow friend with danger. Wear this sleeve.

Cre.
And you this glove. When shall I see you?

Troi.
I will corrupt the Grecian Centinels
To give thee nightly visitation.
But yet be true.

Cre.
O heav'ns! be true, again?

Troi.
Hear, why I speak it, love:
The Grecian youths are full of subtle qualities,
They're loving, well compos'd, with gifts of nature
Flowing, and swelling o'er with arts and exercise;
How novelties may move, and parts with person—
Alas, a kind of godly jealousie
(Which, I beseech you, call a virtuous sin)
Makes me afraid.

Cre.
O heav'ns, you love me not!

-- 450 --

Troi.
Die I a villain then!—
In this, I do not call your faith in question
So mainly as my merit: I cannot sing,
Nor heel the high Lavolt; nor sweeten talk;
Nor play at subtle games; fair virtues all,
To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant.
But I can tell, that in each grace of these
There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive Devil,
That tempts most cunningly: but be not tempted.

Cre.
Do you think, I will?

Troi.
No.
But something may be done, that we will not:
And sometimes we are devils to our selves,
When we will tempt the frailty of our powers,
Presuming on their changeful potency.

Æneas. [within.]
Nay, good my lord,—

Troi.
Come, kiss, and let us part.

Paris. [within.]
Brother Troilus,—

Troi.
Good brother, come you hither,
And bring Æneas and the Grecian with you.

Cre.
My lord, will You be true?

Troi.
Who I? alas, it is my Vice, my fault:
While others fish, with craft, for great opinion;
I, with great truth, catch meer simplicity.
While some with cunning gild their copper crowns,
With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare.
Fear not my truth; the moral of my wit
Is plain and true, there's all the reach of it.
SCENE VII. Enter Æneas, Paris, and Diomedes.


Welcome, Sir Diomede; here is the lady,
Whom for Antenor we deliver you.
At the Port (lord) I'll give her to thy hand,
And by the way possess thee what she is.
Entreat her fair; and by my soul, fair Greek,

-- 451 --


If e'er thou stand at mercy of my sword;
Name Cressid, and thy life shall be as safe
As Priam is in Ilion.

Dio.
Lady Cressid,
So please you, save the thanks this Prince expects:
The lustre in your eye, heav'n in your cheek,
Pleads you fair usage; and to Diomede
You shall be mistress, and command him wholly.

Troi.
Grecian, thou dost not use me courteously,
6 note


To shame the zeal of my petition towards thee,
By praising her. I tell thee, lord of Greece,
She is as far high-soaring o'er thy praises,
As thou unworthy to be call'd her servant.
I charge thee, use her well, even for my Charge:
For by the dreadful Pluto, if thou dost not,
(Tho' the great bulk Achilles be thy guard)
I'll cut thy throat.

Dio.
Oh, be not mov'd, prince Troilus.
Let me be privileg'd by my place and message,
To be a Speaker free. When I am hence,
I'll answer to my list: and know, my lord,
I'll nothing do on Charge; to her own worth
She shall be priz'd: but that you say, be't so;
I'll speak it in my spirit and honour—no.

Troi.
Come, to the Port—I'll tell thee, Diomede,
This Brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head.
Lady, give me your hand—and, as we walk,

-- 452 --


To our own selves bend we our needful talk. [Sound trumpet.

Par.
Hark, Hector's trumpet!

Æne.
How have we spent this morning?
The Prince must think me tardy and remiss,
That swore to ride before him in the field.

Par.
'Tis Troilus' fault. Come, come, to field with him.

Dio.
Let me make ready strait.

Æne.
Yea with a bridegroom's fresh alacrity
Let us address to tend on Hector's heels:
The Glory of our Troy doth this day lye
On his fair worth, and single chivalry.
[Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Changes to the Grecian Camp. Enter Ajax armed, Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroclus, Menelaus, Ulysses, Nestor, &c.

Aga.
Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair,
Anticipating time with starting courage.
Give with thy Trumpet a loud note to Troy,
Thou dreadful Ajax, that th' appalled air
May pierce the head of the great Combatant,
And hale him thither.

Ajax.
Trumpet, there's my purse;
Now crack thy lungs, and split thy brazen pipe:
Blow, villain, till thy sphered bias cheek
Out-swell the cholick of puft Aquilon:
Come, stretch thy chest, and let thy eyes spout blood:
Thou blow'st for Hector.

Ulyss.
No trumpet answers.

Achil.
'Tis but early day.

-- 453 --

Aga.
Is not yond' Diomede with Calchas' daughter?

Ulys.
'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gate;
He rises on his toe; that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.
Enter Diomede, with Cressida.

Aga.
Is this the lady Cressida?

Dio.
Ev'n she.

Aga.
Most dearly welcome to the Greeks, sweet lady.

Nest.
Our General doth salute you with a kiss.

Ulys.
Yet is the kindness but particular;
'Twere better, she were kiss'd in general.

Nest.
And very courtly counsel: I'll begin.
So much for Nestor.

Achil.
I'll take that winter from your lips, fair lady:
Achilles bids you welcome.

Men.
I had good argument for kissing once.

Patr.
But that's no argument for kissing now:
For thus pop'd Paris in his hardiment,
And parted, thus, you and your argument.

Ulys.
O deadly gall, and theme of all our scorns,
For which we lose our heads to gild his horns!

Patr.
The first was Menelaus' kiss—this mine—
Patroclus kisses you.

Men.
O, this is trim.

Patr.
Paris and I kiss evermore for him.

Men.
I'll have my kiss, Sir: lady, by your leave,—

Cre.
In kissing do you render or receive?

Patr.
Both take and give.

Cre.
I'll make my match to live,
The kiss you take is better than you give;
Therefore no kiss.—

Men.
I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.

Cre.
You are an odd man, give even, or give none.

Men.
An odd man, lady? every man is odd.

-- 454 --

Cre.
No, Paris is not; for you know, 'tis true,
That you are odd, and he is even with you.

Men.
You fillip me o' th' head.

Cre.
No, I'll be sworn.

Ulys.
It were no match, your nail against his horn:
May I, sweet lady, beg a kiss of you?

Cre.
You may.

Ulys.
I do desire it.

Cre.
Why, beg then.

Ulys.
Why then, for Venus' sake, give me a kiss,
When Helen is a maid again, and his—

Cre.
I am your debtor, claim it when 'tis due.

Ulys.
Never's my day, and then a kiss of you.

Nest.
A woman of quick sense!

Dio.
Lady, a word—I'll bring you to your Father.
[Diomede leads out Cressida.

Ulys.
Fie, fie upon her!
&plquo;There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip:
&plquo;Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out
&plquo;At every joint, 7 noteand motive of her body:
&plquo;Oh, these Encounterers! So glib of tongue,
&plquo;They give a Coasting welcome ere it comes;
&plquo;And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts
&plquo;To every ticklish reader: set them down
&plquo;For sluttish Spoils of Opportunity,
&plquo;And daughters of the Game.&prquo;
[Trumpet within. Enter Hector, Paris, Troilus, Æneas, Helenus, and Attendants.

All.
The Trojans' trumpet!

Aga.
Yonder comes the troop.

Æne.
Hail, all the State of Greece! what shall be done
To him that Victory commands? Or do you purpose,
A Victor shall be known? will you, the Knights
Shall to the edge of all extremity

-- 455 --


Pursue each other, or shall be divided
By any voice, or order of the field?
Hector bade ask.

Aga.
Which way would Hector have it?

Æne.
He cares not; he'll obey conditions.

Achil.
8 note'Tis done like Hector, but securely done,
A little proudly, and great deal misprizing
The Knight oppos'd.

Æne.
If not Achilles, Sir,
What is your name?

Achil.
If not Achilles, nothing.

Æne.
Therefore, Achilles; but whate'er, know this;
In the extremity of great and little
9 note



Valour and pride parcell themselves in Hector;
The one almost as infinite as all,
The other blank as nothing; weigh him well;
And That, which looks like pride, is courtesie.
This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood,
In love whereof, half Hector stays at home;
Half heart, half hand, half Hector, come to seek
This blended Knight, half Trojan and half Greek.

Achil.
A maiden-battle then? O, I perceive you.
Re-enter Diomede.

Aga.
Here is Sir Diomede: go, gentle Knight,
Stand by our Ajax; as you and lord Æneas

-- 456 --


Consent upon the order of the fight,
So be it; either to the uttermost,
Or else a breath. The Combatants being kin
Half stints their strife before their strokes begin.

Ulys.
They are oppos'd already.

Aga.
What Trojan is that same, that looks so heavy?

Ulys.
The youngest son of Priam, a true knight;
&wlquo;Not yet mature, yet matchless; firm of word;
&wlquo;Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue;
&wlquo;Not soon provok'd, nor, being provok'd, soon calm'd;
&wlquo;His heart and hand both open, and both free;
&wlquo;For what he has, he gives; what thinks, he shews;
&wlquo;Yet gives he not, 'till judgment guide his bounty;
&wlquo;Nor dignifies an impair thought with breath:&wrquo;
Manly as Hector, but more dangerous;
For Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes
To tender objects; but he in heat of action
Is more vindicative than jealous love.
They call him Troilus, and on him erect
A second hope, as fairly built as Hector.
Thus says Æneas, one that knows the youth
Ev'n to his inches; and with private soul,
Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me.
[Alarum. Hector and Ajax fight. SCENE IX.

Aga.
They are in action.

Nest.
Now, Ajax, hold thine own.

Troi.
Hector, thou sleep'st, awake thee.

Aga.
His blows are well dispos'd; there, Ajax.
[Trumpets cease.

Dio.
You must no more.

Æne.
Princes, enough, so please you.

-- 457 --

Ajax.
I am not warm yet, let us fight again.

Dio.
As Hector pleases.

Hect.
Why then, will I no more.
Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son;
A cousin-german to great Priam's seed:
The obligation of our blood forbids
A gory emulation 'twixt us twain.
Were thy commixion Greek and Trojan so,
That thou could'st say, this hand is Grecian all,
And this is Trojan; the sinews of this leg
All Greek, and this all Troy; my mother's blood
Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister
Bounds in my sire's: by Jove multipotent,
Thou should'st not bear from me a Greekish member,
Wherein my sword had not impressure made
Of our rank feud: But the just Gods gainsay,
That any drop thou borrow'st from thy mother,
My sacred aunt, should by my mortal sword
Be drain'd! Let me embrace thee, Ajax:
By him that thunders, thou hast lusty arms;
Hector would have them fall upon him thus.—
Cousin, all honour to thee!—

Ajax.
I thank thee, Hector!
Thou art too gentle, and too free a man:
I came to kill thee, cousin, and bear hence
A great addition earned in thy death.

Hect.
1 note










Not Neoptolemus's Sire irascible,

-- 458 --


(On whose bright crest, Fame, with her loud'st O yes,
Cries, this is he;) could promise to himself
A thought of added honour torn from Hector.

Æne.
There is expectance here from both the sides,
What further you will do.

Hect.
We'll answer it:
The issue is embracement: Ajax, farewel.

Ajax.
If I might in entreaties find success,
(As seld I have the chance) I would desire
My famous cousin to our Grecian tents.

-- 459 --

Dio.
'Tis Agamemnon's wish, and great Achilles
Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector.

Hect.
Æneas, call my brother Troilus to me:
And signifie this loving interview
To the expectors of our Trojan part:
Desire them home. Give me thy hand, my Cousin:
I will go eat with thee, and see your Knights.
Agamemnon and the rest of the Greeks come forward.

Ajax.
Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here.

Hect.
The worthiest of them tell me name by name;
But for Achilles, mine own searching eyes
Shall find him by his large and portly size.

Aga.
Worthy of arms! as welcome, as to one
That would be rid of such an enemy;
But that's no welcome: understand more clear,
What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks
And formless ruin of Oblivion.
But in this extant moment, faith and troth,
Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing,
Bids thee with most divine integrity,
From heart of very heart, great Hector, welcome.

Hect.
I thank thee, most imperious Agamemnon.

Aga.
My well-fam'd lord of Troy, no less to you.
[To Troilus.

Men.
Let me confirm my princely brother's Greeting,
You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither.

Hect.
Whom must we answer?

Æne.
The noble Menelaus.

Hect.
O—you, my lord—by Mars his gauntlet, thanks.
Mock not, that I affect th' untraded oath;
Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove;
She's well, but bade me not commend her to you.

Men.
Name her not now, Sir, she's a deadly theme.

-- 460 --

Hect.
O, pardon—I offend.

&plquo;Nest.
&plquo;I have, thou gallant Trojan, seen thee oft,
&plquo;Labouring for destiny, make cruel way
&plquo;Through ranks of Greekish youth; and I have seen thee,
&plquo;As hot as Perseus, spur thy Phrygian steed,
&plquo;Bravely despising forfeits and subduements,
&plquo;When thou hast hung thy advanc'd sword i'th' air,
&plquo;Not letting it decline on the declin'd:
&plquo;That I have said unto my standers-by,
&plquo;Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!&prquo;
And I have seen thee pause, and take thy breath,
When that a Ring of Greeks have hem'd thee in,
Like an Olympian wrestling. This I've seen:
But this thy countenance, still lock'd in steel,
I never saw 'till now. I knew thy Grandsire,
And once fought with him; he was a soldier good:
But by great Mars, the Captain of us all,
Never like thee. Let an old man embrace thee,
And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents.

Æne.
'Tis the old Nestor.

Hect.
Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle,
That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time:
Most reverend Nestor, I am glad to clasp thee.

Nest.
I would, my arms could match thee in contention,
As they contend with thee in courtesie.

Hect.
I would, they could.

Nest.
By this white beard, I'd fight with thee to morrow.
Well, welcome, welcome; I have seen the time—

Ulys.
I wonder now how yonder city stands,
When we have here the base and pillar by us.

Hect.
I know your favour, lord Ulysses, well.
Ah, Sir, there's many a Greek and Trojan dead,
Since first I saw your self and Diomede
In Ilion, on your Greekish embassie.

-- 461 --

Ulys.
Sir, I foretold you then what would ensue:
My prophesie is but half his journey yet;
For yonder walls, that pertly front your town,
Yond towers, whose wanton tops do buss the clouds,
Must kiss their own feet.

Hect.
I must not believe you:
There they stand yet; and, modestly I think,
The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost
A drop of Grecian blood; the end crowns all;
And that old common Arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.

Ulys.
So to him we leave it.
Most gentle, and most valiant Hector, welcome;
After the General, I beseech you next
To feast with me, and see me at my Tent.

Achil.
I shall forestal thee, lord Ulysses;—thou!
Now, Hector, I have fed mine eyes on thee;
I have with exact view perus'd thee, Hector,
And quoted joint by joint.

Hect.
Is this Achilles?

Achil.
I am Achilles.

Hect.
Stand fair, I pr'ythee, let me look on thee.

Achil.
Behold thy fill.

Hect.
Nay, I have done already.

Achil.
Thou art too brief. I will the second time,
As I would buy thee, view thee, limb by limb.

Hect.
O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er:
But there's more in me, than thou understand'st.
Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye?

Achil.
Tell me, you heav'ns, in which part of his body
Shall I destroy him? whether there, or there,
That I may give the local wound a name;
And make distinct the very breach, where-out
Hector's great spirit flew. Answer me, heav'ns!

Hect.
It would discredit the blest Gods, proud man,
To answer such a question: stand again.—

-- 462 --


Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly,
As to prenominate, in nice conjecture,
Where thou wilt hit me dead?

Achil.
I tell thee, yea.

Hect.
Wert thou the Oracle to tell me so,
I'd not believe thee: henceforth guard thee well,
For I'll not kill thee there, nor there, nor there;
But, by the forge that stythied Mars his helm,
I'll kill thee every where, yea, o'er and o'er.—
You wisest Grecians, pardon me this brag,
His insolence draws folly from my lips;
But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words,
Or may I never—

Ajax.
Do not chafe thee, cousin;
And you, Achilles, let these threats alone,
'Till accident or purpose bring you to't.
You may have ev'ry day enough of Hector,
If you have stomach. The general State, I fear,
Can scarce intreat you to be odd with him.

Hect.
I pray you, let us see you in the field:
We have had pelting wars since you refus'd
The Grecians' cause.

Achil.
Dost thou intreat me, Hector?
To morrow do I meet thee, fell as death;
To night, all friends.

Hect.
Thy hand upon that match.

Aga.
First, all you Peers of Greece, go to my Tent,
There in the full convive you; afterwards,
As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall
Concur together, severally intreat him
To taste your bounties: let the trumpets blow;
That this great soldier may his welcome know.
[Exeunt.

-- 463 --

SCENE X. Manent Troilus and Ulysses.

Troi.
My lord Ulysses, tell me, I beseech you,
In what place of the field doth Calchas keep?

Ulys.
At Menelaus' Tent, most princely Troilus;
There Diomede doth feast with him to night;
Who neither looks on heav'n, nor on the earth,
But gives all gaze and bent of am'rous view
On the fair Cressid.

Troi.
Shall I, sweet lord, be bound to thee so much,
After you part from Agamemnon's Tent,
To bring me thither?

Ulys.
You shall command me, Sir:
As gently tell me, of what honour was
This Cressida in Troy; had she no lover there,
That wails her absence?

Troi.
O Sir, to such as boasting shew their scars,
A mock is due. Will you walk on, my lord?
She was belov'd, she lov'd; she is, and doth:
But, still, sweet love is food for fortune's tooth.
[Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Before Achilles's Tent, in the Grecian Camp. Enter Achilles and Patroclus.

Achilles.
I'll heat his blood with Greekish wine to night,
Which with my scimitar I'll cool to morrow.
Patroclus, let us feast him to the height.

Patr.
Here comes Thersites.

-- 464 --

Enter Thersites.

Achil.
How now, thou core of envy?
Thou crusty batch of Nature, what's the news?

Ther.

Why, thou picture of what thou seem'st, and idol of ideot-worshippers, here's a letter for thee.

Achil.

From whence, fragment?

Ther.

Why, thou full dish of fool, from Troy.

Patr.

Who keeps the tent now?

Ther.

The surgeon's box, or the patient's wound.

Patr.

Well said, adversity; and what need these tricks?

Ther.

Pr'ythee, be silent, boy, I profit not by thy talk; thou art thought to be Achilles's male-varlet.

Patr.

Male-varlet, you rogue? what's that?

Ther.

Why, his masculine whore. Now the rotten diseases of the south, guts-griping, ruptures, catarrhs, loads o' gravel i'th' back, lethargies, cold palsies, raw eyes, dirt-rotten livers, wheezing lungs, bladders full of imposthume, sciatica's, lime-kilns i'th' palme, incurable bone-ach, and the rivell'd fee-simple of the tetter, take and take again such preposterous discoveries.

Patr.

Why, thou damnable box of envy, thou, what meanest thou to curse thus?

Ther.

Do I curse thee?

Patr.

Why, no, you ruinous butt, you whorson indistinguishable cur.

Ther.

No? why art thou then exasperate, thou idle immaterial skein of sley'd silk, thou green sarcenet flap for a sore eye, thou tassel of a prodigal's purse, thou? Ah, how the poor world is pester'd with such water-flies, diminutives of Nature.

Patr.

Out, gall!

Ther

Finch-egg!

Achil.
My sweet Patroclus, I am thwarted quite
From my great purpose in to morrow's battle:

-- 465 --


Here is a letter from Queen Hecuba,
1 noteA token from her daughter, my fair love,
Both taxing me, and gaging me to keep
An oath that I have sworn. I will not break it;
Fall Greek, fail fame, honour, or go, or stay,
My major vow lyes here; this I'll obey.
Come, come, Thersites, help to trim my tent,
This night in banqueting must all be spent.
Away, Patroclus. [Ex.

Ther.

With too much blood, and too little brain, these two may run mad: but if with too much brain, and too little blood, they do, I'll be a curer of madmen. Here's Agamemnon, an honest fellow enough, and one hat note loves quails, but he hath not so much brain as ear-wax; 2 note


and the goodly transformation of Jupiter there, his brother, the bull, the primitive statue, and obelisque memorial of cuckolds; a thrifty shooing-horn in a chain, hanging at his brother's leg;

-- 466 --

to what form, but that he is, should wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit, turn him? to an ass were nothing, he is both ass and ox; to an ox were nothing, he is both ox and ass; to be a dog, a mule, a cat, a fitchew, a toad, a lizard, an owl, a puttock, or a herring without a roe, I would not care: but to be Menelaus, I would conspire against Destiny. Ask me not what I would be, if I were not Thersites; for I care not, to be the lowse of a lazar, so I were not Menelaus


Hey-day, spirits and fires! SCENE II. Enter Hector, Troilus, Ajax, Agamemnon, Ulysses, Nestor, and Diomede, with lights.

Aga.
We go wrong, we go wrong.

Ajax.
No, yonder 'tis; there, where we see the light.

Hect.
I trouble you.

Ajax.
No, not a whit.
Enter Achilles.

Ulys.
Here comes himself to guide you.

Achil.
Welcome, brave Hector; welcome, Princes all.

Aga.
So, now fair Prince of Troy, I bid good night.
Ajax commands the Guard to tend on you.

Hect.
Thanks, and good night, to the Greeks' General.

Men.
Good night, my lord.

-- 467 --

Hect.
Good night, sweet lord Menelaus.

Ther.

Sweet draught—sweet, quoth a—sweet sink, sweet sewer.

Achil.
Good night, and welcome, both at once, to Those
That go or tarry.

Aga.
Good night.

Achil.
Old Nestor tarries, and you too, Diomede,
Keep Hector company an hour or two.

Dio.
I cannot, lord, I have important business,
The tide whereof is now; good night, great Hector.

Hect.
Give me your hand.

Ulys.
Follow his torch, he goes to Calchas' tent:
I'll keep you company.
[To Troilus.

Troi.
Sweet Sir, you honour me.

Hect.

And so, good night.

Achil.

Come, come, enter my tent.

[Exeunt.

Ther.

That same Diomede's a false-hearted rogue, a most unjust knave: I will no more trust him when he leers, than I will a serpent when he hisses: he will spend his mouth and promise, like Brabler the hound; but when he performs, astronomers foretel it, that it is prodigious, there will come some change: the Sun borrows of the Moon, when Diomede keeps his word. I will rather leave to see Hector, than not to dog him: they say, he keeps a Trojan drab, and uses the traitor Calchas his tent. I'll after—Nothing but letchery; all incontinent varlets.

[Exeunt. SCENE III. Changes to Calchas's Tent. Enter Diomede.

Dio.

What are you up here, ho? speak.

Cal.

Who calls?

Dio.

Diomede; Calchas I think; where's your daughter?

-- 468 --

Cal.

She comes to you.

Enter Troilus and Ulysses, after them Thersites.

Ulys.

Stand where the torch may not discover us.

Enter Cressida.

Troi.

Cressid come forth to him?

Dio.

How now, my charge?

Cre.

Now, my sweet guardian; hark, a word with you.

[Whispers.

Troi.

Yea, so familiar?

Ulys.

She will sing to any man at first sight.

Ther.

And any man may sing to her, if he can take her cliff. She's noted.

Dio.

Will you remember?

Cre.

Remember; yes.

Dio.

Nay, but do then; and let your mind be coupled with your words.

Troi.

What should she remember?

Ulys.

List,—

Cre.
Sweet honey Greek, tempt me no more to folly.

Ther.

Roguery—

Dio.

Nay, then—

Cre.

I'll tell you what.

Dio.
Pho! pho! come, tell a pin, you are a forsworn—

Cre.
In faith, I can't: what would you have me do?

Ther.
A jugling trick, to be secretly open.

Dio.
What did you swear you would bestow on me?

Cre.
I pr'ythee, do not hold me to mine oath;
Bid me do any thing but that, sweet Greek.

Dio.
Good night.

Troi.
Hold, patience—

Ulys.
How now, Trojan?

Cre.
Diomede,—

Dio.
No, no, good night: I'll be your fool no more.

-- 469 --

Troi.
Thy Better must.

Cre.
Hark, one word in your ear.

Troi.
O plague, and madness!

Ulys.
You are mov'd, Prince; let us depart, I pray you,
Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself
To wrathful terms: this place is dangerous;
The time right deadly: I beseech you, go.

Troi.
Behold, I pray you—

Ulys.
Good my lord, go off:
You fly to great distraction: come, my lord.

Troi.
I pr'ythee, stay.

Ulys.
You have not patience; come.

Troi.
I pray you, stay; by hell, and by hell's torments,
I will not speak a word.

Dio.
And so, good night.

Cre.
Nay, but you part in anger?

Troi.
Doth that grieve thee? O wither'd truth!

Ulys.
Why, how now, lord?

Troi.
By Jove, I will be patient.

Cre.
Guardian—why Greek

Dio.
Pho, pho, adieu! you palter.

Cre.
In faith I do not: come hither once again.

Ulys.
You shake, my lord, at something; will you go?
You will break out.

Troi.
She strokes his cheek.—

Ulys.
Come, come.

Troi.
Nay, stay; by Jove, I will not speak a word.
There is between my will and all offences
A guard of patience: stay a little while.

Ther.

How the devil luxury with his fat rump and potato finger tickles these together! fry, letchery, fry!—

Dio.

But will you then?

Cre.
In faith, I will, la; never trust me else.

-- 470 --

Dio.
Give me some token for the surety of it.

Cre.
I'll fetch you one.
[Exit.

Ulys.
You have sworn patience.

Troi.
Fear me not, sweet lord,
I will not be myself, nor have cognition
Of what I feel: I am all patience.
SCENE IV. Re-enter Cressida.

Ther.
Now the pledge; now, now, now.—

Cre.
Here, Diomede, keep this sleeve.

Troi.
O beauty! where's thy faith?

Ulys.
My lord,—

Troi.
I will be patient, outwardly, I will.

Cre.
You look upon that sleeve; behold it well:—
He lov'd me:—O false wench!—Give't me again.

Dio.
Whose was't?

Cre.
It is no matter, now I have't again.
I will not meet with you to morrow night:
I pr'ythee, Diomede, visit me no more.

Ther.
Now she sharpens: well said, whetstone.

Dio.
I shall have it.

Cre.
What, this?

Dio.
Ay, that.

Cre.
O, all ye Gods!—O pretty, pretty pledge;
Thy master now lyes thinking in his bed
Of thee and me, and sighs, and takes my glove,
And gives memorial dainty kisses to it:
As I kiss thee.— [Diomedes snatches the sleeve.
Nay, do not snatch it from me:
He, that takes that, must take my heart withal.

Dio.
I had your heart before, this follows it.

Troi.
I did swear patience.

Cre.
You shall not have it, Diomede: faith, you shall not:
I'll give you something else.

-- 471 --

Dio.
I will have this: whose was it?

Cre.
'Tis no matter.

Dio.
Come, tell me whose it was?

Cre.
'Twas one that lov'd me better than you will.
But, now you have it, take it.

Dio.
Whose was it?

Cre.
3 noteBy all Diana's waiting-women yonder,
And by herself, I will not tell you whose.

Dio.
To morrow will I wear it on my helm,
And grieve his spirit, that dares not challenge it.

Troi.
Wert thou the Devil, and wor'st it on thy horn,
It should be challeng'd.

Cre.
Well, well, 'tis done, 'tis past; and yet it is not—
I will not keep my word.

Dio.
Why then, farewel.
Thou never shalt mock Diomede again.

Cre.
You shall not go;—one cannot speak a word,
But it straight starts you.

Dio.

I do not like this fooling.

Ther.

Nor I, by Pluto: but that that likes not you, pleases me best.

Dio.
What, shall I come? the hour?

Cre.
Ay, come:—O Jove!—do, come:—
I shall be plagued,

Dio.
Farewel 'till then.
[Exit.

Cre.
Good night: I pr'ythee, come.
Troilus, farewel; one eye yet looks on thee,
But with my heart the other eye doth see.—
Ah, poor our sex! this fault in us I find,
The error of our eye directs our mind.
What error leads, must err: O then conclude,
Minds sway'd by eyes are full of turpitude.
[Exit.

-- 472 --

SCENE V.

Ther.
A proof of strength she could not publish more;
Unless she say, my mind is now turn'd whore,

Ulys.
All's done, my lord.

Troi.
It is.

Ulys.
Why stay we then?

Troi.
To make a recordation to my soul,
Of every syllable that here was spoke:
But if I tell how these two did co-act,
Shall I not lie in publishing a truth?
Sith yet there is a credence in my heart,
An esperance so obstinately strong,
That doth invert th' attest of eyes and ears;
As if those organs had deceptious functions,
Created only to calumniate.
Was Cressid here?

Ulys.
I cannot conjure, Trojan.

Troi.
She was not, sure.

Ulys.
Most sure, she was.

Troi.
Why, my negation hath no taste of madness.

Ulys.
Nor mine, my lord: Cressid was here but now.

Troi.
Let it not be believ'd, for woman-hood!
Think, we had mothers; do not give advantage
To stubborn criticks, apt, without a theme
For depravation, to square all the sex
By Cressid's rule. Rather think this not Cressid.

Ulys.
What hath she done, Prince, that can soil our mothers?

Troi.
Nothing at all, unless that this was she.

Ther.
Will he swagger himself out of his own eyes?

Troi.
This she? no, this is Diomede's Cressida.
If beauty have a soul, this is not she:
If souls guide vows, if vows are sanctimony,
If sanctimony be the Gods' delight,

-- 473 --


If there be rule in unity itself,
This is not she. O madness of discourse!
That cause sets up with and against thyself!
Bi-fold authority! 4 note

where reason can revolt
Without perdition, and loss assume all reason
Without revolt. This is, and is not, Cressid.
Within my soul there doth commence a fight
Of this strange nature, that a thing inseparate
Divides far wider than the sky and earth;
And yet the spacious breadth of this division
Admits no orifice for a point, as subtle
As slight Arachne's broken woof to enter.
Instance, O instance, strong as Pluto's gates!
Cressid is mine, tied with the bonds of heav'n;
Instance, O instance, strong as heav'n itself!
The bonds of heav'n are slip'd, dissolv'd and loos'd:
And with another knot five-finger-tied,
The fractions of her faith, orts of her love,
The fragments, scraps, the bits, and greasie reliques
Of her o'er-eaten faith, are bound to Diomede.

Ulys.
May worthy Troilus be half attach'd
With that which here his passion does express?

Troi.
Ay, Greek, and that shall be divulged well;
In characters, as red as Mars his heart
Inflam'd with Venus—ne'er did young man fancy
With so eternal, and so fix'd a soul—
Hark, Greek, as much as I do Cressid love,
So much by weight hate I her Diomede.
That sleeve is mine, that he'll bear in his helm:
Were it a cask compos'd by Vulcan's skill,
My sword should bite it: not the dreadful spout,
Which ship-men do the hurricano call,

-- 474 --


Constring'd in mass by the almighty Sun,
Shall dizzy with more clamour Neptune's ear
In his descent, than shall my prompted sword
Falling on Diomede.

Ther.
He'll tickle it for his concupy.

Troi.
O Cressid! O false Cressid! false, false, false!
Let all untruths stand by thy stained name,
And they'll seem glorious.

Ulys.
O, contain yourself:
Your passion draws ears hither.
Enter Æneas.

Æne.
I have been seeking you this hour, my lord,
Hector, by this, is arming him in Troy.
Ajax, your guard, stays to conduct you home.

Troi.
Have with you, Prince; my courteous lord, adieu.
Farewel, revolted fair: and, Diomede,
Stand fast, and wear a castle on thy head!

Ulys.
I'll bring you to the gates.

Troi.
Accept distracted thanks.
[Exeunt Troilus, Æneas, and Ulysses.

Ther.

'Would, I could meet that rogue Diomede, I would croak like a raven: I would bode, I would bode. Patroclus will give me any thing for the intelligence of this whore: the parrot will do no more for an almond, than he for a commodious drab: letchery, letchery, still wars and letchery, nothing else holds fashion. A burning devil take them!

[Exit.

-- 475 --

SCENE VI. Changes to the Palace of Troy. Enter Hector and Andromache.

And.
When was my lord so much ungently temper'd,
To stop his ears against admonishment?
Unarm, unarm, and do not fight to day.

Hect.
You train me to offend you; get you gone.
By all the everlasting Gods, I'll go.

And.
My dreams will, sure, prove ominous to day.

Hect.
No more, I say.
Enter Cassandra.

Cas.
Where is my brother Hector?

And.
Here, sister, arm'd, and bloody in intent
Consort with me in loud and dear petition;
Pursue we him on knees; for I have dreamt
Of bloody turbulence; and this whole night
Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter.

Cas.
O, 'tis true.

Hect.
Ho! bid my trumpet sound.

Cas.
No notes of sally, for the heav'ns, sweet brother.

Hect.
Be gone, I say: the Gods have heard me swear.

&wlquo;Cas.
&wlquo;The Gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows;
&wlquo;They are polluted offerings, more abhorr'd
&wlquo;Than spotted livers in the sacrifice.&wrquo;

And.
O! be perswaded, do not count it holy
To hurt by being just; it were as lawful
For us to count we give what's gain'd by thefts,
And rob in the behalf of charity.

Cas.
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow;
But vows to every purpose must not hold:
Unarm, sweet Hector.

-- 476 --

Hect.
Hold you still, I say;
Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate;
Life every man holds dear, but the brave man
Holds honour far more precious-dear than life. Enter Troilus.
How now, young man; mean'st thou to fight to day?

And.
Cassandra, call my father to perswade.
[Exit Cassandra.

Hect.
No, faith, young Troilus; doff thy harness, youth:
I am to day i' th' vein of chivalry:
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong,
And tempt not yet the brushes of the war.
Unarm thee, go; and doubt thou not, brave boy,
I'll stand, to day, for thee, and me, and Troy.

Troi.
Brother, you have a vice of mercy in you;
Which better fits a lion, than a man.

Hect.
What vice is that? good Troilus, chide me for it.

Troi.
6 note


When many times the caitiff Grecians fall,
Ev'n in the fan and wind of your fair sword,
You bid them rise, and live.

Hect.
O, 'tis fair play.

Troi.
Fools play, by Heaven, Hector.

Hect.
How now? how now?

Troi.
For love of all the Gods,
Let's leave the hermit Pity with our mothers;
And when we have our armour buckled on,
The venom'd vengeance ride upon our swords,
Spur them to rueful work, rein them from ruth.

-- 477 --

Hect.
Fie, savage, fie!

Troi.
Hector, thus 'tis in wars.

Hect.
Troilus, I would not have you fight to day.

Troilus.
Who should with-hold me?
Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars
Beckoning with fiery truncheon my retire;
Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees,
Their eyes o'er-galled 7 notewith recourse of tears;
Nor you, my brother, with your true sword drawn
Oppos'd to hinder me, should stop my way,
But by my ruin.
SCENE VII. Enter Priam and Cassandra.

Cas.
Lay hold upon him, Priam, hold him fast:
He is thy crutch; now if thou lose thy Stay,
Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee,
Fall all together.

Priam.
Hector, come, go back:
Thy wife hath dreamt; thy mother hath had visions;
Cassandra doth foresee; and I myself
Am, like a prophet, suddenly enrapt
To tell thee, that this day is ominous:
Therefore come back.

Hect.
Æneas is a-field,
And I do stand engag'd to many Greeks,
Ev'n in the faith of valour, to appear
This morning to them.

Priam.
But thou shalt not go.

Hect.
I must not break my faith:
You know me dutiful, therefore, dear Sir,
Let me not shame respect; but give me leave
To take that course by your consent and voice,
Which you do here forbid me, Royal Priam.

-- 478 --

Cas.
O, Priam, yield not to him.

And.
Do not, dear father.

Hect.
Andromache, I am offended with you.
Upon the love you bear me, get you in.
[Exit And.

Troi.
This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl
Makes all these bodements.

Cas.
O farewel, dear Hector:
Look, how thou diest; look, how thy eyes turn pale!
Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents!
Hark, how Troy roars; how Hecuba cries out;
How poor Andromache shrills her dolour forth!
Behold, distraction, frenzy and amazement,
Like witless anticks, one another meet,
And all cry, Hector, Hector's dead! O Hector!

Troi.
Away!—Away!—

Cas.
Farewel: yet, soft: Hector, I take my leave;
Thou do'st thyself and all our Troy deceive.
[Exit.

Hect.
You are amaz'd, my liege, at her exclaim:
Go in and cheer the town, we'll forth and fight;
Do deeds worth praise, and tell you them at night.

Priam.
Farewel: the Gods with safety stand about thee!
[Alarum.

Troi.
They're at it, hark: proud Diomede, believe,
I come to lose my arm, or win my sleeve.
SCENE VIII. Enter Pandarus.

Pan.

Do you hear, my lord, do you hear?

Troi.

What now?

Pan.

Here's a letter come from yond poor girl.

Troi.

Let me read.

Pan.

A whorson ptisick, a whorson rascally ptisick so troubles me; and the foolish fortune of this girl, and what one thing and what another, that I shall leave you one o' these days; and I have a rheum in mine eyes too, and such an ach in my bones that unless a man were

-- 479 --

curst, I cannot tell what to think on't. What says she, there?

Troi.
Words, words, meer words; no matter from the heart:
Th' effect doth operate another way. [Tearing the letter.
Go, wind to wind; there turn and change together:
My love with words and errors still she feeds;
But edifies another with her deeds.

Pan.
Why, but hear you—

Troi.
Hence, brothel-lacquey! ignominy and shame
Pursue thy life, and live ay with thy name!
[Exeunt. SCENE IX. Changes to the Field between Troy and the Camp. [Alarum.] Enter Thersites.

Ther.

Now they are clapper-clawing one another, I'll go look on: that dissembling abominable varlet, Diomede, has got that same scurvy, doating, foolish young knave's sleeve of Troy, there, in his helm: I would fain see them meet; that, that same young Trojan ass, that loves the whore there, might send that Greekish whore-master villain, with the sleeve, back to the dissembling luxurious drab, of a sleeveless Errant. O'th' other side, the policy of those crafty (a) note sneering rascals, that stale old mouse-eaten dry cheese Nestor, and that same dog-fox Ulysses, is not prov'd worth a black-berry.—They set me up in policy that mungril cur Ajax, against that dog of as bad a kind, Achilles. And now is the cur Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles, and will not arm to day: whereupon the Grecians begin to proclaim barbarism, and policy grows into an ill opinion.

-- 480 --

Enter Diomede and Troilus.

Soft—here comes sleeve, and t'other.

Troi.
Fly not; for should'st thou take the river Styx,
I would swim after.

Dio.
Thou dost miscall Retire:
I do not fly; but advantageous care
Withdrew me from the odds of multitude;
Have at thee!
[They go off, fighting.

Ther.

Hold thy whore, Grecian; now for thy whore, Trojan: now the sleeve, now the sleeve, now the sleeve!

SCENE X. Enter Hector.

Hect.
What art thou, Greek! art thou for Hector's match?
Art thou of blood and honour?

Ther.

No, no: I am a rascal; a scurvy railing knave; a very filthy rogue.

Hect.

I do believe thee—live.

[Exit.

Ther.

God o' mercy, that thou wilt believe me; but a plague break thy neck for frighting me! What's become of the wenching rogues? I think, they have swallowed one another. I would laugh at that miracle— yet, in a sort, letchery eats it self: I'll seek them.

[Exit. Enter Diomede and Servant.

Dio.
Go, go, my servant, take thou Troilus' horse,
Present the fair Steed to my lady Cressid:
Fellow, commend my service to her beauty:
Tell her, I have chastis'd the amorous Trojan,
And am her knight by proof.

Ser.
I go, my lord.

-- 481 --

SCENE XI. Enter Agamemnon.

Aga.
Renew, renew: the fierce Polydamas
Hath beat down Menon: 8 notebastard Margarelon
Hath Doreus prisoner,
And stands Colossus-wise, waving his beam
Upon the pashed coarses of the Kings,
Epistropus and Odius. Polyxenus is slain;
Amphimachus and Thoas deadly hurt;
Patroclus ta'en or slain, and Palamedes
Sore hurt and bruis'd; 9 note
the dreadful Sagittary
Appals our numbers: haste we, Diomede,
To reinforcement, or we perish all.
Enter Nestor.

Nest.
Go bear Patroclus' body to Achilles,
And bid the snail-pac'd Ajax arm for shame,
There are a thousand Hectors in the field:
Now, here he fights 1 noteon Galathe his horse,
And there lacks work; anon, he's there a-foot,
And there they fly or dye, like scaled shoals
Before the belching whale: then is he yonder,

-- 482 --


And there the strawy 2 note
Greeks, ripe for his edge,
Fall down before him, like the mower's swath;
Here, there, and ev'ry where, he leaves and takes;
Dexterity so obeying appetite,
That what he will, he does; and does so much,
That proof is call'd impossibility. Enter Ulysses.

Ulys.
Oh, courage, courage, Princes; great Achilles
Is arming, weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance;
Patroclus' wounds have rowz'd his drowsie blood,
Together with his mangled Myrmidons,
That noseless, handless, hackt and chipt, come to him,
Crying on Hector. Ajax has lost a friend,
And foams at mouth; and he is arm'd, and at it,
Roaring for Troilus, who hath done to day
Mad and fantastick execution;
Engaging and redeeming of himself,
With such a careless force, and forceless care,
As if that luck in very spite of cunning
Bad him win all.
SCENE XII. Enter Ajax.

Ajax.
Troilus, thou coward Troilus!
[Exit.

Dio.
Ay, there, there.

Nest.
So, so, we draw together.
[Exeunt. Enter Achilles.

Achil.
Where is this Hector?
Come, come, thou boy-killer, shew me thy face:
Know, what it is to meet Achilles angry.
Hector, where's Hector? I will none but Hector.
[Exit.

-- 483 --

Re-enter Ajax.

Ajax.
Troilus, thou coward Troilus, shew thy head!
Re-enter Diomede.

Dio.
Troilus, I say, where's Troilus?

Ajax.
What wouldst thou?

Dio.
I would correct him.

Ajax.
Were I the General, thou shouldst have my Office,
Ere that correction: Troilus, I say, what! Troilus?
Enter Troilus.

Troi.
Oh, traitor Diomede! turn thy false face, thou traitor,
And pay thy life, thou owest me for my horse.

Dio.
Ha, art thou there?

Ajax.
I'll fight with him alone: stand, Diomede.

Dio.
He is my prize, I will not look upon.

Troi.
Come both, you cogging Greeks, have at you both.
[Exeunt, fighting. Enter Hector.

Hect.
Yea, Troilus? O well fought! my youngest brother.
Enter Achilles.

Achil.
Now do I see thee; have at thee, Hector.

Hect.
Pause, if thou wilt.
[Fight.

Achil.
I do disdain thy courtesie, proud Trojan.
Be happy that my arms are out of use,
My Rest and Negligence befriend thee now,
But thou anon shalt hear of me again:
Till when, go seek thy fortune.

Hect.
Fare thee well;
I would have been much more a fresher man,
Had I expected thee. How now, my brother?

-- 484 --

Enter Troilus.

Troi.
Ajax hath ta'en Æneas; shall it be?
No, by the flame of yonder glorious heav'n,
He shall not carry him: I'll be taken too,
Or bring him off: Fate, hear me what I say;
I reck not, though thou end my life to day.
[Exit. Enter One in armour.

Hect.
Stand, stand, thou Greek, thou art a goodly mark:
No? wilt thou not? I like thy armour well,
I'll frush it, and unlock the rivets all,
But I'll be master of it; wilt thou not, beast, abide?
Why then, fly on, I'll hunt thee for thy hide.
[Exit. Enter Achilles with Myrmidons.

Achil.
Come here about me, you my Myrmidons.
Mark what I say, attend me where I wheel;
Strike not a stroke, but keep your selves in breath;
And when I have the bloody Hector found,
Empale him with your weapons round about:
In fellest manner execute your arms.
Follow me, Sirs, and my Proceeding eye:
It is decreed—Hector the great must die.
[Exeunt. SCENE XIII. Enter Thersites, Menelaus and Paris.

Ther.

The cuckold, and the cuckold-maker are at it: now bull, now dog; 'loo, Paris, 'loo; now my double-hen'd sparrow; 'loo, Paris, 'loo; the bull has the game: 'ware horns, ho.

[Exeunt Paris and Menelaus. Enter Bastard.

Bast.

Turn, slave, and fight.

Ther.

What art thou?

-- 485 --

Bast.

A bastard son of Priam's.

Ther.

I am a bastard too, I love bastards. I am a bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind, bastard in valour, in every thing illegitimate: one Bear will not bite another, and wherefore should one bastard? take heed, the quarrel's most ominous to us: If the son of a whore fight for a whore, he tempts judgment: farewel, bastard.

Bast.

The devil take thee, coward.

[Exeunt. SCENE XIV. Enter Hector.

Hect.
Most putrified core, so fair without!—
Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life.
Now is my day's work done; I'll take my breath:
Rest, sword, thou hast thy fill of blood and death.
Enter Achilles and his Myrmidons.

Achil.
Look, Hector, how the Sun begins to set;
How ugly Night comes breathing at his heels:
Ev'n with the veil and darkning of the Sun,
To close the day up, Hector's life is done.
[They fall upon Hector, and kill him.

Hect.
I am unarm'd, forego this vantage, Greek.

Achil.
3 noteStrike, fellows, strike, this is the man I seek.
So, Ilion, fall thou next. Now, Troy, sink down:
Here lies thy heart, thy sinews and thy bone.
On, Myrmidons, and cry you all amain,
Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.
Hark, a retreat upon our Grecian part.

Myr.
The Trojan trumpets sound the like, my lord.

Achil.
The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth;

-- 486 --


And, stickler-like, the armies separates.
My half-supt sword, that frankly would have fed,
Pleas'd with this dainty bit, thus goes to bed.
Come, tye his body to my horse's tail:
Along the field I will the Trojan trail. [Exeunt. [Sound retreat. Shout. Enter Agamemnon, Ajax, Menelaus, Nestor, Diomede, and the rest marching.

Aga.
Hark, hark, what shout is that?

Nest.
Peace, drums.

Sol.
Achilles! Achilles! Hector's slain! Achilles!

Dio.
The bruit is, Hector's slain, and by Achilles.

Ajax.
If it is so, yet bragless let it be:
Great Hector was as good a man as he.

Aga.
March hastily along; let one be sent
To pray Achilles see us at our Tent.
If in his death the Gods have us befriended,
Great Troy is ours, and our sharp wars are ended.
[Exeunt. SCENE XV. Enter Æneas, Paris, Antenor and Deiphobus.

Æne.
Stand, ho! yet are we masters of the field;
Never go home, here starve we out the night.
Enter Troilus.

Troi.
Hector is slain.

All.
Hector!—the Gods forbid!

Troi.
He's dead, and at the murtherer's horse's tail
In beastly sort dragg'd through the shameful field.
4 note


Frown on, you heav'ns, effect your rage with speed;

-- 487 --


Sit, Gods, upon your Thrones, and smite at Troy,
I say, at once. Let your brief plagues be mercy,
And linger not our sure destructions on.

Æne.
My lord, you do discomfort all the Host.

Troi.
You understand me not, that tell me so:
I do not speak of flight, of fear, of death,
But dare all imminence, that Gods and men
Address their dangers in. Hector is gone!
Who shall tell Priam so? or Hecuba?
Let him, that will a scrietch-owl ay be call'd,
Go into Troy, and say there, Hector's dead:
That is a word will Priam turn to stone;
5 note


Make welling Niobes of the maids and wives;
Cold statues of the youth; and, in a word,
Scare Troy out of it self. But march away,
Hector is dead: there is no more to say.
Stay yet, you vile abominable Tents,
Thus proudly pight upon our Phrygian plains:
Let Titan rise as early as he dare,
I'll through and through you. And thou, great-siz'd coward!
No space of earth shall sunder our two hates;
I'll haunt thee, like a wicked conscience still,
That mouldeth Goblins swift as Frenzy's thoughts.
Strike a free March to Troy! with comfort go:
Hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe. Enter Pandarus.

Pan.
But hear you, hear you?

-- 488 --

Troi.
Hence, brothel-lacquey; ignominy, shame [Strikes him.
Pursue thy life, and live ay with thy name!
[Exeunt.

Pan.

A goodly med'cine for my aking bones! Oh world! world! world! thus is the poor agent despis'd: Oh, traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set at work, and how ill requited? why should our endeavour be so lov'd, and the performance so loath'd? what verse for it? what instance for it?—let me see—


Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing,
'Till he hath lost his honey and his sting;
But being once subdu'd in armed tail,
Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail.
Good traders in the flesh, set this in your painted cloths—
As many as be here of Pandar's Hall,
Your eyes, half out, weep out at Pandar's Fall;
Or if you cannot weep, yet give some groans,
Though not for me, yet for your aking bones.
Brethren and sisters of the hold-door trade,
Some two months hence my will shall here be made:
It should be now; but that my fear is this,
6 noteSome galled goose of Winchester would hiss;
'Till then, I'll sweat, and seek about for eases;
And at that time bequeath you my diseases. [Exit. Volume back matter The End of the Seventh Volume.

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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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