But end it by some means for Innogen.
Enter two Captains and Soldiers
FIRST CAPTAIN Great Jupiter be praised, Lucius is taken.
’Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.
SECOND CAPTAIN There was a fourth man, in a silly habit92,
That gave th’affront93 with them.
FIRST CAPTAIN So ’tis reported:
But none of ’em can be found. Stand, who’s there?
POSTHUMUS A Roman,
Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds97
Had answered him.98
SECOND CAPTAIN Lay hands on him: a dog,
A leg of Rome shall not return100 to tell
What crows have pecked them here: he brags his service
As if he were of note102: bring him to th’king.
Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio and Roman Captives [with Jailers]. The Captains present Posthumus to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a Jailer
[Exeunt all but Posthumus and two Jailers]
FIRST JAILER You shall not now be stol’n, you have locks upon you103;
So graze as you find pasture.
SECOND JAILER Ay, or a stomach.105
[Exeunt Jailers]
POSTHUMUS 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 perpetuity109 than be cured
By th’sure physician, death, who is the key
T’unbar111 these locks. My conscience, thou art fettered
More than my shanks112 and wrists: you good gods give me
The penitent instrument to pick that bolt113,
Then free for ever.114 Is’t enough I am sorry?
So children temporal115 fathers do appease;
Gods are more full of mercy. Must I116 repent,
I cannot do it better than in gyves117,
Desired more than constrained: to satisfy118,
If of my freedom ’tis the main part119, take
No stricter render120 of me than my all.
I know you are more clement than vile men121,
Who of their broken debtors122 take a third,
A sixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement124: that’s not my desire.
For Innogen’s dear life take mine, and though
’Tis not so dear, yet ’tis a life; you coined126 it.
’Tween man and man they weigh not every stamp127:
Though light, take pieces for the figure’s sake.128
You rather mine, being yours129: and so, great powers,
If you will take this audit130, take this life,
And cancel these cold bonds.131 O Innogen,
I’ll speak to thee in silence.
Sleeps
Solemn music. 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 music before them. Then, after other music, follows the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Posthumus round as he lies sleeping
SICILIUS No more, thou thunder-master133, show
Thy spite on mortal flies134:
With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,
That136 thy adulteries
Rates137 and revenges.
Hath my poor boy done aught138 but well,
Whose face I never saw?
I died whilst in the womb he stayed
Attending nature’s law141,
Whose father then — as men report
Thou orphans’ father art —
Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him
From this earth-vexing smart.145
MOTHER Lucina146 lent not me her aid,
But took me in my throes147,
That from me was Posthumus ripped148,
Came crying ’mongst his foes,
A thing of pity.
SICILIUS Great nature, like his ancestry,
Moulded the stuff152 so fair,
That he deserved the praise o’th’world,
As great Sicilius’ heir.
FIRST BROTHER When once he was mature for man155,
In Britain where was he
That could stand up his parallel,
Or fruitful158 object be
In eye of Innogen, that best
Could deem his dignity?160
MOTHER With marriage wherefore161 was he mocked,
To be exiled, and thrown
From Leonati seat163, and cast
From her his dearest one,
Sweet Innogen?
SICILIUS Why did you suffer166 Iachimo,
Slight167 thing of Italy,
To taint168 his nobler heart and brain
With needless jealousy,
And to become the geck170 and scorn
O’th’other’s villainy?
SECOND BROTHER For this from stiller seats172 we came,
Our parents and us twain,
That striking in our country’s cause
Fell bravely and were slain,
Our fealty and Tenantius’ right176
With honour to maintain.
FIRST BROTHER Like hardiment178 Posthumus hath
To Cymbeline performed:
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
Why hast thou thus adjourned181
The graces182 for his merits due,
Being all to dolours183 turned?
SICILIUS Thy crystal window ope184, look out,
No longer exercise
Upon a valiant race186 thy harsh
And potent injuries.
MOTHER Since, Jupiter, our son is good,
Take off his miseries.
SICILIUS Peep through thy marble mansion190, help,
Or we poor ghosts will cry
To th’shining synod of the rest192
Against thy deity.
BROTHERS Help, Jupiter, or we appeal194,
And from thy justice fly.
Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle: he throws a thunderbolt. The Ghosts fall on their knees
JUPITER No more you petty spirits of region low196
Offend our hearing: hush! How dare you ghosts
Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know,
Sky-planted199, batters all rebelling coasts?
Poor shadows of Elysium200, hence, and rest
Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.
Be not with mortal accidents202 oppressed,
No care of yours it is, you know ’tis ours.
Whom best I love, I cross, to make my gift
The more delayed, delighted.205 Be content,
Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift:
His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.207
Our jovial star208 reigned at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married. Rise, and fade.
He shall be lord of Lady Innogen,
And happier much by his affliction made.
This tablet212 lay upon his breast, wherein
Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine.213
And so away: no further with your din
Express impatience, lest you stir up mine.
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline.
Ascends
SICILIUS He came in thunder, his celestial breath
Was sulphurous218 to smell: the holy eagle
Stooped as to foot us219: his ascension is
More sweet220 than our blest fields: his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing and claws his beak221
As when222 his god is pleased.
ALL
Thanks, Jupiter.
SICILIUS The marble pavement224 closes, he is entered
His radiant roof. Away, and to be blest,
Let us with care perform his great behest.226
[The Ghosts] vanish
Wakes
POSTHUMUS Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot
A father to me: and thou hast created
A mother and two brothers. But, O scorn229,
Gone! They went hence so230 soon as they were born:
And so I am awake. Poor wretches that depend
On greatness’ favour232 dream as I have done,
Wake and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve233:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve234,
And yet are steeped in favours; so am I,
That have this golden chance and know not why.
What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O rare237 one,
Be not, as is our fangled238 world, a garment
Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects239
So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,
As good as promise.241
Reads
‘Whenas a lion’s whelp242 shall, to himself unknown, without
seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air243: and
when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which
being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed245 to the
old stock246, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his
miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and
plenty.’
’Tis still a dream, or else such stuff249 as madmen
Tongue, and brain not: either both250 or nothing,
Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie. Be what it is,
The action of my life is like it, which253 I’ll keep,
If but for sympathy.
Enter Jailer
JAILER Come, sir, are you ready for death?
POSTHUMUS Over-roasted rather: ready long ago.
JAILER Hanging is the word, sir: if you be ready for that,
you are well cooked.
POSTHUMUS So, if I prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish259
pays the shot.260
JAILER A heavy reckoning261 for you, sir. But the comfort is
you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more
tavern-bills, which are as 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 are paid266 too much: purse and
brain both empty: the brain the heavier for being too light267,
the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness. Of268 this
contradiction you shall now be quit.269 O, the charity of a
penny cord! It sums up thousands in a trice270: you have no true
debitor and creditor271 but it: of what’s past, is, and to come, the
discharge: your neck, sir, is pen, book and counters272; so the
acquittance273 follows.
POSTHUMUS I am merrier to die than thou art to live.
FIRST JAILER Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the toothache: 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 officer277:
for look you, sir, you know not which way you shall go.
POSTHUMUS Yes indeed do I, fellow.
FIRST JAILER Your death280 has eyes in’s head then: I have not seen
him so pictured281: you must either be directed by some that
take upon them282 to know, or to take upon yourself that which
I am sure you do not know, or jump the after-inquiry283 on your
own peril: and how you shall speed284 in your journey’s end, I
think you’ll never return to tell on.285
POSTHUMUS I tell thee, fellow, there are none want286 eyes to direct
them the way I am going, but such as wink287 and will not use
them.
FIRST JAILER What an infinite mock289 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.291
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER Knock off his manacles, bring your prisoner to the
king.
POSTHUMUS Thou bring’st good news, I am called to be made
free.
FIRST JAILER I’ll be hanged then.
POSTHUMUS Thou shalt be then freer than a jailer: no bolts297 for
the dead.
[Exeunt Posthumus and Messenger]
FIRST JAILER Unless a man would marry a gallows and beget
young gibbets, I never saw one so prone300: yet on my
conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all301 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 desolation304 of
jailers and gallowses! I speak against my present profit305, but
my wish hath a preferment306 in’t.
Exit
Act 5 Scene 4
running scene 18 continues
Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio and Lords
CYMBELINE Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made
Preservers of my throne: woe is my heart
That the poor soldier that so richly3 fought,
Whose rags shamed gilded arms, whose naked4 breast
Stepped before targes of proof5, cannot be found:
He shall be happy that can find him, if
Our grace7 can make him so.
BELARIUS I never saw
Such noble fury in so poor a thing,
Such precious deeds in one that promised nought
But beggary and poor looks.
PISANIO He hath been searched13 among the dead and living,
But no trace of him.
CYMBELINE To my grief, I am
To Belarius and his sons
The heir of his reward16,— which I will add
To you, the liver, heart and brain17 of Britain,
By whom I grant18 she lives. ’Tis now the time
To ask of whence you are.19 Report it.
BELARIUS Sir,
In Cambria are21 we born, and gentlemen:
Further to boast were neither true nor modest,
Unless I add we are honest.
CYMBELINE Bow your knees:
They kneel
Arise my knights o’th’battle25, I create you
Companions to our person, and will fit26 you
With dignities becoming your estates.27
They rise
Enter Cornelius and Ladies
There’s business28 in these faces: why so sadly
Greet you our victory? You look like Romans,
And not o’th’court of Britain.
CORNELIUS Hail, great king!
To sour your happiness, I must report
The queen is dead.
CYMBELINE Who worse than a physician
Would this report become? But I consider
By med’cine life may be prolonged, yet death
Will seize the doctor too. How ended she?
CORNELIUS With horror, madly dying, like her life,
Which, being cruel to the world, concluded
Most cruel to herself. What she confessed
&nb
sp; I will report, so please you. These her women
Can trip me42 if I err, who with wet cheeks
Were present when she finished.
CYMBELINE Prithee, say.
CORNELIUS First, she confessed she never loved you, only
Affected greatness got by46 you, not you:
Married your royalty, was wife to your place,
Abhorred your person.
CYMBELINE She alone knew this;
And, but50 she spoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening51 it. Proceed.
CORNELIUS Your daughter, whom she bore in hand52 to love
With such integrity, she did confess
Was as a scorpion to her sight, whose life,
But that her flight prevented it, she had55
Ta’en off by poison.
CYMBELINE O most delicate57 fiend!
Who is’t can read a woman? Is there more?
CORNELIUS More, sir, and worse. She did confess she had
For you a mortal mineral60, which being took,
Should by the minute61 feed on life, and, ling’ring,
By inches waste you. In which time, she purposed62
By watching, weeping, tendance63, kissing, to
O’ercome you with her show64; and in time,
When she had fitted65 you with her craft, to work
Her son into th’adoption of the crown66:
But, failing of her end67 by his strange absence,
Grew shameless-desperate, opened68, in despite
Of heaven and men, her purposes, repented
The evils she hatched were not effected: so
Despairing died.
CYMBELINE Heard you all this, her women?
LADY We did, so please your highness.
CYMBELINE Mine eyes
Were not in fault, for she was beautiful,
Mine ears76, that heard her flattery, nor my heart,
That thought her like her seeming. It had been vicious77
To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter,
That it was folly in me thou mayst say,
And prove it in thy feeling.80 Heaven mend all!
Enter Lucius, Iachimo, [the Soothsayer] and other Roman prisoners, [Posthumus] Leonatus behind, and Innogen
Thou com’st not, Caius, now for tribute. That
The Britons have razed out82, though with the loss
Of many a bold one: whose kinsmen have made suit83
That their84 good souls may be appeased with slaughter
Of you their captives, which ourself have granted,
So think of your estate.86