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    Cymbeline

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      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.

      CYMBELINE    No tidings of him?

      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

     


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