2 Gent.

And why so?

I Gent. He that hath mìss'd the princess, is a

thing

Too bad for bad repòrt: and he that hàth her,
(I mean, that married 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 bùt him. As to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,—her own price
Proclaims how shè esteem'd him and his virtue ;
By her election may be truly read,

What kind of man he is.

2 Gent. I honour him even out of your report. Is she sòle child to th' king?

1 Gent.

His only child. He had two sons, the eldest at three years,

I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery Were stol'n and to this hour, some twenty years, No guess which way they went.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd !

So slackly guarded!

I Gent.

Yet is it true, sir.

2 Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

I do well believe you.

I Gent. We must forbear: Here come the gen

tleman.

The queen, and princess.

[Exeunt.

The same.

Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen.

O, be assur'd, you shall not find me,
daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-eyed unto you.-For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win th' offended king,
I will be known your advocate: but yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence.

Imo. Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!--My dearest husband,

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.

[Weeps.

My queen! my mistress! O lady, weep no more! lest I give cause

To be suspected of more tenderness

Than doth becòme a man! I will remain
The loyal'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

Know but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Imo. Adieu!-Nay, stay a little: 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 seal up my embracements from a next

With bonds of death!-Remain, remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring. While sense can keep it 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

Upon this fairest prisoner.

;

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. Ah, the king!

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my
sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou dièst: Away!
Thou'rt poison to my blood.

That might'st have had the sole son of my queen ! Imo. O blest, that I might not. I chose an eàgle! Cym. Thou took'st a bèggar; would'st have made my throne

A seat for baseness.

Imo.

A lustre to the throne.

Cym.

No; I rather added

What!-art thou mad?

Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me!

Cym.

Re-enter Queen.

They were again together: you have done

Not after our command.

Queen.

Thou foolish thing!

[To the Queen.

'Beseech your patience :—

Leave us t' ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort

Out of your best advice.

Cym.

A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Die of this folly!

Queen.

Nay, let her languish

[Exit.

Enter PISANIO.

Fie! Here is your servant;

Your faithful servant : I dare lay mine honour,
He will remain so.

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness.

[Exit Queen.

Imo. What was the last that he spake to thee?

Pis. 'Twas, His queen, his queen!

Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?

Pis.

And kiss'd it, madam.

Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!—

And that was all?

Pis. No, madam; for so long

As he could mark me with his eye, or I
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 soùl sail'd on,
How swift his shìp.

Imo.

Thou should'st have made him ev❜n

As little as a crow, or less, ere left.

To after-eye him.

Pis.

Madam, so I did.

Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd

them, but

To look upon him; till the diminution

From space had pointed him sharp as my needle:
Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from

The smallness of a gnat to àir; and then
Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good Pisanio,
When shall we hear from him?

Pis.

With his next vantage.

Be assur'd, madam,

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him How I would think on him at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear The shes of Italy should not betray

Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him, At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, T'encounter me with orisons, for then

I am in heaven for him: or ere I could

Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father,
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north,
Shakes all our buds from growing.—

Those things I bid you do, get them despatch'd.
I must attend the queen.

Pis.

Madam, I shall. [Exeunt.