To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fallen in this offence.

Bel. Pr'ythee, 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 fhall 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 woo hard, but be your groom.-In honefty I bid for you, as I'd buy.

Arv. I'll make't my comfort,

-Moft welcome!

He is a man; I'll love him as my brother :-
And fuch a welcome as I'd give to him,
After long abfence, fuch is yours :-
Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.
Imo. 'Mongft friends!

If brothers?

they

Would it had been so, that

Had been my father's fons! then had my prize
Been lefs; and fo more equal ballafting
To thee, Pofthumus.

Bel. He wrings at fome diftrefs.
Guid. 'Would I could free't!

Arv. Or I; whate'er it be,

What pain it coft, what danger! Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

[Afide

[Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,

That did attend themselves, and had the virtue
Which their own confcience feal'd them (laying by
That nothing gift of differing multitudes),
Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods!
I'd change my fex to be companion with them,

Since Leonatus falfe

Bel. It fhall be fo:

Boys, we'll go drefs our hunt.-Fair youth, come in;
Difcourfe is heavy, fafting; when we have fupp'd,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak it.

Guid. Pray, draw near.

Arv. The night to the owl, and morn to the lark, lefs welcome,

Imo. Thanks, fir.

Arv. I pray, draw near.

SCENE VII. Rome.

[Exeunt,

Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.

I Sen. This is the tenor of the emperor's writ
That fince 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 wars against
The fallen-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this business: He creates
Lucius pro-conful: and to you the tribunes,
For this immediate levy, he commands
His abfolute commiffion. Long live Cæfar!
Tri. Is Lucius general of the forces?
2 Sen. Ay.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?

I Sen. With thofe legions

Which I have fpoke of, whereunto your levy

Must be fuppliant: The words of your commiffion

Will tie you to the numbers, and the time

Of their difpatch.

Tri. We will discharge our duty.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. The foreft, near the cave.

Enter CLOTEN.

Cloten.

I AM near to the place where they should meet, if Pifanio have mapp'd it truly. How fit his garments ferve me! Why fhould his miftrefs, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather (faving reverence of the word) for, 'tis faid, a woman's fitnefs comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myfelf (for it is not vain-glory, for a man and his glafs to confer; in his own chamber, I mean) the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no lefs young, more ftrong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike converfant in general fervices, and more remarkable in fingle oppofitions: yet this imperfeverant thing loves him in my defpight. What mortality is! Pofthumus, thy head, which is now growing upon thy fhoulders, fhall within this hour be off; thy miftrefs enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face and all this done, fpurn her home to her father, who may, haply, be a little angry for my fo rough ufage: but my mother, having power of his teftinefs, fhall turn all into my commendations. My horfe is ty'd up fafe: Out, fword, and to a fore purpofe! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very defcription of their meeting-place; and the fellow dares not deceive me. [Exit. SCENE

G

SCENE II. The cave.

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, and IMOGEN.

Bel. You are not well: remain here in the cave;

We'll come to you

after hunting.

Arv. Brother, ftay here:

Are we not brothers?

Imo. So man and man should be;

But clay and clay differs in dignity,

[To IMOGEN.

Whofe duft is both alike. I am very fick.
Guid. Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him.
Imo. So fick I am not; yet I am not well :
But not citizen a wanton, as

To feem to die, ere fick: So pleafe you, leave me ;
Stick to your journal courfe: the breach of custom
Is breach of all, I am ill; but your being by me
Cannot amend me: Society is no comfort

To one not fociable: I am not very fick,
Since I can reafon of it. Pray you, truft me here:
I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing fo poorly.

Guid. I love thee; I have fpoke it:

How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my. father.

Bel. What? how? how?

Arv. If it be fin to fay fo, fir, I yoke me In my good brother's fault: I know not why I love this youth; and I have heard you fay, Love's reafon's without reafon: the bier at door, And a demand who is't fhall die, I'd fay,

My father, not this youth.

Bel. O noble strain !

O worthiness

O worthiness of nature! breed of greatnefs!
Cowards father cowards, and base things fire base :
Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt, and grace.
I am not their father; yet who this fhould be,
Doth miracle itself, lov'd before me.
Tis the ninth hour o' the morn.
Arv. Brother, farewel.

Imo. I wifh ye fport.

Arv. You health. So pleafe you, fir.
Imo. [Afide.] These are kind creatures. Gods,

what lies I have heard!

Our courtiers fay, all's favage, but at court:
Experience, O, thou difprov'ft report!

The imperious feas breed monfters; for the dish,
Poor tributary rivers as fweet fish.

I am fick ftill; heart-fick :

I'll now tafte of thy drug.

Guid. I could not ftir him:

-Pifanio,

He faid, he was gentle, but unfortunate;
Difhoneftly afflicted, but yet honeft.

Arv. Thus did he answer me: yet faid, hereafter

I might know more.

Bel. To the field, to the 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.

Ime. Well, or ill,

I am bound to you.

Bel. And fhalt be ever.

[Exit IMOGEN.

This youth, howe'er diftrefs'd, appears, he hath had

Good ancestors.

Arv. How angel-like he fings!

Guid. But his neat cookery!