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Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;
Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear
For we intend so to dispose you, as [queen;
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep:
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
Cleo. My master, and my lord!
Cas.
Not so.
Adieu.
2[Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, and his Train.

5 Re-enter CHARMIAN. Show me, my women, like a queen :-go fetch My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus, To meet Mark Antony.-Sirrah, Iras, go.Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed; And, when thou hast done this 'chare, I'll give thee leave

To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all. Wherefore's this noise? [Exit IRAS. A noise within. Enter one of the Guard.

Guard. Here is a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' presence: He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in.-How poor an instrument [Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: now from head to foot

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that II am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine.

should not

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Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing in a Basket.
Guard.
This is the man.
Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard
Hast thou the pretty hworm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly I have him; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: those that do die of it do sellom

or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't! Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie, as a wo man should not do but in the way of honesty, how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt.Truly, she makes very good report o' the wom; but he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is most fallible, the worm's an adder-worm.

Cleo. Get thee hence: farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the Baske. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his 'kind.

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm.

Cleo. Take thou no care: it shall be heeded. Clown. Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

Cleo. Will it eat me?

Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but Į know the devil himself will not eat a woman:! know, that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not; but, truly, these same whoresen devils do the gods great harm in their women, tor in every ten that they make, the devils mar1nine. Cleo. Well, get thee gone: farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the wor

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Re-enter IRAS, with a Robe, Crown, &c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me. Now, no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip*Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear Antony call: I see him rouse himself

"This chare," i. e., this chore-g" Fleeting," ie, t constant; changeable Worm was used formerly to siz a serpent. Will do his kind," i. e., will act aceording his nature."Yare, yare," i. e., be nimble; be ready.

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come :
Now to that name my courage prove my title.
I am fire, and air; my other elements
I give to baser life.-So,-have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian :-Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. IRAS falls, and dies.
Have I the aspick in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

[say, Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may The gods themselves do weep.

Cleo.

This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, [She applies the Asp to her Breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O! could'st thou speak, That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass b Unpolicied!

Char.

Cleo.

O eastern star

Peace, peace!

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?

Char.

O, break! O, break!
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle.
O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too.-
[Applying another Asp to her Arm.
Why should I stay-
3[Falls, and dies.
Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well.-
Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld

Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play-

Enter the Guard, rushing in.
1 Guard. Where is the queen?
Char.

Speak softly; wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent

Char. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the Asp. O! come; apace; despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil'd. [him. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: call 1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done?

"Intrinsicate," i. e., entangled; perplexed.-b" Unpolicied," i. e., impolitic, to leave the means of death within my reach.

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All dead.

Dol. How goes it here?

2 Guard. Dol.

[Dies.

Cæsar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming
To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou
So sought'st to hinder.

Within. A way there! a way for Cæsar!
Enter CESAR, and all his Train.
Dol. O, sir! you are too sure an augurer:
That you did fear, is done.
Cæs.

Bravest at the last:
She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way.-The manner of their deaths?
I do not see them bleed.
Dol.

Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman that brought her This was his basket. [figs: Cæs. O Cæsar!

1 Guard.

Poison'd, then.

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake.
I found her trimming up the diadem

On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.

Cæs.

O noble weakness!

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Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed, And bear her women from the monument. She shall be buried by her Antony: No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, No less in pity, than his glory, which And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see In solemn show, attend this funeral, High order in this great solemnity.

[Exeunt.

"She levell'd at," i. e., she conjectured.—4" Of grace," i. e., of graceful appearance." A vent," i. e., an emission; a flow. Blown," i, e., swelled; puffed.-Pursu'd conclusions," i. e., tried experiments." Clip," i. e., enfold.

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Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Ge tleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, sometimes in Britain, sometimes in Italy.

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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 looks, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowl 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 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

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2 Gent.

His father

What's his name, and birth?
1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root.
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honor
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' the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father,

Then old and fond of's issue, took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus ;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber,
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In 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 youngest, to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: for 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.

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2 Gent.

I do well believe you.

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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 QUEEN.

Imo. O dissembling courtesy! 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 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 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.

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To walk this way. I never do him wrong, But he does buy my injuries to be friends, Pays dear for foffences.

my

[Exit.
Post.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!
Imo. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love:
But keep it till you woo another wife,
This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart:
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 While sense can keep it on. And sweetest, fairest, [Putting on the Ring. 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:

1 Gent. We must forbear. Here comes the gen-It is a manacle of love; I'll place it tleman, the queen, and princess. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The Same.

Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your jailor 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 speak him far." i. e., you praise him extensively. That is, My praise, however extensive, is short of his merit. Tenantius, the father of Cymbeline.- "That feated them," i. e., that formed their manners,

Upon this fairest prisoner.

Imo.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. O, the gods!

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.

When shall we see again?

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 diest. Away,!
Thou'rt poison to my blood.

That is, I say I do not fear my father, so far as I may say so without breach of duty. That is, 'He by new kindness, in order to renew our amity, pays, as it were, for the injuries I have done him.-"Sear up," i. e., enclose in cere-cloth, in which the dead are wrapped. — “While sense can keep it on," i. e., while I have sensation to retain it."See," i. e., see each other. “ Fraught,” i. e., fill.

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That should'st repair my youth, thou heapest A year's age on me.

Imo.

I beseech you, sir, Harm not yourself with your vexation;

I am senseless of your wrath: a touch more rare Subdues all pangs, all fears.

grace.

Cym. Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past [queen. Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my Imo. Obless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle, And did avoid a puttock. [my throne Cym. Thou took'st a beggar would have made A seat for baseness.

Imo.

A lustre to it.

Сут.

Imo.

с

No; I rather added

O thou vile one!

Sir,

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I am very glad on't.

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: for this time, leave me. [Exeunt.

SCENE III-A Public Place,

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 wholesome as that you vent. Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift itHave I hurt him?

2 Lord. [Aside.] No, faith; not so much as his patience.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. [Aside.] His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. [Aside.] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own; but he added to your having, gave you some ground.

2 Lord. [Aside.] As many inches as you have oceans.-Puppies!

Clo. I would they had not come between us. 2 Lord. [Aside.] So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. [Aside.] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. [Aside.] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her.

Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. [Aside.] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship.

Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. 2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Ezen

SCENE IV.-A Room in CYMBELINE's Palace.

Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO,

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o' the haven,

Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his And question'dst every sail: if he should write,

part.

To draw upon an exile!—O brave sir!—

I would they were in Afric 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 honor,
He will remain so.

"Repair," i. e., renovate. -b"A touch more rare," i. e., a more exquisite feeling.-"A puttock," i. e., a kite, Advice here means consideration, reflection.

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