Imo.

Peace, my lord! hear, hear! It was my instant death. By accident, Post. Shall's have a play of this? Thou scornful I had a feigned letter of my master's page,

Then in my pocket, which directed him
There lie thy part. [Striking her : she falls. To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;
Pis.
O, gentlemen ! help

Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments
Mine, and your mistress.-0, my lord Posthumus ! Which he inforc'd from me, away he posts
You ne'er kill'd Imogen till now.-Help, help! With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
Mine honor'd lady!

My lady's honor: what became of him,
Сут.

Does the world go round? I farther know not. Post. How come these a staggers on me ?

Gui.

Let me end the story. Pis.

Wake, my mistress! I slew him there. Cym. If this be so, the gods do mean to strike me Cym.

Murry, the gods forefend! To death with mortal joy.

I would not thy good deeds should from my lips Pis.

How fares my mistress? Pluck a hard sentence: pr’ythee, valiant youth, Imo. O! get thee from my sight;

Deny't again. Thou gav'st me poison : dangerous fellow, hence!

Gui.

I have spoke it, and I did it. Breathe not where princes are.

Cym. He was a prince. Cym.

The tune of Imogen! Gui. A most uncivil one. The wrongs he did me Pis. Lady,

Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
The gods throw stones of sulphur on me, if With language that would make me spurn the sea,
That box I gave you was not thought by me If it could so roar to me. I cut off's head;
A precious thing: I had it from the queen. And am right glad, he is not standing here
Cym. New matter still ?

To tell this tale of mine.
Imo.
It poison'd me.

Сут.

I am sorry for thee: Cor.

O gods! By thine own longue thou art condemn'd, and must I left out one thing which the queen confess'd, Endure our law. Thou art dead. Which must approve thee honest; if Pisanio

Imo.

That headless man Have, said she, given his mistress that confection I thought had been my lord. Which I gave him for a cordial, she is serv'd

Cym.

Bind the offender,
As I would serve a rat.

And take him from our presence.
Сут.
What's this, Cornelius ? Bel.

Stay, sir king.
Cor. The queen, sir, very oft importun'd me This is better than the man he slew,
To temper poisons for her; still pretending As well descended as thyself; and hath
The satisfaction of her knowledge, only

More of thee merited, than a band of Clotens
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs

Had ever scar for.--Lel his arms alone; Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose

[To the Guard. Was of more danger, did compound for her They were not born for bondage. A certain stuff, which, being ta'en, would cease Сут.

Why, old soldier,
The present power of life; but, in short time, Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for,
All offices of nature should again

By tasting of our wrath ? How of descent
Do their due functions.-Have you ta'en of it? As good as we?
Imo. Most like I did, for I was dead.

Aru.

In that he spake too far. Bel.

My boys, Cym. And thou shalt die fort. There was our error.

Bel.

We will die all three; Gui.

This is, sure, Fidele. [you? But I will prove that two on's are as good
Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady from As I have given out him.-My sons, I must
Think, that you are upon a rock ; and now For mine own part unfold a dangerous speech,
Throw me again. [Embracing PostHUMUS. Though, haply, well for you.
Post.
Hang there like fruit, my soul, Aro.

Your danger's ours.
Till the tree die !

Gui. And our good his.
Cym.
How now! my flesh, my child ? Bel.

Have at it, then, by leave. What ! mak'st thou me a dullard in this act ? Thou had'st, great king, a subject, who was call'd Wilt thou not speak to me!

Belarius. Imo.

Your blessing, sir, Cym. What of him ? he is

[Kneeling. A banish'd traitor. Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame ye Bel.

He it is that hath You had a motive for't.

[not; Assum'd this age; indeed, a banish'd man; [ To GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS. I know not how, a traitor. Cym. My tears that fall,

Cym.

Take him hence. Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,

The whole world shall not save him. Thy mother's dead.

Bel.

Not too hot: Imo.

I am sorry for't, my lord. First pay me for the nursing of thy sons ; Cym. O! she was naught; and 'long of her it And let it be confiscate all, so soon was,

As I have receiv'd it. That we meet here so strangely: but her son

Сут.

Nursing of my sons ? Is gone, we know not how, nor where.

Běl. I am too blunt, and saucy; here's my knee: Pis.

My lord, Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons;
Now fear is from me, I'll speak troth. Lord Cloten, Then, spare not the old father. Mighty sir,
Upon my lady's missing, came to me [swore, These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, and And think they are my sons, are none of mine:
If I discover'd not which way she was gone, They are the issue of your loins, my liege,

16 These staggers," i. e., this madness.--" To tomper," 1 e., to compound; to mix

" Forefend," 1 e., forbid.

Luc.

And blood of your begetting.

And your three motives to the battle, with Сут.

How! my issue? I know not how much more, should be demanded, Bel. So sure as you your father's. 1, old Morgan, And all the other by-dependencies, Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd: From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor place, Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punishment Will serve our long inter'gatories. See, Itself, and all my treason ; that I suffer'd

Posthumus anchors upon Imogen; Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye (For such, and so they are) these twenty years On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting Have 1 train'd up; those arts they have, as I Each object with a joy : the counterchange Could put into them: my breeding was, sir, as Is severally in all. Let's quit this ground, Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile, And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children Thou art my brother : so we'll hold thee ever. Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;

[To BELARIUS. Having receiv'd the punishment before,

Imo. You are my father, too; and did relieve me, For that which I did then : beaten for loyalty To see this gracious season. Excited me to treason. Their dear loss,

Cym.

All o'erjoy'd,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd Save these in bonds : let them be joyful too,
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir, For they shall taste our comfort.
Here are your sons again; and I must lose

Imo.

My good master, Two of the sweet'st companions in the world. I will get do you service. The benediction of these covering heavens

Happy be yon ! Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought, To inlay heaven with stars.

He would have well become this place, and grac'd Сут. .

Thou weep'st, and speak'st. The thankings of a king. The service, that you three have done, is more Post.

I am, sir, a Unlike than this thou tell'st. I lost my children: The soldier that did company these three If these be they, I know not how to wish

In poor beseeming : 'twas a fitment for A pair of worthier sons.

The purpose I then follow d.—That I was he, Bel.

Be pleas'd a while. Speak, Iachimo: I had you down, and might This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,

Have made you finish. Most worthy prince, as your's is true Guiderius : lach.

I am down again ; [Kneeling. This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,

But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
Your younger princely son: he, sir, was lapp'd As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,
In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand Which I so often owe; but your ring first,
Of his queen mother, which, for more probation, And here the bracelet of the truest princess
I can with ease produce.

That ever gwore her faith.
Cym.
Guiderius had

Post.

Kneel not to me: Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star:

The power that I have on you is to spare you; It was a mark of wonder.

The malice towards you to forgive you. Live, Bel. This is he,

And deal with others better. Who hath upon him still that natural stamp.

Сут. .

Nobly doom'd. It was wise nature's end in the donation,

We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law :
To be his evidence now.

Pardon's the word to all.
Сут. .
O! what am I

You holp us, sir,
A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother As you did mean indeed to be our brother;
Rejoic'd deliverance more.--Bless'd pray you be, Joy'd are we, that you are.

[Rome, That after this strange starting from your orbs, Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my lord of You may reign in them now.- Imogen!

Call forth your soothsayer. As I slept, methought, Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.

Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd, Imo.

No, my lord; Appear'd to me, with other spritely fshows
I have got two worlds by't.—O, my gentle brothers ! of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
Have we thus met? O! never say hereafter, This label on my bosom ; whose containing
But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother, Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
When I was but your sister ; I you brothers, Make no collection of it: let him show
When you were so indeed.

His skill in the construction.
Сут. .
Did you e'er meet? Luc.

Philarmonus!
Ary. Ay, my good lord.

Sooth. Here, my good lord. [Coming forward. Gui. And at first meeting lov'd; Luc.

Read, and declare the meaning. Continued so, until we thought he died.

Sooth. [Reads.] “When as a lion's whelp shall, Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd. to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be Cym.

O rare instinct ! embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from When shall I hear all through? This ' fierce abridg. a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which being Hath to it circumstantial branches, which [ment dead many years shall after revive, be jointed to the Distinction should be rich din.-Where? how lira old stock, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus you ?

end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish And when came you to serve our Roman captive? in peace and plenty." How parted with your brothers ? how first met them? Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; Why fled you from the court, and whither? These, The fit and apt construction of thy name,

Aro.

. " More unlike," i. e., more unlikely, incredible." For more probation," i. e., for further proof. "Fierce," i. e., vehement; rapid._." Which distinction should be rich in," i. e., which ought to be rendered distinct by an ample nar. rative.

." Your three motives," i. e., the motives of you three.{"Spritely shows," i. e., groups of sprites; ghostly apprar. ances.- ** Whose containing," i. e., the contents of which. _h" Make no collection of it," i. e., draw no conclusion from

Being Leo-natus, doth import so much.

Whom heavens, in justice, both on her and hers The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, Have laid most heavy hand.

[To CYMBELINE. Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune Which we call mollis aer; and mollis aer

The harmony of this peace. The vision,
We term it mulier: which mulier, I divine, Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke
Is this most constant wife; who, even now,

Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Answering the letter of the oracle,

Is full accomplish'd; for the Roman eagle, Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp'd about From south to west on wing soaring aloft, With this most tender air.

Lessen'd herself, and in the beams of the sun Сут.

This hath some seeming. So vanishd: which foreshow'd our princely eagle, Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Th' imperial Cæsar, should again unite Personates thee; and thy lopp'd branches point His favor with the radiant Cymbeline, Thy two sons forth ; who, by Belarius stolen, Which shines here in the west. For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd, Cym.

Laud we the gods; To the majestic cedar join'd, whose issue

And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils Promises Britain peace and plenty.

From our bless'd altars. Publish we this peace Cym.

Well, To all our subjects. Set we forward. Let My peace we will begin. And, Caius Lucius, A Roman and a British ensign wave Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar,

Friendly together; so through Lud's town march, And to the Roman empire; promising

And in the temple of great Jupiter To pay our wonted tribute, from the which

Our peace we'li ratify; seal it with feasts.We were dissuaded by our wicked queen;

Set on there !-Never was a war did cease,

Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a peace. ." Clipp'd about," i. e., embraced.

[Ezent.

ANTIOCHUS, King of Antioch.

Marshal. Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

A Pander, and his Wife. HELICANUS, two Lords of Tyre.

Boult, their Servant.
ESCANES,

GOWER, as Chorus.
SIMONIDES, King of Pentapolis.
CLEON, Governor of Tharsus.

The Daughter of Antiochus.
LYSIMACHUS, Governor of Mitylene.

DIONYZA, Wife to Cleon. CERIMON, a Lord of Ephesus.

THAISA, Daughter to Simonides. THALIARD, a Lord of Antioch.

MARINA, Daughter to Pericles and Thaisa. PHILEMON, Servant to Cerimon.

LYCHORIDA, Nurse to Marina.
LEONINE, Servant to Dionyza.

Diana.
Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, Sailors, Pirates, Fishermen, Messengers, &c.

SCENE, dispersedly in various Countries.

ACT I.

Enter a GOWER.
Before the Palace of Antioch.
To sing a song that old was sung,
From ashes ancient Gower is come;
Assuming man's infirmities,
To glad your ear, and please your eyes.
It hath been sung at festivals,
On ember-eves, and holy ales,
And lords and ladies in their lives
Have read it for restoratives :
The purpose is to make men glorious;
Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.
If you, born in these latter times,

When wit's more ripe, accept my rhymes,

Chorus, in the character of Gower, an old English poet, who has related the story of this play in his Confessio Amantis.- "Old," i. e., of old.— "Ales," i. e., Whitsun. ales.

And that to hear an old man sing,
May to your wishes pleasure bring,
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you, like taper-light-
This Antioch, then : Antiochus the great
Built up this city for his chiefest seat,
The fairest in all Syria ;
I tell you what my authors say:
This king unto him took a d feere,
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
With whom the father liking look,
And her to incest did provoke.
Bad child, worse father, to entice his own
To evil, should be done by none.
By custom what they did begin
Was with long use 'account no sin.

• "A feere," i, e., a mate or companion – "Full of face," i. e., exceedingly beautiful. - Account for accountech

The beauty of this sinful dame

Who know the world, see heaven, but feeling woe, Made many princes thither * frame,

Gripe not at earthly joys, as erst they did: To seek her os a bed-fellow,

So, I bequeath a happy peace to you, In marriage pleasures play-fellow:

And all good men, as every prince should do: Which to prevent he made a law,

My riches to the earth from whence they came, To keep her b still and men in awe,

But my unspotted fire of love to you. That whoso ask'd her for his wife,

[To the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. His riddle told not, lost his life :

Thus, ready for the way of life or death, So, for her many a wight did die,

I wait the sharpest blow. As yond' grim looks do e testify.

Ant. Scorning advice, read the conclusion, then ; What now ensues, to the judgment of your eye which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, I give, my cause who best can justify. [Exit. As these before thee, thou thyself shalt bleed.

Daugh. Of all, 'say'd yet, may'st thou prove prosSCENE I.-Antioch. A Room in the Palace. of all, 'say'd yet, I wisli thee happiness. (perous !

Per. Like a bold champion, I assume the lists, Enter AntiochUS, PERICLES, and Attendants. Nor ask advice of any other thought Ant. Young prince of Tyre, you have at large But faithfulness, and courage. The danger of the task you undertake. [receiv'd

THE RIDDLE. Per. I have, Antiochus, and with a soul

I am no viper, yet I feed Embolden'd with the glory of her praise,

On mother's flesh, tohich did me breed; Think death no hazard in this enterprise. [Music

I sought a husband, in which laber, Ant. Bring in our daughter, clothed like a bride,

I found that kindness in a father : For the embracements even of Jove himself;

He's father, son, and husband mild, At whose conception, (till Lucina reign'd)

I mother, wife, and yet his child.
Nature this dowry gave, to glad her presence,

How they may be, and yet in two,
The senate-house of planets all did sit,
To knit in her their best perfections.

As you will live, resolve it you

Sharp physic is the last : but, O! you powers, Enter the Daughter of ANTIOCHUS. That give heaven countless eyes to view men's acts, Per. See, where she comes, apparell'd like the Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, spring,

If this be true, which makes me pale to read it! Graces her subjects, and her thoughts the king Fair glass of light, I lov'd you, and could still

, Of every virtue gives renown to men !

Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill ; Her face, the book of 4 praises, where is read But I must tell

you,-now, my thoughts revolt

, Nothing but curious pleasures, as from thence For he's no man on whom perfections & wait, Sorrow were ever ras'd, and testy wrath

That, knowing sin within, will touch the gate. Could never be her mild e companion.

You're a fair viol, and your sense the strings, Ye gods, that made me man, and sway in love, Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music, [en; That have inflam'd desire in my breast,

Would draw heaven down and all the gods to hearkTo taste the fruit of yon celestial tree,

But being play'd upon before your time, Or die in the adventure, be my helps,

Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime. As I am son and servant to your will,

Good sooth, I cure not for you. To compass 'such a boundless happiness!

Ant. Prince Pericles, touch not, upon thy life, Ant. Prince Pericles,

For that's an article within our law, Per. That would be son to great Antiochus. As dangerous as the rest. Your time's expir'd:

Ant. Before thee stands this fair Hesperides, Either expound now, or receive your sentence. With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touch'd; Per. Great king, For death-like dragons here affright thee hard : Few love to hear the sins they love to act ; Her face, like heaven, enticeth thee to view 'Twould 'braid yourself too near for me to tell it. Her countless glory, which desert must gain; Who has a book of all that monarchs do, And which, without desert, because thine eye He's more secure to keep it shut, than shown; Presumes to reach, all thy whole heap must die. For vice repeated is like the wandering wind, Yond sometime famous princes, like thyself, Blows dust in others' eyes, to spread itself; Drawn by report, adventurous by desire,

And yet the end of all is bought thus dear, Tell thee with speechless tongues and

semblance pale, The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear: That, without covering, save yond' field of stars, To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole They here stand martyrs, slain in Cupid's wars ;

casts And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist, Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is For 'going on death's net, whom none resist By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die Per. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught

for't. My frail mortality to know itself,

Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's their will, And by those fearful objects to prepare

And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doch ill? This body, like to them, to what I must :

It is enough you know; and it is fit, For death remember'd should be like a mirror, What being more known grows worse, to smother it. Who tells us, life's but breath ; to trust it, error. All love the womb that their first beings bred, I'll make my will, then; and as sick men do, Then, give my tongue like leave to love my head.

Ant. [Aside.] Heaven, that I had thy head! le . -b

has found the menning: koep her stili,” i. e, to keep her still to himself

, --- Point

. But I will 'gloze with him. [To him.] Young prisce ing to the scene of the palace gate at Antioch, on which the Though by che tenor of our strict edict, heads of those unfortunate wights were fixed: - The Your exposition misinterpreting, book of praises," i. e., the book where may be read all that is praiseworthy." Her mild companion," i, e., the companion of her mildness.--" For going," i. e., for fear of going.

& That is, 'no perfect or honest man.'_" Copy'd," 1 e. conical. "Gloze," i, e., tlatter; insinante,

(tbrong'd

[of Tøre

,