woman

Search for a jewel, that too casually Hath left mine arm; it was thy master's: 'shrew me,

If I would lose it for a revenue

Of any king's in Europe. I do think,
I saw't this morning: confident I am,
Last night 'twas on my arm; I kiss'd it:
I hope, it be not gone, to tell my lord
That I kiss aught but he.

Pis. "Twill not be lost.

Imo. I hope so: go, and search. [Exit PIs. Clo. You have abus'd me :

His meanest garment?

Imo. Ay; I said so, Sir.

If you will make't an action, call witness to't.
Clo. I will inform your father.
Imo. Your mother too:

She's my good lady; and will conceive, I hope,
But the worst of me. So I leave you, Sir,
To the worst of discontent.

Clo. I'll be reveng'd:

His meanest garment?-Well,

[Exit.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.--Rome.-An Apartment in PHILARIO'S House.

Enter POSTHUMUS and PHILARIO.

Post. Fear it not, Sir; I would, I were so

sure

To win the king, as I am bold, her honour
Will remain hers.

Phi. What means do you make to him?
Post. Not any; but abide the change of
time;

Quake in the present winter's state, and wish That warmer days would come: In these fear'd hopes,

I barely gratify your love; they failing,
I must die much your debtor.

Phi. Your very goodness, and your company, 'erpays all I can do. By this, your king Hath heard of great Augustus: Caius Lucius Will do his commission throughly: and, I think,

He'll grant the tribute, send the arrearages, Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance Is yet fresh in their grief.

Post. I do believe,

Is one the fairest that I have look'd upon. Post. And, therewithal, the best; or let her beauty

Look through a casement to allure false hearts,

And be false with them.

Iach. Here are letters for you.

Post. Their tenour good, I trust.

Iach. "Tis very like.

Post. This is true;

And this you might have heard of here, by me, Or by some other.

Iach. More particulars
Must justify my knowledge.
Or do your honour injury.
Post. So they must,

Is south the chamber; and the chimney-piece,
Iach. The chimney
Chaste Dian, bathing: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves: the cutter
Was as another nature, dumb; outwent her,
Motion and breath left out.

Post. This is a thing,

Which you might from relation likewise reap;
Being, as it is, much spoke of.
[rons*

With golden cherubims is fretted: Her andi-
(I had forgot them,) were two winking Cupids
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely
Depending on their brands.+
Post. This is her honour!-

Iach. The roof o'the chamber

When you were there?

Iach. He was expected then,

But not approach'd.

Post. All is well yet.―

Sparkles this stone as it was wont? or is't not Too dull for your good wearing?

Iuch. If I have lost it,

I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I'll make a journey twice as far to enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness, which
Was mine in Britain; for the ring is won.

Post. The stone's too hard to come by.
lach. Not a whit,

Your lady being so easy.

Post. Make not, Sir,

Your loss your sport: I hope, you know that

Must not continue friends.

Iach. Good Sir, we must,

[we

If you keep covenant: Had I not brought
The knowledge of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question further: but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring; and not the wronger
Of her, or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.

Post. If you can make't apparent
That you have tasted her in bed. my hand
And ring, is yours: If not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honour, gains, or loses,
Your sword, or mine; or masterless leaves both

To who shall find them.

Jach. Sir, my circumstances,

Being so near the truth, as I will make them, Must first induce you to believe: whose strength

I will confirm with oath; which, I doubt not, You'll give me leave to spare, when you shall [find

You need it not.

Post. Proceed.

lach. First, her bed-chamber, (Where, I confess, I slept not; but, profess, Had that was well worth watching,) It was hang'd

With tapestry of silk and silver? the story
Proud Cleopatra, when she met her Roman,
And Cydnus swell'd above the banks, or for
The press of boats, or pride: A piece of work
So bravely done, so rich, that it did strive
In workmanship, and value; which I won-
der'd,

Could be so rarely and exactly wrought,
Since the true life on't was-

To those who try them.

praise

[tion

Be given to your remembrance,) the descrip-
Of what is in her chamber, nothing saves
The wager you have laid.
Iuch. Then if you can,

[Pulling out the Bracelet. Be pale; I beg but leave to air this jewel:

See!

And now 'tis up again: It must be married To that your diamond; I'll keep them.

Post. Jove!

Once more let me behold it: Is it that
Which I left with her?

Iach. Sir, (I thank her,) that:

She stripp'd it from her arm; I see her yet;
Her pretty action did outsell her gift,
And yet enrich'd it too: She gave it me, and
She priz'd it once.

Post. May be, she pluck'd it off,

To send it me.

[said,

And take your ring again; 'tis not yet won
Phi. Have patience, Sir,
It may be probable, she lost it; or,
who knows if one of her women, being cor-
[rupted,
ring-
And so, I hope, he came by't:-Back my
Render to me some corporal sign about her,
More evident than this; for this was stolen.
Iach. By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
Post. Hark
you, he swears; by Jupiter he
[sure,
'Tis true-nay, keep the ring-'tis true: I am
She would not lose it: her attendants are
All sworn and honourable:-They induc'd to
And by a stranger?—No, he hath enjoy'd her:
steal it!
The cognizance of her incontinency

Hath stolen it from her.
Post. Very true;

swears.

* Ornamented iron bars which support wood burned in chimneys. + Torches in the hands of Cupids, The badge, the token.

thus dearly.

There, take thy hire: and all the fiends of hell Divide themselves between you!

Phi. Sir, be patient:

This is not strong enough to be believ'd
Of one persuaded well of-

Post. Never talk on't;
She hath been colted by him.
Iach. If you seek

For further satisfying, under her breast
(Worthy the pressing,) lies a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging: By my life,
I kiss'd it; and it gave me present hunger
To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain upon her?

Post. Ay, and it doth confirm

Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.

lach. Will you hear more?

Post. Spare your arithmetic: never count the Once, and a million!

Iach. I'll be sworn, Post. No swearing.

[turns;

If you will swear you have not done't, you lie;
And I will kill thee, if thou dost deny
Thou hast made me cuckold.

Iach. I will deny nothing.

Post. O, that I had her here, to tear her limbmeal!

I will go there, and do't; i'the court; before Her father:-I'll do something—

Phi. Quite besides

[Exit.

The government of patience!-You have won: Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath He hath against himself.

Iuch. With all my heart. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same.-Another Room in the

same.

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Post. Is there no way for men to be, but

women

Must be half-workers? We are bastards all;
And that most venerable man, which I
Did call my father, was I know not where
When I was stamp'd; some coiner with his
tools

Made me a counterfeit: Yet my mother seem'd
The Dian of that time: so doth my wife
The nonpareil of this.-O vengeance, ven-
geance!

Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd,
And pray'd me, oft, forbearance: did it with
A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on't
Might well have warm'd old Saturn; that I
thought her
[devils!

As chaste as unsunn'd snow:-O, all the This yellow Iachimo, in an hour,-was't not?Or less, at first: Perchance he spoke not; but,

out

Like a full-acorn'd boar, a German one,
Cried, oh! and mounted: found no opposition
But what he look'd for should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I find
[tion
The woman's part in me! For there's no mo-
That tends to vice in man, but I affirm
It is the woman's part: Be it lying, note it,
The woman's; flattering, hers; deceiving,
hers;
[dain,
Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, dis-
Nice longings, slanders, mutability, [knows,
All faults that may be nam'd, nay, that hell
Why hers in part, or all; but, rather, all:
* Modesty.

They are not constant, but are changing still
One vice, but of a minute old, for one
Not half so old as that. I'll write against
them,

Detest them, curse them:-Yet 'tis greater skill
In a true hate, to pray they have their will:
The very devils cannot plague them better.
[Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Britain.-A Room of State in CYMBELINE'S Palace.

Enter CYMBELINE, QUEEN, CLOTEN, and LORDS, at one Door; and at another, CAIUS LUCIUS, and Attendants.

Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cesar with us?

Luc. When Julius Cesar (whose remembrance yet [tongues, Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and Be theme, and hearing ever,) was in this Britain,

And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle, (Famous in Cesar's praises, no whit less Than in his feats deserving it,) for him, And his succession, granted Rome a tribute, Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee Is left untender'd. [lately

Queen. And, to kill the marvel, Shall be so ever.

Clo. There be many Cesars,
Ere such another Julius. Britain is
A world by itself; and we will nothing pay,
For wearing our own noses.

Which then they had to take from us, to re-
Queen. That opportunity,
[sume
We have again.-Remember, Sir, my liege,
The kings your ancestors; together with
The natural bravery of your isle; which stands
As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in
With rocks unscaleable, and roaring waters;
With sands, that will not bear your enemies'
[conquest

boats,

But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of Cesar made here; but made not here his brag Of, came, and saw, and overcame: with shame (The first that ever touch'd him,) he was carried

[ping,

From off our coast, twice beaten; and his ship(Poor ignorant baubles!) on our terrible seas, Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges,

crack'd

As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof, The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point (O, giglot* fortune!) to master Cesar's sword, Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright, And Britons strut with courage.

Clo. Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no more such Cesars: other of them may have crooked noses; but, to owe such straight arms, none.

Cym. Son, let your mother end.

Clo. We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan: I do not say, I am one; but I have a hand.-Why tribute? why should we pay tribute? If Cesar can hide the sun from us with a blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, Sir, no more tribute, pray you now.

Cym. You must know,
Till the injurious Romans did extort

* Strumpet.

foolery :

Go, bid my woman feign a sickness; say, She'll home to her father: and provide me, presently,

A riding suit; no costlier than would fit
A franklin's housewife.

Pis. Madam, you're best consider.

Imo. I see before me, man, nor here, nor here,

Nor what ensues; but have a fog in them, That I cannot look through. Away, I pr'ythee; Do as I bid thee: There's no more to say; Accessible is none but Milford way. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Wales.—A_mountainous Country, with a Cave.

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. Bel. A goodly day not to keep house, with such

Whose roof's as low as ours! Stoop, boys: This gate

Instructs you how to adore the heavens; and bows you

To morning's holy office: The gates of monarchs Are arch'd so high, that giants may jet+ through And keep their impious turbands on, without Good morrow to the sun.-Hail, thou fair heaven!

We house i'the rock, yet use thee not so hardly As prouder livers do.

Gui. Hail, heaven! Arv. Hail, heaven!

Bel. Now, for our mountain sport: Up to yon hill,

Your legs are young; I'll tread these flats. Consider,

When you above perceive me like a crow,
That it is place which lessens, and sets off.
And you may then revolve what tales I have
told you,

Of courts, of princes, of the tricks in war:
This service is not service, so being done,
But being so allow'd: To apprehend thus,
Draws us a profit from all things we see:
And often, to our comfort, shall we find
The shardedt beetle in a safer hold
Than is the full-wing'd eagle. O, this life
Is nobler, than, attending for a check;
Richer, than doing nothing for a babe;
Prouder, than rustling in unpaid-for silk:
Such gain the cap of him, that makes them
fine,

Yet keeps his book uncross'd: no life to ours. Gui. Out of your proof you speak: we, poor unfledg'd,

Have never wing'd from view o'the nest; nor know not

What air's from home. Haply, this life is best,
If quiet life be best; sweeter to you,
That have a sharper known; well correspond-
With your stiff age; but, unto us, it is
A cell of ignorance; travelling abed;
A prison for a debtor, that not dares
To stride a limit.||

[ing

Art. What should we speak of, When we are old as you? when we shall hear The rain and wind beat dark December, how, In this our pinching cave, shall we discourse The freezing hours away? We have seen nothing:

We are beastly; subtle as the fox, for prey;

Our valour is, to chase what flies; our cage We make a quire, as doth the prison bird, And sing our bondage freely.

Bel. How you speak!

Did you but know the city's usuries,
And felt them knowingly: the art o'the court,
As hard to leave, as keep; whose top to climb
Is certain falling, or so slippery, that [war,
The fear's as bad as falling: the toil of the
A pain that only seems to seek out danger
I'the name of fame, and honour; which dies
i'the search;

And hath as oft a slanderous epitaph,
As record of fair act; nay, many times,
Doth ill deserve by doing well; what's worse,
Must court'sey at the censure:-O, boys, this
story

The world may read in me: My body's mark'd
With Roman swords: and my report was once
First with the best of note: Cymbeline lov'd
me;

And when a soldier was the theme, my name
Was not far off: Then was I as a tree,
Whose boughs did bend with fruit: but in one
night,

A storm, or robbery, call it what you will,
Shook down my mellow hangings, nay, my
And left me bare to weather.
[leaves,

Gui. Uncertain favour!

Bel. My fault being nothing (as I have told you oft,) [vail'd But that two villains, whose false oaths preBefore my perfect honour, swore to Cymbeline, I was confederate with the Romans: so, Follow'd my banishment; and, this twenty [world: This rock, and these demesnes, have been my Where I have liv'd at honest freedom; paid More pious debts to heaven, than in all The fore-end of my time.-But, up to the mountains;

years,

This is not hunters' language:-He, that strikes
The venison first, shall be the lord o'the feast;
To him the other two shall minister;
And we will fear no poison, which attends
In place of greater state. I'll meet you in the
valleys. [Exeunt GUI. and ARV.
How hard it is, to hide the sparks of nature!
These boys know little, they are sons to the
king;

Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive. They think, they are mine: and, though train'd up thus meanly

[hit I'the cave, wherein they bow, their thoughts do The roofs of palaces; and nature prompts them,

In simple and low things to prince it, much
Beyond the trick of others. This Polydore,-
The heir of Cymbeline and Britain, whom
The king his father call'd Guiderius,-Jove!
When on my three-foot stool I sit, and tell
The warlike feats I have done, his spirits fly

That acts n words.. The younger brother, (Once, Arvirágus,) in as like a figure, Strikes life into my speech, and shows much [rous'd!His own conceiving. Hark! the game is O Cymbeline! heaven, and my conscience,

more

knows,