She will not quench, and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? Do thou work:
When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son,
I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then
As great as is thy master; greater, for
His fortunes all lie speechless, and his name
Is at last gasp; return he cannot, nor
Continue where he is; to shift his being
Is to exchange one misery with another,
And every day that comes comes to decay

A day's work in him. What shalt thou expect,
To be depender on a thing that leans,
Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends,
So much as but to prop him?

[The Queen drops the box; Pisanio takes it up.]

Thou tak'st up

Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour:
It is a thing I made, which hath the king
Five times redeem'd from death; I do not know
What is more cordial: nay, I prithee, take it;
It is an earnest of a further good

That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how
The case stands with her; do 't as from thyself.
Think what a change thou chancest on, but think
Thou hast thy mistress still, to boot, my son,
Who shall take notice of thee. I'll move the king
To any shape of thy preferment such
As thou❜lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly,
That set thee on to this desert, am bound

To load thy merit richly. Call my women;
Think on my words.

47 quench: cool down

60

64

68

72

Exit Pisanio.

56 decay: destroy

65 earnest: first payment to bind a bargain

abode

64 cordial: reviving 69 to boot: in addition

Not to be shak'd; the agent for his master,

76

And the remembrancer of her to hold

The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that
Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her

Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after,
Except she bend her humour, shall be assur'd
To taste of too.

Enter Pisanio and Ladies.

So, so; well done, well done.

The violets, cowslips, and the primroses

Bear to my closet. Fare thee well, Pisanio:
Think on my words.

Pis.

80

84

Exeunt Queen and Ladies.

And shall do:

But when to my good lord I prove untrue,
I'll choke myself; there's all I'll do for you.

Scene Six

[The Same]

Enter Imogen alone.

Imo. A father cruel, and a step-dame false;

A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,

Exit.

That hath her husband banish'd: O! that husband,
My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,

As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable
Is the desire that's glorious: bless'd be those,
How mean so'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

77 remembrancer: reminder 80 liegers: ambassadors

4

8

81 bend her humour: change her inclination 6-9 most miserable . comfort; cf. n.

Enter Pisanio and Iachimo.

Pis. Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome, lord with letters.

you change color Change you, madam?

Comes from my
Iach.
The worthy Leonatus is in safety,

And greets your highness dearly.

Imo.

You are kindly welcome.

12

[Presents a letter.] Thanks, good sir.

Iach. [Aside.] All of her that is out of door most

rich!

If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,

friend!

She is alone the Arabian bird, and I
Have lost the wager. Boldness be my
Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!
Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;
Rather, directly fly.

Imo. reads: 'He is one of the noblest note, to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon him accordingly, as you value

So far I read aloud;

But even the very middle of my heart

your trust.
LEONATUS.'

Is warm'd by the rest, and takes it thankfully.
You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I

Have words to bid you; and shall find it so

In all that I can do.

Iach.

Thanks, fairest lady.

What! are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes 32 To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop

11 Change you: do you change color?

15 out of door: outwardly visible

17 alone: without rival

20 Parthian; cf. n.

Arabian bird: phanix

Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt
The fiery orbs above and the twinn'd stones
Upon the number'd beach? and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious
'Twixt fair and foul?

Imo.

36

What makes your admiration?

40

Tach. It cannot be i' the eye, for apes and monkeys
'Twixt two such shes would chatter this way and
Contemn with mows the other; nor i' the judgment,
For idiots in this case of favour would
Be wisely definite; nor i' the appetite,-
Sluttery to such neat excellence oppos'd
Should make desire vomit emptiness,
Not so allur'd to feed.

Imo. What is the matter, trow?
Iach.

44

The cloyed will,

48

That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub
Both fill'd and running,-ravening first the lamb,
Longs after for the garbage.

Imo.

Thus raps you? are you well?

Iach.

What, dear sir,

Thanks, madam, well.

52

[To Pisanio.] Beseech you, sir,

Desire my man's abode where I did leave him;

He's strange and peevish.

Pis.

To give him welcome.

I was going, sir,

Exit.

Imo. Continues well my lord? His health, beseech

So

Imo. Is he dispos'd to mirth? I hope he is.
Iach. Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger there
merry and so gamesome: he is called

The Briton reveller.

Imo.

When he was here

He did incline to sadness, and oft-times

Not knowing why.

Iach.

I never saw him sad.

There is a Frenchman his companion, one,

An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves
A Gallian girl at home; he furnaces

60

64

The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton— Your lord, I mean-laughs from 's free lungs, cries,

'O!

Can my
sides hold, to think that man, who knows
By history, report, or his own proof,

What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose
But must be, will his free hours languish for
Assured bondage?'

Imo.

Will my lord

say so?

68

72

Iach. Ay, madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter:

It is a recreation to be by

And hear him mock the Frenchman; but, heavens

know,

Some men are much to blame.

Imo.

Not he, I hope.

76

Iach. Not he; but yet heaven's bounty towards him might

Be us'd more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much;

In you, which I account his beyond all talents,— 80 Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound

62 sadness: seriousness

66 furnaces: exhales as from a furnace 79 'tis much: i.e. heaven's bounty is great

63 sad: serious 70 proof: experience 80 talents: treasures