So needful for this present: It strikes me, past
The hope of comfort.-But for thee, fellow,
Who needs must know of her departure, and
Dost seem so ignorant, we'll enforce it from thee
By a sharp torture.

Pisanio.

Sir, my life is yours:

I humbly set it at your will: But, for my mistress,
I nothing know where she remains, why gone,
Nor when she purposes return.
Hold me your loyal servant.

'Beseech your highness,

Good my liege,

1 Lord.
The day that she was missing, he was here:
I dare be bound he's true, and shall perform
All parts of his subjection loyally.

For Cloten,

There wants no diligence in seeking him,
And will, no doubt, be found.

Cymbeline.

The time 's troublesome:

[TO PISANIO.

We'll slip you for a season: but our jealousy

Does yet depend.

1 Lord.

So please your majesty,

The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,

Are landed on your coast; with a supply
Of Roman gentlemen, by the senate sent.

Cymbeline. Now for the counsel of my son and queen !—

I am amaz'd with matter.8

1 Lord.

Good my liege,

Your preparation can affront no less

Than what you hear of: come more, for more you're

ready:

The want is, but to put those powers in motion,

That long to move.

Cymbeline.
And meet the time, as it seeks us.
What can from Italy annoy us; but

I thank you:

Let's withdraw:

We fear not

[Exeunt.

We grieve at chances here.-Away.

Pisanio. I heard no letter from my master, since

• Confounded by a variety of business.

9 Encounter.

I wrote him, Imogen was slain: 'Tis strange:
Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise
To yield me often tidings; Neither know I
What is betid to Cloten; but remain

Perplex'd in all. The heavens still must work :
Wherein I am false, I am honest; not true, to be true.
These present wars shall find I love my country,
Even to the note1 o' the king, or I'll fall in them.
All other doubts, by time let them be clear'd:
Fortune brings in some boats, that are not steer'd.

SCENE IV. Before the Cave.

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. Guiderius. The noise is round about us.

Belarius.

[Exit.

Let us from it.

Arviragus. What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it From action and adventure?

Guiderius.

Nay, what hope

Have we in hiding us? this way, the Romans
Must or for Britons slay us; or receive us
For barbarous and unnatural revolts 2

During their use, and slay us after.

Belarius.

Sons,

We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us.
To the king's party there's no going: newness
Of Cloten's death (we being not known, not muster'd
Among the bands) may drive us to a render3

Where we have liv'd; and so extort from us

That which we've done, whose answer would be death Drawn on with torture.

Guiderius.

This is, sir, a doubt,

In such a time, nothing becoming you,

Nor satisfying us.

Arviragus.

It is not likely,

That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,

Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes
And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,

1 Notice.

2 Revolters.

3 An account.

That they will waste their time upon our note,1
To know from whence we are.

Belarius.

O, I am known

Of many in the army: many years,

Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him
From my remembrance. And, besides, the king
Hath not deserv'd my service, nor your loves;
Who find in my exíle the want of breeding,
The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless
To have the courtesy your cradle promis'd,
But to be still hot summer's tanlings, and
The shrinking slaves of winter.

Guiderius.

Than be so,
Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army:
I and my brother are not known; yourself,
So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,
Cannot be question'd.

Arviragus.

By this sun that shines,

I'll thither: What thing is it, that I never

Did see man die? scarce ever look'd on blood,

But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison?
Never bestrid a horse, save one, that had

A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
Nor iron on his heel? I am asham'd

To look upon the holy sun, to have

The benefit of his bless'd beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

If

Guiderius.

By heavens, I'll go:

you will bless me, sir, and give me leave, I'll take the better care; but if you will not, The hazard therefore due fall on me, by

The hands of Romans!

Arviragus.

So say I; Amen.

Belarius. No reason I, since on your lives

So slight a valuation, should reserve

My crack'd one to more care.

you set

Have with you, boys:

If in your country wars you chance to die,
That is my bed too, lads, and there I'll lie:

Noticing us.

Lead, lead.—The time seems long; their blood thinks

scorn,

Till it fly out, and show them princes born.

[Aside. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A Field between the BRITISH and ROMAN Camps.

Enter POSTHUMUS, with a bloody Handkerchief. Posthumus. Yea, bloody cloth, I'll keep thee; for I wish'd

Thou shouldst be colour'd thus. You married ones,
If each of you would take this course, how many
Must murder wives much better than themselves,
For wrying but a little-O, Pisanio!

Every good servant does not all commands:
No bond, but to do just ones.— -Gods! if you
Should have ta'en vengeance on my faults, I never
Had liv'd to put on this: so had you saved
The noble Imogen to repent; and struck
Me, wretch, more worth your vengeance.

But, alack,

You snatch some hence for little faults: that's love,
To have them fall no more: you some permit
To second ills with ills, each elder worse;
And make them dread it to the doer's thrift.

But Imogen is your own: Do your best wills,

And make me bless'd to obey!-I am brought hither Among the Italian gentry, and to fight

Against my lady's kingdom: 'Tis enough

That, Britain, I have kill'd thy mistress; peace!
I'll give no wound to thee. Therefore, good heavens,
Hear patiently my purpose: I'll disrobe me
Of these Italian weeds, and suit myself
As does a Briton peasant: so I'll fight
Against the part I come with; so I'll die
For thee, O Imogen, even for whom my life

5 Deviating from the right way.

6 Incite, instigate,

Is, every breath, a death: and thus, unknown,
Pitied nor hated, to the face of peril
Myself I'll dedicate. Let me make men know
More valour in me, than my habits show.
Gods put the strength o' the Leonati in me!
To shame the guise o' the world, I will begin
The fashion, less without, and more within!

SCENE II. The Same.

[Exit.

Enter, at one side, LUCIUS, IACHIMO, and the ROMAN Army; at the other side, the BRITISH Army; LEONATUS POSTHUMUS following it, like a poor Soldier. They march over, and go out. Alarums. Then enter again in skirmish, IACHIMO and POSTHUMUS; he vanquisheth and disarmeth IACHIMO, and then leaves him.

Iachimo. The heaviness and guilt within my bosom Takes off my manhood: I have belied a lady, The princess of this country, and the air on 't Revengingly enfeebles me; Or could this carl,7 A very drudge of nature's, have subdu'd me In my profession? Knighthoods and honours, bornc As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn.

If that thy gentry, Britain, go before

This lout, as he exceeds our lords, the odds

Is, that we scarce are men, and you are gods. [Exit.

The Battle continues, the BRITONS fly; CYMBELINĖ is taken: then enter to his rescue, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.

Belarius. Stand, stand! We have the advantage of the ground;

The lane is guarded: nothing routs us, but

The villainy of our fears.

Guiderius, Arviragus. Stand, stand, and fight!

7 Clown.