Ere clean it o'erthrow nature, makes it valiant.
Plenty, and peace, breeds cowards; hardness ever
Of hardiness is mother.-Ho! who's here?
If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage,
Take, or lend.-Ho!-No answer? then I'll enter.
Best draw my sword; and if mine enemy
But fear the sword like me, he'll scarcely look on't.
Such a foe, good heavens! [She goes into the caver

Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.

Bel. You, Polydore, have prov'd best woodman,4 and Are master of the feast: Cadwal, and I,

Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our match:5
The sweat of industry would dry, and die,

But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs
Will make what's homely, savoury: Weariness
Can snore upon the flint, when restive sloth
Finds the down pillow hard.-Now, peace be here,
Poor house, that keep'st thyself!

Gui. I am throughly weary.

Arv. I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
Gui. There is cold meat i'the cave; we'll browze on

that,

Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd.

Bel. Stay; come not in:

But that it eats our victuals, I should think
Here were a fairy.

Gui. What's the matter, sir?

Bel. By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly paragon!-Behold divineness No elder than a boy!

Enter IMOGEN.

Imo. Good masters, harm me not:

[Looking in

Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought

To have begg'd, or bought, what I have took: Good troth.
I have stolen nought; nor would not, though I had found
Gold strew'd o'the floor. Here's money for my meat:
I would have left it on the board, so soon

As I had made my meal; and parted

With prayers for the provider.

Gui. Money, youth?

Arv. All gold and silver rather turn to dirt!

[4] A woodman in its common acceptation, signifies a hunter. [5] That is, our compact. See p. 48. 1. 9. STEEVENS..

STEEV

As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those
Who worship dirty gods.

Imo. I see, you are angry:

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
Have died, had I not made it.
Bel. Whither bound?

Imo. To Milford-Haven, sir.
Bel. What is your name?

Imo. Fidele, sir: I have a kinsman, who
Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fallen in this offence.

Bel. Pr’ythee, fair youth,

Think us no churls; nor measure our good minds.
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!
'Tis almost night you shall have better cheer
Ere you depart; and thanks, to stay and eat it.—
Boys, bid him welcome.

Gui. Were you a woman, youth,

I should woo hard, but be your groom.-In honesty, -! I bid for you, as I'd buy.

Arv. I'll make't my comfort,

He is a man; I'll love him as my brother :

And such a welcome as I'd give to him,

After a long absence, such as yours:-Most welcome Be sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends.

Imo. 'Mongst friends!

If brothers?'Would it had been so, that they

Had been my father's sons! then had my prize Aside. Been less; and so more equal ballasting

To thee, Posthúmus.6

Bel. He wrings at some distress.

Gui. 'Would, I could free't!

Arv. Or I; whate'er it be,

What pain it cost, what danger! Gods!

Bel. Hark, boys.

Imo. Great men,

[Whispering.

That had a court no bigger than this cave,

That did attend themselves, and had the virtue

Which their own conscience seal'd them, (laying by
That nothing gift of differing multitudes,)

[6] Had I been less a prize, I should not have been too heavy for Posthu mus. JOHNSON

[7] Differing-may be a general epithet, and the expression equivalent to the many-headed rabble.

29*

JOHNSON.

VOL. VII.

Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods!
I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus' false.

Bel. It shall be so:

Boys, we'll go dress our hunt.-Fair youth, come in:
Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp'd,
We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story,

So far as thou wilt speak it.

Gui. Pray, draw near.

Arv. The night to the owl, and morn to the lark, less welcome.

Imo. Thanks, sir.

Arv. I pray, draw near.

SCENE VII.

Rome. Enter two Senators and Tribunes.

8

[Exeunt.

1 Sen. This is the tenor of the emperor's writ;
That since the common men are now in action
'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians, &
And that the legions now in Gallia are
Full weak to undertake our wars against
The fallen-off Britons; that we do incite
The gentry to this business: He creates
Lucius pro-consul: and to you the tribunes,
For this immediate levy, he commands
His absolute commission. Long live Cæsar!
Tri. Is Lucius general of the forces?
2 Sen. Ay.

Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?

1 Sen. With those legions

Which I have spoke of, whereunto your levy

Must be supplyant: The words of your commission
Will tie you to the numbers, and the time

Of their despatch.

Tri. We will discharge our duty.

[Exeunt.

[9] He commands the commission to be given to you. So we say, I ordered

The materials to the workmen. JOHNSON.

ACT IV.

SCENE I-The Forest, near the Cave. Enter CLOTEN.

Clo. I am near to the place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit his garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather (saving reverence of the word) for 'tis said, a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory, for a man and his glass to confer; in his own chamber, I mean,) the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions: yet this imperseverant thing loves him in my despite. What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off; thy mistress enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face; and all this done, spurn her home to her father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my so rough usage: but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied up safe: Out, sword, and to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meeting-place; and the fellow dares not deceive me. [Exit.

SCENE II.

Before the Cave. Enter, from the Cave, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, and IMOGEN.

Bel. You are not well: [To IMO.] remain here in the

cave;

We'll come to you after hunting.

Arv. Brother, stay here:

Are we not brothers?

[TO IMOGEN.

Imo. So man, and man should be ;
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.
Gui. Go you to hunting, I'll abide with him.
Imo. So sick I am not ;-yet I am not well :

But not so citizen a wanton, as

To seem to die, ere sick : So please you, leave me ;
Stick to your journal course: the breach of custom
Is breach of all. I am ill; but your being by me
Cannot amend me: Society is no comfort
To one not sociable: I'm not very sick,
Since I can reason of it.

Pray you, trust me here:
I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing so poorly.

Gui. I love thee; I have spoke it:

How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel. What? how? how?

Arv. If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why
I love this youth; and I have heard you say,
Love's reason's without reason; the bier at door,
And a demand who is't shall die, I'd say,

My father, not this youth.

Bel. O noble strain!

O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!

[Aside.

Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base:
Nature hath meal, and bran; contempt, and grace.
I am not their father; yet who this should be,
Doth miracle itself, lov'd before me.-

'Tis the ninth hour o'the morn.

Arv. Brother, farewell.

Imo. I wish ye sport.

Arv. You health.-So please you, sir.

Imo. [Aside.] These are kind creatures. Gods, what lies I have heard!

Our courtiers say, all's savage, but at court:
Experience, O, thou disprov'st report!

The imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish,
Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish.

I am sick still; heart-sick :—Pisanio,

I'll now taste of thy drug.

Gui. I could not stir him :2

He said, he was gentle, but unfortunate ;3

Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv. Thus did he answer me: yet said, hereafter

[] Keep your daily course uninterrupted; if the stated plan of life is once broken, nothing follows but confusion.

JOHNSON.

[2] Not move him to tell his story. JOHNSON.

[3] Gentle-is well-born, of birth above the vulgar.

JOHNSON.