He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,

Died with their swords in hand; for which their

father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber :
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:*
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,

sion of Britain, he agreed to pay an annual tribute to Rome. After his death, Tenantius, Lud's younger son (his elder brother Androgeus having fled to Rome) was established on the throne, of which they had been unjustly deprived by their uncle. Ac. cording to some authorities, Tenantius quietly paid the tribute stipulated by Cassibelan; according to others, he refused to pay it, and warred with the Romans. Shakspeare supposes the latter to be the truth.

(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:] This encomium is high and artful. To be at once in any great degree loved and praised, is truly rare. JOHNSON.

5 A glass that feated them;] A glass that formed them; a model by the contemplation and inspection of which they formed their

manners. Feat Minsheu interprets, fine, neat, brave.

6

- to his mistress,] Means-as to his mistress.

What kind of man he is. 2 Gent.

I honour him

But, 'pray you, tell me,

Even out of your report.
Is she sole child to the king?

1 Gent.
His only child.
He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old,
I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Where stolen; and to this hour, no guess in know-

ledge

How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con

vey'd!

So slackly guarded! And the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

1 Gent.

Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,

Yet is it true, sir.

2 Gent.

1 Gent. We must forbear; Here comes the queen,

I do well believe you.

and princess.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same.

Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,

daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,

Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but

Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,

So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience

Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day.
Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril :-

I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying

The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king

Hath charg'd you should not speak together.

Imo.

[Erit Queen.

0

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle where she wounds!- My dearest husband,
I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,

(Always reserv'd my holy duty,)" what

His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,

That I may see again.

Post.

My queen! my mistress!

O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness

Than doth become a man! I will remain

The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
My residence in Rome at one Philario's;
Who to my father was a friend, to me

Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,

Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter Queen.

Be brief, I pray you:

(Always reserv'd my holy duty,)] I say I do not fear my fa

ther, so far as I may say it without breach of duty.

If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;

Pays dear for my offences.

Post.

[Aside.

[Exit.

Should we be taking leave

As long a term as yet we have to live,

The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!

Imo. Nay, stay a little :

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,

Such parting were too petty. Look here, love ;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;

But keep it till you woo another wife,

When Imogen is dead.

Post.

How! how! another?

You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next

8

With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring.

While sense can keep it on? And sweetest, fairest,

As I my poor self did exchange for you,

To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles

I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;

It is a manacle' of love; I'll place it

Upon this fairest prisoner.

Imo.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm.

When shall we see again?

8 And sear up-] i. e. close up.

O, the gods!

9 While sense can keep it on!] i. e. while sense can maintain its operations; while sense continues to have its usual power. To keep

on signifies to continue in a state of action.

I

a manacle-] A manacle properly means what we now Post.

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.

Alack, the king!

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my

sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!

Thou art poison to my blood.

A year's age on me!
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.2

Cym.

Past grace? obedience?

Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past

grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen!

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle,

And did avoid a puttock.3

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made

my throne

A seat for baseness.
Imo.

A lustre to it,

No; I rather added

2

- a touch more rare

Subdues all pangs, all fears.] i. e, a more exquisite feeling; a