Gaol. I'll be hang'd, then. Post. Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt POSTHUMUS and Messenger. Gaol. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and beget young gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live, for all he be a Roman: and there be some of them too, that die against their wills; so should I, if I were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one mind good; O, there were desolation of gaolers, and gallowses! I speak against my present profit; but my wish hath a preferment in't. SCENE V. Cymbeline's Tent. [Exeunt. Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Lords, Officers, and Attendants. Cym. Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made Preservers of my throne. Woe is my heart, That the poor soldier, that so richly fought, He shall be happy that can find him, if Our grace can make him so. Bel. I never saw Such noble fury in so poor a thing; Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought Cym. No tidings of him? Pis. He hath been search'd among the dead and living, But no trace of him. The heir of his reward; which I will add To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain, [To BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. By whom, I grant, she lives: 'Tis now the time To ask of whence you are:-report it. k prone.] i. e. Forward. Bel. Sir, In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen: Cym. Enter CORNELIUS and Ladies. There's business in these faces :-Why so sadly Cor. Hail, great king! To sour your happiness, I must report Cym. Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life; Сут. Pr'ythee, say. Cor. First, she confess'd she never lov'd you; only Affected greatness got by you, not you: Married your royalty, was wife to your place; Abhorr'd your person. Cym. She alone knew this: And, but she spoke it dying, I would not Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed. Cor. Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to love' With such integrity, she did confess Was as a scorpion to her sight; whose life, bore in hand to love-] i. e. Insidiously taught to depend on her love. -STEEVENS. But that her flight prevented it, she had Cym. O most delicate fiend! Who is't can read a woman?-Is there more? Cor. More, sir, and worse. She did confess, she had For you a mortal mineral: which, being took, Should by the minute feed on life, and, ling'ring, Сут. Heard you all this, her women? Were not in fault, for she was beautiful; Mine eyes Mine ears, that heard her flattery;, nor my heart, That thought her like, her seeming: it had been vicious, To have mistrusted her: yet, O my daughter! That it was folly in me, thou may'st say, And prove it in thy feeling. Heaven mend all! Enter LUCIUS, IACHIMO, the Soothsayer, and other Roman Luc. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day We should not, when the blood was cool, have threaten'd Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods. Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives So tender over his occasions, true, So feat," so nurse-like let him his virtue join Though he hath serv'd a Roman : save him, sir, Cym. I have surely seen him : His favour is familiar to me. Boy, thou hast look'd thyself into my grace, And art mine own. I know not why, nor wherefore, The noblest ta'en. Imo. I humbly thank your highness. Luc. I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad; And yet, I know, thou wilt. Imo. No, no: alack, There's other work in hand; I see a thing Bitter to me as death; your life, good master, Luc. The boy disdains me, He leaves me, scorns me : Briefly die their joys, Cym. What would'st thou boy? So feat,] So ready; so dexterous in waiting →JOHNSON. His favour is familiar-] I am acquainted with his countenance.— JOHNSON. I know not why, nor wherefore, To say, live, boy:] I know not what should induce me to say, live, boy.— MALONE. I love thee more and more; think more and more Imo. He is a Roman; no more kin to me, Than I to your highness; who, being born your vassal, Am something nearer. Cym. Wherefore ey'st him so? Imo. I'll tell you, sir, in private, if you please To give me hearing. Cym. Ay, with all my heart, And lend my best attention. What's thy name? Cym. Thou art, my good youth, my page; I'll be thy master: Walk with me; speak freely. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN converse apart. Bel. Is not this boy reviv'd from death? One sand another Arv. Who died, and was Fidele :-What think you? Bel. Peace, peace! see further; he eyes us not; forbear; Creatures may be alike: were't he, I am sure He would have spoke to us. Gui. Bel. Be silent; let's see further. But we saw him dead. It is my mistress : [Aside. Since she is living, let the time run on, To good or bad. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN come forward. Come, stand thou by our side; Cym. Make thy demand aloud.-Sir, [to IACH.] step you forth; Give answer to this boy, and do it freely; Or, by our greatness, and the grace of it, Which is our honour, bitter torture shall Winnow the truth from falsehood.-On, speak to him. Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may render Of whom he had this ring. Post. What's that to him? [Aside. Cym. That diamond upon your finger, say, How came it yours? |