Cymbeline - ebook

Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I

SCENE I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline's palace.

SCENE II. The same. A public place.

SCENE III. A room in CYMBELINE'S palace.

SCENE IV. Rome. PHILARIO'S house.

SCENE V. Britain. A room in CYMBELINE'S palace.

SCENE VI. The same. Another room in the palace.

ACT II

SCENE I. Britain. Before CYMBELINE'S palace.

SCENE II. IMOGEN'S bedchamber in CYMBELINE'S palace

SCENE III. An ante-chamber adjoining IMOGEN'S apartments.

SCENE IV. Rome. PHILARIO'S house.

SCENE V. Another room in PHILARIO'S house.

ACT III

SCENE I Britain. A hall in Cymbeline's palace.

SCENE II Another room in the palace.

SCENE III Wales: a mountainous country with a cave.

SCENE IV Country near Milford-Haven.

SCENE V A room in Cymbeline's palace.

SCENE VI Wales. Before the cave of Belarius.

SCENE VII Rome. A public place.

ACT IV

SCENE I Wales: near the cave of Belarius.

SCENE II Before the cave of Belarius.

SCENE III A room in Cymbeline's palace.

SCENE IV Wales: before the cave of Belarius.

ACT V

SCENE I. Britain. The Roman camp.

SCENE II. Field of battle between the British and Roman camps.

SCENE III. Another part of the field.

SCENE IV. A British prison.

SCENE V. CYMBELINE'S tent.DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CYMBELINE, king of Britain.

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen.

BELARIUS, a banished lord disguised under the name of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of POLYDORE and CADWAL, supposed sons to Morgan.

PHILARIO, Italian, friend to Posthumus.

IACHIMO, Italian, friend to Philario.

CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman forces.

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a physician.

A Roman Captain.

Two British Captains.

A Frenchman, friend to Philario.

Two Lords of Cymbeline’s court.

Two Gentlemen of the same.

Two Gaolers.

Queen, wife to Cymbeline.

Imogen, daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen.

Helen, a lady attending on Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutchman, a Spaniard, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

Apparitions.

SCENE: Britain; Rome.ACT I

SCENE I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline’s palace

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

You do not meet a man but frowns. Our bloods

No more obey the heavens than our courtiers

Still seem as does the King.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

But what’s the matter?

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

His daughter, and the heir of’s kingdom, whom

He purpos’d to his wife’s sole son–a widow

That late he married–hath referr’d herself

Unto a poor but worthy gentleman. She’s wedded,

Her husband banish’d, she imprison’d; all

Is outward sorrow; though I think the King

Be touch’d at very heart.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

None but the King?

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

He that hath lost her too; so is the Queen,

That most desir’d the match: but not a courtier,

Although they wear their faces to the bent

Of the King’s looks, hath a heart that is not

Glad at the thing they scowl at.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

And why so?

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

He that hath miss’d the Princess is a thing

Too bad for bad report; and he that hath her–

I mean, that married her, alack, good man!

And therefore banish’d–is a creature such

As, to seek through the regions of the earth

For one his like, there would be something failing

In him that should compare. I do not think

So fair an outward and such stuff within

Endows a man but he.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

You speak him far.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

I do extend him, sir, within himself;

Crush him together rather than unfold

His measure duly.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

What’s his name and birth?

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

I cannot delve him to the root. His father

Was call’d Sicilius, who did join his honour

Against the Romans with Cassibelan,

But had his titles by Tenantius whom

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 Leonatus,

Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,

Puts to him all the learnings that his time

Could make him the receiver of; which he took,

As we do air, fast as ’twas minist’red,

And in’s 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

What kind of man he is.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

I honour him

Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,

Is she sole child to the King?

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

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

Were stolen, and to this hour no guess in knowledge

Which way they went.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

How long is this ago?

FIRST GENTLEMAN. Some twenty years.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

That a king’s children should be so convey’d,

So slackly guarded, and the search so slow,

That could not trace them!

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

Howsoe’er ’tis strange,

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

Yet is it true, sir.

SECOND GENTLEMAN.

I do well believe you.

FIRST GENTLEMAN.

We must forbear; here comes the gentleman,

The Queen, and Princess.

QUEEN.

No, be assur’d you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most stepmothers,

Evil-ey’d unto you. You’re 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.

POSTHUMUS.

Please your Highness,

I will from hence to-day.

QUEEN.

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.

IMOGEN.

O 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.

POSTHUMUS.

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.

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