TPTT Cymbeline: ACT I
Introduction
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
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline's palace.
Enter two Gentlemen
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
5     His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom
      He purposed 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
10    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 desired the match; but not a courtier,
15    Although they wear their faces to the bent
      Of the king's look's, 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
20    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
25    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,
30    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
35    Against the Romans with Cassibelan,
      But had his titles by Tenantius whom
      He served with glory and admired success,
      So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus;
      And had, besides this gentleman in question,
40    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,
45    Big of this gentleman our theme, deceased
      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
50    Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
      As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd,
      And in's spring became a harvest, lived in court--
      Which rare it is to do--most praised, most loved,
      A sample to the youngest, to the more mature
55    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
60    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.
65    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 stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge
      Which way they went.
Second Gentleman
70    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
75    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,
80    The queen, and princess.
Exeunt
Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, and IMOGEN
QUEEN
      No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,
      After the slander of most stepmothers,
      Evil-eyed unto you: you're my prisoner, but
      Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
85    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
90    Your wisdom may inform you.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Please your highness,
      I will from hence to-day.
QUEEN
      You know the peril.
      I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
95    The pangs of barr'd affections, though the king
      Hath charged you should not speak together.
Exit
IMOGEN
      O
      Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
      Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,
100   I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing--
      Always reserved 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,
105   But that there is this jewel in the world
      That I may see again.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      My queen! my mistress!
      O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause
      To be suspected of more tenderness
110   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,
115   And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
      Though ink be made of gall.
Re-enter QUEEN
QUEEN
      Be brief, I pray you:
      If the king come, I shall incur I know not
      How much of his displeasure.

Aside

120   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.
Exit
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Should we be taking leave
125   As long a term as yet we have to live,
      The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!
IMOGEN
      Nay, stay a little:
      Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
      Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
130   This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
      But keep it till you woo another wife,
      When Imogen is dead.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      How, how! another?
      You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
135   And sear up my embracements from a next
      With bonds of death!

Putting on the ring

      Remain, remain thou here
      While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest,
      As I my poor self did exchange for you,
140   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.
Putting a bracelet upon her arm
IMOGEN
      O the gods!
145   When shall we see again?
Enter CYMBELINE and Lords
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Alack, the king!
CYMBELINE
      Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!
      If after this command thou fraught the court
      With thy unworthiness, thou diest: away!
150   Thou'rt poison to my blood.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      The gods protect you!
      And bless the good remainders of the court! I am gone.
Exit
IMOGEN
      There cannot be a pinch in death
      More sharp than this is.
CYMBELINE
155   O disloyal thing,
      That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap'st
      A year's age on me.
IMOGEN
      I beseech you, sir,
      Harm not yourself with your vexation
160   I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
      Subdues all pangs, all fears.
CYMBELINE
      Past grace? obedience?
IMOGEN
      Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace.
CYMBELINE
      That mightst have had the sole son of my queen!
IMOGEN
165   O blest, that I might not! I chose an eagle,
      And did avoid a puttock.
CYMBELINE
      Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne
      A seat for baseness.
IMOGEN
      No; I rather added
170   A lustre to it.
CYMBELINE
      O thou vile one!
IMOGEN
      Sir,
      It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus:
      You bred him as my playfellow, and he is
175   A man worth any woman, overbuys me
      Almost the sum he pays.
CYMBELINE
      What, art thou mad?
IMOGEN
      Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were
      A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
180   Our neighbour shepherd's son!
CYMBELINE
      Thou foolish thing!

Re-enter QUEEN

      They were again together: you have done
      Not after our command. Away with her,
      And pen her up.
QUEEN
185   Beseech your patience. Peace,
      Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,
      Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some comfort
      Out of your best advice.
CYMBELINE
      Nay, let her languish
190   A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
      Die of this folly!
Exeunt CYMBELINE and Lords
QUEEN
      Fie! you must give way.

Enter PISANIO

      Here is your servant. How now, sir! What news?
PISANIO
      My lord your son drew on my master.
QUEEN
195   Ha!
      No harm, I trust, is done?
PISANIO
      There might have been,
      But that my master rather play'd than fought
      And had no help of anger: they were parted
200   By gentlemen at hand.
QUEEN
      I am very glad on't.
IMOGEN
      Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part.
      To draw upon an exile! O brave sir!
      I would they were in Afric both together;
205   Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
      The goer-back. Why came you from your master?
PISANIO
      On his command: he would not suffer me
      To bring him to the haven; left these notes
      Of what commands I should be subject to,
210   When 't pleased you to employ me.
QUEEN
      This hath been
      Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour
      He will remain so.
PISANIO
      I humbly thank your highness.
QUEEN
215   Pray, walk awhile.
IMOGEN
      About some half-hour hence,
      I pray you, speak with me: you shall at least
      Go see my lord aboard: for this time leave me.
Exeunt
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