Cymbeline: ACT II , Scene III An ante-chamber adjoining Imogen's apartments.

Cymbeline: ACT II


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

		SCENE I. Britain. Before Cymbeline's palace.

		SCENE II. Imogen's bedchamber in Cymbeline's palace: a trunk in one corner of it.

		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

	ACT IV

	ACT V

	About the Play

	Feedback



	Search:
	for:

Scene III An ante-chamber adjoining Imogen's apartments.

Enter CLOTEN and Lords

First Lord

Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the
most coldest that ever turned up ace.

CLOTEN

It would make any man cold to lose.

First Lord

But not every man patient after the noble temper of
5 your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.

CLOTEN

      Winning will put any man into courage. If I could
      get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough.
      It's almost morning, is't not?

First Lord

Day, my lord.

CLOTEN

10 I would this music would come: I am advised to give
her music o' mornings; they say it will penetrate.

Enter Musicians

      Come on; tune: if you can penetrate her with your
      fingering, so; we'll try with tongue too: if none
      will do, let her remain; but I'll never give o'er.
15    First, a very excellent good-conceited thing;
      after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich
      words to it: and then let her consider.

SONG

      Hark, hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
      And Phoebus 'gins arise,
20    His steeds to water at those springs
      On chaliced flowers that lies;
      And winking Mary-buds begin
      To ope their golden eyes:
      With every thing that pretty is,
25    My lady sweet, arise:
      Arise, arise.

CLOTEN

      So, get you gone. If this penetrate, I will
      consider your music the better: if it do not, it is
      a vice in her ears, which horse-hairs and
30    calves'-guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to
      boot, can never amend.

Exeunt Musicians

Second Lord

Here comes the king.

CLOTEN

      I am glad I was up so late; for that's the reason I
      was up so early: he cannot choose but take this
35    service I have done fatherly.

Enter CYMBELINE and QUEEN

Good morrow to your majesty and to my gracious mother.

CYMBELINE

Attend you here the door of our stern daughter?
Will she not forth?

CLOTEN

I have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafes no notice.

CYMBELINE

40    The exile of her minion is too new;
      She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
      Must wear the print of his remembrance out,
      And then she's yours.

QUEEN

      You are most bound to the king,
45    Who lets go by no vantages that may
      Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself
      To orderly soliciting, and be friended
      With aptness of the season; make denials
      Increase your services; so seem as if
50    You were inspired to do those duties which
      You tender to her; that you in all obey her,
      Save when command to your dismission tends,
      And therein you are senseless.

CLOTEN

Senseless! not so.

Enter a Messenger

Messenger

55 So like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome;
The one is Caius Lucius.

CYMBELINE

      A worthy fellow,
      Albeit he comes on angry purpose now;
      But that's no fault of his: we must receive him
60    According to the honour of his sender;
      And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us,
      We must extend our notice. Our dear son,
      When you have given good morning to your mistress,
      Attend the queen and us; we shall have need
65    To employ you towards this Roman. Come, our queen.

Exeunt all but CLOTEN

CLOTEN

If she be up, I'll speak with her; if not,
Let her lie still and dream.

Knocks

      By your leave, ho!
      I Know her women are about her: what
70    If I do line one of their hands? 'Tis gold
      Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes
      Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up
      Their deer to the stand o' the stealer; and 'tis gold
      Which makes the true man kill'd and saves the thief;
75    Nay, sometime hangs both thief and true man: what
      Can it not do and undo? I will make
      One of her women lawyer to me, for
      I yet not understand the case myself.

Knocks

By your leave.

Enter a Lady

Lady

80 Who's there that knocks?

CLOTEN

A gentleman.

Lady

No more?

CLOTEN

Yes, and a gentlewoman's son.

Lady

      That's more
85    Than some, whose tailors are as dear as yours,
      Can justly boast of. What's your lordship's pleasure?

CLOTEN

Your lady's person: is she ready?

Lady

Ay,
To keep her chamber.

CLOTEN

90 There is gold for you;
Sell me your good report.

Lady

How! my good name? or to report of you
What I shall think is good?--The princess!

Enter IMOGEN

CLOTEN

Good morrow, fairest: sister, your sweet hand.

Exit Lady

IMOGEN

95    Good morrow, sir. You lay out too much pains
      For purchasing but trouble; the thanks I give
      Is telling you that I am poor of thanks
      And scarce can spare them.

CLOTEN

Still, I swear I love you.

IMOGEN

100   If you but said so, 'twere as deep with me:
      If you swear still, your recompense is still
      That I regard it not.

CLOTEN

This is no answer.

IMOGEN

      But that you shall not say I yield being silent,
105   I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: 'faith,
      I shall unfold equal discourtesy
      To your best kindness: one of your great knowing
      Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

CLOTEN

To leave you in your madness, 'twere my sin:
110 I will not.

IMOGEN

Fools are not mad folks.

CLOTEN

Do you call me fool?

IMOGEN

      As I am mad, I do:
      If you'll be patient, I'll no more be mad;
115   That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
      You put me to forget a lady's manners,
      By being so verbal: and learn now, for all,
      That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
      By the very truth of it, I care not for you,
120   And am so near the lack of charity--
      To accuse myself--I hate you; which I had rather
      You felt than make't my boast.

CLOTEN

      You sin against
      Obedience, which you owe your father. For
125   The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
      One bred of alms and foster'd with cold dishes,
      With scraps o' the court, it is no contract, none:
      And though it be allow'd in meaner parties--
      Yet who than he more mean?--to knit their souls,
130   On whom there is no more dependency
      But brats and beggary, in self-figured knot;
      Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by
      The consequence o' the crown, and must not soil
      The precious note of it with a base slave.
135   A hilding for a livery, a squire's cloth,
      A pantler, not so eminent.

IMOGEN

      Profane fellow
      Wert thou the son of Jupiter and no more
      But what thou art besides, thou wert too base
140   To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough,
      Even to the point of envy, if 'twere made
      Comparative for your virtues, to be styled
      The under-hangman of his kingdom, and hated
      For being preferred so well.

CLOTEN

145 The south-fog rot him!

IMOGEN

      He never can meet more mischance than come
      To be but named of thee. His meanest garment,
      That ever hath but clipp'd his body, is dearer
      In my respect than all the hairs above thee,
150   Were they all made such men. How now, Pisanio!

Enter PISANIO

CLOTEN

'His garment!' Now the devil--

IMOGEN

To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently--

CLOTEN

'His garment!'

IMOGEN

      I am sprited with a fool.
155   Frighted, and anger'd worse: go bid my woman
      Search for a jewel that too casually
      Hath left mine arm: it was thy master's: 'shrew me,
      If I would lose it for a revenue
      Of any king's in Europe. I do think
160   I saw't this morning: confident I am
      Last night 'twas on mine arm; I kiss'd it:
      I hope it be not gone to tell my lord
      That I kiss aught but he.

PISANIO

'Twill not be lost.

IMOGEN

165 I hope so: go and search.

Exit PISANIO

CLOTEN

You have abused me:
'His meanest garment!'

IMOGEN

Ay, I said so, sir:
If you will make't an action, call witness to't.

CLOTEN

170 I will inform your father.

IMOGEN

      Your mother too:
      She's my good lady, and will conceive, I hope,
      But the worst of me. So, I leave you, sir,
      To the worst of discontent.

Exit

CLOTEN

175 I'll be revenged:
'His meanest garment!' Well.

Exit

Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene