Cymbeline: ACT III , SCENE II. Another room in the palace.

Cymbeline: ACT III


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

	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

	ACT V

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SCENE II. Another room in the palace.

Enter PISANIO, with a letter

PISANIO

      How? of adultery? Wherefore write you not
      What monster's her accuser? Leonatus,
      O master! what a strange infection
      Is fall'n into thy ear! What false Italian,
5     As poisonous-tongued as handed, hath prevail'd
      On thy too ready hearing? Disloyal! No:
      She's punish'd for her truth, and undergoes,
      More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults
      As would take in some virtue. O my master!
10    Thy mind to her is now as low as were
      Thy fortunes. How! that I should murder her?
      Upon the love and truth and vows which I
      Have made to thy command? I, her? her blood?
      If it be so to do good service, never
15    Let me be counted serviceable. How look I,
      That I should seem to lack humanity
      so much as this fact comes to?

Reading

      'Do't: the letter
      that I have sent her, by her own command
20    Shall give thee opportunity.' O damn'd paper!
      Black as the ink that's on thee! Senseless bauble,
      Art thou a feodary for this act, and look'st
      So virgin-like without? Lo, here she comes.
      I am ignorant in what I am commanded.

Enter IMOGEN

IMOGEN

25 How now, Pisanio!

PISANIO

Madam, here is a letter from my lord.

IMOGEN

      Who? thy lord? that is my lord, Leonatus!
      O, learn'd indeed were that astronomer
      That knew the stars as I his characters;
30    He'ld lay the future open. You good gods,
      Let what is here contain'd relish of love,
      Of my lord's health, of his content, yet not
      That we two are asunder; let that grieve him:
      Some griefs are med'cinable; that is one of them,
35    For it doth physic love: of his content,
      All but in that! Good wax, thy leave. Blest be
      You bees that make these locks of counsel! Lovers
      And men in dangerous bonds pray not alike:
      Though forfeiters you cast in prison, yet
40    You clasp young Cupid's tables. Good news, gods!

Reads

      'Justice, and your father's wrath, should he take me
      in his dominion, could not be so cruel to me, as
      you, O the dearest of creatures, would even renew me
      with your eyes. Take notice that I am in Cambria,
45    at Milford-Haven: what your own love will out of
      this advise you, follow. So he wishes you all
      happiness, that remains loyal to his vow, and your,
      increasing in love,
      LEONATUS POSTHUMUS.'

50    O, for a horse with wings! Hear'st thou, Pisanio?
      He is at Milford-Haven: read, and tell me
      How far 'tis thither. If one of mean affairs
      May plod it in a week, why may not I
      Glide thither in a day? Then, true Pisanio,--
55    Who long'st, like me, to see thy lord; who long'st,--
      let me bate,-but not like me--yet long'st,
      But in a fainter kind:--O, not like me;
      For mine's beyond beyond--say, and speak thick;
      Love's counsellor should fill the bores of hearing,
60    To the smothering of the sense--how far it is
      To this same blessed Milford: and by the way
      Tell me how Wales was made so happy as
      To inherit such a haven: but first of all,
      How we may steal from hence, and for the gap
65    That we shall make in time, from our hence-going
      And our return, to excuse: but first, how get hence:
      Why should excuse be born or e'er begot?
      We'll talk of that hereafter. Prithee, speak,
      How many score of miles may we well ride
70    'Twixt hour and hour?

PISANIO

One score 'twixt sun and sun,
Madam, 's enough for you:

Aside

and too much too.

IMOGEN

      Why, one that rode to's execution, man,
75    Could never go so slow: I have heard of
      riding wagers,
      Where horses have been nimbler than the sands
      That run i' the clock's behalf. But this is foolery:
      Go bid my woman feign a sickness; say
80    She'll home to her father: and provide me presently
      A riding-suit, no costlier than would fit
      A franklin's housewife.

PISANIO

Madam, you're best consider.

IMOGEN

      I see before me, man: nor here, nor here,
85    Nor what ensues, but have a fog in them,
      That I cannot look through. Away, I prithee;
      Do as I bid thee: there's no more to say,
      Accessible is none but Milford way.

Exeunt

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