Cymbeline

1 Enter Cloten and Lords.
2 FIRST LORD.
3 Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that
4 ever turn’d up ace.
5 CLOTEN.
6 It would make any man cold to lose.
7 FIRST LORD.
8 But not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship. You
9 are most hot and furious when you win.
10 CLOTEN.
11 Winning will put any man into courage. If I could get this foolish
12 Imogen, I should have gold enough. It’s almost morning, is’t not?
13 FIRST LORD.
14 Day, my lord.
15 CLOTEN.
16 I would this music would come. I am advised to give her music a
17 mornings; they say it will penetrate.
18 Enter Musicians.
19 Come on, tune. If you can penetrate her with your fingering, so. We’ll
20 try with tongue too. If none will do, let her remain; but I’ll never
21 give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing; after, a
22 wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it, and then let her
23 consider.
24 SONG
25 Hark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
26 And Phœbus ’gins arise,
27 His steeds to water at those springs
28 On chalic’d flow’rs that lies;
29 And winking Mary-buds begin
30 To ope their golden eyes.
31 With everything that pretty is,
32 My lady sweet, arise;
33 Arise, arise!
34 CLOTEN.
35 So, get you gone. If this penetrate, I will consider your music the
36 better; if it do not, it is a vice in her ears which horsehairs and
37 calves’ guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot, can never amend.
38 [_Exeunt Musicians._]
39 Enter Cymbeline and Queen.
40 SECOND LORD.
41 Here comes the King.
42 CLOTEN.
43 I am glad I was up so late, for that’s the reason I was up so early. He
44 cannot choose but take this service I have done fatherly.—Good morrow
45 to your Majesty and to my gracious mother.
46 CYMBELINE.
47 Attend you here the door of our stern daughter?
48 Will she not forth?
49 CLOTEN.
50 I have assail’d her with musics, but she vouchsafes no notice.
51 CYMBELINE.
52 The exile of her minion is too new;
53 She hath not yet forgot him; some more time
54 Must wear the print of his remembrance on’t,
55 And then she’s yours.
56 QUEEN.
57 You are most bound to th’ King,
58 Who lets go by no vantages that may
59 Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself
60 To orderly solicits, and be friended
61 With aptness of the season; make denials
62 Increase your services; so seem as if
63 You were inspir’d to do those duties which
64 You tender to her; that you in all obey her,
65 Save when command to your dismission tends,
66 And therein you are senseless.
67 CLOTEN.
68 Senseless? Not so.
69 Enter a Messenger.
70 MESSENGER.
71 So like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome;
72 The one is Caius Lucius.
73 CYMBELINE.
74 A worthy fellow,
75 Albeit he comes on angry purpose now;
76 But that’s no fault of his. We must receive him
77 According to the honour of his sender;
78 And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us,
79 We must extend our notice. Our dear son,
80 When you have given good morning to your mistress,
81 Attend the Queen and us; we shall have need
82 T’ employ you towards this Roman. Come, our queen.
83 [_Exeunt all but Cloten._]
84 CLOTEN.
85 If she be up, I’ll speak with her; if not,
86 Let her lie still and dream. By your leave, ho!
87 [_Knocks._]
88 I know her women are about her; what
89 If I do line one of their hands? ’Tis gold
90 Which buys admittance (oft it doth) yea, and makes
91 Diana’s rangers false themselves, yield up
92 Their deer to th’ stand o’ th’ stealer; and ’tis gold
93 Which makes the true man kill’d and saves the thief;
94 Nay, sometime hangs both thief and true man. What
95 Can it not do and undo? I will make
96 One of her women lawyer to me, for
97 I yet not understand the case myself.
98 By your leave.
99 [_Knocks._]
100 Enter a Lady.
101 LADY.
102 Who’s there that knocks?
103 CLOTEN.
104 A gentleman.
105 LADY.
106 No more?
107 CLOTEN.
108 Yes, and a gentlewoman’s son.
109 LADY.
110 That’s more
111 Than some whose tailors are as dear as yours
112 Can justly boast of. What’s your lordship’s pleasure?
113 CLOTEN.
114 Your lady’s person; is she ready?
115 LADY.
116 Ay,
117 To keep her chamber.
118 CLOTEN.
119 There is gold for you; sell me your good report.
120 LADY.
121 How? My good name? or to report of you
122 What I shall think is good? The Princess!
123 Enter Imogen.
124 CLOTEN.
125 Good morrow, fairest sister. Your sweet hand.
126 [_Exit Lady._]
127 IMOGEN.
128 Good morrow, sir. You lay out too much pains
129 For purchasing but trouble. The thanks I give
130 Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
131 And scarce can spare them.
132 CLOTEN.
133 Still I swear I love you.
134 IMOGEN.
135 If you but said so, ’twere as deep with me.
136 If you swear still, your recompense is still
137 That I regard it not.
138 CLOTEN.
139 This is no answer.
140 IMOGEN.
141 But that you shall not say I yield, being silent,
142 I would not speak. I pray you spare me. Faith,
143 I shall unfold equal discourtesy
144 To your best kindness; one of your great knowing
145 Should learn, being taught, forbearance.
146 CLOTEN.
147 To leave you in your madness ’twere my sin;
148 I will not.
149 IMOGEN.
150 Fools are not mad folks.
151 CLOTEN.
152 Do you call me fool?
153 IMOGEN.
154 As I am mad, I do;
155 If you’ll be patient, I’ll no more be mad;
156 That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
157 You put me to forget a lady’s manners
158 By being so verbal; and learn now, for all,
159 That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce,
160 By th’ very truth of it, I care not for you,
161 And am so near the lack of charity
162 To accuse myself I hate you; which I had rather
163 You felt than make’t my boast.
164 CLOTEN.
165 You sin against
166 Obedience, which you owe your father. For
167 The contract you pretend with that base wretch,
168 One bred of alms and foster’d with cold dishes,
169 With scraps o’ th’ court, it is no contract, none.
170 And though it be allowed in meaner parties
171 (Yet who than he more mean?) to knit their souls
172 (On whom there is no more dependency
173 But brats and beggary) in self-figur’d knot,
174 Yet you are curb’d from that enlargement by
175 The consequence o’ th’ crown, and must not foil
176 The precious note of it with a base slave,
177 A hilding for a livery, a squire’s cloth,
178 A pantler; not so eminent!
179 IMOGEN.
180 Profane fellow!
181 Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more
182 But what thou art besides, thou wert too base
183 To be his groom. Thou wert dignified enough,
184 Even to the point of envy, if ’twere made
185 Comparative for your virtues to be styl’d
186 The under-hangman of his kingdom, and hated
187 For being preferr’d so well.
188 CLOTEN.
189 The south fog rot him!
190 IMOGEN.
191 He never can meet more mischance than come
192 To be but nam’d of thee. His mean’st garment
193 That ever hath but clipp’d his body, is dearer
194 In my respect, than all the hairs above thee,
195 Were they all made such men. How now, Pisanio!
196 Enter Pisanio.
197 CLOTEN.
198 ‘His garment’! Now the devil—
199 IMOGEN.
200 To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently.
201 CLOTEN.
202 ‘His garment’!
203 IMOGEN.
204 I am sprited with a fool;
205 Frighted, and ang’red worse. Go bid my woman
206 Search for a jewel that too casually
207 Hath left mine arm. It was thy master’s; shrew me,
208 If I would lose it for a revenue
209 Of any king’s in Europe! I do think
210 I saw’t this morning; confident I am
211 Last night ’twas on mine arm; I kiss’d it.
212 I hope it be not gone to tell my lord
213 That I kiss aught but he.
214 PISANIO.
215 ’Twill not be lost.
216 IMOGEN.
217 I hope so. Go and search.
218 [_Exit Pisanio._]
219 CLOTEN.
220 You have abus’d me.
221 ‘His meanest garment’!
222 IMOGEN.
223 Ay, I said so, sir.
224 If you will make ’t an action, call witness to ’t.
225 CLOTEN.
226 I will inform your father.
227 IMOGEN.
228 Your mother too.
229 She’s my good lady and will conceive, I hope,
230 But the worst of me. So I leave you, sir,
231 To th’ worst of discontent.
232 [_Exit._]
233 CLOTEN.
234 I’ll be reveng’d.
235 ‘His mean’st garment’! Well.
236 [_Exit._]