Cymbeline

1 Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pisanio, Lords,
2 Officers and Attendants.
3 CYMBELINE.
4 Stand by my side, you whom the gods have made
5 Preservers of my throne. Woe is my heart
6 That the poor soldier that so richly fought,
7 Whose rags sham’d gilded arms, whose naked breast
8 Stepp’d before targes of proof, cannot be found.
9 He shall be happy that can find him, if
10 Our grace can make him so.
11 BELARIUS.
12 I never saw
13 Such noble fury in so poor a thing;
14 Such precious deeds in one that promis’d nought
15 But beggary and poor looks.
16 CYMBELINE.
17 No tidings of him?
18 PISANIO.
19 He hath been search’d among the dead and living,
20 But no trace of him.
21 CYMBELINE.
22 To my grief, I am
23 The heir of his reward, [_To Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus_] which
24 I will add
25 To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain,
26 By whom I grant she lives. ’Tis now the time
27 To ask of whence you are. Report it.
28 BELARIUS.
29 Sir,
30 In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen;
31 Further to boast were neither true nor modest,
32 Unless I add we are honest.
33 CYMBELINE.
34 Bow your knees.
35 Arise my knights o’ th’ battle; I create you
36 Companions to our person, and will fit you
37 With dignities becoming your estates.
38 Enter Cornelius and Ladies.
39 There’s business in these faces. Why so sadly
40 Greet you our victory? You look like Romans,
41 And not o’ th’ court of Britain.
42 CORNELIUS.
43 Hail, great King!
44 To sour your happiness I must report
45 The Queen is dead.
46 CYMBELINE.
47 Who worse than a physician
48 Would this report become? But I consider
49 By med’cine life may be prolong’d, yet death
50 Will seize the doctor too. How ended she?
51 CORNELIUS.
52 With horror, madly dying, like her life;
53 Which, being cruel to the world, concluded
54 Most cruel to herself. What she confess’d
55 I will report, so please you; these her women
56 Can trip me if I err, who with wet cheeks
57 Were present when she finish’d.
58 CYMBELINE.
59 Prithee say.
60 CORNELIUS.
61 First, she confess’d she never lov’d you; only
62 Affected greatness got by you, not you;
63 Married your royalty, was wife to your place;
64 Abhorr’d your person.
65 CYMBELINE.
66 She alone knew this;
67 And but she spoke it dying, I would not
68 Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.
69 CORNELIUS.
70 Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to love
71 With such integrity, she did confess
72 Was as a scorpion to her sight; whose life,
73 But that her flight prevented it, she had
74 Ta’en off by poison.
75 CYMBELINE.
76 O most delicate fiend!
77 Who is’t can read a woman? Is there more?
78 CORNELIUS.
79 More, sir, and worse. She did confess she had
80 For you a mortal mineral, which, being took,
81 Should by the minute feed on life, and ling’ring,
82 By inches waste you. In which time she purpos’d,
83 By watching, weeping, tendance, kissing, to
84 O’ercome you with her show; and in time,
85 When she had fitted you with her craft, to work
86 Her son into th’ adoption of the crown;
87 But failing of her end by his strange absence,
88 Grew shameless-desperate, open’d, in despite
89 Of heaven and men, her purposes, repented
90 The evils she hatch’d were not effected; so,
91 Despairing, died.
92 CYMBELINE.
93 Heard you all this, her women?
94 LADIES.
95 We did, so please your Highness.
96 CYMBELINE.
97 Mine eyes
98 Were not in fault, for she was beautiful;
99 Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart
100 That thought her like her seeming. It had been vicious
101 To have mistrusted her; yet, O my daughter!
102 That it was folly in me thou mayst say,
103 And prove it in thy feeling. Heaven mend all!
104 Enter Lucius, Iachimo, the Soothsayer and other Roman prisoners,
105 guarded; Posthumus behind, and Imogen.
106 Thou com’st not, Caius, now for tribute; that
107 The Britons have raz’d out, though with the loss
108 Of many a bold one, whose kinsmen have made suit
109 That their good souls may be appeas’d with slaughter
110 Of you their captives, which ourself have granted;
111 So think of your estate.
112 LUCIUS.
113 Consider, sir, the chance of war. The day
114 Was yours by accident; had it gone with us,
115 We should not, when the blood was cool, have threaten’d
116 Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods
117 Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives
118 May be call’d ransom, let it come. Sufficeth
119 A Roman with a Roman’s heart can suffer.
120 Augustus lives to think on’t; and so much
121 For my peculiar care. This one thing only
122 I will entreat: my boy, a Briton born,
123 Let him be ransom’d. Never master had
124 A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,
125 So tender over his occasions, true,
126 So feat, so nurse-like; let his virtue join
127 With my request, which I’ll make bold your Highness
128 Cannot deny; he hath done no Briton harm
129 Though he have serv’d a Roman. Save him, sir,
130 And spare no blood beside.
131 CYMBELINE.
132 I have surely seen him;
133 His favour is familiar to me. Boy,
134 Thou hast look’d thyself into my grace,
135 And art mine own. I know not why, wherefore
136 To say “Live, boy.” Ne’er thank thy master. Live;
137 And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt,
138 Fitting my bounty and thy state, I’ll give it;
139 Yea, though thou do demand a prisoner,
140 The noblest ta’en.
141 IMOGEN.
142 I humbly thank your Highness.
143 LUCIUS.
144 I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad,
145 And yet I know thou wilt.
146 IMOGEN.
147 No, no! Alack,
148 There’s other work in hand. I see a thing
149 Bitter to me as death; your life, good master,
150 Must shuffle for itself.
151 LUCIUS.
152 The boy disdains me,
153 He leaves me, scorns me. Briefly die their joys
154 That place them on the truth of girls and boys.
155 Why stands he so perplex’d?
156 CYMBELINE.
157 What wouldst thou, boy?
158 I love thee more and more; think more and more
159 What’s best to ask. Know’st him thou look’st on? Speak,
160 Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend?
161 IMOGEN.
162 He is a Roman, no more kin to me
163 Than I to your Highness; who, being born your vassal,
164 Am something nearer.
165 CYMBELINE.
166 Wherefore ey’st him so?
167 IMOGEN.
168 I’ll tell you, sir, in private, if you please
169 To give me hearing.
170 CYMBELINE.
171 Ay, with all my heart,
172 And lend my best attention. What’s thy name?
173 IMOGEN.
174 Fidele, sir.
175 CYMBELINE.
176 Thou’rt my good youth, my page;
177 I’ll be thy master. Walk with me; speak freely.
178 [_Cymbeline and Imogen converse apart._]
179 BELARIUS.
180 Is not this boy reviv’d from death?
181 ARVIRAGUS.
182 One sand another
183 Not more resembles that sweet rosy lad
184 Who died and was Fidele. What think you?
185 GUIDERIUS.
186 The same dead thing alive.
187 BELARIUS.
188 Peace, peace! see further. He eyes us not; forbear.
189 Creatures may be alike; were’t he, I am sure
190 He would have spoke to us.
191 GUIDERIUS.
192 But we see him dead.
193 BELARIUS.
194 Be silent; let’s see further.
195 PISANIO.
196 [_Aside._] It is my mistress.
197 Since she is living, let the time run on
198 To good or bad.
199 [_Cymbeline and Imogen advance._]
200 CYMBELINE.
201 Come, stand thou by our side;
202 Make thy demand aloud. [_To Iachimo._] Sir, step you forth;
203 Give answer to this boy, and do it freely,
204 Or, by our greatness and the grace of it,
205 Which is our honour, bitter torture shall
206 Winnow the truth from falsehood. On, speak to him.
207 IMOGEN.
208 My boon is that this gentleman may render
209 Of whom he had this ring.
210 POSTHUMUS.
211 [_Aside._] What’s that to him?
212 CYMBELINE.
213 That diamond upon your finger, say
214 How came it yours?
215 IACHIMO.
216 Thou’lt torture me to leave unspoken that
217 Which to be spoke would torture thee.
218 CYMBELINE.
219 How? me?
220 IACHIMO.
221 I am glad to be constrain’d to utter that
222 Which torments me to conceal. By villainy
223 I got this ring; ’twas Leonatus’ jewel,
224 Whom thou didst banish; and—which more may grieve thee,
225 As it doth me—a nobler sir ne’er liv’d
226 ’Twixt sky and ground. Wilt thou hear more, my lord?
227 CYMBELINE.
228 All that belongs to this.
229 IACHIMO.
230 That paragon, thy daughter,
231 For whom my heart drops blood and my false spirits
232 Quail to remember—Give me leave, I faint.
233 CYMBELINE.
234 My daughter? What of her? Renew thy strength;
235 I had rather thou shouldst live while nature will
236 Than die ere I hear more. Strive, man, and speak.
237 IACHIMO.
238 Upon a time, unhappy was the clock
239 That struck the hour: was in Rome, accurs’d
240 The mansion where: ’twas at a feast, O, would
241 Our viands had been poison’d (or at least
242 Those which I heav’d to head) the good Posthumus
243 (What should I say? he was too good to be
244 Where ill men were, and was the best of all
245 Amongst the rar’st of good ones) sitting sadly
246 Hearing us praise our loves of Italy
247 For beauty that made barren the swell’d boast
248 Of him that best could speak; for feature, laming
249 The shrine of Venus or straight-pight Minerva,
250 Postures beyond brief nature; for condition,
251 A shop of all the qualities that man
252 Loves woman for; besides that hook of wiving,
253 Fairness which strikes the eye.
254 CYMBELINE.
255 I stand on fire.
256 Come to the matter.
257 IACHIMO.
258 All too soon I shall,
259 Unless thou wouldst grieve quickly. This Posthumus,
260 Most like a noble lord in love and one
261 That had a royal lover, took his hint;
262 And (not dispraising whom we prais’d, therein
263 He was as calm as virtue) he began
264 His mistress’ picture; which by his tongue being made,
265 And then a mind put in’t, either our brags
266 Were crack’d of kitchen trulls, or his description
267 Prov’d us unspeaking sots.
268 CYMBELINE.
269 Nay, nay, to th’ purpose.
270 IACHIMO.
271 Your daughter’s chastity (there it begins)
272 He spake of her as Dian had hot dreams
273 And she alone were cold; whereat I, wretch,
274 Made scruple of his praise, and wager’d with him
275 Pieces of gold ’gainst this which then he wore
276 Upon his honour’d finger, to attain
277 In suit the place of’s bed, and win this ring
278 By hers and mine adultery. He, true knight,
279 No lesser of her honour confident
280 Than I did truly find her, stakes this ring;
281 And would so, had it been a carbuncle
282 Of Phoebus’ wheel; and might so safely, had it
283 Been all the worth of’s car. Away to Britain
284 Post I in this design. Well may you, sir,
285 Remember me at court, where I was taught
286 Of your chaste daughter the wide difference
287 ’Twixt amorous and villainous. Being thus quench’d
288 Of hope, not longing, mine Italian brain
289 Gan in your duller Britain operate
290 Most vilely; for my vantage, excellent;
291 And, to be brief, my practice so prevail’d
292 That I return’d with simular proof enough
293 To make the noble Leonatus mad,
294 By wounding his belief in her renown
295 With tokens thus and thus; averring notes
296 Of chamber-hanging, pictures, this her bracelet
297 (O cunning, how I got it!) nay, some marks
298 Of secret on her person, that he could not
299 But think her bond of chastity quite crack’d,
300 I having ta’en the forfeit. Whereupon
301 Methinks I see him now—
302 POSTHUMUS.
303 [_Coming forward._] Ay, so thou dost,
304 Italian fiend! Ay me, most credulous fool,
305 Egregious murderer, thief, anything
306 That’s due to all the villains past, in being,
307 To come! O, give me cord, or knife, or poison,
308 Some upright justicer! Thou, King, send out
309 For torturers ingenious. It is I
310 That all th’ abhorred things o’ th’ earth amend
311 By being worse than they. I am Posthumus,
312 That kill’d thy daughter; villain-like, I lie;
313 That caus’d a lesser villain than myself,
314 A sacrilegious thief, to do’t. The temple
315 Of virtue was she; yea, and she herself.
316 Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set
317 The dogs o’ th’ street to bay me. Every villain
318 Be call’d Posthumus Leonatus, and
319 Be villainy less than ’twas! O Imogen!
320 My queen, my life, my wife! O Imogen,
321 Imogen, Imogen!
322 IMOGEN.
323 Peace, my lord. Hear, hear!
324 POSTHUMUS.
325 Shall’s have a play of this? Thou scornful page,
326 There lies thy part.
327 [_Strikes her. She falls._]
328 PISANIO.
329 O gentlemen, help!
330 Mine and your mistress! O, my lord Posthumus!
331 You ne’er kill’d Imogen till now. Help, help!
332 Mine honour’d lady!
333 CYMBELINE.
334 Does the world go round?
335 POSTHUMUS.
336 How comes these staggers on me?
337 PISANIO.
338 Wake, my mistress!
339 CYMBELINE.
340 If this be so, the gods do mean to strike me
341 To death with mortal joy.
342 PISANIO.
343 How fares my mistress?
344 IMOGEN.
345 O, get thee from my sight;
346 Thou gav’st me poison. Dangerous fellow, hence!
347 Breathe not where princes are.
348 CYMBELINE.
349 The tune of Imogen!
350 PISANIO.
351 Lady,
352 The gods throw stones of sulphur on me, if
353 That box I gave you was not thought by me
354 A precious thing! I had it from the Queen.
355 CYMBELINE.
356 New matter still?
357 IMOGEN.
358 It poison’d me.
359 CORNELIUS.
360 O gods!
361 I left out one thing which the Queen confess’d,
362 Which must approve thee honest. ‘If Pisanio
363 Have’ said she ‘given his mistress that confection
364 Which I gave him for cordial, she is serv’d
365 As I would serve a rat.’
366 CYMBELINE.
367 What’s this, Cornelius?
368 CORNELIUS.
369 The Queen, sir, very oft importun’d me
370 To temper poisons for her; still pretending
371 The satisfaction of her knowledge only
372 In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs,
373 Of no esteem. I, dreading that her purpose
374 Was of more danger, did compound for her
375 A certain stuff, which, being ta’en would cease
376 The present pow’r of life, but in short time
377 All offices of nature should again
378 Do their due functions. Have you ta’en of it?
379 IMOGEN.
380 Most like I did, for I was dead.
381 BELARIUS.
382 My boys,
383 There was our error.
384 GUIDERIUS.
385 This is sure Fidele.
386 IMOGEN.
387 Why did you throw your wedded lady from you?
388 Think that you are upon a rock, and now
389 Throw me again.
390 [_Embracing him._]
391 POSTHUMUS.
392 Hang there like fruit, my soul,
393 Till the tree die!
394 CYMBELINE.
395 How now, my flesh? my child?
396 What, mak’st thou me a dullard in this act?
397 Wilt thou not speak to me?
398 IMOGEN.
399 [_Kneeling._] Your blessing, sir.
400 BELARIUS.
401 [_To Guiderius and Arviragus._] Though you did love this youth, I blame
402 ye not;
403 You had a motive for’t.
404 CYMBELINE.
405 My tears that fall
406 Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,
407 Thy mother’s dead.
408 IMOGEN.
409 I am sorry for’t, my lord.
410 CYMBELINE.
411 O, she was naught, and long of her it was
412 That we meet here so strangely; but her son
413 Is gone, we know not how nor where.
414 PISANIO.
415 My lord,
416 Now fear is from me, I’ll speak troth. Lord Cloten,
417 Upon my lady’s missing, came to me
418 With his sword drawn, foam’d at the mouth, and swore,
419 If I discover’d not which way she was gone,
420 It was my instant death. By accident
421 I had a feigned letter of my master’s
422 Then in my pocket, which directed him
423 To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;
424 Where, in a frenzy, in my master’s garments,
425 Which he enforc’d from me, away he posts
426 With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
427 My lady’s honour. What became of him
428 I further know not.
429 GUIDERIUS.
430 Let me end the story:
431 I slew him there.
432 CYMBELINE.
433 Marry, the gods forfend!
434 I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
435 Pluck a hard sentence. Prithee, valiant youth,
436 Deny’t again.
437 GUIDERIUS.
438 I have spoke it, and I did it.
439 CYMBELINE.
440 He was a prince.
441 GUIDERIUS.
442 A most incivil one. The wrongs he did me
443 Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
444 With language that would make me spurn the sea,
445 If it could so roar to me. I cut off’s head,
446 And am right glad he is not standing here
447 To tell this tale of mine.
448 CYMBELINE.
449 I am sorry for thee.
450 By thine own tongue thou art condemn’d, and must
451 Endure our law. Thou’rt dead.
452 IMOGEN.
453 That headless man
454 I thought had been my lord.
455 CYMBELINE.
456 Bind the offender,
457 And take him from our presence.
458 BELARIUS.
459 Stay, sir King.
460 This man is better than the man he slew,
461 As well descended as thyself, and hath
462 More of thee merited than a band of Clotens
463 Had ever scar for. [_To the guard._] Let his arms alone;
464 They were not born for bondage.
465 CYMBELINE.
466 Why, old soldier,
467 Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for
468 By tasting of our wrath? How of descent
469 As good as we?
470 ARVIRAGUS.
471 In that he spake too far.
472 CYMBELINE.
473 And thou shalt die for’t.
474 BELARIUS.
475 We will die all three;
476 But I will prove that two on’s are as good
477 As I have given out him. My sons, I must
478 For mine own part unfold a dangerous speech,
479 Though haply well for you.
480 ARVIRAGUS.
481 Your danger’s ours.
482 GUIDERIUS.
483 And our good his.
484 BELARIUS.
485 Have at it then by leave!
486 Thou hadst, great King, a subject who
487 Was call’d Belarius.
488 CYMBELINE.
489 What of him? He is
490 A banish’d traitor.
491 BELARIUS.
492 He it is that hath
493 Assum’d this age; indeed a banish’d man;
494 I know not how a traitor.
495 CYMBELINE.
496 Take him hence,
497 The whole world shall not save him.
498 BELARIUS.
499 Not too hot.
500 First pay me for the nursing of thy sons,
501 And let it be confiscate all, so soon
502 As I have receiv’d it.
503 CYMBELINE.
504 Nursing of my sons?
505 BELARIUS.
506 I am too blunt and saucy: here’s my knee.
507 Ere I arise I will prefer my sons;
508 Then spare not the old father. Mighty sir,
509 These two young gentlemen that call me father,
510 And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
511 They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
512 And blood of your begetting.
513 CYMBELINE.
514 How? my issue?
515 BELARIUS.
516 So sure as you your father’s. I, old Morgan,
517 Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish’d.
518 Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punishment
519 Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer’d
520 Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
521 (For such and so they are) these twenty years
522 Have I train’d up; those arts they have as I
523 Could put into them. My breeding was, sir, as
524 Your Highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
525 Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
526 Upon my banishment; I mov’d her to’t,
527 Having receiv’d the punishment before
528 For that which I did then. Beaten for loyalty
529 Excited me to treason. Their dear loss,
530 The more of you ’twas felt, the more it shap’d
531 Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
532 Here are your sons again, and I must lose
533 Two of the sweet’st companions in the world.
534 The benediction of these covering heavens
535 Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
536 To inlay heaven with stars.
537 CYMBELINE.
538 Thou weep’st and speak’st.
539 The service that you three have done is more
540 Unlike than this thou tell’st. I lost my children.
541 If these be they, I know not how to wish
542 A pair of worthier sons.
543 BELARIUS.
544 Be pleas’d awhile.
545 This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,
546 Most worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius;
547 This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,
548 Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lapp’d
549 In a most curious mantle, wrought by th’ hand
550 Of his queen mother, which for more probation
551 I can with ease produce.
552 CYMBELINE.
553 Guiderius had
554 Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;
555 It was a mark of wonder.
556 BELARIUS.
557 This is he,
558 Who hath upon him still that natural stamp.
559 It was wise nature’s end in the donation,
560 To be his evidence now.
561 CYMBELINE.
562 O, what am I?
563 A mother to the birth of three? Ne’er mother
564 Rejoic’d deliverance more. Blest pray you be,
565 That, after this strange starting from your orbs,
566 You may reign in them now! O Imogen,
567 Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.
568 IMOGEN.
569 No, my lord;
570 I have got two worlds by’t. O my gentle brothers,
571 Have we thus met? O, never say hereafter
572 But I am truest speaker! You call’d me brother,
573 When I was but your sister: I you brothers,
574 When we were so indeed.
575 CYMBELINE.
576 Did you e’er meet?
577 ARVIRAGUS.
578 Ay, my good lord.
579 GUIDERIUS.
580 And at first meeting lov’d,
581 Continu’d so until we thought he died.
582 CORNELIUS.
583 By the Queen’s dram she swallow’d.
584 CYMBELINE.
585 O rare instinct!
586 When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridgement
587 Hath to it circumstantial branches, which
588 Distinction should be rich in. Where? how liv’d you?
589 And when came you to serve our Roman captive?
590 How parted with your brothers? how first met them?
591 Why fled you from the court? and whither? These,
592 And your three motives to the battle, with
593 I know not how much more, should be demanded,
594 And all the other by-dependances,
595 From chance to chance; but nor the time nor place
596 Will serve our long interrogatories. See,
597 Posthumus anchors upon Imogen;
598 And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye
599 On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting
600 Each object with a joy; the counterchange
601 Is severally in all. Let’s quit this ground,
602 And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.
603 [_To Belarius._] Thou art my brother; so we’ll hold thee ever.
604 IMOGEN.
605 You are my father too, and did relieve me
606 To see this gracious season.
607 CYMBELINE.
608 All o’erjoy’d
609 Save these in bonds. Let them be joyful too,
610 For they shall taste our comfort.
611 IMOGEN.
612 My good master,
613 I will yet do you service.
614 LUCIUS.
615 Happy be you!
616 CYMBELINE.
617 The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought,
618 He would have well becom’d this place and grac’d
619 The thankings of a king.
620 POSTHUMUS.
621 I am, sir,
622 The soldier that did company these three
623 In poor beseeming; ’twas a fitment for
624 The purpose I then follow’d. That I was he,
625 Speak, Iachimo. I had you down, and might
626 Have made you finish.
627 IACHIMO.
628 [_Kneeling._] I am down again;
629 But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
630 As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,
631 Which I so often owe; but your ring first,
632 And here the bracelet of the truest princess
633 That ever swore her faith.
634 POSTHUMUS.
635 Kneel not to me.
636 The pow’r that I have on you is to spare you;
637 The malice towards you to forgive you. Live,
638 And deal with others better.
639 CYMBELINE.
640 Nobly doom’d!
641 We’ll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;
642 Pardon’s the word to all.
643 ARVIRAGUS.
644 You holp us, sir,
645 As you did mean indeed to be our brother;
646 Joy’d are we that you are.
647 POSTHUMUS.
648 Your servant, Princes. Good my lord of Rome,
649 Call forth your soothsayer. As I slept, methought
650 Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back’d,
651 Appear’d to me, with other spritely shows
652 Of mine own kindred. When I wak’d, I found
653 This label on my bosom; whose containing
654 Is so from sense in hardness that I can
655 Make no collection of it. Let him show
656 His skill in the construction.
657 LUCIUS.
658 Philarmonus!
659 SOOTHSAYER.
660 Here, my good lord.
661 LUCIUS.
662 Read, and declare the meaning.
663 SOOTHSAYER.
664 [_Reads._] _When as a lion’s whelp shall, to himself unknown, without
665 seeking find, and be embrac’d by a piece of tender air; and when from a
666 stately cedar shall be lopp’d branches which, being dead many years,
667 shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then
668 shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in
669 peace and plenty._
670 Thou, Leonatus, art the lion’s whelp;
671 The fit and apt construction of thy name,
672 Being Leo-natus, doth import so much.
673 [_To Cymbeline_] The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter,
674 Which we call _mollis aer_, and _mollis aer_
675 We term it _mulier_; which _mulier_ I divine
676 Is this most constant wife, who even now
677 Answering the letter of the oracle,
678 Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp’d about
679 With this most tender air.
680 CYMBELINE.
681 This hath some seeming.
682 SOOTHSAYER.
683 The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
684 Personates thee; and thy lopp’d branches point
685 Thy two sons forth, who, by Belarius stol’n,
686 For many years thought dead, are now reviv’d,
687 To the majestic cedar join’d, whose issue
688 Promises Britain peace and plenty.
689 CYMBELINE.
690 Well,
691 My peace we will begin. And, Caius Lucius,
692 Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar
693 And to the Roman empire, promising
694 To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
695 We were dissuaded by our wicked queen,
696 Whom heavens in justice, both on her and hers,
697 Have laid most heavy hand.
698 SOOTHSAYER.
699 The fingers of the pow’rs above do tune
700 The harmony of this peace. The vision
701 Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke
702 Of yet this scarce-cold battle, at this instant
703 Is full accomplish’d; for the Roman eagle,
704 From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
705 Lessen’d herself and in the beams o’ th’ sun
706 So vanish’d; which foreshow’d our princely eagle,
707 Th’ imperial Cæsar, should again unite
708 His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
709 Which shines here in the west.
710 CYMBELINE.
711 Laud we the gods;
712 And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils
713 From our bless’d altars. Publish we this peace
714 To all our subjects. Set we forward; let
715 A Roman and a British ensign wave
716 Friendly together. So through Lud’s Town march;
717 And in the temple of great Jupiter
718 Our peace we’ll ratify; seal it with feasts.
719 Set on there! Never was a war did cease,
720 Ere bloody hands were wash’d, with such a peace.
721 [_Exeunt._]