He had two sons (if this be worth your hearing, Mad. How long is this ago? Pisanio. Some twenty years. Mad. That a king's children should be so convey'd! So slackly guarded! And the search so slow, Pisanio. Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, We must forbear: Here comes the gentleman, [Exit MADAN. Enter the QUEEN, IMOGEN, and POSTHUMUS. Queen. No, be assured, you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most step-mothers, Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience Post. 'Please your highness, I will from hence to-day. Queen. You know the peril : I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charged you should not speak together. [Exit. Imog. O, Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband, You must begone; And I shall here abide the hourly shot Post. My queen! my mistress! O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause Than doth become a man! I will remain Enter QUEEN. Queen. Be brief, I pray you; If the king come, I shall incur I know not How much of his displeasure :-Yet, I'll move him To walk this way: I never do him wrong, Post. Should we be taking leave As long a term, as yet we have to live, The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu! Were you but riding forth to air yourself, [Aside, [Exit. Such parting were too petty. Look here, love; When Imogen is dead. Post. How!-how! another? You gentle gods, give me but this I have, And sear up my embracements from a next, With bonds of death!-Remain, remain thou here, [Putting on the Ring. While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest, [Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. Upon this fairest prisoner. Imog. O, the gods! When shall we see again? Enter CYMBELINE, MADAN, and LOCRINE. Post. Alack, the king! Cym. Thou basest thing! avoid-hence, from my sight! If, after this command, thou fraught the court Post. The gods protect you! And bless the good remainders of the court! I am gone. Imog. There cannot be a pinch in death More sharp than this is. Pisanio, go, and see your lord on board. Cym. O, disloyal thing, [Exit. [Exit PISANIO. That should'st repair my youth! thou heapest many A year's age on me. Imog. I beseech you, sir, Harm not yourself with your vexation! I Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen! Imog. O bless'd, that I might not! Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne A seat for baseness. Imog. No; I rather added A lustre to it. Cym. O thou vile one! It is your fault, that I have loved Posthumus : Cym. What, art thou mad? Imog. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me !-'Would A neatherd's daughter, and my Leonatus Enter QUEEN: Cym. Thou foolish thing! They were again together: you have done Queen. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace, Dear lady daughter, peace;-Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some com. fort Out of your best advice. Cym. Nay, let her languish A drop of blood a-day; and, being aged, Die of this folly. [Exeunt CYMBELINE, LOCRINE, and MADAN. Queen. Fie! you must give way. Enter PISANIO. Here is your servant, Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour, He will remain so. Pisanio. I humbly thank your highness. Imog. Well, good Pisanio, [Exit. Thou saw'st thy lord on board?What was the last That he spake to thee? Pisanio. 'Twas "His queen, his queen!" Imog. Senseless linen! happier therein than I! And that was all? Pisanio. No, madam; for so long As he could make me with this eye, Imog. Thou should'st have made him To after-eye him. Pisanio. Madam, so I did. Imog. I would have broke mine eye-strings, crack'd them, but To look upon him; till the diminution Of space, had pointed him sharp as my needle; The smallness of a gnat to air; and then Have turn'd mine eye and wept.-But, good Pisanio, When shall we hear from him? Pisanio. Be assured, madam, With his next vantage. Imog. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear Mine interest, and his honour; or have charged him, I am in heaven for him; or, ere I could B |