Yet still it’s strange
What Cloten’s being here to us portends,
Or what his death will bring us.
Enter Guiderius
GUIDERIUS Where’s my brother?
I have sent Cloten’s clotpoll230 down the stream
In embassy to his mother; his body’s hostage
For his return.
Solemn music
BELARIUS My ingenious233 instrument!
Hark, Polydore, it sounds: but what occasion234
Hath Cadwal now to give it motion?235 Hark!
GUIDERIUS Is he at home?
BELARIUS He went hence even now.
GUIDERIUS What does he mean? Since death of my dear’st mother
It did not speak239 before. All solemn things
Should answer solemn accidents.240 The matter?
Triumphs for nothing and lamenting toys241
Is jollity for apes and grief for boys.242
Is Cadwal mad?
Enter Arviragus, with Innogen dead, bearing her in his arms
BELARIUS Look, here he comes,
And brings the dire occasion in his arms
Of what we blame him for.
ARVIRAGUS The bird is dead
That we have made so much on.248 I had rather
Have skipped from sixteen years of age to sixty,
To have turned my leaping time into a crutch250,
Than have seen this.
GUIDERIUS O sweetest, fairest lily!
My brother wears thee not the one half so well253
As when thou grew’st thyself.
BELARIUS O melancholy,
Who ever yet could sound thy bottom? Find256
The ooze to show what coast thy sluggish crare257
Might easiliest harbour in?258 Thou blessèd thing,
Jove knows what man thou mightst have made: but, ay,
Thou died’st a most rare260 boy, of melancholy.
How found you him?
ARVIRAGUS Stark262, as you see:
Thus smiling, as some fly had tickled slumber263,
Not as death’s dart being laughed at264: his right cheek
Reposing on a cushion.
GUIDERIUS Where?
ARVIRAGUS O’th’floor:
His arms thus leagued268, I thought he slept, and put
My clouted brogues from off my feet, whose rudeness269
Answered my steps too loud.270
GUIDERIUS Why, he but271 sleeps:
If he be gone, he’ll make his grave a bed272:
With female fairies will his tomb be haunted,
And worms will not come to thee.
ARVIRAGUS With fairest flowers
Whilst summer lasts and I live here, Fidele,
I’ll sweeten thy sad grave: thou shalt not lack
The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor
The azured harebell279, like thy veins: no, nor
The leaf of eglantine280, whom not to slander,
Out-sweetened not thy breath: the ruddock281 would
With charitable bill — O bill sore shaming
Those rich-left heirs that let their fathers lie
Without a monument! — bring thee all this,
Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none,
To winter-ground286 thy corpse—
GUIDERIUS Prithee, have done,
And do not play in wench-like288 words with that
Which is so serious. Let us bury him,
And not protract with admiration290 what
Is now due debt.291 To th’grave.
ARVIRAGUS Say, where shall’s292 lay him?
GUIDERIUS By good Euriphile, our mother.
ARVIRAGUS Be’t so:
And let us, Polydore, though now our voices
Have got the mannish crack296, sing him to th’ground
As once our mother: use like297 note and words,
Save298 that Euriphile must be Fidele.
GUIDERIUS Cadwal,
I cannot sing: I’ll weep, and word300 it with thee,
For notes of sorrow out of tune are worse
Than priests and fanes302 that lie.
ARVIRAGUS We’ll speak it, then.
BELARIUS Great griefs, I see, med’cine the less304, for Cloten
Is quite forgot. He was a queen’s son, boys,
And though he came306 our enemy, remember
He was paid for that: though mean and mighty rotting307
Together have one dust, yet reverence308,
That angel of the world, doth make distinction
Of place ’tween high and low. Our foe was princely,
And though you took his life as being our foe,
Yet bury him as a prince.
GUIDERIUS Pray you fetch him hither.
Thersites’ body is as good as Ajax’314
When neither are alive.
ARVIRAGUS If you’ll go fetch him,
We’ll say our song the whilst.317 Brother, begin.
[Exit Belarius]
GUIDERIUS Nay, Cadwal, we must lay his head to th’east.318
My father hath a reason for’t.
ARVIRAGUS ’Tis true.
GUIDERIUS Come on then, and remove321 him.
ARVIRAGUS So, Begin.
Song
Spoken or chanted, not sung?
GUIDERIUS Fear no more the heat o’th’sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages,
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages.326
Golden lads and girls all must327,
As328 chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
ARVIRAGUS Fear no more the frown o’th’great,
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke,
Care no more to clothe and eat,
To thee the reed is as the oak.
The sceptre, learning, physic333, must
All follow this and come to dust.
GUIDERIUS Fear no more the lightning flash,
ARVIRAGUS Nor th’all-dreaded thunder-stone.336
GUIDERIUS Fear not slander, censure rash.
ARVIRAGUS Thou hast finished joy and moan.
BOTH All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee340 and come to dust.
GUIDERIUS No exorcizer341 harm thee,
ARVIRAGUS Nor no witchcraft charm342 thee.
GUIDERIUS Ghost unlaid forbear thee.343
ARVIRAGUS Nothing ill come near thee.
BOTH Quiet consummation345 have,
And renownèd be thy grave.
Enter Belarius with the body of Cloten
GUIDERIUS We have done our obsequies347: come, lay him down.
BELARIUS Here’s a few flowers, but ’bout midnight more:
The herbs that have on them cold dew o’th’night
Are strewings fitt’st for graves: upon their faces.350
You were as flowers, now withered: even so
These herblets shall352, which we upon you strew.
Come on, away, apart upon our knees353:
The ground that gave them first354 has them again:
Their pleasures here are past, so is their pain.
Exeunt [all but Innogen]
Awakes
INNOGEN Yes, sir, to Milford Haven, which is the way?
I thank you: by yond bush? Pray how far thither?
’Od’s pittikins358: can it be six mile yet?
I have gone359 all night: faith, I’ll lie down and sleep.
Sees Cloten’s body
But soft, no bedfellow!360 O gods and goddesses!
These flowers are like the pleasures of the world,
This bloody man the care on’t.362 I hope I dream:
For so363 I thought I was a cave-keeper,
And cook to honest creatures. But ’tis not so:
’Twas but a bolt365 of nothing, shot at nothing,
Which the brain makes of fumes.366 Our very eyes
Are sometimes like our judgements, blind. Good faith,
I tremble still with fear: but if there be
Yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity
As a wren’s eye, feared gods, a part370 of it!
The dream’s here still: even when I wake it is
Without me, as within me: not imagined, felt.372
A headless man? The garments of Posthumus?
I know the shape of’s leg: this is his hand:
His foot mercurial: his martial thigh:375
The brawns376 of Hercules: but his jovial face—
Murder in heaven! How? ’Tis gone. Pisanio,
All curses madded Hecuba378 gave the Greeks,
And mine to boot, be darted379 on thee! Thou,
Conspired with that irregulous380 devil, Cloten,
Hath here cut off my lord. To write and read
Be henceforth treacherous! Damned Pisanio
Hath with his forgèd letters — damned Pisanio —
From this most bravest vessel of384 the world
Struck the main-top!385 O Posthumus, alas,
Where is thy head? Where’s that? Ay me! Where’s that?
Pisanio might have killed thee at the heart,
And left this head on. How should this be, Pisanio?
’Tis he and Cloten: malice and lucre389 in them
Have laid this woe here. O, ’tis pregnant390, pregnant!
The drug he gave me, which he said was precious
And cordial392 to me, have I not found it
Murd’rous to th’senses? That confirms it home393:
This is Pisanio’s deed, and Cloten: O,
Give colour to my pale cheek with thy blood395,
That we the horrider396 may seem to those
Which chance397 to find us! O my lord, my lord!
Embraces the body
Enter Lucius, Captains and a Soothsayer
CAPTAIN To them the legions garrisoned in Gallia398
After your will have crossed the sea, attending399
You here at Milford Haven with your ships:
They are in readiness.
LUCIUS But what from Rome?
CAPTAIN The senate hath stirred up the confiners403
And gentlemen of Italy, most willing spirits,
That promise noble service: and they come
Under the conduct of bold Iachimo,
Siena’s407 brother.
LUCIUS When expect you them?
CAPTAIN With the next benefit409 o’th’wind.
LUCIUS This forwardness410
Makes our hopes fair. Command our present numbers
Be mustered: bid the captains look to’t. Now, sir,
What have you dreamed of late of this war’s purpose?413
SOOTHSAYER Last night the very gods showed me a vision —
I fast, and prayed for their intelligence415 — thus:
I saw Jove’s bird, the Roman eagle, winged416
From the spongy417 south to this part of the west,
There vanished in the sunbeams: which portends418 —
Unless my sins abuse my divination419 —
Success to th’Roman host.420
LUCIUS Dream often so,
Sees Cloten’s body
And never false.— Soft ho, what trunk422 is here?
Without his top? The ruin speaks423 that sometime
It was a worthy building. How, a page?
Or425 dead or sleeping on him? But dead rather:
For nature doth abhor426 to make his bed
With the defunct427, or sleep upon the dead.
Let’s see the boy’s face.
CAPTAIN He’s alive, my lord.
LUCIUS He’ll then instruct us of430 this body. Young one,
Inform us of thy fortunes, for it seems
They crave to be demanded432: who is this
Thou mak’st thy bloody pillow? Or who was he
That, otherwise than noble nature did,
Hath altered that good picture?435 What’s thy interest
In this sad wreck?436 How came’t? Who is’t?
What art thou?
INNOGEN I am nothing; or if not,
Nothing to be were better. This was my master,
A very valiant Briton, and a good,
That here by mountaineers lies slain. Alas,
There is442 no more such masters: I may wander
From east to occident, cry out for service443,
Try many, all good, serve truly, never
Find such another master.
LUCIUS ’Lack446, good youth,
Thou mov’st no less with thy complaining447 than
Thy master in bleeding: say his name, good friend.
Aside
INNOGEN Richard du Champ.— If I do lie and do
No harm by it, though the gods hear, I hope
They’ll pardon it.— Say you451, sir?
LUCIUS Thy name?
INNOGEN Fidele, sir.
LUCIUS Thou dost approve thyself the very same454:
Thy name well fits thy faith, thy faith thy name.
Wilt take thy chance with me? I will not say
Thou shalt be so well mastered, but be sure
No less beloved. The Roman emperor’s letters,
Sent by a consul to me, should not sooner
Than thine own worth prefer460 thee: go with me.
INNOGEN I’ll follow, sir. But first, an’t461 please the gods,
I’ll hide my master from the flies, as deep
As these poor pickaxes463 can dig: and when
With wildwood leaves and weeds I ha’ strewed his grave,
And on it said a century of465 prayers,
Such as I can466, twice o’er, I’ll weep and sigh,
And leaving so his service, follow you,
So please you entertain me.468
LUCIUS Ay, good youth,
And rather father thee than master thee.
My friends,
The boy hath taught us manly duties: let us
Find out the prettiest daisied plot we can,
And make him with our pikes and partisans474
A grave: come, arm him. Boy, he is preferred475
By thee to us, and he shall be interred
As soldiers can.477 Be cheerful, wipe thine eyes:
Some falls are means the happier to arise.
Exeunt
running scene 15
Enter Cymbeline, Lords and Pisanio [with Attendants]
CYMBELINE Again1, and bring me word how ’tis with her.
[Exit an Attendant]
A fever with2 the absence of her son,
A madness of3 which her life’s in danger: heavens,
How deeply you at once do touch4 me! Innogen,
The great part of my comfort, gone: my queen
Upon a desperate bed6, and in a time
When fearful wars point at me: her son gone,
So needful for this present.8 It strikes me, past
The hope of comfort. But for thee, fellow,
Who needs must know of her departure and
Dost seem so ignorant, we’ll enforce it from thee11
By a sharp torture.
PISANIO Sir, my life is yours,
I humbly set it at your will: but for my mistress,
I nothing know15 where she remains, why gone,
Nor when she purposes16 return. Beseech your highness,
Hold17 me your loyal servant.
FIRST LORD Good my liege,
The day that she was missing he was here:
I dare be bound he’s true, and shall perform
All parts of his subjection21 loyally. For Cloten,
There wants22 no diligence in seeking him,
And will23 no doubt be found.
CYMBELINE The time is troublesome.—
To Pisanio
We’ll slip you for a season, but our jealousy25
Does yet depend.26
FIRST LORD So please your majesty,
The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,
Are landed on your coast with a supply
Of Roman gentlemen30 by the senate sent.
CYMBELINE Now for31 the counsel of my son and queen!
I am amazed with matter.32
FIRST LORD Good my liege,
Your preparation can affront34 no less
Than what you hear of. Come more35, for more you’re ready:
The want is but36 to put those powers in motion
That long to move.
CYMBELINE I thank you: let’s withdraw
And meet the time as it seeks us. We fear not
What can from Italy annoy40 us, but
We grieve at chances41 here. Away.
Exeunt [all but Pisanio]
PISANIO I heard no letter42 from my master since
I wrote him Innogen was slain. ’Tis strange:
Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise
To yield me often tidings. Neither know I
What is betid46 to Cloten, but remain
Perplexed in all. The heavens still must work.
Wherein I am false I am honest: not true, to be true.
These present wars shall find49 I love my country,
Even to the note o’th’king, or I’ll fall50 in them.
All other doubts, by time let them be cleared:
Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.52
Exit
running scene 16
Enter Belarius, Guiderius and Arviragus
GUIDERIUS The noise1 is round about us.
BELARIUS Let us from it.
ARVIRAGUS What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it3
From action and adventure?
GUIDERIUS Nay, what hope
Have we in hiding us? This way6 the Romans
Must or for Britons slay us or receive us7
For barbarous and unnatural revolts
During their use, and slay us after.
BELARIUS Sons,
We’ll higher to the mountains, there secure us.11
To the king’s party there’s no going: newness
Of Cloten’s death — we being not known, not mustered13
Among the bands — may drive us to a render14
Where we have lived, and so extort from’s15 that
Which we have done, whose answer16 would be death
Drawn on with17 torture.
GUIDERIUS This is, sir, a doubt
In such a time nothing becoming you,
Nor satisfying us.
ARVIRAGUS It is not likely
That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
Behold their quartered fires23, have both their eyes
And ears so cloyed importantly24 as now,
That they will waste their time upon our note25,
To know from whence we are.
BELARIUS O, I am known
Of28 many in the army: many years,
Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore29 him
From my remembrance.30 And besides, the king
Hath not deserved my service nor your loves,
Who find in my exile the want of breeding32,
The certainty of this hard life, aye hopeless33
To have the courtesy your cradle34 promised,
But to be still hot summer’s tanlings35 and
The shrinking slaves of winter.36
GUIDERIUS Than be so,
Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th’army:
I and my brother are not known; yourself
So out of thought, and thereto so o’ergrown40,
Cannot be questioned.41
ARVIRAGUS By this sun that shines,
I’ll thither: what thing is’t43 that I never
Did see man die, scarce ever looked on blood
But that of coward hares, hot goats and venison!45
Never bestrid a horse, save one that had
A rider like myself, who ne’er wore rowel47
Nor iron48 on his heel! I am ashamed
To look upon the holy sun, to have
The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.
GUIDERIUS By heavens, I’ll go:
If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
I’ll take the better care54: but if you will not,
The hazard therefore due55 fall on me by
The hands of Romans.
ARVIRAGUS So say I, amen.
BELARIUS No reason I, since of your lives you set
So slight a valuation, should reserve
My cracked60 one to more care. Have with you, boys!
If in your country61 wars you chance to die,
That is my bed too, lads, and there I’ll lie.
Aside
Lead, lead.— The time seems long, their blood thinks63
scorn
Till it fly out and show them princes born.
Exeunt
running scene 17
Enter Posthumus alone
With a bloody handkerchief
POSTHUMUS Yea, bloody cloth1, I’ll keep thee: for I wished
Thou shouldst be coloured thus.
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