Come, go.
SECOND LORD I’ll attend your lordship.—
Exeunt [Cloten and First Lord]
That such a crafty devil as is his mother
Should yield the world this ass: a woman that
Bears all down52 with her brain, and this her son
Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart53,
And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,
Thou divine Innogen, what thou endur’st,
Betwixt56 a father by thy stepdame governed,
A mother hourly coining57 plots, a wooer
More hateful than the foul expulsion58 is
Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act
Of the divorce he’d make!60 The heavens hold firm
The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshaked
That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand,
T’enjoy thy banished lord and this great land.
Exit
Act 2 Scene 2
running scene 5
Enter Innogen in her bed, and a Lady
A trunk is brought in
INNOGEN Who’s there? My woman Helen?
LADY Please you, madam.
INNOGEN What hour is it?
LADY Almost midnight, madam.
INNOGEN I have read three hours then: mine eyes are weak.5
Gives her the book
Fold down the leaf where I have left6: to bed.
Take not away the taper7, leave it burning:
And if thou canst awake by four o’th’clock,
I prithee call me.— Sleep hath seized me wholly.
[Exit Lady]
To your protection I commend me, gods,
From fairies and the tempters of the night.11
Guard me, beseech ye.
Sleeps
Iachimo from the trunk
IACHIMO The crickets sing, and man’s o’er-laboured sense13
Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin14 thus
Did softly press the rushes, ere15 he wakened
The chastity he wounded. Cytherea16,
How bravely thou becom’st thy bed; fresh lily17,
And whiter than the sheets: that I might touch,
But kiss, one kiss! Rubies unparagoned19,
How dearly they do’t!20 ’Tis her breathing that
Perfumes the chamber thus: the flame o’th’taper
Bows toward her, and would underpeep her lids22
To see th’enclosèd lights, now canopied23
Under these windows, white and azure laced24
With blue of heaven’s own tinct. But my design25:
To note the chamber. I will write all down.
Writes
Such and such pictures, there the window, such
Th’adornment of her bed; the arras, figures28,
Why, such and such: and the contents29 o’th’story.
Ah, but some natural notes about30 her body,
Above ten thousand meaner movables31
Would testify t’enrich mine inventory.32
O sleep, thou ape of death, lie dull33 upon her,
And be her sense but as a monument34
Thus in a chapel lying. Come off, come off;
Takes off her bracelet
As slippery as the Gordian knot was hard.36
’Tis mine, and this will witness outwardly37,
As strongly as the conscience does within,
To th’madding39 of her lord. On her left breast
A mole cinque-spotted: like the crimson drops40
I’th’bottom of a cowslip. Here’s a voucher41
Stronger than ever law could make; this secret42
Will force him think I have picked43 the lock and ta’en
The treasure of her honour. No more: to what end?
Why should I write this down that’s riveted,
Screwed to my memory? She hath been reading late,
The tale of Tereus.47 Here the leaf’s turned down
Where Philomel gave up.48 I have enough.
To th’trunk again, and shut the spring49 of it.
Swift, swift, you dragons of the night, that dawning50
May bare the raven’s eye! I lodge in fear:
Though this52 a heavenly angel, hell is here.
Clock strikes
One, two, three: time, time!
Exit [into the trunk]
Bed and trunk removed
Act 2 Scene 3
running scene 5 continues
Enter Cloten and Lords
FIRST LORD Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the
most coldest that ever turned up ace.2
CLOTEN It would make any man cold3 to lose.
FIRST LORD But not every man patient after the noble temper4 of
your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.
CLOTEN Winning will put any man into courage. If I could
get this foolish Innogen, I should have gold enough. It’s
almost morning, is’t not?
FIRST LORD Day, my lord.
CLOTEN I would this music would come: I am advised to give
her music o’ mornings, they say it will penetrate.11—
Enter Musicians
Come on, tune: if you can penetrate her with your fingering12,
so: we’ll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain13:
but I’ll never give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited14
thing; after, a wonderful sweet air15, with admirable rich words
to it, and then let her consider.
Song
Sung by either Cloten or a Musician
Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ’gins18 arise,
His steeds to water at those springs19
On chaliced20 flowers that lies:
And winking Mary-buds21 begin to ope their golden eyes
With everything that pretty is, my lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise.
CLOTEN So, get you gone: if this penetrate, I will consider
your music the better: if it do not, it is a vice in her ears
which horsehairs and calves’ guts, nor the voice of unpaved26
eunuch to boot27, can never amend.
[Exeunt Musicians]
Enter Cymbeline and Queen
SECOND LORD Here comes the king.
CLOTEN I am glad I was up so late, for that’s the reason I was
up so early: he cannot choose but take this service I have
done fatherly.31— Good morrow to your majesty and to my
gracious mother.
CYMBELINE Attend you here33 the door of our stern daughter?
Will she not forth?
CLOTEN I have assailed her with musics, but she vouchsafes35
no notice.
CYMBELINE The exile of her minion37 is too new,
She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
Must wear39 the print of his remembrance on’t,
And then she’s yours.
QUEEN You are most bound41 to th’king,
Who lets go by no vantages42 that may
Prefer you to his daughter: frame yourself43
To orderly solicits, and be friended44
With aptness of the season: make denials45
Increase your services: so seem, as if
You were inspired to do those duties which
You tender to her: that you in all obey her,
Save when command to your dismission49 tends,
And therein you are senseless.50
CLOTEN Senseless? Not so.
[Enter a Messenger]
MESSENGER So like you52, sir, ambassadors from Rome;
The one is Caius Lucius.
CYMBELINE A worthy fellow,
Albeit55 he comes on angry purpose now;
But that’s no fault of his: we must receive56 him
According to the honour of his sender57,
And towards himself, his goodness forspent58 on us,
We must extend our notice.59 Our dear son,
When you have given good morning to your mistress,
Attend the queen and us. We shall have need
T’employ you towards this Roman.— Come, our queen.
Exeunt [all but Cloten]
CLOTEN If she be up, I’ll speak with her: if not,
Let her lie still and dream.— By your leave, ho!—
Knocks
I know her women are about her: what
If I do line66 one of their hands? ’Tis gold
Which buys admittance — oft it doth — yea, and makes
Diana’s rangers false68 themselves, yield up
Their deer to th’stand o’th’stealer69: and ’tis gold
Which makes the true70 man killed and saves the thief:
Nay, sometime hangs both thief and true man: what
Can it not do and undo? I will make
One of her women lawyer to me73, for
I yet not understand the case74 myself.—
Knocks
By your leave.
Enter a Lady
LADY Who’s there that knocks?
CLOTEN A gentleman.
LADY No more?
CLOTEN Yes, and a gentlewoman’s son.
LADY That’s more80
Than some whose tailors are as dear as yours
Can justly boast of: what’s your lordship’s pleasure?
CLOTEN Your lady’s person: is she ready?
LADY Ay,
To keep85 her chamber.
CLOTEN There is gold for you,
Gives money
Sell me your good report.87
LADY How, my good name? Or to report of you
What I shall think is good? The princess.
Enter Innogen
CLOTEN Good morrow, fairest: sister, your90 sweet hand.
[Exit Lady]
INNOGEN Good morrow, sir. You lay out91 too much pains
For purchasing but92 trouble: the thanks I give
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.
CLOTEN Still I swear I love you.
INNOGEN If you but said so, ’twere as deep96 with me:
If you swear still97, your recompense is still
That I regard it not.
CLOTEN This is no answer.
INNOGEN But that you shall not say I yield being silent100,
I would not speak. I pray you spare me: faith,
I shall unfold102 equal discourtesy
To your best kindness: one of your great knowing103
Should learn, being taught, forbearance.
CLOTEN To leave you in your madness, ’twere my sin:
I will not.
INNOGEN Fools cure not mad folks.
CLOTEN Do you call me fool?
INNOGEN As I am mad, I do:
If you’ll be patient, I’ll no more be mad.
That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,
You put me112 to forget a lady’s manners
By being so verbal113: and learn now, for all,
That I, which114 know my heart, do here pronounce
By th’very truth of it, I care not for you,
And am so near the lack of charity
To accuse myself I hate you, which I had rather
You felt than make’t my boast.118
CLOTEN You sin against
Obedience, which you owe your father. For
The contract you pretend with that base wretch121,
One bred of alms122 and fostered with cold dishes,
With scraps o’th’court, it is no contract, none:
And though it be allowed in meaner parties124 —
Yet who than he more mean? — to knit their souls,
On whom there is no more dependency
But brats and beggary, in self-figured knot127,
Yet you are curbed from that enlargement128 by
The consequence o’th’crown, and must not foil129
The precious note130 of it with a base slave,
A hilding for a livery, a squire’s cloth131,
A pantler132; not so eminent.
INNOGEN Profane fellow,
Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more
But what thou art besides, thou wert135 too base
To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough136,
Even to the point of envy, if ’twere made
Comparative for your virtues, to be styled138
The under-hangman139 of his kingdom, and hated
For being preferred so well.140
CLOTEN The south-fog141 rot him!
INNOGEN He never can meet more mischance than come
To be but named of thee. His meanest garment143
That ever hath but clipped144 his body is dearer
In my respect than all the hairs above thee,
Were they all made such men.146— How now, Pisanio?
Enter Pisanio
CLOTEN His garment? Now the devil—
To Pisanio
INNOGEN To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently.
CLOTEN His garment?
INNOGEN I am sprited with150 a fool,
Frighted and angered worse: go bid my woman
Search for a jewel that too casually
Hath left mine arm: it was thy master’s. ’Shrew153 me
If I would lose it for a revenue
Of any king’s in Europe. I do think
I saw’t this morning: confident I am.
Last night ’twas on mine arm; I kissed it.
I hope it be not gone to tell my lord
That I kiss aught159 but he.
PISANIO ’Twill not be lost.
INNOGEN I hope so: go and search.
[Exit Pisanio]
CLOTEN You have abused me:
His meanest garment?
INNOGEN Ay, I said so, sir:
If you will make’t an action165, call witness to’t.
CLOTEN I will inform your father.
INNOGEN Your mother too:
She’s my good lady, and will conceive, I hope168,
But the worst of me. So, I leave you, sir,
To th’worst of discontent.
Exit
CLOTEN I’ll be revenged:
His meanest garment? Well.
Exit
running scene 6
Enter Posthumus and Philario
POSTHUMUS Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure
To win the king as I am bold2 her honour
Will remain hers.
PHILARIO What means4 do you make to him?
POSTHUMUS Not any: but abide the change of time,
Quake in the present winter’s state6 and wish
That warmer days would come: in these seared7 hopes
I barely gratify your love; they failing8,
I must die much your debtor.
PHILARIO Your very goodness and your company
O’erpays all I can do. By this11 your king
Hath heard of12 great Augustus: Caius Lucius
Will do’s commission throughly.13 And I think
He’ll grant the tribute: send th’arrearages14,
Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance15
Is yet16 fresh in their grief.
POSTHUMUS I do believe —
Statist18 though I am none, nor like to be —
That this will prove19 a war; and you shall hear
The legions now in Gallia sooner landed
In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings
Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen
Are men more ordered23 than when Julius Caesar
Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage
Worthy his frowning25 at. Their discipline,
Now mingled with their courages, will make known
To their approvers they are people such27
That mend upon the world.
Enter Iachimo
PHILARIO See Iachimo.
POSTHUMUS The swiftest harts have posted30 you by land,
And winds of all the corners31 kissed your sails,
To make your vessel nimble.
PHILARIO Welcome, sir.
POSTHUMUS I hope the briefness of your answer made34
The speediness of your return.
IACHIMO Your lady
Is one of the fairest that I have looked upon—
POSTHUMUS And therewithal38 the best, or let her beauty
Look through a casement39 to allure false hearts,
And be false with them.
IACHIMO Here are letters for you.
Gives letters
POSTHUMUS Their tenor42 good, I trust.
IACHIMO ’Tis very like.43
PHILARIO Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court
When you were there?
IACHIMO He was expected then,
But not approached.47
POSTHUMUS All is well yet.
Sparkles this stone as it was wont49, or is’t not
Shows the ring
Too dull for your good wearing?
IACHIMO If I had lost it,
I should have lost the worth of it in gold.
I’ll make a journey twice as far t’enjoy
A second night of such sweet shortness which
Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.
POSTHUMUS The stone’s too hard to come by.
IACHIMO Not a whit57,
Your lady being so easy.
POSTHUMUS Make not, sir,
Your loss your sport60: I hope you know that we
Must not continue friends.
IACHIMO Good sir, we must
If you keep covenant.63 Had I not brought
The knowledge64 of your mistress home, I grant
We were to question further65, but I now
Profess myself the winner of her honour,
Together with your ring, and not the wronger
Of her or you, having proceeded but
By both your wills.69
POSTHUMUS If you can make’t apparent
That you have tasted her in bed, my hand71
And ring is yours. If not, the foul opinion
You had of her pure honour gains or loses73
Your sword or mine, or masterless leaves both74
To who shall find them.
IACHIMO Sir, my circumstances76,
Being so near the truth, as I will make them,
Must first induce you to believe: whose strength
I will confirm with oath, which I doubt not
You’ll give me leave to spare80, when you shall find
You need it not.
POSTHUMUS Proceed.
IACHIMO First, her bedchamber —
Where I confess I slept not, but profess
Had that was well worth watching85 — it was hanged
With tapestry of silk and silver86, the story
Proud Cleopatra when she met her Roman
And Cydnus swelled above the banks, or88 for
The press of boats, or pride.89 A piece of work
So bravely90 done, so rich, that it did strive
In workmanship and value, which I wondered
Could be so rarely92 and exactly wrought,
Since the true life on’t was—
POSTHUMUS This is true:
And this you might have heard of here, by me,
Or by some other.
IACHIMO More particulars
Must justify my knowledge.
POSTHUMUS So they must,
Or do your honour injury.
IACHIMO The chimney
Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece102
Chaste Dian bathing103: never saw I figures
So likely to report themselves; the cutter104
Was as another nature dumb, outwent her105,
Motion and breath left out.106
POSTHUMUS This is a thing
Which you might from relation likewise reap108,
Being, as it is, much spoke of.
IACHIMO The roof o’th’chamber
With golden cherubins is fretted. Her andirons111 —
I had forgot them — were two winking Cupids112
Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely113
Depending on their brands.114
POSTHUMUS This is her honour!
Let it be granted you have seen all this — and praise
Be given to your remembrance117 — the description
Of what is in her chamber nothing saves118
The wager you have laid.
IACHIMO Then if you can
Shows the bracelet
Be pale, I beg but leave to air121 this jewel: see,
And now ’tis up122 again: it must be married
To that your diamond, I’ll keep them.
POSTHUMUS Jove!
Once more let me behold it: is it that
Which I left with her?
IACHIMO Sir — I thank her — that.
She stripped it from her arm: I see her yet128:
Her pretty action did outsell129 her gift,
And yet enriched it too: she gave it me, and said
She prized it once.131
POSTHUMUS Maybe she plucked it off
To send it me.
IACHIMO She writes so to you, doth she?
POSTHUMUS O no, no, no, ’tis true. Here, take this too,
Gives the ring
It is a basilisk136 unto mine eye,
Kills me to look on’t. Let there be no honour
Where there is beauty: truth, where semblance138: love,
Where there’s another man. The vows of women
Of no more bondage140 be to where they are made
Than they are to their virtues, which is nothing.
O, above measure false!
PHILARIO Have patience, sir,
And take your ring again, ’tis not yet won:
It may be probable145 she lost it: or
Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted146,
Hath stol’n it from her?
POSTHUMUS Very true,
And so I hope he came by’t. Back149 my ring,
Takes back the ring
Render to me some corporal sign150 about her
More evident151 than this: for this was stol’n.
IACHIMO By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.
POSTHUMUS Hark you, he swears: by Jupiter he swears.
’Tis true, nay, keep the ring, ’tis true: I am sure
She would not lose it: her attendants are
All sworn156 and honourable: they induced to steal it?
And by a stranger? No, he hath enjoyed her157:
The cognizance of her incontinency158
Is this: she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly.159
There, take thy hire160, and all the fiends of hell
Gives the ring again
Divide themselves between you!161
PHILARIO Sir, be patient:
This is not strong enough to be believed
Of one persuaded164 well of.
POSTHUMUS Never talk on’t:
She hath been colted166 by him.
IACHIMO If you seek
For further satisfying, under her breast —
Worthy the pressing — lies a mole, right proud
Of that most delicate lodging. By my life,
I kissed it, and it gave me present171 hunger
To feed again, though full. You do remember
This stain173 upon her?
POSTHUMUS Ay, and it doth confirm
Another stain, as big as hell can hold,
Were there no more but it.
IACHIMO Will you hear more?
POSTHUMUS Spare your arithmetic, never count the turns178:
Once, and a million!179
IACHIMO I’ll be sworn.
POSTHUMUS No swearing.
If you will swear you have not done’t, you lie,
And I will kill thee if thou dost deny
Thou’st made me cuckold.184
IACHIMO I’ll deny nothing.
POSTHUMUS O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!186
I will go there and do’t, i’th’court, before
Her father.
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