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2 Cap. There was a fourth man, in a filly habit, That gave th'affront with them.

1 Cap. So 'tis reported;

But none of 'em can be found. Stand, who is there?
Poft. A Roman,

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds

Had answer'd him.

2 Cap. Lay hands on him, a dog!

A leg of Rome fhall not return to tell

What crows have peck'd them here; he brags his fervice As if he were of note; bring him to th' King. [Exeunt.

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Enter Pofthumus, and two Goalers.

1 Goal. YOU fhall not now be ftol'n, you've locks
So graze, as you find pafture. [upon you;
2 Goal. Ay, or ftomach.
[Exeunt Goalers.
Poft. Moft welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,
I think, to liberty; yet am I better

Than one that's fick o'th' gout, fince he had rather
Groan fo in perpetuity than be cur'd

By th' fure phyfician, death; who is the key
T'unbar thefe locks. My confcience! thou art fetter'd
More than my shanks and wrifts; you good Gods,give me
The penitent inftrument to pick that bolt;
Then free for ever. Is't enough I'm sorry?
So children temp'ral fathers do appease;
Gods are more full of mercy. Muft I repent?
I cannot do it better than in gyves

Defir'd, more than constrain'd; to fatisfie,
* 'I doff my freedom; 'tis the main part; take
No ftricter render of me, than my all.

z If of ... old edit. Warb. emend.

I

I

know you are more clement than vile men, Who of their broken debtors take a third, A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again On their abatement; that's not my defire. For Imogen's dear life, take mine, and though 'Tis not fo dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it; "Tween man and man they weigh not every stamp,' Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake; You rather mine, being yours: and fo, great powers, If you will take this audit, take this life, And cancel thofe old bonds. Oh Imogen! I'll speak to thee in filence.

[He fleeps.

**** Here follows a Vifion, a Mafque, and a Prophecy, which interrupt the Fable without the leaft neceffity, and unmeasurably lengthen this Act. I think it plainly foifted in afterwards for meer show, and apparently not of Shakespear.

ttt

Pope.

Solemn mufick: Enter as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father : te Posthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior, leading in his hand an ancient Matron, bis wife, and mother to Pofthumus, with mufick before them. Then after other mufick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Pofthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Pofthumus round as he lyes fleeping.

Sici. No more thou thunder-mafter

Shew thy fpite, on mortal flies:

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide, that thy adulteries
Rates and revenges.

Hath my poor boy done ought but well,

Whofe face I never faw?

I dy'd, whilst in the womb he ftay'd,
Attending nature's law.

Whofe father, Jove! (as men report
Thou orphans father art)

Thou fhould't have been, and fhielded him

From his earth-vexing fmart.

Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,

But took me in my throes,

That from me my Pofibumus ript,
Came crying 'mongft his foes,

A thing of pity!

Sici.

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Enter Cymbeline, Bellarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and Lords.

Cym. Tand by my fide, you whom the Gods have made Prefervers of my throne.. Wo is my heart,

Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry,
Moulded the stuff so fair;

That he deferv'd the praise o'th' world,
As great Sicilius heir.

1 Bro. When once he was mature for man,
In Britain where was he

That could ftand up his parallel,

Or rival object be,

In eye of Imogen, that beft

Could deem his dignity?

Moth. With marriage therefore was he mockt

To be exil'd, and thrown

From Leonatus' feat, and caft

From her his dearest one;

Sweet Imogen!

Sici. Why did you fuffer Iachime,

Slight thing of Italy,

To taint his noble heart and brain

With needlefs jealoufie,

And to become the geck and fcorn

O'th' other's villainy?

2 Bro. For this, from ftiller feats we came,
Our parents, and us twain,

That ftriking in our country's caufe,

Fell bravely and were flain,

Our fealty and Tenantius' right,

With honour to maintain.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath
To Cymbeline perform'd;

Then Jupiter, thou King of Gods,
Why haft thou thus adjourn'd

The graces for his merits due,
Being all to dolours turn'd?

That the poor foldier that fo richly fought,

(Whofe rags fham'd gilded arms, whofe naked breaft

Sici. Thy chryftal window ope; look out;

No longer exercise,

Upon a valiant race, thy harsh

And potent injuries.

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,
Take off his miferies.

Sici. Peep through thy marble manfion, help,
Or we poor ghofts will cry

To th' fhining fynod of the rest,
Against thy Deity.

2 Breth. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,
And from thy juftice flie.

Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle; he throws a thunder-bolt. The Ghofts fall on their knees.

Jup. No more you petty fpirits of region low
Offend our hearing; hufh! how dare you ghosts
Accufe the thunderer, whofe bolt, you know,
Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts?
Poor fhadows of Elyfium, hence and reft
Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.
Be not with mortal accidents oppreft,

No care of yours it is, you know 'tis ours.
Whom beft I love, I cross; to make my gift
The more delay'd, delighted. Be content,
Your low-laid fon our Godhead will uplift:
His comforts thrive, his tryals well are spent ;
Our Jovial ftar reign'd at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married: rife, and fade!
He fhall be Lord of Lady Imogen,

And happier much by his affliction made.
This tablet lay upon his breast, wherein

[Jupiter drops a tablet.

Our pleasure, his full fortune, doth confine,
And fo away, no farther with your din

Express impatience, left you ftir up mine;
Mount, eagle, to my palace chryftalline.
Sici. He came in thunder, his celestial breath
Was fulphurous to fmell; the holy eagle
Stoop'd, as to foot us: his afcenfion is
More fweet than our bleft fields; his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak,
As when his God is pleas'd,

All. Thanks, Jupiter.

[Afcends.

Şici

Stept before fhields of proof,) cannot be found:
He fhall be happy that can find him, if

Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd
His radiant roof: away, and to be blest
Let us with care perform his great beheft.

Poft. Sleep, thou haft been a grandfire, and begot
A father to me: and thou haft created

A mother, and two brothers. But, oh fcorn!
Gone-they went hence fo foon as they were born;
And fo I am awake- Poor wretches that depend
On greatnefs' favour, dream as I have done,
Wake, and find nothing. But, alas, I fwerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And yet are fteep'd in favours; fo am I

That have this golden chance, and know not why:
What fairies haunt this ground? a book! oh rare one!
Be not, as is our fangled world, a garment

Nobler than that it covers. Let thy effects
So follow, to be most unlike our Courtiers,
As good as promise.

[Reads.]

[Vanish.

Hen as the lion's help fhall, to himself unknown, without feeking W find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a fately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old flock, and freshly grow, then shall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty.

'Tis ftill a dream; or elfe fuch ftuff as mad-men

Tongue, and brain not: do either both, or nothing;

Or fenfelefs fpeaking, or a fpeaking fuch.

As fenfe cannot untie. But what it is,

The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep

If but for fympathy.

Enter Goaler.

Goal. Come, Sir, are you ready for death?

Poft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago.

Goal. Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are

well cookt.

Poft. So if I prove a good repaft to the fpectators, the dish pays the

fhot.

Goal. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir, but the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills, which are often the sadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth; you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; forry

that

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