That it was folly in me, thou may'st say, And prove it in thy feeling. Heaven mend all! Enter LUCIUS, IACHIMO, the Soothsayer, and other Roman Prisoners, guarded; POSTHUMUS behind, and IMOGEN. Thou com'st not, Caius, now for tribute; that suit, That their good souls may be appeas'd with slaughter Of you their captives, which ourself have granted; So, think of your estate. Luc. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident; had it gone with us, We should not, when the blood was cool, have threaten'd Our prisoners with the sword. But since the gods So feat1, so nurse-like: let his virtue join With my request, which, I'll make bold, your highness Cannot deny; he hath done no Briton harm, Though he have serv'd a Roman: save him, sir, And spare no blood beside. 1 Ready, dexterous. Cym. I have surely seen him: His favour2 is familiar to me.- Imo. I humbly thank your highness. Luc. I do not bid thee beg my life, good lad, And yet, I know, thou wilt. Imo. Luc. Cym. What would'st thou, boy? I love thee more and more; think more and more What's best to ask. Know'st him thou look'st on? speak, Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend? vassal, Am something nearer. Cym. Wherefore ey'st him so? Imo. I'll tell you, sir, in private, if you please To give me hearing. And lend my best attention. What's thy name? Cym. Ay, with all my heart, 2 Countenance. Imo. Fidele, sir. Cym. Thou art my good youth, my page; I'll be thy master: Walk with me; speak freely. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN converse apart. Bel. Is not this boy reviv'd from death? Arv. One sand another Not more resembles: That sweet rosy lad, Who died, and was Fidele :- What think you? Gui. The same dead thing alive. Bel. Peace, peace! see further; he eyes us not; Creatures may be alike: were't he, I am sure Gui. But we saw him dead. It is my mistress: Bel. Be silent; let's see further. Pis. Since she is living, let the time run on, To good, or bad. Cym. [Aside. [CYMBELINE and IMOGEN come forward. Come, stand thou by our side; Make thy demand aloud.—Sir, [To IACH.] step you forth; 1 Give answer to this boy, and do it freely; Winnow the truth from falsehood.-On, speak to him. Imo. My boon is, that this gentleman may ren der Of whom he had this ring. Post. What's that to him? [Aside. Cym. That diamond upon your finger, say, How came it yours? Iach. Thou❜lt torture me to leave unspoken that Which, to be spoke, would torture thee. Cym. How! me? Iach. I am glad to be constrain'd to utter that which Torments me to conceal. By villainy I got this ring; 'twas Leonatus' jewel: Whom thou didst banish; and (which more may grieve thee, As it doth me,) a nobler sir ne'er liv'd "Twixt sky and ground. Wilt thou hear more, my lord? Cym. All that belongs to this. Iach. That paragon, thy daughter,For whom my heart drops blood, and my false spirits Quails to remember,—Give me leave; I faint. I had rather thou should'st live while nature will, For beauty that made barren the swell'd boast 3 Sink into dejection. Postures beyond brief nature; for condition, Loves woman for; besides, that hook of wiving, Cym. Come to the matter. Iach. I stand on fire: All too soon I shall, Unless thou would'st grieve quickly.-This Post húmus, (Most like a noble lord in love, and one And, not dispraising whom we prais'd, (therein His mistress' picture; which by his tongue being made, And then a mind put in't, either our brags Were crack'd of kitchen trulls, or his description Prov'd us unspeaking sots. Cym. pose. Nay, nay, to the pur Iach. Your daughter's chastity-there it begins. In suit the place of his bed, and win this ring Than I did truly find her, stakes this ring; |