In solem show, attend this funeral;
And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity.

On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp❜d.

Cæs.

O noble weakness!-
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace.'

Dol.

Here, on her breast,

There is a vent of blood, and something blown:
The like is on her arm.

1 Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these

leaves

Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
Upon the caves of Nile.

Cæs.

Most probable,
That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument:-
She shall be buried by her Antony:
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them: and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,

[Exeunt

This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick fig-succession of one personage to another, call the mind forward without intermission, from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia.

The events, of which the principal are described according to history, are produced without any art of connection or care of disposition.

JOHNSON.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Britain. The garden behind Cymbeline's palace. Enter Two Gentlemen.

1 Gentleman.

His measure duly."
2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?
1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:

You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods' So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:

No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.
2 Gent.
But what's the matter?
1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his king-
dom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow,
That late he married,)hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent.
None but the king?
1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is
queen,

the

That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2 Gent.

And why so?

And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
a Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

(3) My praise, however extensive, is within his

merit.

2 Gent.

I honour him
But, 'pray you, tell me,

Even out of your report.
Is she sole child to the king?

1 Gent.
His only child.
He had two sons (if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old,
I'the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stolen and to this hour, no guess in know-
ledge
Which way they went.
2 Gent.

How long is this ago? 1 Gent. Some twenty years.

(4) The father of Cymbeline.
(5) Formed their manners.

con-You gentle gods, give me but this I have, And sear up' my embracements from a next With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

How! how! another ?-A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,

Queen.

I am very glad on't.

Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part.

To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir!

I would they were in Afric both together;
Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
The goer back.-Why came you from your master?
Pis. On his command: He would not suffer me
To bring him to the haven: left these notes
Of what commands I should be subject to,
When it pleas'd you to employ me.
Queen.
This hath been
Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour
He will remain so.
I humbly thank your highness.
Queen. Pray, walk a while.
Imo.
About some half hour hence,
I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least,
Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me.

Pis.

[Exeunt.

[Aside.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.A room in Cymbeline's palace.
Enter Imogen and Pisanio.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shore's o'the
haven,

And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?

Pis.

Pis.
'Twas His queen, his queen!
Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!-
And that was all?
No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

Imo.

Thou should'st have made him

As little as a crow, or less, ere left
To after-eye him.

Pis.

Madam, so I did.

Imo. I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; To look upon him; till the diminution the violence of action hath made you reek as a sac- Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle: rifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from none abroad so wholesome as that you vent. Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it-Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good PiThe smallness of a gnat to air; and then Have I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience.

[Aside.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had
How I would think on him, at certain hours,
Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
[Aside. Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear
The shes of Italy should not betray

2 Lord. His steel was in debt; it went o'the backside the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

4

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him, your face. Aside. At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of To encounter me with orisons, for then your own: but he added to your having; gave you I am in heaven for him; or ere I could some ground. Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father, Give him that parting kiss, which I had set And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north, Shakes all our buds from growing.

lach. You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy.

Post. Being so far provoked as I was in France, I would abate her nothing; though I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

he was then of a crescent note;' expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items. lach. As fair, and as good (a kind of hand-inPhi. You speak of him when he was less furnish-hand comparison,) had been something too fair, and ed, than now he is, with that which makes him too good, for any lady in Britany. If she went beboth without and within. fore others I have seen, as that diamond of yours out-lustres many I have beheld, I could not but believe she excelled many but I have not seen the nost precious diamond that is, nor you the lady. Post. I praised her, as I rated her: so dol my stone.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes

as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daugh ter (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

French. And then his banishment:

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend to him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acquaintance?

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

-

Enter Posthumus.

Iach. What do you esteem it at ?
Post. More than the world enjoys.

Iach. Either your unparagoned mistress is dead, or she's out-priz'd by a trifle.

Post. You are mistaken: the one may be sold, or given; if there were wealth enough for the purchase, or merit for the gift: the other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the gods.

Jach. Which the gods have given you? Post. Which, by their graces, I will keep. Iach. You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds. Your ring may be stolen too: so, of your brace of unprizeable estimations, the one is but frail, and the other casual; a cunning thief, or a that-wayaccomplished courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech Post. Your Italy contains none so accomplished you all, be better known to this gentleman; whom a courtier, to convince the honour of my mistress; I commend to you, as a noble friend of mine: How if, in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail. worthy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather I do nothing doubt, you have store of thieves; notthan story him in his own hearing. withstanding, I fear not my ring.

French. Sir, we have known together in Orleans. Post. Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies, which I will be ever to pay, and yet pay still.

French. Sir, you o'er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad I did atone my countryman and you; It had been pity, you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose, as then each bore, upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature.

Phi. Let us leave here, gentlemen.

Post. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy signior, I thank him, makes no stranger of me; we are familiar at first.

Iach. With five times so much conversation, I should get ground of your fair mistress; make her go back, even to the yielding; had I admittance, and opportunity to friend.

Post. No, no.

Post. By your pardon, sir, I was then a young Iach. I dare, thereon, pawn the moiety of my traveller; rather shunn'd to go even with what estate to your ring; which, in my opinion, o'erheard, than in my every action to be guided by values it something: But I make my wager rather others' experiences: but, upon my mended judg. against your confidence, than her reputation: and, ment (if I offend not to say it is mended,) my quar-to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it rel was not altogether slight.

French. 'Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords; and by such two, that would, by all likelihood, have confounded' one the other, or have fallen both.

Iach. Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

French. Safely, I think: 'twas a contention in public, which may, without contradiction, suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses: This gentleman at that time vouching (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation,) his to be more fair, virtuous, wise, chaște, constantqualified, and less attemptible, than any the rarest of our ladies in France.

Iach. That lady is not now living; or this gentleman's opinion, by this, worn out.

Post. She holds her virtue still, and I my mind.

against any lady in the world.

Post. You are a great deal abused 10 in too bold a persuasion; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of, by your attempt. Jach. What's that?

Post. A repulse: Though your attempt, as you call it, deserve more; a punishment too.

Phi. Gentlemen, enough of this: it came in too suddenly; let it die as it was born, and, I pray you, be better acquainted.

Iach. Would I had put my estate, and my neighbour's, on the approbation of what I have spoke.

Post. What lady would you choose to assail?

Tach. Yours; whom in constancy, you think, stands so safe. I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring, that, commend me to the court where your lady is, with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference, and I will bring

(8) Lover, I speak of her as a being I reverence, not as a beauty whom I enjoy. (9) Overcome. (10) Deceived. (11) Proof.