The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

Sir To. Then he's a rogue.
After a passy-
measure, or a pavin, I hate a drunken rogue.
Oli. Away with him who hath made this
bavoc with them?

Sir And. I'll help you, Sir Toby, because we'll be dressed together.

Duke. Be not amaz'd; right noble is his blood.-
If this be so, as yet the glass seems true,
I shall have share in this most happy wreck :
Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times,
[to Violo
Thou never should'st love woman like to me.
Vio. And all those sayings will I over-swear;

kinsman;

Seb. I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your And all those swearings kept as true in soul,
As doth that orbed continent the fire
That severs day from night.
Duke. Give me thy hand;

And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds. [shore,
Vio. The captain, that did bring me first on
Hath my maid's garments; he, upon some action,
Is now in durance; at Malvolio's suit,
A gentleman, and follower of my lady's.

Oli. He shall enlarge him:-fetch Malvolio
And yet, alas, now I remember me, [hither:
They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract.
Re-enter Clown, with a letter.

Sir To. Will you help an ass-head, and a coxcomb, and a knave? a thin-faced knave, a gull? Oli. Get him to bed, and let his hurt be look'd to. [exeunt Clown, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. Enter Sebastian.

But, had it been the brother of my blood,
I must have done no less, with wit, and safety.
You throw a strange regard upon me, and
By that I do perceive it hath offended you;
Pardon me, sweet one, even for the vows
We made each other but so late ago.

[persons;

Duke. One face, one voice, one habit, and two
A natural perspective, that is, and is not.
Seb. Antonio, O my dear Antonio!
How have the hours rack'd and tortur'd me,
Since I have lost thee.

Ant. Sebastian are you?

Seb. Fear'st thou that, Antonio?

Ant. How have you made division of yourself?
An apple, cleft in two, is not more twin
Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?
Oli. Most wonderful!

Seb. Do I stand there? I never had a brother:
Nor can there be that deity in my nature,
Of here and every where. I had a sister, [ed:
Whom the blind waves and surges have devour-
Of charity, what kin are you to me? [to Viola.
What countryman? what name? what parentage?
Vio. Of Messaline; Sebastian was my father;
Such a Sebastian was my brother too,
So went he suited to his wat❜ry tomb :
If spirits can assume both form and suit,
You come to fright us.

Seb. A spirit I am, indeed;

But am in that dimension grossly clad,
Which from the womb I did participate.
Were you a woman, as the rest goes even,
I should my tears let fall upon your cheek,
And say-Thrice welcome, drowned Viola!

Vio. My father had a mole upon his brow.
Seb. And so had mine.

Vio. And died that day when Viola from her
Had number'd thirteen years.

[birth

Seb. O, that record is lively in my soul!
He finished, indeed, his mortal act,
That day, that made my sister thirteen years.
Vio. If nothing lets to make us happy both,
But this my masculine usurp'd attire,
Do not embrace me, till each circumstance
Of place, time, fortune, do cohere, and jump,
That I am Viola: which to confirm,
I'll bring you to a captain in this town, [help,
Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle
I was preserv'd to serve this noble count!
All the occurrence of my fortune since
Hath been between this lady, and this lord.
Seb. So comes it, lady, you have been mistook:
[to Olivia.

But nature to her bias drew in that.
You would have been contracted to a maid;
Nor are you therein, by my life, deceiv'd,
You are betroth'd both to a maid and man,

A most extracting phrensy of mine own
From my remembrance clearly banish'd his.
How does he, sirrah?

Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Beelzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may do: he has here writ a letter to you, I should have given it to you to-day morning; but as a madman's epistles are no gospels, so it skills not much, when they are delivered.

Oli. Open it, and read it.

Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman:-By the Lord, Madam,—

Oli. How now! art thou mad?

Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow vor.

Oli. Pr'ythee, read i'thy right wits.

Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus: therefore perpend my princess, and give ear.

Oli. Read it you, sirrah.

[to Fabian.

Fab. [reads] By the Lord, madam, you wrong me, and the world shall know it; though you have put me into darkness, and given your drunken cousin rule over me, yet have I the benefit of my senses as well as your ladyship. I have your own letter that induced me to the semblance I put on; with the which I doubt not but to do myself much right, or you much shame. Think of me as you please. I leave my duty a little unthought of, and speak out of my injury

The madly-used MALVOLIO.

Oli. Did he write this?
Clo. Ay, madam.

Duke. This savours not much of distraction,
Oli. See him deliver'd, Fabian; bring him
hither.
[exit Fabian.
My lord, so please you, these things further thought
To think me as well a sister as a wife, [on,
One day shall crown the alliance on't, so please you,
Here at my house, and at my proper cost.

Duke. Madam, I am most apt to embrace your
offer.

Your master quits you; [to Viola,] and, for your service done him,

So much against the mettle of your sex.

So far beneath your soft and tender breeding, And since you call'd me master for so long, Here is my hand; you shall from this time be Your master's mistress.

Oli. A sister?-—you are she.

Re-enter Fabian with Malvolio.
Duke Is this the madman?

Oli. Ay, my lord, this same :-
How now,
Malvolio?

Mal. Madam, you have done me wrong,

Notorious wrong.

Oli. Have I, Malvolio? no.

[letter:

Mal. Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that You must not now deny it is your hand, Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase; Or say, 'tis not your seal, nor your invention: You can say none of this: well grant it then, And tell me, in the modesty of honour, Why you have given me such clear lights of favour; Bade me come smiling, and cross-garter'd to you; To put on yellow stockings, and to frown Upon sir Toby, and the lighter people : And, acting this in an obedient hope, Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd, Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, And made the most notorious geck, and gull, That e'er invention play'd on? tell me why.

Oli. Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing, Though, I confess, much like the character: But, out of question, 'tis Maria's hand. And now I do bethink me, it was she [smiling, First told me, thou wast mad; then came in And in such forms which here were presuppos'd Upon thee in the letter. Pr'ythee, be content: This practice hath most shrewdly pass'd upon thee But, when we know the grounds and authors of it, Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge Of thine own cause.

Fab. Good madam, hear me speak;

And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come,
Taint the condition of this present hour
Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not,
Most freely I confess, myself, and Toby,
Set this device against Malvolio here,
Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts
We had conceiv'd against him: Maria writ

The letter, at sir Toby's great importance;
In recompence whereof, he hath married her.
How with a sportful malice it was follow'd,
May rather pluck on laughter than revenge;
If that the injuries be justly weigh'd,
That have on both sides past.

[thee

Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interlude; one sir Topas, sir; but that's all one:-By the Lord, fool, I am not mad;-But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus tho whirligig of time brings in his revenges.

Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you. [exit.

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No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers; Still seem, as does the king's.

2 Gent. But what's the matter? [dom, whom 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingHe 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?

[queen, I Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is 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?

[thing

1 Gent. He, that hath miss'd the princess, is a Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her (I mean, that married her,-alack, good man!And therefore banish'd,) is a creature such As, to seek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be something failing In him that should compare. I do not think, So fair an outward, and such stuff within, Endows a man but he.

Queen, Wife to Cymbeline.
Imogen, Daughter to Cymbeline, by a former queen.
Helen, Woman to Imogen.

ACT I.

2 Gent. You speak him far.

1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself, Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions. Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentlem Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE I. BRITAIN. THE GARDEN BEHIND CYMBZ-
LINE'S PALACE.
Enter two Gentleman.

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom

;

1 Gent. You do not meet a man, but frowns: He serv'd with glory and admir'd success;

our bloods

So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
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

2 Gent. What's his name, and birth? [father 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his

(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
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

[convey'd !

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so So slackly guarded! and the search so slow, That could not trace them!

1 Gent. Howsoe'er 'tis strange,

Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, Yet is it true, sir.

2. Gent. I do well believe you.

1 Gent. We must forbear: here comes the queen and princess, [ereunt.

SCENE II. THE SAME.
Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and Imogen.
Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,
After the slander of most step-mothers, [daughter,
Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys,
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet,
The fire of rage is in him: and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post. Please your highness,

I will from hence to-day.

Queen. You know the perils -I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together. [exit. Imo. O,

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband,

I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing
(Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what
His rage can do on me: you must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post. My queen! my mistress!

O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man! I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
My residence in Rome, at one Philario's ;
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Re-enter Queen.
Queen. Be brief, I pray you:

If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure:-yet I'll move

him.

[aside.

To walk this way: 1 never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.

Post. Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: adieu!
Imo. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

[exit.

Post. How! how! another ?-
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here,
[putting on the ring.
While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss: so, in our trifles

I still win of you: for my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner. [puts a bracelet on her
Imo. O, the gods!
[arm.

When shall we see again?

Enter Cymbeline and Lords. Post. Alack the king! [my sight! Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence from If, after this command, thou fraught the court With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away! Thou art poison to my blood.

Post. The gods protect you.

And bless the good remainders of the court! I am gone.

Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death More sharp than this is.

Cym. O disloyal thing,

That should'st repair my youth: thou heapest A year's age on me!

Imo. I beseech you, sir,

A lustre to it.

Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cym. Past grace? obedience?

[grace.

Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen! Leagle, Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an And did avoid a puttock.

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made my throne

A seat for baseness.

Imo. No; I rather added

Cym. O thou vile one! Imo. Sir,

[exit.

Out of your best advice.

Cym. Nay, let her languish

A drop of blood a day: and, being aged, Die of this folly!

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus.
You bred him as my play-fellow; and he is
A man, worth any woman; overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.

Cym. What!-art thou mad?

Imo. Almost, sir; heaven restore me! A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus Our neighbour shepherd's son ! Re-enter Queen. Cym. Thou foolish thing!— They were again together: you have done [to Queen. Not after our command. Away with her, And pen her up.

Queen. 'Beseech your patience ;-Peace, Dear lady daughter, peace. Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort

[I were Would

[erit.

Enter Pisanio.

Queen. Fie!-you must give way:

Here is your servant.-How now, sir? what news? Pis. My lord, your son, drew on my master. Queen. Ha!

No harm, I trust is done?

Pis. There might have been,

But that my master rather play'd than fought, And had no help of anger; they were parted By gentlemen at hand.

Queen. I am very glad on't.

[part.Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir! I would they were in Africk 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.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

[aside.

1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: puppies! [aside.

Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me !

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [aside.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the relection should hurt her.

2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt.

(aside.

Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. 2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[aside.

Cio. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there ad been some hurt done!

[exeunt.

SCENE IV. A ROOM IN Cymbeline's PALACE.

Enter Imogen and Pisanio.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores 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. '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?

Pis. 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

To look upon him; till the diminution
Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle:
Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from
The smallness of a gnat to air; and then
Have turn'd mine eye, and wept.-But, good
When shall we hear from him? [Pisanio,

Pis. Be assur'd, madam,

With his next vantage.

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say; ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him The shes of Italy should not betray [swear, Mine interest, and his honour, or have charg'd him, At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, To encounter me with 'orisons, for then I am in heaven for him; or ere I could Give him that parting kiss, which I had set Betwixt two charming words, 'comes in my father And, like the tyrannous breathing of the nortli, Shakes all our buds from growing.

Enter a Lady. Lady. The queen, madam, Desires your highness' company.

Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them des patch'd. I will attend the queen.

Pis. Madam, I shall.

[exeunt. SCENE V. ROME. AN APARTMENT IN PHILARIO'S

HOUSE.

Enter Philario, Iachimo, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.

Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Bri tain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: From the Text of Johnson ...