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

i Cap. So 'tis reported ; But none of 'em can be found. Stand, who is there?

Post. A Roman,
Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds
Had answer'd him.

2 Cap. Lay hands on him, a dog!
A leg of Rome shall not return to tell
What crows have peck'd them here; he brags his service
As if he were of note; bring him to th' King. [Exeunt.

S CE N E III.

A Prison. Enter Posthumus, and two Goalers. 1 Goal. YOU hall not

now be ftol'n, you've locks So graze, as you find pasture. [upon you; 2 Goal. Ay, or stomach.

[Exeunt Goalers. Poft. Most welcome, bondage! for thou art a way, I think, to liberty; yet am I better Than one that's sick o'th' gout, since he had rather Groan fo in perpetuity than be cur'd By th' sure physician,' death; who is the key Tunbar these locks. My conscience ! thou art fetter'd More than my shanks and wrists ; you good Gods,give me The penitent instrument 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. Must I repent? I cannot do it better than in gyves Desir'd, more than constraind; to satisfie, *'I doff my freedom; 'tis the main part;

take No stricter render of me, than my all.

2 If of ...old edit. Warb. emend.

I

know you are more clement than vile men, Who of their broken debtors take a third, A sixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again On their abatement; that's not my desire. For Imogen's dear life, take mine, and though 'Tis not so 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 so, great powers, If you will take this audit, take this life, And cancel those old bonds. Oh Imogen! I'll speak to thee in silence.

[He seeps.

**** Here follows a Vision, a Masque, and a Prophecy, which

interrupt the Fable without the least necessity, and unmeasurably lengthen this Act. I think it plainly foisted in afterwards for meer foow, and apparently not of Shakespear.

Pope. ttt Solemn mufick : Enter as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father

so Posthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior, leading in his hand an ancient Matron, bis wife, and mother to Pollhumus, with mufick before them. Then after other mufick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Podhumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Pofthumus round as be lyes sleeping.

Sici. No more thou thunder-master

Shew thy spite, on mortal Aies :
With Mars fall out, with Juno chide, that thy adulteries

Rates and revenges.
Hath my poor boy done ought but well,

Whose face I never saw ?
I dy'd, whilst in the womb he stay'd,

Attending nature's law.
Whose father, Jove! (as men report

Thou orphans father art)
Thou should'st have been, and shielded him

From his earth-vexing smart.
Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,

But took me in my throes,
That from me my Pojibumus ript,

Came crying 'mongst his focs,
A thing of pity

Cymbeline's Tent. Enter Cymbeline, Bellarius, Guiderius, Arviragus,

Pisanio, and Lords.

Cym. Tand by my side, you whom the Gods have made

Preservers of my throne. Wo is my heart,

Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry,

Moulded the stuff so fair ;
That he deserv'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 stand up his parallel,

Or rival object be,
In eye of Imogen, that best

Could deem his dignity?
Moth. With marriage therefore was he mockt

To be exild, and thrown
From Leonatus' seat, and caft

From her his dearest one ;
Sweet Imogen!
Sici. Why did you suffer lachimo,

Slight thing of Italy,
To taint his noble heart and brain

With needless. jealousie,
And to become the geck and scorn

O'th' other's villainy?
2 Bro. For this, from stiller seats we came,

Our parents, and us twain,
That striking in our country's cause,

Fell bravely and were sain,
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 halt thou thus adjourn'd
The graces for his merits duc,

Being all to dolours turn'd?

Sici.

That the poor foldier that so richly fought,
(Whose rags Tham'd gilded arms, whose naked breast

Sici. Thy chryftal window ope ; look out ;

No longer exercise,
Upon a valiant race, thy harsh

And potent injuries.
Moth. Since, Jupiter, our son is good,

Take off his miseries.
Sici. Peep through thy marble mansion, help,

Or we poor ghosts will cry
To th' shining fynod of the rest,

Against thy Deity.
2 Breth. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,

And from thy justice flie.
Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle ; ho

throws a thunder-bolt. The Ghots fall on their knees. Jup. No more you petty spirits of region low

Offend our hearing ; hush! how dare you ghosts Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know,

Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts ? Poor Madows of Elysium, hence and rest

Upon your never-withering banks of Aowers. Be not with mortal accidents opprest,

No care of yours it is, you know 'tis ours. Whom best I love, I cross; to make my gift

The more delay'd, delighted. Be content, Your low-laid son 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 : rise, and fade! He shall 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 so away, no farther with your din

Express impatience, lest you ftir up mine ;
Mount, eagle, to my palace chryftalline.

[ Afcends.
Sici. He came in thunder, his celestial breath
Was sulphurous to smell; the holy eagle
Stoop'd, as to foot us: his ascension is
More sweet 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.

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

W

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

[Vanish.
Poft. Sleep, thou has been a grandfire, and begot
A father to me: and thou haft created
A mother, and two brothers. But, oh scorn!
Gone - they went hence so soon as they were born ;
And so I am awake Poor wretches that depend
On greatness' favour, dream as I have done,
Wake, and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve:
Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
And yet are steep'd in favours; so 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 promife.

[Reads.] Hin as the lion's whelp fall, to himself unknown, without seeking

find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air ; and when from a fiately cedar foall be lopt branches, which being dead many years, Mall after revive, be jointed to the old fock, and freshly grow, then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and tourist in peace and plenty. 'Tis still a dream ; or else such stuff as mad-men Tongue, and brain not : do either both, or nothing; Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such As sense cannot untie. But what it is, The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep If but for sympathy.

Enter Goaler.
Goal. Come, Sir, are you ready for death?
Pof. Over-roasted 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 repast to the spectators, the dish pays the Thot.

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; sorry

that