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
(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 ministered; 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.

I honour him

2 Gent. Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me, Is she sole child to the king?

having fled to Rome) was established on the throne, of which they had been unjustly deprived by their uncle. According to some authorities, Tenantius quietly paid the tribute stipulated by Cassibelan; according to others, he refused to pay it, and warred with the Romans. Shakspeare supposes the latter to be the

truth.

Liv'd in court,

(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:] This encomium is high and artful. To be at once in any great degree loved and praised, is truly rare. JOHNSON.

5 A glass that feated them ;] A glass that formed them; a model, by the contemplation and inspection of which they formed their Feat Minsheu interprets, fine, neat, brave. to his mistress,] means—as to his mistress.

inanners.

6

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 knowledge
Which way they went.

2 Gent.

How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

2 Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd ! 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 +.

SCENE II.

The same.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Queen, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,

Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but

Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
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.

I will from hence to-day.

Please your highness,

+"the gentleman," the queen, &c. STEEVENS, edit. 1793.

Queen.

You know the peril :-
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.

Imo.

[Exit Queen.

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.

Queen.

Re-enter 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: I never do him wrong,

But he does buy my injuries, to be friends † ;
Pays dear for my offences.

[Exit.

7 (Always reserv'd my holy duty,)] I say I do not fear my father, so far as I may say it without breach of duty.

ti.e. he gives me a valuable consideration in new kindness, (purchasing, as it were, the wrong I have done him,) in order to renew our amity, and make us friends again. MALONE.

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.

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.

Imo.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. O, the gods!

When shall we see again?

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.

Post.

Alack, the king!

Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court

With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!

Thou art poison to my blood.

Post.

8 And sear up-] i. e. close up.

The gods protect you!

While sense can keep it on!] i. e. while sense can maintain its operations; while sense continues to have its usual power. To keep on signifies to continue in a state of action.

1

a manacle-] A manacle properly means what we now call a hand-cuff.

Harm not yourself with your vexation; I

Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears'.

Сут.

[Exit.

Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace. Cym. That might'st have had the sole son of my queen!

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle, And did avoid a puttock".

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

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*.

Subdues all pangs, all fears.] i. e. a more exquisite feeling; a superior sensation.

3

a puttock.] A puttock is a mean degenerate species of hawk, too worthless to deserve training.

overbuys me

Almost the sum he pays.] So small is my value, and so great is his, that in the purchase he has made (for which he paid himself), for much the greater part, and nearly the whole, of what he has given, he has nothing in return. The most minute portion of his worth would be too high a price for the wife he has acquired.

VOL. VII.

R