The satisfaction of her knowledge only
In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs,
Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose
Was of more danger, did compound for her
A certain stuff, which, being ta'en, would cease
The present power of life; but in short time
All offices of nature should again

Do their due functions.-Have you ta'en of it!
Imo. Most like I did, for I was dead.
Bel.

There was our error.

Gui.

This is sure Fidele.

My boys,

Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady from

you?

Think that you are upon a rock; and now

Throw me again.

Post.

Till the tree die!

Сут.

[Embracing him.

Hang there like fruit, my soul,

How now, my flesh, my child!

What, mak'st thou me a dullard in this act?
Wilt thou not speak to me?

Imo.

Your blessing, sir.

[Kneeling.

Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame ye not;

You had a motive for it.

[To GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS. My tears that fall

Cym.
Prove holy water on thee!
Thy mother's dead.

Imo.

Imogen,

I am sorry for't, my lord.

Cym. O, she was naught; and long of her it was

That we meet here so strangely: but her son

Is gone, we know not how nor where.

Pis.

My lord,

Now fear is from me, I'll speak troth. Lord Cloten,

Upon my lady's missing, came to me

With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, and

swore,

If I discover'd not which way she was gone,

It was my instant death. By accident

I had a feigned letter of my master's

Then in my pocket; which directed him

To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;
Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments,
Which he enforc'd from me, away he posts
With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
My lady's honour: what became of him
I further know not.

Gui.

I slew him there.

Сут.

Let me end the story:

Marry, the gods forfend!

I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence: pr'ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.

Gui.

I have spoke it, and I did it. Cym. He was a prince.

Gui. A most incivil one: the wrongs he did me
Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me
With language that would make me spurn the sea,
If it could so roar to me: I cut off's head;

And am right glad he is not standing here
To tell this tale of mine.

Сут.

I am sorry for thee:

By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must
Endure our law: thou'rt dead.

Imo.

I thought had been my lord.

Cym.

That headless man

Bind the offender,

And take him from our presence.
Bel.

Stay, sir king:

[To the Guard.

This man is better than the man he slew,
As well descended as thyself; and hath
More of thee merited than a band of Clotens
Had ever scar for.-Let his arms alone;
They were not born for bondage.
Cym.
Why, old soldier,
Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for
By tasting of our wrath? How of descent

As good as we?

Arv.

We will die all three:

In that he spake too far.
Cym. And thou shalt die for't.
Bel.
But I will prove that two on's are as good
As I have given out him.-My sons, I must,
For mine own part, unfold a dangerous speech,
Though, haply, well for you.

Arv.

Ours.

Gui. And our good his.

Bel.

Your danger's

Have at it, then!

By leave,-thou hadst, great king, a subject who

Was call'd Belarius.

Cym.

A banish'd traitor.

What of him? he is

Assum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man;

I know not how a traitor.

Cym.

Take him hence:

Not too hot:

The whole world shall not save him.

Bel.

First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;
And let it be confiscate all so soon,

As I have receiv'd it.

Сут.

Nursing of my sons!
Bel. I am too blunt and saucy: here's my knee:
Ere I arise I will prefer my sons;

Then spare not the old father. Mighty sir,
These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
And blood of your begetting.

Сут.

How! my issue!
Bel. So sure as you your father's. I, old Morgan,
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd:
Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punishment
Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd

Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes,—
For such and so they are,-these twenty years
Have I train'd up: those arts they have as I
Could put into them; my breeding was, sir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before
For that which I did then: beaten for loyalty
Excited me to treason: their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world :-
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.

Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st. The service that you three have done is more Unlike than this thou tell'st. I lost my children: If these be they, I know not how to wish

A pair of worthier sons.

Be pleas'd awhile.

Bel.
This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,

Most worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius:
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,

Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lapp'd
In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.
Guiderius had

Cym.

Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;
It was a mark of wonder.

This is he;

Bel.
Who hath upon him still that natural stamp:
It was wise nature's end in the donation,
To be his evidence now.

Cym.

O, what, am I

A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother
Rejoic'd deliverance more.-Bless'd may you be,
That, after this strange starting from your orbs,
You may reign in them now!-O Imogen,
Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.

Imo.
No, my lord;
I have got two worlds by't.-O my gentle brothers,
Have we thus met? O, never say hereafter
But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother
When I was but your sister; I you brothers
When you were so indeed.

Cym.

Arv. Ay, my good lord.
Gui.

Did you e'er meet?

And at first meeting lov'd;

Continued so until we thought he died.
Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd.
Cym.
O rare instinct!
When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridgment
Hath to it circumstantial branches, which
Distinction should be rich in.-Where? how liv'd you?
And when came you to serve our Roman captive?
How parted with your brothers? how first met them?
Why fled you from the court? and whither? These,
And your three motives to the battle, with

I know not how much more, should be demanded;
And all the other by-dependencies,

From chance to chance: but nor the time nor place
Will serve our long inter'gatories. See,
Posthumus anchors upon Imogen;

And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye
On him, her brothers, me, her master; hitting
Each object with a joy: the counterchange

Is severally in all.-Let's quit this ground,
And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.-
Thou art my brother; so we'll hold thee ever.

[TO BELARIUS.

Imo. You are my father too; and did relieve me, To see this gracious season.

Сут.

All o'erjoy'd, Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too, For they shall taste our comfort.

Ima

I will yet do you service.

Luc.

My good master,

Happy be you!

Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly fought, He would have well becom'd this place, and grac'd The thankings of a king.

Post.

I am, sir,

The soldier that did company these three
In poor beseeming; 'twas a fitment for

The purpose I then follow'd.-That I was he,
Speak, Lachimo: I had you down, and might
Have made you finish.

[Kneeling.

Iach.
I am down again:
But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,
Which I so often owe: but your ring first;
And here the bracelet of the truest princess
That ever swore her faith.

Kneel not to me:

Post.
The power that I have on you is to spare you;
The malice towards you to forgive you: live,
And deal with others better.

Сут.

We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;

Pardon 's the word to all.

As

Arv.

Nobly doom'd!

You holp us, sir,

you did mean indeed to be our brother; Joy'd are we that you are.

Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my lord of Rome, Call forth your soothsayer: as I slept, methought

Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back,

Appear'd to me, with other spritely shows

Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness that I can
Make no collection of it: let him show
His skill in the construction.