Lucius proconsul; and to you, the tribunes, Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ? 1 Sen. Ay, With those legions Which I have spoke of, whereunto your levy Must be supplyant. The words of your commission Will tie you to the numbers, and the time Of their despatch. Tri. We will discharge our duty. Exeunt. SCENE I. ACT IV. The Forest, near the Cave. Enter CLOTEN. Clo. I am near to the place where they should meet, if Pisanio have mapped it truly. How fit his garments serve me! Why should his mistress, who was made by him that made the tailor, not be fit too? the rather, (saving reverence of the word,) for 'tis said a woman's fitness comes by fits. Therein I must play the workman. I dare speak it to myself, (for it is not vain-glory for a man and his glass to confer: in his own chamber, I mean,) the lines of my body are as well drawn as his; no less young, more strong, not beneath him in fortunes, beyond him in the advantage of the time, above him in birth, alike conversant in general services, and more remarkable in single oppositions; yet this imperseverant thing loves him in 3 4 1 He commands the commission to be given you. 2 i. e. cause. 3 "In single combat." 4 Imperseverant probably means no more than perseverant, like imbosomed, impassioned, immasked. my despite. What mortality is! Posthumus, thy head, which now is growing upon thy shoulders, shall within this hour be off; thy mistress enforced; thy garments cut to pieces before thy face: and all this done, spurn her home to her father; who may, haply, be a little angry for my so rough usage: but my mother, having power of his testiness, shall turn all into my commendations. My horse is tied up safe: out, sword, and to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meetingplace; and the fellow dares not deceive me. SCENE II. Before the Cave. [Exit. Enter, from the Cave, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ArviRAGUS, and IMOGEN. Bel. You are not well; [To IMOGEN ;] remain here But clay and clay differs in dignity, Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick. But not so citizen a wanton, as To seem to die, ere sick. So please you leave me ; Stick to your journal course; the breach of custom Is breach of all. I am ill; but your being by me Cannot amend me. Society is no comfort 2 To one not sociable. I'm not very sick, 1 Warburton thought we should read, "before her face." 2. Keep your daily course uninterrupted; if the stated plan of life is once broken, nothing follows but confusion. Since I can reason of it. Pray you, trust me here. Gui. I love thee; I have spoke it. How much the quantity, the weight as much, Bel. What? how? how? [Aside. Bel. I am not their father; yet who this should be, 'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn. Arv. Imo. I wish ye sport. Arv. Brother, farewell. You health. So please you, sir. Imo. [Aside.] These are kind creatures. Gods, what lies I have heard! Our courtiers say, all's savage, but at court; Experience, O, thou disprov'st report! The imperious1 seas breed monsters; for the dish, I am sick still; heart-sick.-Pisanio, Gui. 2 I could not stir him; He said he was gentle, but unfortunate; Arv. Thus did he answer me; yet said, hereafter I might know more. 1 Imperious has here its usual meaning of proud, haughty. See Troilus and Cressida, Act iv. Sc. 5. 2 "I could not move him to tell his story." Gentle is of a gentle race or rank, well born. Bel. To the field, to the field. We'll leave you for this time; go in, and rest. Arv. We'll not be long away. Bel. For you must be our housewife. Imo. I am bound to you. Pray, be not sick, Well, or ill, And shalt be ever. [Exit IMOGEN. This youth, howe'er distressed, appears, he hath had Good ancestors. Arv. How angel-like he sings! Gui. But his neat cookery! He cut our roots in characters; And sauced our broths, as Juno had been sick, And he her dieter. Arv. Nobly he yokes A smiling with a sigh; as if the sigh Was that it was, for not being such a smile; With winds that sailors rail at. Gui. I do note, That grief and patience, rooted in him both, Arv. Grow, patience! And let the stinking elder, grief, untwine His perishing root, with the increasing vine!? Bel. It is great morning.3 Come; away.-Who's there? Enter CLOTEN. Clo. I cannot find those runagates; that villain Hath mocked me. I am faint. Bel. Those runagates! 1 Spurs are the longest and largest leading roots of trees. 2 "Let patience grow, and let the stinking elder, grief, untwine his perishing root from those of the increasing vine, patience." With, from, and by, are almost always convertible words. 3 The same phrase occurs in Troilus and Cressida, Act iv. Sc. 3. It is a Gallicism :-"Il est grand matin.” Means he not us? I partly know him; 'tis I know 'tis he.-We are held as outlaws.-Hence. Clo. [Exeunt BELARIUS and ARVIRagus. That fly me thus? Some villain mountaineers? Gui. More slavish did I ne'er, than answering A slave, without a knock.1 Clo. A thing Thou art a robber, A law-breaker, a villain. Yield thee, thief. Gui. To who? to thee? What art thou? Have not I An arm as big as thine? a heart as big? Clo. Know'st me not by my clothes? Gui. Thou villain base, Who is thy grandfather; he made those clothes, Which, as it seems, make thee. Clo. My tailor made them not. Gui. No, nor thy tailor, rascal, Thou precious varlet, Hence, then, and thank The man that gave them thee. Thou art some fool; I am loath to beat thee. Clo. Hear but my name, and tremble. Gui. Thou injurious thief, What's thy name? Clo. Cloten, thou villain. Gui. Cloten, thou double villain, be thy name, I cannot tremble at it; were't toad, or adder, spider, "Twould move me sooner. VOL. VI. 1 i. e. than answering that abusive word slave. 37 |
