Cymbeline Page 11

  I cannot tremble at it: were it toad, or adder, spider,

  ’Twould move me sooner.

  CLOTEN    To thy further fear,

  Nay, to thy mere confusion120, thou shalt know

  I am son to th’queen.

  GUIDERIUS    I am sorry for’t: not seeming122

  So123 worthy as thy birth.

  CLOTEN    Art not afeard?

  GUIDERIUS    Those that I reverence, those I fear, the wise:

  At fools I laugh, not fear them.

  CLOTEN    Die the death:

  When I have slain thee with my proper128 hand,

  I’ll follow those that even now fled hence,

  And on the gates of Lud’s town set your heads130:

  Yield, rustic mountaineer.

  Fight and exeunt

  Enter Belarius and Arviragus

  BELARIUS    No company’s abroad?132

  ARVIRAGUS    None in the world: you did mistake him, sure.133

  BELARIUS    I cannot tell: long is it since I saw him,

  But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favour135

  Which then he wore: the snatches136 in his voice

  And burst of speaking were as his: I am absolute137

  ’Twas very138 Cloten.

  ARVIRAGUS    In this place we left them.

  I wish my brother make good time with140 him,

  You say he is so fell.141

  BELARIUS    Being scarce made up142,

  I mean to man, he had not apprehension143

  Of roaring terrors: for defect of judgement144

  Enter Guiderius

  With Cloten’s head

  Is oft the cause of fear.

  But see thy brother.

  GUIDERIUS    This Cloten was a fool, an empty purse,

  There was no money in’t: not Hercules148

  Could have knocked out his brains, for he had none:

  Yet I not doing this150, the fool had borne

  My head, as I do his.

  BELARIUS    What hast thou done?

  GUIDERIUS    I am perfect153 what: cut off one Cloten’s head,

  Son to the queen, after154 his own report,

  Who called me traitor, mountaineer, and swore

  With his own single hand he’d take us in156,

  Displace our heads where — thank the gods — they grow,

  And set them on Lud’s town.

  BELARIUS    We are all undone.

  GUIDERIUS    Why, worthy father, what have we to lose

  But that he swore to take, our lives? The law161

  Protects not us, then why should we be tender162

  To let an arrogant piece of flesh threat163 us,

  Play judge and executioner all himself,

  For165 we do fear the law? What company

  Discover you abroad?

  BELARIUS    No single soul

  Can we set eye on, but in all safe168 reason

  He must have some attendants. Though his humour169

  Was nothing but mutation170, ay, and that

  From one bad thing to worse, not frenzy,

  Not absolute madness could so far have raved

  To bring him here alone: although perhaps

  It may be heard at court that such as we

  Cave175 here, hunt here, are outlaws, and in time

  May make some stronger head176, the which he hearing —

  As it is like him — might break out177 and swear

  He’d fetch us in178, yet is’t not probable

  To come179 alone, either he so undertaking,

  Or they so suffering180: then on good ground we fear,

  If we do fear this body hath a tail181

  More perilous than the head.

  ARVIRAGUS    Let ord’nance183

  Come as the gods foresay it: howsoe’er184,

  My brother hath done well.

  BELARIUS    I had no mind186

  To hunt this day: the boy Fidele’s sickness

  Did make my way long forth.188

  GUIDERIUS    With his own sword,

  Which he did wave against my throat, I have ta’en

  His head from him: I’ll throw’t into the creek

  Behind our rock, and let it to192 the sea

  And tell the fishes he’s the queen’s son, Cloten:

  That’s all I reck.194

  Exit

  BELARIUS    I fear ’twill be revenged:

  Would, Polydore, thou hadst not done’t, though valour

  Becomes thee well enough.

  ARVIRAGUS    Would I had done’t,

  So199 the revenge alone pursued me! Polydore,

  I love thee brotherly, but envy much

  Thou hast robbed me of this deed: I would201 revenges

  That possible strength might meet202 would seek us through

  And put us to our answer.203

  BELARIUS    Well, ’tis done:

  We’ll hunt no more today, nor seek for danger

  Where there’s no profit. I prithee, to our rock,

  You and Fidele play the cooks: I’ll stay

  Till hasty208 Polydore return, and bring him

  To dinner presently.

  ARVIRAGUS    Poor sick Fidele!

  I’ll willingly to him: to gain211 his colour

  I’d let a parish of such Clotens’ blood212,

  And praise myself for charity.

  Exit [into the cave]

  BELARIUS    O thou goddess,

  Thou divine Nature, thou thyself thou blazon’st215

  In these two princely boys! They are as gentle

  As zephyrs217 blowing below the violet,

  Not wagging218 his sweet head; and yet as rough,

  Their royal blood enchafed, as the rud’st219 wind,

  That by the top doth take the mountain pine,

  And make him stoop to th’vale. ’Tis wonder

  That an invisible instinct should frame222 them

  To royalty unlearned, honour untaught,

  Civility not seen from other224, valour

  That wildly225 grows in them, but yields a crop

  As if it had been sowed. Yet still it’s strange

  What Cloten’s being here to us portends,

  Or what his death will bring us.

  Enter Guiderius

  GUIDERIUS    Where’s my brother?

  I have sent Cloten’s clotpoll230 down the stream

  In embassy to his mother; his body’s hostage

  For his return.

  Solemn music

  BELARIUS    My ingenious233 instrument!

  Hark, Polydore, it sounds: but what occasion234

  Hath Cadwal now to give it motion?235 Hark!

  GUIDERIUS    Is he at home?

  BELARIUS    He went hence even now.

  GUIDERIUS    What does he mean? Since death of my dear’st mother

  It did not speak239 before. All solemn things

  Should answer solemn accidents.240 The matter?

  Triumphs for nothing and lamenting toys241

  Is jollity for apes and grief for boys.242

  Is Cadwal mad?

  Enter Arviragus, with Innogen dead, bearing her in his arms

  BELARIUS    Look, here he comes,

  And brings the dire occasion in his arms

  Of what we blame him for.

  ARVIRAGUS    The bird is dead

  That we have made so much on.248 I had rather

  Have skipped from sixteen years of age to sixty,

  To have turned my leaping time into a crutch250,

  Than have seen this.

  GUIDERIUS    O sweetest, fairest lily!

  My brother wears thee not the one half so well253

  As when thou grew’st thyself.

  BELARIUS    O melancholy,


  Who ever yet could sound thy bottom? Find256

  The ooze to show what coast thy sluggish crare257

  Might easiliest harbour in?258 Thou blessèd thing,

  Jove knows what man thou mightst have made: but, ay,

  Thou died’st a most rare260 boy, of melancholy.

  How found you him?

  ARVIRAGUS    Stark262, as you see:

  Thus smiling, as some fly had tickled slumber263,

  Not as death’s dart being laughed at264: his right cheek

  Reposing on a cushion.

  GUIDERIUS    Where?

  ARVIRAGUS    O’th’floor:

  His arms thus leagued268, I thought he slept, and put

  My clouted brogues from off my feet, whose rudeness269

  Answered my steps too loud.270

  GUIDERIUS    Why, he but271 sleeps:

  If he be gone, he’ll make his grave a bed272:

  With female fairies will his tomb be haunted,

  And worms will not come to thee.

  ARVIRAGUS    With fairest flowers

  Whilst summer lasts and I live here, Fidele,

  I’ll sweeten thy sad grave: thou shalt not lack

  The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose, nor

  The azured harebell279, like thy veins: no, nor

  The leaf of eglantine280, whom not to slander,

  Out-sweetened not thy breath: the ruddock281 would

  With charitable bill — O bill sore shaming

  Those rich-left heirs that let their fathers lie

  Without a monument! — bring thee all this,

  Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none,

  To winter-ground286 thy corpse—

  GUIDERIUS    Prithee, have done,

  And do not play in wench-like288 words with that

  Which is so serious. Let us bury him,

  And not protract with admiration290 what

  Is now due debt.291 To th’grave.

  ARVIRAGUS    Say, where shall’s292 lay him?

  GUIDERIUS    By good Euriphile, our mother.

  ARVIRAGUS    Be’t so:

  And let us, Polydore, though now our voices

  Have got the mannish crack296, sing him to th’ground

  As once our mother: use like297 note and words,

  Save298 that Euriphile must be Fidele.

  GUIDERIUS    Cadwal,

  I cannot sing: I’ll weep, and word300 it with thee,

  For notes of sorrow out of tune are worse

  Than priests and fanes302 that lie.

  ARVIRAGUS    We’ll speak it, then.

  BELARIUS    Great griefs, I see, med’cine the less304, for Cloten

  Is quite forgot. He was a queen’s son, boys,

  And though he came306 our enemy, remember

  He was paid for that: though mean and mighty rotting307

  Together have one dust, yet reverence308,

  That angel of the world, doth make distinction

  Of place ’tween high and low. Our foe was princely,

  And though you took his life as being our foe,

  Yet bury him as a prince.

  GUIDERIUS    Pray you fetch him hither.

  Thersites’ body is as good as Ajax’314

  When neither are alive.

  ARVIRAGUS    If you’ll go fetch him,

  We’ll say our song the whilst.317 Brother, begin.

  [Exit Belarius]

  GUIDERIUS    Nay, Cadwal, we must lay his head to th’east.318

  My father hath a reason for’t.

  ARVIRAGUS    ’Tis true.

  GUIDERIUS    Come on then, and remove321 him.

  ARVIRAGUS    So, Begin.

  Song

  Spoken or chanted, not sung?

  GUIDERIUS    Fear no more the heat o’th’sun,

  Nor the furious winter’s rages,

  Thou thy worldly task hast done,

  Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages.326

  Golden lads and girls all must327,

  As328 chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

  ARVIRAGUS    Fear no more the frown o’th’great,

  Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke,

  Care no more to clothe and eat,

  To thee the reed is as the oak.

  The sceptre, learning, physic333, must

  All follow this and come to dust.

  GUIDERIUS    Fear no more the lightning flash,

  ARVIRAGUS    Nor th’all-dreaded thunder-stone.336

  GUIDERIUS    Fear not slander, censure rash.

  ARVIRAGUS    Thou hast finished joy and moan.

  BOTH    All lovers young, all lovers must

  Consign to thee340 and come to dust.

  GUIDERIUS    No exorcizer341 harm thee,

  ARVIRAGUS    Nor no witchcraft charm342 thee.

  GUIDERIUS    Ghost unlaid forbear thee.343

  ARVIRAGUS    Nothing ill come near thee.

  BOTH    Quiet consummation345 have,

  And renownèd be thy grave.

  Enter Belarius with the body of Cloten

  GUIDERIUS    We have done our obsequies347: come, lay him down.

  BELARIUS    Here’s a few flowers, but ’bout midnight more:

  The herbs that have on them cold dew o’th’night

  Are strewings fitt’st for graves: upon their faces.350

  You were as flowers, now withered: even so

  These herblets shall352, which we upon you strew.

  Come on, away, apart upon our knees353:

  The ground that gave them first354 has them again:

  Their pleasures here are past, so is their pain.

  Exeunt [all but Innogen]

  Awakes

  INNOGEN    Yes, sir, to Milford Haven, which is the way?

  I thank you: by yond bush? Pray how far thither?

  ’Od’s pittikins358: can it be six mile yet?

  I have gone359 all night: faith, I’ll lie down and sleep.

  Sees Cloten’s body

  But soft, no bedfellow!360 O gods and goddesses!

  These flowers are like the pleasures of the world,

  This bloody man the care on’t.362 I hope I dream:

  For so363 I thought I was a cave-keeper,

  And cook to honest creatures. But ’tis not so:

  ’Twas but a bolt365 of nothing, shot at nothing,

  Which the brain makes of fumes.366 Our very eyes

  Are sometimes like our judgements, blind. Good faith,

  I tremble still with fear: but if there be

  Yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity

  As a wren’s eye, feared gods, a part370 of it!

  The dream’s here still: even when I wake it is

  Without me, as within me: not imagined, felt.372

  A headless man? The garments of Posthumus?

  I know the shape of’s leg: this is his hand:

  His foot mercurial: his martial thigh:375

  The brawns376 of Hercules: but his jovial face—

  Murder in heaven! How? ’Tis gone. Pisanio,

  All curses madded Hecuba378 gave the Greeks,

  And mine to boot, be darted379 on thee! Thou,

  Conspired with that irregulous380 devil, Cloten,

  Hath here cut off my lord. To write and read

  Be henceforth treacherous! Damned Pisanio

  Hath with his forgèd letters — damned Pisanio —

  From this most bravest vessel of384 the world

  Struck the main-top!385 O Posthumus, alas,

  Where is thy head? Where’s that? Ay me! Where’s that?

  Pisanio might have killed thee at the heart,

  And left this head on. How should this be, Pisanio?

  ’Tis he and Cloten: malice and lucre389 i
n them

  Have laid this woe here. O, ’tis pregnant390, pregnant!

  The drug he gave me, which he said was precious

  And cordial392 to me, have I not found it

  Murd’rous to th’senses? That confirms it home393:

  This is Pisanio’s deed, and Cloten: O,

  Give colour to my pale cheek with thy blood395,

  That we the horrider396 may seem to those

  Which chance397 to find us! O my lord, my lord!

  Embraces the body

  Enter Lucius, Captains and a Soothsayer

  CAPTAIN    To them the legions garrisoned in Gallia398

  After your will have crossed the sea, attending399

  You here at Milford Haven with your ships:

  They are in readiness.

  LUCIUS    But what from Rome?

  CAPTAIN    The senate hath stirred up the confiners403

  And gentlemen of Italy, most willing spirits,

  That promise noble service: and they come

  Under the conduct of bold Iachimo,

  Siena’s407 brother.

  LUCIUS    When expect you them?

  CAPTAIN    With the next benefit409 o’th’wind.

  LUCIUS    This forwardness410

  Makes our hopes fair. Command our present numbers

  Be mustered: bid the captains look to’t. Now, sir,

  What have you dreamed of late of this war’s purpose?413

  SOOTHSAYER    Last night the very gods showed me a vision —

  I fast, and prayed for their intelligence415 — thus:

  I saw Jove’s bird, the Roman eagle, winged416

  From the spongy417 south to this part of the west,

  There vanished in the sunbeams: which portends418 —

  Unless my sins abuse my divination419 —

  Success to th’Roman host.420

  LUCIUS    Dream often so,

  Sees Cloten’s body

  And never false.— Soft ho, what trunk422 is here?

  Without his top? The ruin speaks423 that sometime

  It was a worthy building. How, a page?

  Or425 dead or sleeping on him? But dead rather:

  For nature doth abhor426 to make his bed

  With the defunct427, or sleep upon the dead.

  Let’s see the boy’s face.

  CAPTAIN    He’s alive, my lord.

  LUCIUS    He’ll then instruct us of430 this body. Young one,

  Inform us of thy fortunes, for it seems

  They crave to be demanded432: who is this

  Thou mak’st thy bloody pillow? Or who was he

  That, otherwise than noble nature did,