Cymbeline Read online

  That I regard it not.

  CLOTEN    This is no answer.

  INNOGEN    But that you shall not say I yield being silent100,

  I would not speak. I pray you spare me: faith,

  I shall unfold102 equal discourtesy

  To your best kindness: one of your great knowing103

  Should learn, being taught, forbearance.

  CLOTEN    To leave you in your madness, ’twere my sin:

  I will not.

  INNOGEN    Fools cure not mad folks.

  CLOTEN    Do you call me fool?

  INNOGEN    As I am mad, I do:

  If you’ll be patient, I’ll no more be mad.

  That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir,

  You put me112 to forget a lady’s manners

  By being so verbal113: and learn now, for all,

  That I, which114 know my heart, do here pronounce

  By th’very truth of it, I care not for you,

  And am so near the lack of charity

  To accuse myself I hate you, which I had rather

  You felt than make’t my boast.118

  CLOTEN    You sin against

  Obedience, which you owe your father. For

  The contract you pretend with that base wretch121,

  One bred of alms122 and fostered with cold dishes,

  With scraps o’th’court, it is no contract, none:

  And though it be allowed in meaner parties124 —

  Yet who than he more mean? — to knit their souls,

  On whom there is no more dependency

  But brats and beggary, in self-figured knot127,

  Yet you are curbed from that enlargement128 by

  The consequence o’th’crown, and must not foil129

  The precious note130 of it with a base slave,

  A hilding for a livery, a squire’s cloth131,

  A pantler132; not so eminent.

  INNOGEN    Profane fellow,

  Wert thou the son of Jupiter, and no more

  But what thou art besides, thou wert135 too base

  To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough136,

  Even to the point of envy, if ’twere made

  Comparative for your virtues, to be styled138

  The under-hangman139 of his kingdom, and hated

  For being preferred so well.140

  CLOTEN    The south-fog141 rot him!

  INNOGEN    He never can meet more mischance than come

  To be but named of thee. His meanest garment143

  That ever hath but clipped144 his body is dearer

  In my respect than all the hairs above thee,

  Were they all made such men.146— How now, Pisanio?

  Enter Pisanio

  CLOTEN    His garment? Now the devil—

  To Pisanio

  INNOGEN    To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently.

  CLOTEN    His garment?

  INNOGEN    I am sprited with150 a fool,

  Frighted and angered worse: go bid my woman

  Search for a jewel that too casually

  Hath left mine arm: it was thy master’s. ’Shrew153 me

  If I would lose it for a revenue

  Of any king’s in Europe. I do think

  I saw’t this morning: confident I am.

  Last night ’twas on mine arm; I kissed it.

  I hope it be not gone to tell my lord

  That I kiss aught159 but he.

  PISANIO    ’Twill not be lost.

  INNOGEN    I hope so: go and search.

  [Exit Pisanio]

  CLOTEN    You have abused me:

  His meanest garment?

  INNOGEN    Ay, I said so, sir:

  If you will make’t an action165, call witness to’t.

  CLOTEN    I will inform your father.

  INNOGEN    Your mother too:

  She’s my good lady, and will conceive, I hope168,

  But the worst of me. So, I leave you, sir,

  To th’worst of discontent.

  Exit

  CLOTEN    I’ll be revenged:

  His meanest garment? Well.

  Exit

  Act 2 Scene 4

  running scene 6

  Enter Posthumus and Philario

  POSTHUMUS    Fear it not, sir: I would I were so sure

  To win the king as I am bold2 her honour

  Will remain hers.

  PHILARIO    What means4 do you make to him?

  POSTHUMUS    Not any: but abide the change of time,

  Quake in the present winter’s state6 and wish

  That warmer days would come: in these seared7 hopes

  I barely gratify your love; they failing8,

  I must die much your debtor.

  PHILARIO    Your very goodness and your company

  O’erpays all I can do. By this11 your king

  Hath heard of12 great Augustus: Caius Lucius

  Will do’s commission throughly.13 And I think

  He’ll grant the tribute: send th’arrearages14,

  Or look upon our Romans, whose remembrance15

  Is yet16 fresh in their grief.

  POSTHUMUS    I do believe —

  Statist18 though I am none, nor like to be —

  That this will prove19 a war; and you shall hear

  The legions now in Gallia sooner landed

  In our not-fearing Britain than have tidings

  Of any penny tribute paid. Our countrymen

  Are men more ordered23 than when Julius Caesar

  Smiled at their lack of skill, but found their courage

  Worthy his frowning25 at. Their discipline,

  Now mingled with their courages, will make known

  To their approvers they are people such27

  That mend upon the world.

  Enter Iachimo

  PHILARIO    See Iachimo.

  POSTHUMUS    The swiftest harts have posted30 you by land,

  And winds of all the corners31 kissed your sails,

  To make your vessel nimble.

  PHILARIO    Welcome, sir.

  POSTHUMUS    I hope the briefness of your answer made34

  The speediness of your return.

  IACHIMO    Your lady

  Is one of the fairest that I have looked upon—

  POSTHUMUS    And therewithal38 the best, or let her beauty

  Look through a casement39 to allure false hearts,

  And be false with them.

  IACHIMO    Here are letters for you.

  Gives letters

  POSTHUMUS    Their tenor42 good, I trust.

  IACHIMO    ’Tis very like.43

  PHILARIO    Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court

  When you were there?

  IACHIMO    He was expected then,

  But not approached.47

  POSTHUMUS    All is well yet.

  Sparkles this stone as it was wont49, or is’t not

  Shows the ring

  Too dull for your good wearing?

  IACHIMO    If I had lost it,

  I should have lost the worth of it in gold.

  I’ll make a journey twice as far t’enjoy

  A second night of such sweet shortness which

  Was mine in Britain, for the ring is won.

  POSTHUMUS    The stone’s too hard to come by.

  IACHIMO    Not a whit57,

  Your lady being so easy.

  POSTHUMUS    Make not, sir,

  Your loss your sport60: I hope you know that we

  Must not continue friends.

  IACHIMO    Good sir, we must

  If you keep covenant.63 Had I not brought

  The knowledge64 of your mistress home, I grant

 
We were to question further65, but I now

  Profess myself the winner of her honour,

  Together with your ring, and not the wronger

  Of her or you, having proceeded but

  By both your wills.69

  POSTHUMUS    If you can make’t apparent

  That you have tasted her in bed, my hand71

  And ring is yours. If not, the foul opinion

  You had of her pure honour gains or loses73

  Your sword or mine, or masterless leaves both74

  To who shall find them.

  IACHIMO    Sir, my circumstances76,

  Being so near the truth, as I will make them,

  Must first induce you to believe: whose strength

  I will confirm with oath, which I doubt not

  You’ll give me leave to spare80, when you shall find

  You need it not.

  POSTHUMUS    Proceed.

  IACHIMO    First, her bedchamber —

  Where I confess I slept not, but profess

  Had that was well worth watching85 — it was hanged

  With tapestry of silk and silver86, the story

  Proud Cleopatra when she met her Roman

  And Cydnus swelled above the banks, or88 for

  The press of boats, or pride.89 A piece of work

  So bravely90 done, so rich, that it did strive

  In workmanship and value, which I wondered

  Could be so rarely92 and exactly wrought,

  Since the true life on’t was—

  POSTHUMUS    This is true:

  And this you might have heard of here, by me,

  Or by some other.

  IACHIMO    More particulars

  Must justify my knowledge.

  POSTHUMUS    So they must,

  Or do your honour injury.

  IACHIMO    The chimney

  Is south the chamber, and the chimney-piece102

  Chaste Dian bathing103: never saw I figures

  So likely to report themselves; the cutter104

  Was as another nature dumb, outwent her105,

  Motion and breath left out.106

  POSTHUMUS    This is a thing

  Which you might from relation likewise reap108,

  Being, as it is, much spoke of.

  IACHIMO    The roof o’th’chamber

  With golden cherubins is fretted. Her andirons111 —

  I had forgot them — were two winking Cupids112

  Of silver, each on one foot standing, nicely113

  Depending on their brands.114

  POSTHUMUS    This is her honour!

  Let it be granted you have seen all this — and praise

  Be given to your remembrance117 — the description

  Of what is in her chamber nothing saves118

  The wager you have laid.

  IACHIMO    Then if you can

  Shows the bracelet

  Be pale, I beg but leave to air121 this jewel: see,

  And now ’tis up122 again: it must be married

  To that your diamond, I’ll keep them.

  POSTHUMUS    Jove!

  Once more let me behold it: is it that

  Which I left with her?

  IACHIMO    Sir — I thank her — that.

  She stripped it from her arm: I see her yet128:

  Her pretty action did outsell129 her gift,

  And yet enriched it too: she gave it me, and said

  She prized it once.131

  POSTHUMUS    Maybe she plucked it off

  To send it me.

  IACHIMO    She writes so to you, doth she?

  POSTHUMUS    O no, no, no, ’tis true. Here, take this too,

  Gives the ring

  It is a basilisk136 unto mine eye,

  Kills me to look on’t. Let there be no honour

  Where there is beauty: truth, where semblance138: love,

  Where there’s another man. The vows of women

  Of no more bondage140 be to where they are made

  Than they are to their virtues, which is nothing.

  O, above measure false!

  PHILARIO    Have patience, sir,

  And take your ring again, ’tis not yet won:

  It may be probable145 she lost it: or

  Who knows if one of her women, being corrupted146,

  Hath stol’n it from her?

  POSTHUMUS    Very true,

  And so I hope he came by’t. Back149 my ring,

  Takes back the ring

  Render to me some corporal sign150 about her

  More evident151 than this: for this was stol’n.

  IACHIMO    By Jupiter, I had it from her arm.

  POSTHUMUS    Hark you, he swears: by Jupiter he swears.

  ’Tis true, nay, keep the ring, ’tis true: I am sure

  She would not lose it: her attendants are

  All sworn156 and honourable: they induced to steal it?

  And by a stranger? No, he hath enjoyed her157:

  The cognizance of her incontinency158

  Is this: she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly.159

  There, take thy hire160, and all the fiends of hell

  Gives the ring again

  Divide themselves between you!161

  PHILARIO    Sir, be patient:

  This is not strong enough to be believed

  Of one persuaded164 well of.

  POSTHUMUS    Never talk on’t:

  She hath been colted166 by him.

  IACHIMO    If you seek

  For further satisfying, under her breast —

  Worthy the pressing — lies a mole, right proud

  Of that most delicate lodging. By my life,

  I kissed it, and it gave me present171 hunger

  To feed again, though full. You do remember

  This stain173 upon her?

  POSTHUMUS    Ay, and it doth confirm

  Another stain, as big as hell can hold,

  Were there no more but it.

  IACHIMO    Will you hear more?

  POSTHUMUS    Spare your arithmetic, never count the turns178:

  Once, and a million!179

  IACHIMO    I’ll be sworn.

  POSTHUMUS    No swearing.

  If you will swear you have not done’t, you lie,

  And I will kill thee if thou dost deny

  Thou’st made me cuckold.184

  IACHIMO    I’ll deny nothing.

  POSTHUMUS    O, that I had her here, to tear her limb-meal!186

  I will go there and do’t, i’th’court, before

  Her father. I’ll do something.

  Exit

  PHILARIO    Quite besides189

  The government190 of patience. You have won:

  Let’s follow him and pervert191 the present wrath

  He hath against himself.

  IACHIMO    With all my heart.

  Exeunt

  Enter Posthumus

  POSTHUMUS    Is there no way for men to be, but women

  Must be half-workers? We are all bastards195,

  And that most venerable196 man, which I

  Did call my father, was I know not where

  When I was stamped. Some coiner198 with his tools

  Made me a counterfeit: yet my mother seemed

  The Dian of that time: so doth my wife

  The nonpareil201 of this. O, vengeance, vengeance!

  Me of my lawful pleasure202 she restrained,

  And prayed me oft forbearance203: did it with

  A pudency so rosy, the sweet view on’t204

  Might well have warmed old Saturn205, that I thought her

  As chaste as unsunned snow. O, all the devils!

  This yellow207 Iachimo in an hour — wast not? —

  Or less — at first?2
08 Perchance he spoke not, but

  Like a full-acorned boar, a German209 one,

  Cried ‘O!’ and mounted; found no opposition

  But what he looked for211 should oppose, and she

  Should from encounter212 guard. Could I find out

  The woman’s part in me — for there’s no motion213

  That tends to vice in man, but I affirm

  It is the woman’s part: be it lying, note it,

  The woman’s: flattering, hers: deceiving, hers:

  Lust and rank217 thoughts, hers, hers: revenges, hers:

  Ambitions, covetings, change of prides218, disdain,

  Nice longing, slanders, mutability219,

  All faults that may be named, nay, that hell knows,

  Why, hers, in part or all: but rather all,

  For even to vice

  They are not constant, but are changing still223

  One vice, but of224 a minute old, for one

  Not half so225 old as that. I’ll write against them,

  Detest them, curse them: yet ’tis greater skill226

  In a true hate, to pray they have their will227:

  The very devils cannot plague them better.

  Exit

  Act 3 Scene 1

  running scene 7

  Enter in state Cymbeline, Queen, Cloten and Lords at one door, and at another, Caius Lucius and Attendants

  CYMBELINE    Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with us?

  LUCIUS    When Julius Caesar — whose remembrance yet2

  Lives in men’s eyes and will to ears and tongues

  Be theme4 and hearing ever — was in this Britain

  And conquered it, Cassibelan, thine uncle —

  Famous in Caesar’s praises no whit less6

  Than in his feats deserving it — for him7,

  And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,

  Yearly three thousand pounds9, which by thee lately

  Is left untendered.10

  QUEEN    And to kill the marvel11,

  Shall be so ever.

  CLOTEN    There be13 many Caesars

  Ere such another Julius: Britain’s

  A world by itself, and we will nothing pay

  For wearing our own noses.

  QUEEN    That opportunity

  Which then they had to take from’s, to resume18

  We have again. Remember, sir, my liege19,

  The kings your ancestors, together with

  The natural bravery of your isle21, which stands

  As Neptune’s park, ribbed and paled in22

  With oaks unscalable and roaring waters,

  With sands that will not bear24 your enemies’ boats,