Clo. 'Tis all the better; Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it. Cym. Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor Will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves His war for Britain. Queen. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be look'd to speedily and strongly. Cym. Our expectation that it would be thus 20 But, my gentle queen, 30 Hath made us forward. A thing more made of malice than of duty: Queen. [Exit an Attendant. Royal sir, Since the exile of Posthumus, most retired 40 Her chambers are all lock'd; and there's no answer 32. looks, looks upon. 35. too slight in sufferance, VOL. IV too negligent in thus indulging her. 193 Queen. My lord, when last I went to visit her, She pray'd me to excuse her keeping close, Whereto constrain'd by her infirmity, She should that duty leave unpaid to you, Which daily she was bound to proffer: this She wish'd me to make known; but our great court Made me to blame in memory. 50 Her doors lock'd? Cym. Queen. Son, I say, follow the king. [Exit. Clo. That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant, Queen. her, Or, wing'd with fervour of her love, she's flown To death or to dishonour; and my end Can make good use of either: she being down, Re-enter CLOTEN. How now, my son ! Clo. 'Tis certain she is fled. Go in and cheer the king: he rages; none Queen. [Aside] All the better: may This night forestall him of the coming day! [Exit. 50. our great court, this important court-meeting. 60 69. forestall, deprive; may he die of his rage. Clo. I love and hate her: for she's fair and royal, The low Posthumus slanders so her judgement To be revenged upon her. Shall For when fools Enter PISANIO. 70 Villain, Who is here? What, are you packing, sirrah? 80 Come hither: ah, you precious pandar! Where is thy lady? In a word; or else Thou art straightway with the fiends. Pis. O, good my lord! Clo. Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter, I will not ask again. Close villain, I'll have this secret from thy heart, or rip Pis. How can she be with him? Clo. Alas, my lord, When was she miss'd? Where is she, sir? Come nearer ; No further halting: satisfy me home Pis. O, my all-worthy lord! 90 Clo. All-worthy villain ! Discover where thy mistress is at once, At the next word: no more of 'worthy lord!' Pis. This paper is the history of my knowledge Touching her flight. Clo. Then, sir, [Presenting a letter. Let's see 't. [Aside] Or this, or perish. Even to Augustus' throne. Pis. She's far enough; and what he learns by this Clo. Hum! Pis. [Aside] I'll write to my lord she's dead. O Imogen, Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again! Clo. Sirrah, is this letter true? Pis. Sir, as I think. ΙΙΟ Clo. It is Posthumus' hand; I know 't. Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a villain, but do me true service, undergo those employments wherein I 110 should have cause to use thee with a serious industry, that is, what villany soe'er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly, I would think thee an honest man: thou shouldst neither want my means for thy relief nor my voice for thy preferment. Pis. Well, my good lord. Clo. Wilt thou serve me? for since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou canst not, in the 120 course of gratitude, but be a diligent follower of mine: wilt thou serve me? IOI. Or this or perish, i.e. I must either do this, or die. Pis. Sir, I will. Clo. Give me thy hand; here's my purse. Hast any of thy late master's garments in thy possession? Pis. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress. Clo. The first service thou dost me, fetch that 130 suit hither let it be thy first service; go. Pis. I shall, my lord. [Exit. Clo. Meet thee at Milford-Haven !-I forgot to ask him one thing; I'll remember't anon :even there, thou villain Posthumus, will I kill thee. I would these garments were come. She said upon a time-the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart-that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together with the adornment of my qualities. With that suit upon my back, will I ravish her first kill him, and in her eyes; there shall she see my valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground, my speech of insultment ended on his dead body, and when my lust hath dined,-which, as I say, to vex her I will execute in the clothes that she so praised, to the court I'll knock her back, foot her home again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I'll be merry in my revenge. Re-enter PISANIO, with the clothes. Be those the garments? Pis. Ay, my noble lord. Clo. How long is 't since she went to MilfordHaven? Pis. She can scarce be there yet. 140 150 148. foot, kick. |