Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

For this immediate levy, he commends

His absolute commission. Long live Cæsar!

First Tri. Is Lucius general of the forces ?
Sec. Sen.

Ay.

With those legions

First Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ?
First Sen.

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 dispatch.

First Tri.

We will discharge our duty.

[Exeunt.

[ocr errors]

ACT IV.

SCENE I. Wales: near the cave of Belarius.

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; to no less young, more strong, not beneath him in

9. commends, delivers. Warburton's emendation of Ff commands. 14. supplyant, auxiliary.

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 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

20

to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand! This is the very description of their meet

ing-place; and the fellow dares not deceive me.

[Exit.

SCENE II. Before the cave of Belarius.

Enter, from the cave, Belarius, GuideriIUS,
Arviragus, and Imogen.

Bel. [To Imogen] You are not well: remain

here in the cave;

We'll come to you after hunting.

[To Imogen] Brother, stay here :

Arv.

Are we not brothers?

12. the advantage of the time, the prestige of worldly station.

14. more remarkable in single oppositions, more distinguished when compared in particular accomplishments (Schmidt). Cloten's language is vague, but this seems preferable to the usual

interpretation: 'more remarkable in single combats.'

15. imperseverant, undiscerning. The word was, in popular use, connected with 'perceive.' Dyce (followed by Globe and Camb. edd.) needlessly indicated this by the spelling imperceiverant.

Imo.

So man and man should be;

But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.

Gui. Go you to hunting; I'll abide with him.
Imo. So sick I am not, yet I am not well;
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
To one not sociable: I am not very sick,
Since I can reason of it. Pray you, trust me here :
I'll rob none but myself; and let me die,

Stealing so poorly.

Gui.

I love thee; I have spoke it :

How much the quantity, the weight as much,
As I do love my father.

Bel.

10

What! how! how!

Arv. If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me
In my good brother's fault: I know not why
I love this youth; and I have heard you say,
Love's reason 's without reason: the bier at door,
And a demand who is 't shall die, I'ld say

20

'My father, not this youth.'

Bel.

[Aside] O noble strain!
O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards and base things sire base :
Nature hath meal and bran, contempt and grace.
I'm not their father; yet who this should be,

Doth miracle itself, loved before me.

'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn.

8. so citizen a wanton, so effeminately pampered. Citizen, after the fashion of the notoriously luxurious city - women'

(cf. As You Like It, ii. 7.

75).

10. journal, daily, habitual. 14. reason, discourse.

[blocks in formation]

Imo. [Aside] These are kind creatures. Gods,

what lies I have heard !

Our courtiers say all's savage but at court:

Experience, O, thou disprovest report!

The imperious seas breed monsters, for the dish

Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish.

[blocks in formation]

He said he was gentle, but unfortunate;

Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest.

Arv. Thus did he answer me: yet said, here

after

I might know more.

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.

40

[blocks in formation]

Gui. But his neat cookery! he cut our roots

In characters,

And sauced our broths, as Juno had been sick

And he her dieter.

Nobly he yokes

Arv.

35. imperious, imperial.

50

A smiling with a sigh, as if the sigh

Was that it was, for not being such a smile:

The smile mocking the sigh, that it would fly

From so divine a temple, to commix

With winds that sailors rail at.

Gui.

I do note

That grief and patience, rooted in him both,

Mingle their spurs together.

Arv.

Grow, patience!

And let the stinking elder, grief, untwine

His perishing root with the increasing vine!

Bel. It is great morning. Come, away!Who's there?

Enter CLOTEN.

60

Clo. I cannot find those runagates; that villain

Hath mock'd me. I am faint.

Bel.

'Those runagates!'

Means he not us? I partly know him: 'tis
Cloten, the son o' the queen. I fear some ambush.
I saw him not these many years, and yet

I know 'tis he. We are held as outlaws: hence!

Gui. He is but one : you and my brother
search

What companies are near: pray you, away;
Let me alone with him.

Clo.

[Exeunt Belarius and Arviragus.
Soft! What are you

That fly me thus? some villain mountaineers ?
I have heard of such. What slave art thou ?
Gui.

A thing

70

58. spurs, branching roots of twine with; cf. v. 122 below.

a tree.

60. vine, i.e. patience; un

twine with is constructed as if it

were the negative of the verb

61. great morning, broad

day (grand jour).

71. mountaineers, savages.

« IndietroContinua »