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May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in me: Now from head to foot
I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.
Guard.
This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.
[Exit Guard.
Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly I have him but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those, that do die of it, do seldom or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt, Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm.

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.
Cleo. Farewell.

[Clown sets down the basket.

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

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Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry ;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen ? Char.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Speak softly, wake her not. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp.

O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil❜d.

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him.

1 Guard. What work is here?

this well done?

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Charmian, is

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier!

Enter DOLABELLA.

Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard.

All dead.

Dol.

[Dies.

Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this Thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou So sought'st to hinder. Within.

A way there, a way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR and Attendants. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer ; That you did fear, is done.

Cæs.

Bravest at the last:

She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way.
The manner of their deaths?

I do not see them bleed.

Dol.

Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs. This was his basket. CES.

Poison'd then.

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Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves
Upon the caves of Nile.
Most probable,

Cæs.

That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die. - Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument: --
She shall be buried by her Antony:
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them; and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which
Brought them to be lamented.
In solemn show, attend this funeral;
And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, sce
High order in this great solemnity. [Exeunt

Our army shall,

CYMBELINE.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband.
LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a gentleman, husband to
Imogen.

BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name
of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS,
ARVIRAGUS,

sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the
names of Polydore and Cadwal,
supposed sons to Belarius.

PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus,} Italians.

IACHIMO, friend to Philario,

A French Gentleman, friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman Forces.
A Roman Captain.

Two British Captains.
PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.
CORNELIUS, a physician.
Two Gentlemen.
Two Gaolers.

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline.
IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen.
HELEN, woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Appa
ritions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a
Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains,
Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-sometimes in BRITAIN; sometimes in ITALY.

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1 Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing

Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her,
(I mean, that married her,—alack, good man!
And therefore banish'd,) is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think,
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.

2 Gent.

You speak him far.

1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?

1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His
father

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan,
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:

So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus :
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which, their

father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd

As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd, her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read.

What kind of man he is.

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Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys

That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.
Post.

I will from hence to-day.
Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril : --I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you shou1 not speak together. [Exit QUEEN. 0

Im

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! - My dearest husband,

I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing, (Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what

His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

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If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.

Post.

[Aside.

[Erit.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu !
Imo. Nay, stay a little :

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post. How! how! another?-
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death! - Remain thou here
[Putting on the ring.
While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss; so, in our trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

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When shall we see again?

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It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:
You bred him as my playfellow; and he is
A man, worth any woman; overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.

Cym.

What! -art thou mad? Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me !-'Would

I were

A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus

Our neighbour shepherd's son !

Re-enter QUEEN

Cym.

Thou foolish thing! They were again together: you have done

Not after our command.

[To the QUEEN. Away with her,

And pen her up.

Queen. 'Beseech your patience : - Peace,
Dear lady daughter, peace; Sweet sovereign,
Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some

comfort

Out of your best advice.

Cym.

Nay, let her languish
A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
Die of this folly!

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2 Lord. His steel was in debt: it went o'the back side the town. [Aside.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face. [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned. [Aside.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the re[Exit.flection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done!

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And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost,
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?
Pis.

"Twas, His queen, his queen !
Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.
And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than I!--`
And that was all?

Pis.
No, madam; for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,
How swift his ship.

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