Pis.

But to win time
To lose so bad employment: in the which
I have consider'd of a course; Good lady,
Hear me with patience.
Imo.

Talk thy tongue weary; speak:
I have heard, I am a strumpet: and mine ear,
Therein false struck, can take no greater wound,
Nor tent to bottom that. But speak.
Pis.

Then, madam, I thought you would not back again. Imo.

Most like ;
Bringing me here to kill me.
Pis.

Not so, neither:
But if I were as wise as honest, then
My purpose would prove well. It cannot be,
But that my master is abus'd:
Some villain, ay, and singular in his art,
Hath done you both this cursed injury.

Imo. Some Roman courtezan.
Pis.

No, on my life.
I'll give but notice you are dead, and send him
Some bloody sign of it; for 'tis commanded
I should do so : You shall be miss'd at court,
And that will well confirm it.
Imo.

Why, good fellow, What shall I do the while? Where bide? How live? Or in my life what comfort, when I am Dead to my husband ? Pis.

If you'll back to the court, Imo. No court, no father; nor no more ado With that harsh, noble, simple, nothing13: That Cloten, whose love-suit hath been to me As fearful as a siege. Pis.

If not at court, Then not in Britain must you bide.

Imo.

Where then? Hath Britain all the sun that shines14? Day, night, Are they not but in Britain ? I'the world's

volume
Our Britain seems as of it, but not in it;
In a great pool, a swan's nest: Pr'ythee, think
There's livers out of ritain.
Pis.

I am most glad
You think of other place. The embassador
Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford Haven
To-morrow: Now, if you could wear a mind
Dark as your fortune is15; and but disguise
That, which, to appear itself, must not yet be,
But by self-danger; you should tread a course
Pretty, and full of view16: yea, haply, near
The residence of Posthumus: so nigh, at least,
That though his actions were not visible, yet
Report should render him hourly to your ear,
As truly as he moves.
Imo.

0, for such means !
Though peril to my modesty, not death on't,
I would adventure,
Pis.

Well then, here's the point:
You must forget to be a woman; change
Command into obedience; fear and niceness
(The handmaids of all women, or, more truly,
Woman its pretty self into a waggish courage;
Ready in gibes, quick-answer'd, saucy, and

14 The poet may have had in his mind a passage in Lyly's Euphues, which he has imitated in King Richard II. See it in a note on that play, vol. v. p. 26.

15 To wear a dark mind is to carry a mind impenetrable to the search of others. Darkness, applied to the mind, is secrecy; applied to the fortune, is obscurity. The next lines are obscure. - You must (says Pisanio) disguise that greatness which, to appear hereafter in its proper form, cannot yet appear without great danger to itself.'

16 Full of view appears to of ample prospect, affording a complete view of circumstances which it is your interest to know. Thus in Pericles, Full of face' appears to signify amply beautiful :' and Duncan assures Banquo that he will labour to make him “full of growing,' i. e. of "ample growth. VOL. IX.

4

mean

As quarrellous as the weasel17: nay, you must
Forget that rarest treasure of your cheek,
Exposing it (but, 0, the harder heart!
Alack no remedy!) to the greedy touch
Of common-kissing Titan 18 ! and forget
Your laboursome and dainty trims, wherein
You made great Juno angry.
Imo.

Nay, be brief:
I see into thy end, and am almost
A man already
Pis.

First, make yourself but like one,
Fore-thinking this, I have already fit
('Tis in my cloak-bag) doublet, hat, hose, all
That answer to them: Would you, in their serving,
And with what imitation you can borrow
From youth of such a season, 'fore noble Lucius
Present yourself, desire his service, tell him
Wherein you are happy19 (which you'll make him

know, If that his head have ear in music ), doubtless, With joy he will embrace you; for he’s honourable, And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad You have me20, rich; and I will never fail Beginning, nor supplyment. Imo.

Thou art all the comfort

17 So in King Henry IV. Part 1.:

• A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen

As you are toge'd with.' This character of the weasel is not mentioned by naturalists. Weasels were formerly, it appears, kept in houses instead of cats, for the purpose of killing vermin. Phadrus notices this their feline office in the first and fourth fables of his fourth book.

The poet no doubt speaks from observation; while a youth he would have frequent opportunities to ascertain their disposition. Perhaps this note requires the apology which Steevens has affixed to it :• Frivola hæc fortassis cuipiam et nimis levia esse videantur sed curiositas nihil recusat.'-Vopiscus in Vita Aureliani, c. X. 18 Thus in Othello :

The gods will diet me withal. Pr’ythee, away:
There's more to be consider’d; but we'll even22
All that good time will give us: This attempt
I am soldier to23, and will abide it with
A prince's courage. Away, I pr’ythee.

Pis. Well, madam, we must take a short farewell:
Lest, being miss'd, I be suspected of
Your carriage from the court. My noble mistress,
Here is a box; I had it from the queen;
What's in't is precious; if you are sick at sea,
Or stomach-qualm'd at land, a dram of this
Will drive away distemper. To some shade,
And fit you to your manhood :-May the gods
Direct you to the best!
Imo.

Amen: I thank thee.

[Exeunt

SCENE V. A Room in Cymbeline's Palace. Enter CYMBELINE, Queen, CLOTEN, Lucius, and

Lords.

Cym. Thus far; and so farewell.
Luc.

Thanks, royal sir.
My emperor hath wrote; I must from hence;
And am right sorry, that I must report ye
My master's enemy.
Cym.

Our subjects, sir, Will not endure his yoke: and for ourself

To show less sovereignty than they, must needs
Appear unkinglike.
Luc.

So, sir, I desire of you
A conduct over land, to Milford Haven.
Madam, all joy befall your grace, and you!!

Cym. My lords, you are appointed for that office; The due of honour in no point omit:So, farewell, noble Lucius. Luc.

Your hand, my lord.
Clo. Receive it friendly: but from this time forth
I wear it as your enemy.
Luc.

Sir, the event
Is yet to name the winner; Fare you well.

Cym. Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my lords, Till he have cross'd the Severn.-Happiness!

[Exeunt Lucius, and Lords. Queen. He goes hence frowning: but it honours us, That we have given him cause. Clo.

'Tis all the better; Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.

Cym. Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor How it goes here. It fits us therefore, ripely, Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness : The powers that he already hath in Gallia 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,
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen,
Where is our daughter? She hath not appear'd
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender'd
The duty of the day: She looks us like
A thing more made of malice, than of duty:
We have noted it. - Call her before us; for
We have been too slight in sufferance.

[Erit an Attendant.