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 looked to speedily and strongly.
CYMBELINE
Our expectation that it would be thus
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen,
Where is our daughter? She hath not appeared
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tendered
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.
Exit one or more
QUEEN Royal Sir,
Since the exile of Posthumus most retired
Hath her life been, the cure ,whereof, my lord,
’Tis time must do. Beseech your majesty
Forbear sharp speeches to her. She’s a lady
So tender of rebukes that words are strokes,
And strokes death to her.
Enter a Messenger
CYMBELINE
Where is she, sir? How
Can her contempt be answered?
MESSENGER
Please you, sir,
Her chambers are all locked, and there’s no answer
That will be given to th’ loud’st of noise we make.
QUEEN
My lord, when last I went to visit her
She prayed me to excuse her keeping close,
Whereto constrained by her infirmity,
She should that duty leave unpaid to you
Which daily she was bound to proffer. This
She wished me to make known, but our great
court
Made me to blame in memory.
CYMBELINE
Her doors locked?
Not seen of late? Grant heavens that which I
Fear prove false.
Exit
QUEEN
on, I say, follow the King.
CLOTEN
That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant,
I have not seen these two days.
QUEEN
Go, look after.
Exit Cloten
Pisanio, thou that stand’st so for Posthumus!
He hath a drug of mine. I pray his absence
Proceed by swallowing that, for he believes
It is a thing most precious. But for her,
Where is she gone? Haply despair hath seized her,
Or, winged with fervour of her love, she’s flown
To her desired Posthumus. Gone she is
To death or to dishonour, and my end
Can make good use of either. She being down,
I have the placing of the British crown.
Enter Cloten
How now, my son?
CLOTEN
’Tis certain she is fled.
Go in and cheer the King. He rages, none
Dare come about him.
QUEEN
All the better. May
This night forestall him of the coming day. Exit
CLOTEN
I love and hate her. For she’s fair and royal,
And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite
Than lady, ladies, woman—from every one
The best she hath, and she, of all compounded,
Outsells them all—I love her therefore; but
Disdaining me, and throwing favours on
The low Posthumus, slanders so her judgement
That what’s else rare is choked; and in that point
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,
To be revenged upon her. For when fools
Shall—
Enter Pisanio
Who is here? What, are you packing, sirrah?
Come hither. Ah, you precious pander! Villain,
Where is thy lady? In a word, or else
Thou art straightway with the fiends.
PISANIO
O good my lord!
CLOTEN
Where is thy lady?—or, by Jupiter,
I will not ask again. Close villain,
I’ll have this secret from thy tongue or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus,
From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn?
PISANIO
Alas, my lord,
How can she be with him? When was she missed?
He is in Rome.
CLOTEN
Where is she, sir? Come nearer.
No farther halting. Satisfy me home
What is become of her.
PISANIO O my all-worthy lord!
CLOTEN All-worthy villain,
Discover where thy mistress is at once,
At the next word. No more of ‘worthy lord’.
Speak, or thy silence on the instant is
Thy condemnation and thy death.
PISANIO
Then, sir,
This paper is the history of my knowledge
Touching her flight.
He gives Cloten a letter
CLOTEN
Let’s see’t. I will pursue her
Even to Augustus’ throne.
PISANIO ⌈aside⌉
Or this or perish.
She’s far enough, and what he learns by this
May prove his travel, not her danger.
CLOTEN Hum!
PISANIO (aside)
I’ll write to my lord she’s dead. O Innogen,
Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!
CLOTEN
Sirrah, is this letter true?
PISANIO
Sir, as I think.
CLOTEN 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 should have cause to use thee with a serious industry—that is, what villainy 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.
PISANIO Well, my good lord.
CLOTEN 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 course of gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou serve me? 121
PISANIO Sir, I will.
CLOTEN Give me thy hand. Here’s my purse. Hast any of thy late master’s garments in thy possession?
PISANIO I have, my lord, at my lodging the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.
CLOTEN The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither. Let it be thy first service. Go.
PISANIO I shall, my lord. Exit
CLOTEN 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.
Enter Pisanio with Posthumus’ suit
Be those the garments?
PISANIO
Ay, my noble lord.
CLOTEN
How long is’t since she went to Milford Haven?
PISANIO She can scarce be there yet.
CLOTEN Bring this apparel to my chamber. That is the second thing that
I have commanded thee. The third is that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my design. Be but duteous, and true preferment shall tender itself to thee. My revenge is now at Milford. Would I had wings to follow it. Come, and be true. Exit
PISANIO
Thou bidd’st me to my loss, for true to thee
Were to prove false, which I will never be
To him that is most true. To Milford go,
And find not her whom thou pursuest. Flow, flow,
You heavenly blessings, on her. This fool’s speed
Be crossed with slowness; labour be his meed. Exit
3.6 Enter Innogen, dressed as a man, before the cave
INNOGEN
I see a man’s life is a tedious one.
I have tired myself, and for two nights together
Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick,
But that my resolution helps me. Milford,
When from the mountain-top Pisanio showed thee,
Thou wast within a ken. O Jove, I think
Foundations fly the wretched—such, I mean,
Where they should be relieved. Two beggars told me
I could not miss my way. Will poor folks lie,
That have afflictions on them, knowing ‘tis
A punishment or trial? Yes. No wonder,
When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fullness
Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood
Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord,
Thou art one o’th’ false ones. Now I think on thee
My hunger’s gone, but even before I was
At point to sink for food. But what is this?
Here is a path to’t. ‘Tis some savage hold.
I were best not call; I dare not call; yet famine,
Ere clean it o’erthrow nature, makes it valiant.
Plenty and peace breeds cowards, hardness ever
Of hardiness is mother. Ho! Who’s here?
If anything that’s civil, speak; if savage,
Take or lend. Ho! No answer? Then I’ll enter.
Best draw my sword, and if mine enemy
But fear the sword like me he’ll scarcely look on’t.
Such a foe, good heavens!
Exit into the cave
Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus
BELARIUS
You, Polydore, have proved best woodman and
Are master of the feast. Cadwal and I
Will play the cook and servant; ‘tis our match.
The sweat of industry would dry and die
But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs
Will make what’s homely savoury. Weariness
Can snore upon the flint when resty sloth
Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
Poor house, that keep’st thyself.
GUIDERIUS I am throughly weary.
ARVIRAGUS
I am weak with toil yet strong in appetite.
GUIDERIUS
There is cold meat i’th’ cave. We’ll browse on that
Whilst what we have killed be cooked.
BELARIUS (looking into the cave) Stay, come not in.
But that it eats our victuals I should think
Here were a fairy.
GUIDERIUS What’s the matter, sir?
BELARIUS
By Jupiter, an angel—or, if not,
An earthly paragon. Behold divineness
No elder than a boy.
Enter Innogen from the cave, dressed as a man
INNOGEN
Good masters, harm me not.
Before I entered here I called, and thought
To have begged or bought what I have took. Good
truth,
I have stol’n naught, nor would not, though I had
found
Gold strewed i’th’ floor. Here’s money for my meat.
I would have left it on the board so soon
As I had made my meal, and parted
With prayers for the provider.
GUIDERIUS
Money, youth?
ARVIRAGUS
All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,
As ’tis no better reckoned but of those
Who worship dirty gods.
INNOGEN
I see you’re angry.
Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
Have died had I not made it.
BELARIUS
Whither bound?
INNOGEN
To Milford Haven.
BELARIUS
What’s your name?
INNOGEN
Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who
Is bound for Italy. He embarked at Milford,
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fall’n in this offence.
BELARIUS
Prithee, fair youth,
Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encountered.
’Tis almost night. You shall have better cheer
Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.
GUIDERIUS
Were you a woman, youth,
I should woo hard but be your groom in honesty,
Ay, bid for you as I’d buy.
ARVIRAGUS
I’ll make’t my comfort
He is a man, I’ll love him as my brother.
(To Innogen) And such a welcome as I’d give to him
After long absence, such is yours. Most welcome.
Be sprightly, for you fall ’mongst friends.
INNOGEN ’Mongst friends
If brothers. (Aside) Would it had been so that they
Had been my father’s sons. Then had my price
Been less, and so more equal ballasting
To thee, Posthumus.
The three men speak apart
BELARIUS
He wrings at some distress.
GUIDERIUS
Would I could free’t.
ARVIRAGUS
Or I, whate’er it be,
What pain it cost, what danger. Gods!
BELARIUS
Hark, boys.
They whisper
INNOGEN (aside) Great men
That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves and had the virtue
Which their own conscience sealed them, laying by
That nothing-gift of differing multitudes,
Could not outpeer these twain. Pardon me, gods,
I’d change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus’ false.
BELARIUS
It shall be so.
Boys, we’ll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come in.
Discourse is heavy, fasting. When we have supped
We’ll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak it.
GUIDERIUS
Pray draw near.
ARVIRAGUS
The night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less welcome.
INNOGEN
Thanks, sir.
ARVIRAGUS I pray draw near.
Exeunt into the cave
3.7 Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes
FIRST SENATOR
This is the tenor of the Emperor’s writ:
That since the common men are now in action
‘Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians,
And that the legions now in Gallia are
Full weak to undertake our wars against
The fall’n-off Britons, that we do incite
The gentry to this business. He creates
Lucius pro-consul, and to you the tribunes,
For this immediate levy, he commends
His absolute commission. Long live Caesar!
A TRIBUNE
Is Lucius general of the forces?
SECOND SENATOR
Ay.
A TRIB
UNE
Remaining now in Gallia?
FIRST SENATOR
With those legions
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.
A TRIBUNE
We will discharge our duty.
Exeunt
4.1 Enter Cloten, in Posthumus’ suit
CLOTEN I am near to th’ 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 vainglory 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: no less young, more strong, not beneath him in 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 imperceiverant 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 to a sore purpose! Fortune, put them into my hand. This is the very description of their meeting-place, and the fellow dares not deceive me.
Exit
4.2 Enter Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, and Innogen dressed as a man, from the cave
BELARIUS (to Innogen)
You are not well. Remain here in the cave.
We’ll come to you from hunting.
ARVIRAGUS (to Innogen)
Brother, stay here.
Are we not brothers?
INNOGEN
So man and man should be,
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.
GUIDERIUS (to Belarius and Arviragus)
Go you to hunting. I’ll abide with him.
INNOGEN
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
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 387
