Poft. A Roman;

Who had not now been drooping here, if feconds
Had answered him.

2 Cap. Lay hands on him; A dog!

A leg of Rome fhall not return to tell

What crows have peck'd them here: He brags his fervice As if he were of note: bring him to the king.

Enter Cymbeline, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus, Pifanio, and Roman Captives. The Captains prefent Pofthumus, to Cymbeline, who delivers him over to a gaoler: after which, all go out.

SCENE IV.

A Prifon..

Enter Pofthumus, and two Gaolers.

с

1 Gaol. You shall not now be ftolen, you have locks

upon you;

So, graze, as you find pasture.

2 Gaol. Ay, or a stomach.

[Exeunt Gaolers.

Poft. Moft welcome, bondage! for thou art a way,

I think, to liberty: Yet am I better

Than one that's fick o' the gout; fince he had rather
Groan fo in perpetuity, than be cur'd

By the fure physician, death; who is the key

To unbar these locks. My conscience! thou art fetter'd More than my fhanks, and wrifts: You good gods,

give me

The penitent inftrument, to pick that bolt,

Then, free for ever! Is't enough, I am forry?

•locks upon you;]-alluding to thofe worn by horfes when turned

upon commons.

So

So children temporal fathers do appease;
Gods are more full of mercy. Muft I repent?
I cannot do it better than in gyves,

'Defir'd, more than conftrain'd: to fatisfy,
If of my freedom 'tis the main part, take
No stricter render of me, than my all.

I know, you are more clement than vile men,
Who of their broken debtors take a third,
A fixth, a tenth, letting them thrive again
On their abatement; that's not my defire :
For Imogen's dear life, take mine; and though
'Tis not fo dear, yet 'tis a life; you coin'd it:
'Tween man and man, they weigh not every stamp;
Though light, take pieces for the figure's sake;

If

b

You rather mine, being yours: And fo, great powers,
you will take this audit, take this life,
And cancel these cold bonds. O Imogen !
I'll speak to thee in filence.

[He fleeps.

Solemn mufick. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father to Poftbumus, an old man, attired like a warrior; leading in bis band an ancient matron, his wife, and mother to Poftbumus, with mufick before them. Then, after other mufick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Poftbumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Pofthumus round, as he lies fleeping.

Sici. No more, thou thunder-mafter, fhew
Thy spite on mortal flies:

1 Defir'd, more than constrain'd:]—Put on rather through my own choice, than by compulfion.

to fatisfy, &c.]-the offended gods, perhaps, more than this contrition may be requifite; if fo, then I defire them to accept my prefent all, my life, which I am ready to furrender as a condition of my pardon, or freedom from future punishment, and I hope they will not exact a ftricter compenfation. ↳ this audit,]—this account.

cold bonds.]-alluding both to his bodily and fpiritual bondage.

With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,

That thy adulteries

Rates, and revenges.

Hath my poor boy done ought but well,
Whofe face I never faw?

I dy'd, whilft in the womb he stay'd,
Attending Nature's law.

Whose father then (as men report,
Thou orphan's father art)

Thou should'ft have been and shielded him
From this earth-vexing fmart.
Moth. Lucina lent not me her aid,

But took me in my throes;

Sici. Great nature, like his ancestry,

Moulded the stuff so fair,

That he deferv'd the praife o' the world,

As great Sicilius' heir.

1 Bro. When once he was mature for man,

In Britain where was he

That could ftand up his parallel;

Or' fruitful object be

In eye of Imogen, that best

Could deem his dignity?

Moth. With marriage wherefore was he mock'd,

To be exil'd, and thrown

From Leonati' feat, and caft
From her his dearest one,

Sweet Imogen?

Sici. Why did you fuffer Iachimo,

Slight thing of Italy,

k

my womb.

fruitful]-productive of love's fruits-rival objea.

deem bis dignity?]-diftinguifh, judge of his merit.

Το

To taint his nobler heart and brain
With needlefs jealousy;

"And to become the geck and fcorn

O' the other's villainy?

2 Bro. For this, from ftiller feats we came,
Our parents, and us twain,
That, ftriking in our country's cause,
Fell bravely, and were flain;

Our fealty, and Tenantius' right,
With honour to maintain.

1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath
To Cymbeline perform'd :
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
Why hast thou thus adjourn'd

The graces for his merits due;

Being all to dolours turn'd?

Sici. Thy chrystal window ope; look out;
No longer exercise,

Upon a valiant race, thy harsh

And potent injuries:

Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good,

Take off his miferies.

Sici. Peep through thy marble manfion; help!
Or we poor ghosts will cry

To the fhining fynod of the reft,

Against thy deity.

་

2 Broth. Help, Jupiter; or we appeal,

And from thy juftice fly.

Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle: be throws a thunder-belt. The ghosts fall on their knees.

Jupit. No more, you petty fpirits of region low,
Offend our hearing; hufh!-How dare you ghosts,

"And to become the geck]-And (suffer him) to become the dupe. bardiment]-deeds of prowefs.

VOL. II.

R

Accuse

Accufe the thunderer, whose bolt you know,

P

Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts? Poor fhadows of Elyfium, hence; and rest Upon your never-withering banks of flowers: Be not with mortal accidents oppreft;

No care of yours it is; you know, 'tis ours.
Whom best I love, I crofs; to make my gift,
The more delay'd, delighted. Be content;
Your low-laid fon our godhead will uplift;

His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.
Our Jovial star reign'd at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married.-Rife, and 'fade!-
He fhall be lord of lady Imogen,

And happier much by his affliction made.
This tablet lay upon his breast; wherein
Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine;
And fo, away: no farther with your din
Express impatience, left you ftir up mine.-
Mount, eagle, to my palace chrystalline.
Sici. He came in thunder; his celeftial breath
Was fulphurous to fmell: the holy eagle
Stoop'd, as to foot us: his afcenfion is
More fweet than our bleft fields: his royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak,
As when his god is pleas'd.

All. Thanks, Jupiter!

Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd
His radiant roof:-Away! and, to be blest,
Let us with care perform his great beheft.

P Sky-planted,]-Taking its direction from the heavens.

[Afcends.

[Vanife.

The more delay'd, delighted.]-The more precious from its delay. fade!]-vanish..

• Stoop'd, as to foot us:At his alighting, feemed ready to ftrike us with his talons.

cloys]-claws.

Poft.