Is yet to name the winner: fare you well. CYм. 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.

CYм. 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. [Exit an Attendant. QUEEN. Royal sir, Since the exile of Posthumus, most retir'd 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.

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 seiz'd
her;

Or, wing'd with fervour of her love, she's flown
To her desir'd 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 PISANIO.

Who is here? What are you packing, sirrah? Come hither: ah, you precious pander! Villain,

(*) Old text, loud.

b Packing,-] Plotting, contriving, scheming.

CLO. 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.

Pis. Well, my good lord.

CLO. 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?

PIS. Sir, I will.

CLO. Give me thy hand; here's my purse. Hast any of thy late master's garments in thy possession?

PIs. I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and

mistress.

739

CLO. 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 exccute 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.

Re-enter PISANIO, with the clothes.

Be those the garments?

PIs. Ay, my noble lord.

CLO. How long is 't since she went to MilfordHaven?

PIs. She can scarce be there yet.

CLO. 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.

PIs. 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 pursu'st.-Flow,
flow

You heavenly blessings on her!-This fool's speed

Be cross'd with slowness; labour be his meed ! [Exit.

SCENE VI.-Wales. Before the Cave of Belarius.

Enter IMOGEN, in boy's clothes.

IMO. I see a man's life is a tedious one: I have tir'd myself; and for two nights together Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick, 3 B 2

But that my resolution helps me.-Milford,
When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee,
Thou wast within a ken: O Jove! I think
Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean,
Where they should be reliev'd. Two beggars
told me

I could not miss my way: will poor folks lie,
That have afflictions on them, knowing 't is
A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder,
When rich ones scarce tell true: to lapse in fulness
Is sorer than to lie for need; and falsehood

Is worse in kings than beggars.-My dear lord!

Thou art one o' the 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: 't is 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 any thing that's civil, speak ;-if savage-
Take or lend.-Ho!-No answer? then I'll

enter.

IMO. To Milford-Haven.

BEL. What's your name?

Whither bound?

IMO. Fidele, sir: I have a kinsman who Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford; To whom being going, almost spent with hunger, I am fall'n in this offence.

BEL. Pr'ythee, fair youth, Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd! 'Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer Ere you depart; and thanks to stay and eat it.Boys, bid him welcome.

Gur. Were you a woman, youth, I should woo hard but be your groom :-in honesty, I bid for you as I'd buy."