Cymbeline (Folio 1, 1623)
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Cymbeline.
993
3760Make no Collection of it. Let him shew
¶His skill in the construction.
¶Luc. Philarmonus.
¶Sooth. Heere, my good Lord.
¶Luc. Read, and declare the meaning.
3765
Reades.
¶
WHen as a Lyons whelpe, shall to himselfe vnknown, with-
¶out seeking finde, and bee embrac'd by a peece of tender¶which being dead many yeares, shall after reuiue, bee ioynted to¶tie.
¶Thou Leonatus art the Lyons Whelpe,
¶The fit and apt Construction of thy name
3775Being Leonatus, doth import so much:
¶The peece of tender Ayre, thy vertuous Daughter,
¶Which we call Mollis Aer, and Mollis Aer
¶We terme it Mulier; which Mulier I diuine
3780Answering the Letter of the Oracle,
¶Vnknowne to you vnsought, were clipt about
¶With this most tender Aire.
¶Sooth. The lofty Cedar, Royall Cymbeline
3785Personates thee: And thy lopt Branches, point
¶Thy two Sonnes forth: who by Belarius stolne
¶For many yeares thought dead, are now reuiu'd
¶Promises Britaine, Peace and Plenty.
3790Cym. Well,
¶My Peace we will begin: And Caius Lucius,
¶And to the Romane Empire; promising
¶To pay our wonted Tribute, from the which
¶Whom heauens in Iustice both on her, and hers,
¶Haue laid most heauy hand.
¶Sooth. The fingers of the Powres aboue, do tune
¶The harmony of this Peace: the Vision
3800Which I made knowne to Lucius ere the stroke
¶Is full accomplish'd. For the Romaine Eagle
¶His Fauour, with the Radiant Cymbeline,
¶Cym. Laud we the Gods,
3810And let our crooked Smoakes climbe to their Nostrils
¶To all our Subiects. Set we forward: Let
¶Friendly together: so through Luds-Towne march,
3815And in the Temple of great Iupiter
¶Our Peace wee'l ratifie: Seale it with Feasts.
¶Set on there: Neuer was a Warre did cease
¶
Exeunt.
