Cymbeline (Modern)

 1888[3.5]
 3.5.11889Enter Cymbeline, Queen, Clotten, Lucius, 1890and Lords
 3.5.21891Cymbeline
 Thus far, and so farewell.
 1892Lucius
 Thus far, and so farewell.  	Thanks, royal sir.
 3.5.31893My emperor hath wrote, I must from hence,
 3.5.41894And am right sorry that I must report ye
 3.5.51895My master's enemy.
 1896Cymbeline
 My master's enemy.  	Our subjects, sir,
 3.5.61897Will not endure his yoke, and for ourself
 3.5.71898To show less sovereignty than they must needs
 3.5.81899Appear unkinglike.
 1900Lucius
 Appear unkinglike.  	So, sir. I desire of you
 3.5.91901A conduct over land to Milford Haven.
 3.5.101902Madam, all joy befall Your Grace -- and you.
 3.5.111903Cymbeline
 My Lords, you are appointed for that office;
 3.5.121904The due of honor in no point omit.
 3.5.131905So farewell, noble Lucius.
 So farewell, noble Lucius.  1906Lucius [To Clotten]
 	Your hand, my Lord.
 3.5.141907Clotten
 Receive it friendly, but from this time forth
 3.5.151908I wear it as your enemy.
 1909Lucius
 I wear it as your enemy.  	Sir, the event
 3.5.161910Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well.
 3.5.171911Cymbeline
 Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my lords,
 3.5.181912Till he have crossed the Severn. Happiness.
 3.5.19[Exeunt] Lucius [and Lords]
 3.5.201913Queen
 He goes hence frowning, but it honors us
 3.5.211914That we have given him cause.
 1915Clotten
 That we have given him cause.  	'Tis all the better;
 3.5.221916Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.
 3.5.231917Cymbeline
 Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor
 3.5.241918How it goes here. It fits us therefore ripely
 3.5.251919Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness:
 3.5.261920The powers that he already hath in Gallia
 3.5.271921Will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves
 3.5.281922His war for Britain.
 1923Queen
 His war for Britain.  	'Tis not sleepy business
 3.5.291924But must be looked to speedily and strongly.
 3.5.301925Cymbeline
 Our expectation that it would be thus
 3.5.311926Hath made us forward. But, my gentle Queen,
 3.5.321927Where is our daughter? She hath not appeared
 3.5.331928Before the Roman, nor to us hath tendered
 3.5.341929The duty of the day. She looks us like
 3.5.351930A thing more made of malice than of duty;
 3.5.361931We have noted it. -- Call her before us, for
 3.5.371932We have been too slight in sufferance.
 [Exit a Messenger]
 1933Queen
 We have been too slight in sufferance.  	Royal sir,
 3.5.381934Since the exile of Posthumus, most retired
 3.5.391935Hath her life been, the cure whereof, my Lord,
 3.5.401936'Tis time must do. Beseech Your Majesty,
 3.5.411937Forbear sharp speeches to her. She's a lady
 3.5.421938So tender of rebukes that words are strokes,
 3.5.431939And strokes death to her.
 1940Enter a Messenger
 1941Cymbeline
 And strokes death to her.  	Where is she, sir? How
 3.5.441942Can her contempt be answered?
 1943Messenger
 Can her contempt be answered?  	Please you, sir,
 3.5.451944Her chambers are all locked, and there's no answer
 3.5.461945That will be given to th' loud of noise we make.
 3.5.471946Queen
 My Lord, when last I went to visit her,
 3.5.481947She prayed me to excuse her keeping close,
 3.5.491948Whereto constrained by her infirmity
 3.5.501949She should that duty leave unpaid to you
 3.5.511950Which daily she was bound to proffer. This
 3.5.521951She wished me to make known, but our great court
 3.5.531952Made me to blame in memory.
 1953Cymbeline
 Made me to blame in memory.  	Her doors locked?
 3.5.541954Not seen of late? Grant heavens, that which I
 3.5.551955Fear prove false.
 Exit
 1956Queen
 Fear prove false.  	Son, I say, follow the King.
 3.5.561957Clotten
 That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant,
 3.5.571958I have not seen these two days.
 1959Queen
 I have not seen these two days.  	Go, look after.
 3.5.58Exit [Clotten]
 3.5.591960Pisanio, thou that standst so for
 Posthumus,
 3.5.601961He hath a drug of mine; I pray his absence
 3.5.611962Proceed by swallowing that, for he believes
 3.5.621963It is a thing most precious. But for her,
 3.5.631964Where is she gone? Haply despair hath seized her,
 3.5.641965Or, winged with fervor of her love, she's flown
 3.5.651966To her desired Posthumus. Gone she is,
 3.5.661967To death or to dishonor, and my end
 3.5.671968Can make good use of either. She being down,
 3.5.681969I have the placing of the British crown.
 3.5.691970Enter Clotten
 3.5.701971How now, my son?
 1972Clotten
 How now, my son?  	'Tis certain she is fled.
 3.5.711973Go in and cheer the King. He rages; none
 3.5.721974Dare come about him.
 1975Queen
 Dare come about him.  	All the better: may
 3.5.731976This night forestall him of the coming day.
 3.5.74Exit Queen
 3.5.751977Clotten
 I love and hate her. For she's fair and royal
 3.5.761978And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite
 3.5.771979Than lady, ladies, woman, from every one
 3.5.781980The best she hath, and she of all compounded
 3.5.791981Outsells them all, I love her therefore; but
 3.5.801982Disdaining me and throwing favors on
 3.5.811983The low Posthumus slanders so her judgment
 3.5.821984That what's else rare is choked, and in that point
 3.5.831985I will conclude to hate her; nay, indeed,
 3.5.841986To be revenged upon her, for when fools shall --
 3.5.851987Enter Pisanio
 3.5.861988Who is here? What, are you packing, sirrah?
 3.5.871989Come hither. Ah, you precious pander, villain,
 3.5.881990Where is thy lady? In a word, or else
 3.5.891991Thou art straightway with the fiends.
 1992Pisanio
 Thou art straightway with the fiends.  	Oh, good my Lord!
 3.5.901993 Clotten
 Where is thy lady? Or, by Jupiter,
 3.5.911994I will not ask again. Close villain,
 3.5.921995I'll have this secret from thy heart or rip
 3.5.931996Thy heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus,
 3.5.941997From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
 3.5.951998A dram of worth be drawn?
 1999Pisanio
 A dram of worth be drawn?  	Alas, my Lord,
 3.5.962000How can she be with him? When was she missed?
 3.5.972001He is in Rome.
 2002Clotten
 He is in Rome.  	Where is she, sir? Come nearer.
 3.5.982003No farther halting; satisfy me home,
 3.5.992004What is become of her?
 3.5.1002005Pisanio
 Oh, my all-worthy Lord!
 2006 Clotten
 Oh, my all-worthy Lord!  	All-worthy villain,
 3.5.1012007Discover where thy mistress is at once,
 3.5.1022008At the next word. No more of "worthy Lord."
 3.5.1032009Speak, or thy silence on the instant is
 3.5.1042010Thy condemnation and thy death.
 2011Pisanio
 Thy condemnation and thy death.  	Then, sir,
 3.5.1052012This paper is the history of my knowledge
 3.5.1062013Touching her flight.
 [Gives letter]
 2014Clotten
 Touching her flight.  	Let's see't. I will pursue her
 3.5.1072015Even to Augustus' throne.
 Even to Augustus' throne.  2016Pisanio [Aside]
 	Or this or perish.
 3.5.1082017She's far enough, and what he learns by this
 3.5.1092018May prove his travel, not her danger.
 2019Clotten
 May prove his travel, not her danger.  	Hum.
 3.5.1102020Pisanio [Aside]
 I'll write to my lord she's dead. O Imogen,
 3.5.1112021Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again.
 3.5.1122022Clotten
 Sirrah, is this letter true?
 2023Pisanio
 Sirrah, is this letter true?  	Sir, as I think.
 3.5.1132024Clotten
 It is Posthumus' hand; I know't. Sirrah, if thou 2025wouldst not be a villain but do me true service, 2026undergo those employments wherein I should have cause to use 2027thee with a serious industry -- that is, what villainy soe'er I 2028bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly -- I would 2029think thee an honest man. Thou shouldst neither want 2030my means for thy relief, nor my voice for thy 2031preferment. 
 3.5.1142032Pisanio
 Well, my good Lord.
 3.5.1152033Clotten
 Wilt thou serve me? For since patiently and 2034constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that 2035beggar Posthumus, thou canst not in the course of 2036gratitude but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou serve 2037me?
 3.5.1162038Pisanio
 Sir, I will.
 3.5.1172039Clotten
 Give me thy hand; here's my purse. Hast any 2040of thy late master's garments in thy possession?
 3.5.1182041Pisanio
 I have, my Lord, at my lodging the same 2042suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and 2043mistress. 
 3.5.1192044Clotten
 The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit 2045hither; let it be thy first service. Go.
 3.5.1202046Pisanio
 I shall, my Lord.
 3.5.121Exit
 3.5.1222047Clotten
 Meet thee at Milford Haven -- I forgot to ask 2048him one thing; I'll remember't anon -- even there, thou 2049villain Posthumus, will I kill thee. I would these 2050garments were come. She said upon a time (the bitterness 2051of it I now belch from my heart) that she held the very 2052garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble 2053and natural person, together with the adornment of 2054my qualities. With that suit upon my back will I 2055ravish her -- first kill him, and in her eyes; there shall she see 2056my valor, which will then be a torment to her contempt. 2057He on the ground, my speech of insultment ended on his 2058dead body, and when my lust hath dined (which, as I 2059say, to vex her, I will execute in the clothes that she so 2060praised), to the court I'll knock her back, foot her home 2061again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I'll be 2062merry in my revenge.
 3.5.1232063Enter Pisanio [with a suit of Posthumus' clothes]
 3.5.1242064Be those the garments?
 3.5.1252065Pisanio
 Aye, my noble Lord.
 3.5.1262066 Clotten
 How long is't since she went to Milford Haven?
 3.5.1272067Pisanio
 She can scarce be there yet.
 3.5.1282068 Clotten
 Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is 2069the second thing that I have commanded thee. The third 2070is that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my design. Be 2071but duteous, and true preferment shall tender itself to 2072thee. My revenge is now at Milford; would I had wings 2073to follow it! Come, and be true.
 3.5.129Exit
 3.5.1302074Pisanio
 Thou bidst me to my loss, for true to thee
 3.5.1312075Were to prove false, which I will never be
 3.5.1322076To him that is most true. To Milford go,
 3.5.1332077And find not her whom thou pursu'st. Flow, flow,
 3.5.1342078You heavenly blessings, on her. This fool's speed
 3.5.1352079Be crossed with slowness; labor be his meed.
 3.5.136Exit
Internet Shakespeare Editions

Reading Room

Toolbox

About this text

Cymbeline (Modern)
