3237for the dead.

3238Gao. Vnlesse a man would marry a Gallowes, & be-

3239get yong Gibbets, I neuer saw one so prone: yet on my

3240Conscience, there are verier Knaues desire to liue, for all

3241he be a Roman; and there be some of them too that dye

3242against their willes; so should I, if I were one. I would

3243we were all of one minde, and one minde good: O there

3244were desolation of Gaolers and Galowses: I speake a-

3245gainst my present profit, but my wish hath a preferment

3246in't. Exeunt.

3250Cym. Stand by my side you, whom the Gods haue made

3251Preseruers of my Throne: woe is my heart,

3252That the poore Souldier that so richly fought,

3253Whose ragges, sham'd gilded Armes, whose naked brest

3254Stept before Targes of proofe, cannot be found:

3255He shall be happy that can finde him, if

3256Our Grace can make him so.

3257Bel. I neuer saw

3258Such Noble fury in so poore a Thing;

3259Such precious deeds, in one that promist nought

3260But beggery, and poore lookes.

3261Cym. No tydings of him?

3262Pisa. He hath bin search'd among the dead, & liuing;

3263But no trace of him.

3264Cym. To my greefe, I am

3265The heyre of his Reward, which I will adde

3266To you (the Liuer, Heart, and Braine of Britaine)

3267By whom (I grant) she liues. 'Tis now the time

3268To aske of whence you are. Report it.

3269Bel. Sir,

3270In Cambria are we borne, and Gentlemen:

3271Further to boast, were neyther true, nor modest,

3272Vnlesse I adde, we are honest.

3273Cym. Bow your knees:

3274Arise my Knights o'th' Battell, I create you

3275Companions to our person, and will fit you

3276With Dignities becomming your estates.

3278There's businesse in these faces: why so sadly

3279Greet you our Victory? you looke like Romaines,

3280And not o'th' Court of Britaine.

3281Corn. Hayle great King,

3282To sowre your happinesse, I must report

3283The Queene is dead.

3284Cym. Who worse then a Physitian

3285Would this report become? But I consider,

3286By Med'cine life may be prolong'd, yet death

3287Will seize the Doctor too. How ended she?

3288Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life,

3289Which (being cruell to the world) concluded

3290Most cruell to her selfe. What she confest,

3291I will report, so please you. These her Women

3292Can trip me, if I erre, who with wet cheekes

3293Were present when she finish'd.

3294Cym. Prythee say.

3295Cor. First, she confest she neuer lou'd you: onely

3296Affected Greatnesse got by you: not you:

3297Married your Royalty, was wife to your place:

3298Abhorr'd your person.

3299Cym. She alone knew this:

3300And but she spoke it dying, I would not

3301Beleeue her lips in opening it. Proceed.

3302Corn. Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to loue

3303With such integrity, she did confesse

3304Was as a Scorpion to her sight, whose life

3305(But that her flight preuented it) she had

3306Tane off by poyson.

3307Cym. O most delicate Fiend!

3308Who is't can reade a Woman? Is there more?

3309Corn. More Sir, and worse. She did confesse she had

3310For you a mortall Minerall, which being tooke,

3311Should by the minute feede on life, and ling'ring,

3312By inches waste you. In which time, she purpos'd

3313By watching, weeping, tendance, kissing, to

3314Orecome you with her shew; and in time

3315(When she had fitted you with her craft, to worke

3316Her Sonne into th' adoption of the Crowne:

3317But fayling of her end by his strange absence,

3318Grew shamelesse desperate, open'd (in despight

3319Of Heauen, and Men) her purposes: repented

3320The euils she hatch'd, were not effected: so

3321Dispayring, dyed.

3322Cym. Heard you all this, her Women?

3323La. We did, so please your Highnesse.

3324Cym. Mine eyes

3325Were not in fault, for she was beautifull:

3326Mine eares that heare her flattery, nor my heart,

3327That thought her like her seeming. It had beene vicious

3328To haue mistrusted her: yet (Oh my Daughter)

3329That it was folly in me, thou mayst say,

3330And proue it in thy feeling. Heauen mend all.

3333Thou comm'st not Caius now for Tribute, that

3334The Britaines haue rac'd out, though with the losse

3335Of many a bold one: whose Kinsmen haue made suite

3336That their good soules may be appeas'd, with slaughter

3337Of you their Captiues, which our selfe haue granted,

3338So thinke of your estate.

3339Luc. Consider Sir, the chance of Warre, the day

3340Was yours by accident: had it gone with vs,

3341We should not when the blood was cool, haue threatend

3342Our Prisoners with the Sword. But since the Gods

3343Will haue it thus, that nothing but our liues

3344May be call'd ransome, let it come: Sufficeth,

3345A Roman, with a Romans heart can suffer:

3346Augustus liues to thinke on't: and so much

3347For my peculiar care. This one thing onely

3348I will entreate, my Boy (a Britaine borne)

3349Let him be ransom'd: Neuer Master had

3350A Page so kinde, so duteous, diligent,

3351So tender ouer his occasions, true,

3352So feate, so Nurse-like: let his vertue ioyne

3353With my request, which Ile make bold, your Highnesse

3354Cannot deny: he hath done no Britaine harme,

3355Though he haue seru'd a Roman. Saue him (Sir)

3356And spare no blood beside.

3357Cym. I haue surely seene him:

3358His fauour is familiar to me: Boy,

3359Thou hast look'd thy selfe into my grace,

3360And art mine owne. I know not why, wherefore,

3361To say, liue boy: ne're thanke thy Master, liue;

3362And aske of Cymbeline what Boone thou wilt,

3363Fitting my bounty, and thy state, Ile giue it: