5. Excerpt from Ornatus and Artesia, by Emanuel Ford (1607)

[Although the illicit nighttime visit of Ornatus to the sleeping Artesia in her chamber in Ornatus and Artesia, by Emanuel Ford, is represented as welcome and their relationship is consummated, this scene evokes Iachimo's invented version of his own encounter with Imogen. When Posthumus pictures Imogen's supposed dalliance with Iachimo, Posthumus's efforts to reconcile his knowledge of Imogen's previous modest behavior with the apparent lack of restraint she shows with Iachimo may result in his imagining a scenario like this. Dated 1607, it is impossible to tell whether Cymbeline or Ornatus and Artesia preceded the other.]

His mind being exceedingly affrighted with these cares, he entered into Artesia's chamber to see whether he had disquieted her or no with the noise. Her he found in bed and fast asleep, with the light still burning by her bedside, her breast uncovered down to the waist, and nothing to shroud her from his perfect view but the single sheet that lay carelessly cast over her tender body, her arms cast to either side of the bed, and her head leaning on the one side with so sweet an aspect as would have ravished a thousand beholders. Ornatus's heart was revived to behold this sweet sight, that the remembrance thereof had banished all remembrance of his troubles past and affected his heart with incomparable delight, that he stood like one amazed to behold her sweet beauty and to take a surfeiting view of those her perfections so amiably laid forth.

Artesia, suddenly awaking, blushed to see him so nigh, yet therewith more comforted than dismayed, she caught the clothes and covered herself whilst he, folding his hand in hers, desired pardon for his boldness; but she, viewing him well, beheld his pale and ghastly countenance, which drave her into fear, and raising herself upright in her bed, caught him in her arms, asking what he ailed to look so pale.

"My dear Artesia," quoth he, "since I parted from you, I have endured great danger and passed through a hell of calamities, which now I fear not." With that, he let his head fall into her sweet bosom, and there made the period of his speech, feeling her tender heart pant with the motions of her troubled spirits, in which palace he rested it a good while, whilst she with her soft hand curled his hair, and with sweet kisses mollified his lips, using many other familiarities and sweet favors proceeding from the depth of kind love, wherewith Ornatus was so ravished that he not only took heavenly comfort therein but also desired a further content and possession of her love, which he never before asked nor thought she would grant.

But being heartened by the assurance of her love, he used more bold behavior, which she permitted, but at last, growing more bold than she thought convenient for her modesty to permit, with a kind and lovely behavior she both blamed and hindered him. But the motions of affection so far prevailed with them both that he desired, and she inwardly yielded, though outwardly she refused; but his behavior, her own love, the present occasion, so fit opportunity, their hearts' unity, and other sweet enticements so far prevailed that she yielded up her unspotted body and pure chastity to his possession, and the impression of his attempt dissolved her virgin zone, giving full interests of her heart, love, and body to him that pursued the possession of those riches with earnestness: sometimes blushing, sometimes shrieking, and yet yielding, denying and yet granting, willing and unwilling; yet at last she gave that she could not recall and let him possess her spotless virginity, which, being past, her heart panted with the motion, and she felt her senses sad--a little repenting, yet not altogether sorry; sighing for sadness, and yet not sad at all--whilst he bathed himself in that haven of bliss, passing the rest of that night in such unspeakable pleasure as cannot be deciphered.

Early the next morning he arose, taking his farewell with a sweet adieu, leaving Artesia sad for sorrow and lamenting his absence, but yet with earnest and hearty prayers invocating his happy success; bathing her heart in lukewarm tears; thinking she had been too prodigal of her favors to him and yet esteeming him worthy of a thousand times greater gift, if she had it in her possession; with repentance rejoicing, though deeming herself metamorphose[d] and other than she was wont to be; being glad she had no more company to converse withal, lest her guilt should make her blush and so bewray her fault.