1    You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods
2    No more obey the heavens than our courtiers
3    Still seem as does the king.

4    But what's the matter?

5    His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom
6    He purposed to his wife's sole son--a widow
7    That late he married--hath referr'd herself
8    Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she's wedded;
9    Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
10   Is outward sorrow; though I think the king
11   Be touch'd at very heart.

12   None but the king?

13   He that hath lost her too; so is the queen,
14   That most desired the match; but not a courtier,
15   Although they wear their faces to the bent
16   Of the king's look's, hath a heart that is not
17   Glad at the thing they scowl at.

18   And why so?

19   He that hath miss'd the princess is a thing
20   Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her--
21   I mean, that married her, alack, good man!
22   And therefore banish'd--is a creature such
23   As, to seek through the regions of the earth
24   For one his like, there would be something failing
25   In him that should compare. I do not think
26   So fair an outward and such stuff within
27   Endows a man but he.

28   You speak him far.

29   I do extend him, sir, within himself,
30   Crush him together rather than unfold
31   His measure duly.

32   What's his name and birth?

33   I cannot delve him to the root: his father
34   Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour
35   Against the Romans with Cassibelan,
36   But had his titles by Tenantius whom
37   He served with glory and admired success,
38   So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus;
39   And had, besides this gentleman in question,
40   Two other sons, who in the wars o' the time
41   Died with their swords in hand; for which
42   their father,
43   Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow
44   That he quit being, and his gentle lady,
45   Big of this gentleman our theme, deceased
46   As he was born. The king he takes the babe
47   To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,
48   Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,
49   Puts to him all the learnings that his time
50   Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
51   As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd,
52   And in's spring became a harvest, lived in court--
53   Which rare it is to do--most praised, most loved,
54   A sample to the youngest, to the more mature
55   A glass that feated them, and to the graver
56   A child that guided dotards; to his mistress,
57   For whom he now is banish'd, her own price
58   Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
59   By her election may be truly read
60   What kind of man he is.

61   I honour him
62   Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,
63   Is she sole child to the king?

64   His only child.
65   He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing,
66   Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old,
67   I' the swathing-clothes the other, from their nursery
68   Were stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge
69   Which way they went.

70   How long is this ago?

71   Some twenty years.

72   That a king's children should be so convey'd,
73   So slackly guarded, and the search so slow,
74   That could not trace them!

75   Howsoe'er 'tis strange,
76   Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,
77   Yet is it true, sir.

78   I do well believe you.

79   We must forbear: here comes the gentleman,
80   The queen, and princess.

81   No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,
82   After the slander of most stepmothers,
83   Evil-eyed unto you: you're my prisoner, but
84   Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
85   That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
86   So soon as I can win the offended king,
87   I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
88   The fire of rage is in him, and 'twere good
89   You lean'd unto his sentence with what patience
90   Your wisdom may inform you.

91   Please your highness,
92   I will from hence to-day.

93   You know the peril.
94   I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
95   The pangs of barr'd affections, though the king
96   Hath charged you should not speak together.

97   O
98   Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
99   Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,
100  I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing--
101  Always reserved my holy duty--what
102  His rage can do on me: you must be gone;
103  And I shall here abide the hourly shot
104  Of angry eyes, not comforted to live,
105  But that there is this jewel in the world
106  That I may see again.

107  My queen! my mistress!
108  O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause
109  To be suspected of more tenderness
110  Than doth become a man. I will remain
111  The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth:
112  My residence in Rome at one Philario's,
113  Who to my father was a friend, to me
114  Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
115  And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
116  Though ink be made of gall.

117  Be brief, I pray you:
118  If the king come, I shall incur I know not
119  How much of his displeasure.
Aside
120  Yet I'll move him
121  To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
122  But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
123  Pays dear for my offences.

124  Should we be taking leave
125  As long a term as yet we have to live,
126  The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!

127  Nay, stay a little:
128  Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
129  Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
130  This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
131  But keep it till you woo another wife,
132  When Imogen is dead.

133  How, how! another?
134  You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
135  And sear up my embracements from a next
136  With bonds of death!
Putting on the ring
137  Remain, remain thou here
138  While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest,
139  As I my poor self did exchange for you,
140  To your so infinite loss, so in our trifles
141  I still win of you: for my sake wear this;
142  It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
143  Upon this fairest prisoner.

144  O the gods!
145  When shall we see again?

146  Alack, the king!

147  Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!
148  If after this command thou fraught the court
149  With thy unworthiness, thou diest: away!
150  Thou'rt poison to my blood.

151  The gods protect you!
152  And bless the good remainders of the court! I am gone.

153  There cannot be a pinch in death
154  More sharp than this is.

155  O disloyal thing,
156  That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap'st
157  A year's age on me.

158  I beseech you, sir,
159  Harm not yourself with your vexation
160  I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
161  Subdues all pangs, all fears.

162  Past grace? obedience?

163  Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace.

164  That mightst have had the sole son of my queen!

165  O blest, that I might not! I chose an eagle,
166  And did avoid a puttock.

167  Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne
168  A seat for baseness.

169  No; I rather added
170  A lustre to it.

171  O thou vile one!

172  Sir,
173  It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus:
174  You bred him as my playfellow, and he is
175  A man worth any woman, overbuys me
176  Almost the sum he pays.

177  What, art thou mad?

178  Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I were
179  A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
180  Our neighbour shepherd's son!

181  Thou foolish thing!
Re-enter QUEEN
182  They were again together: you have done
183  Not after our command. Away with her,
184  And pen her up.

185  Beseech your patience. Peace,
186  Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,
187  Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some comfort
188  Out of your best advice.

189  Nay, let her languish
190  A drop of blood a day; and, being aged,
191  Die of this folly!

192  Fie! you must give way.
Enter PISANIO
193  Here is your servant. How now, sir! What news?

194  My lord your son drew on my master.

195  Ha!
196  No harm, I trust, is done?

197  There might have been,
198  But that my master rather play'd than fought
199  And had no help of anger: they were parted
200  By gentlemen at hand.

201  I am very glad on't.

202  Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part.
203  To draw upon an exile! O brave sir!
204  I would they were in Afric both together;
205  Myself by with a needle, that I might prick
206  The goer-back. Why came you from your master?

207  On his command: he would not suffer me
208  To bring him to the haven; left these notes
209  Of what commands I should be subject to,
210  When 't pleased you to employ me.

211  This hath been
212  Your faithful servant: I dare lay mine honour
213  He will remain so.

214  I humbly thank your highness.

215  Pray, walk awhile.

216  About some half-hour hence,
217  I pray you, speak with me: you shall at least
218  Go see my lord aboard: for this time leave me.