More noble than that runagate158 to your bed,
And will continue fast159 to your affection,
Still close as sure.
Calls
INNOGEN What ho, Pisanio!
IACHIMO Let me my service tender on your lips.162
INNOGEN Away, I do condemn mine ears that have
So long attended thee.164 If thou wert honourable
Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not
For such an end thou seek’st, as base as strange.
Thou wrong’st a gentleman who is as far
From thy report as thou from honour, and
Solicit’st here a lady that disdains
Thee and the devil alike.— What ho, Pisanio!
The king my father shall be made acquainted
Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit,
A saucy stranger in his court to mart173
As in a Romish stew174, and to expound
His beastly mind to us175, he hath a court
He little cares for, and a daughter who
He not respects at all.— What ho, Pisanio!
IACHIMO O happy Leonatus I may say,
The credit179 that thy lady hath of thee
Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness
Her assured credit. Blessèd live you long,
A lady to the worthiest sir that ever
Country called his; and you his mistress, only
For the most worthiest fit. Give me your pardon.
I have spoke this to know if your affiance185
Were deeply rooted, and shall make your lord
That which he is new o’er187: and he is one
The truest mannered, such a holy witch188
That he enchants societies into him:
Half all men’s hearts are his.
INNOGEN You make amends.
IACHIMO He sits ’mongst men like a descended god;
He hath a kind of honour sets him off
More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,
Most mighty princess, that I have adventured
To try your taking196 of a false report, which hath
Honoured with confirmation your great judgement
In the election of a sir so rare198,
Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him
Made me to fan200 you thus, but the gods made you,
Unlike all others, chaffless.201 Pray your pardon.
INNOGEN All’s well, sir: take my power i’th’court for yours.
IACHIMO My humble thanks. I had almost forgot
T’entreat your grace but204 in a small request,
And yet of moment205 too, for it concerns
Your lord: myself and other noble friends
Are partners in the business.
INNOGEN Pray what is’t?
IACHIMO Some dozen Romans of us and your lord —
The best feather of our wing — have mingled sums210
To buy a present for the emperor:
Which I, the factor212 for the rest, have done
In France: ’tis plate of rare device213, and jewels
Of rich and exquisite form, their value’s great,
And I am something curious, being strange215,
To have them in safe stowage: may it please you
To take them in protection?
INNOGEN Willingly:
And pawn219 mine honour for their safety, since
My lord hath interest220 in them. I will keep them
In my bedchamber.
IACHIMO They are in a trunk
Attended by my men: I will make bold
To send them to you, only for this night:
I must aboard tomorrow.
INNOGEN O, no, no.
IACHIMO Yes, I beseech: or I shall short227 my word
By length’ning my return. From Gallia228
I crossed the seas on purpose and on promise
To see your grace.
INNOGEN I thank you for your pains:
But not away tomorrow.
IACHIMO O, I must, madam.
Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please
To greet your lord with writing, do’t tonight.
I have outstood my time, which is material236
To th’tender237 of our present.
INNOGEN I will write:
Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,
And truly yielded you. You’re very welcome.
Exeunt
running scene 4
Enter Cloten and the two Lords
CLOTEN Was there ever man had such luck? When I kissed1
the jack upon an upcast2, to be hit away! I had a hundred
pound on’t: and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me3
up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of4 him, and
might not spend them at my pleasure.5
FIRST LORD What got he by that? You have broke his pate6 with
your bowl.
Aside
SECOND LORD If his wit had been like him that broke it, it8
would have run all out.
CLOTEN When a gentleman10 is disposed to swear, it is not for
any standers-by to curtail11 his oaths. Ha?
Aside
SECOND LORD No my lord.—
Nor crop the ears of them.
CLOTEN Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he
had been one of my rank.15
Aside
SECOND LORD To have smelled like a fool.
CLOTEN I am not vexed more at anything in th’earth: a pox17
on’t! I had rather not be so18 noble as I am: they dare not fight
with me, because of the queen my mother: every jack-slave19
hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like
a cock21 that nobody can match.
Aside
SECOND LORD You are cock and capon22 too, and you crow,
cock, with your comb23 on.
CLOTEN Sayest thou?24
SECOND LORD It is not fit your lordship should undertake25 every
companion26 that you give offence to.
CLOTEN No, I know that: but it is fit I should commit offence27
to my inferiors.
SECOND LORD Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.29
CLOTEN Why, so I say.
FIRST LORD Did you hear of a stranger that’s come to court
tonight?
CLOTEN A stranger, and I not know on’t?
Aside
SECOND LORD He’s a strange fellow himself, and knows
it not.
FIRST LORD There’s an Italian come, and ’tis thought one of
Leonatus’ friends.
CLOTEN Leonatus? A banished rascal; and he’s another,
whatsoever39 he be. Who told you of this stranger?
FIRST LORD One of your lordship’s pages.
CLOTEN Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no
derogation42 in’t?
SECOND LORD You cannot derogate43, my lord.
CLOTEN Not easily, I think.
Aside
SECOND LORD You are a fool granted, therefore your issues45,
being foolish, do not derogate.
CLOTEN Come, I’ll go see this Italian: what I have lost today
at bowls I’ll win tonight of him. Come, go.
SECOND LORD I’ll attend your lordship.—
Exeunt [Cloten and First Lord]
That such a crafty devil as is his mother
Should yield the world this ass: a woman that
Bears all down52 with her brain, and this her son
Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart53,
And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,
Thou divine Innogen, what thou endur’st,
Betwixt56 a father by thy stepdame governed,
A mother hourly coining57 plots, a wooer
More hateful than the foul expulsion58 is
Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act
Of the divorce he’d make!60 The heavens hold firm
The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshaked
That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand,
T’enjoy thy banished lord and this great land.
Exit
Act 2 Scene 2
running scene 5
Enter Innogen in her bed, and a Lady
A trunk is brought in
INNOGEN Who’s there? My woman Helen?
LADY Please you, madam.
INNOGEN What hour is it?
LADY Almost midnight, madam.
INNOGEN I have read three hours then: mine eyes are weak.5
Gives her the book
Fold down the leaf where I have left6: to bed.
Take not away the taper7, leave it burning:
And if thou canst awake by four o’th’clock,
I prithee call me.— Sleep hath seized me wholly.
[Exit Lady]
To your protection I commend me, gods,
From fairies and the tempters of the night.11
Guard me, beseech ye.
Sleeps
Iachimo from the trunk
IACHIMO The crickets sing, and man’s o’er-laboured sense13
Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin14 thus
Did softly press the rushes, ere15 he wakened
The chastity he wounded. Cytherea16,
How bravely thou becom’st thy bed; fresh lily17,
And whiter than the sheets: that I might touch,
But kiss, one kiss! Rubies unparagoned19,
How dearly they do’t!20 ’Tis her breathing that
Perfumes the chamber thus: the flame o’th’taper
Bows toward her, and would underpeep her lids22
To see th’enclosèd lights, now canopied23
Under these windows, white and azure laced24
With blue of heaven’s own tinct. But my design25:
To note the chamber. I will write all down.
Writes
Such and such pictures, there the window, such
Th’adornment of her bed; the arras, figures28,
Why, such and such: and the contents29 o’th’story.
Ah, but some natural notes about30 her body,
Above ten thousand meaner movables31
Would testify t’enrich mine inventory.32
O sleep, thou ape of death, lie dull33 upon her,
And be her sense but as a monument34
Thus in a chapel lying. Come off, come off;
Takes off her bracelet
As slippery as the Gordian knot was hard.36
’Tis mine, and this will witness outwardly37,
As strongly as the conscience does within,
To th’madding39 of her lord. On her left breast
A mole cinque-spotted: like the crimson drops40
I’th’bottom of a cowslip. Here’s a voucher41
Stronger than ever law could make; this secret42
Will force him think I have picked43 the lock and ta’en
The treasure of her honour. No more: to what end?
Why should I write this down that’s riveted,
Screwed to my memory? She hath been reading late,
The tale of Tereus.47 Here the leaf’s turned down
Where Philomel gave up.48 I have enough.
To th’trunk again, and shut the spring49 of it.
Swift, swift, you dragons of the night, that dawning50
May bare the raven’s eye! I lodge in fear:
Though this52 a heavenly angel, hell is here.
Clock strikes
One, two, three: time, time!
Exit [into the trunk]
Bed and trunk removed
Act 2 Scene 3
running scene 5 continues
Enter Cloten and Lords
FIRST LORD Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the
most coldest that ever turned up ace.2
CLOTEN It would make any man cold3 to lose.
FIRST LORD But not every man patient after the noble temper4 of
your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.
CLOTEN Winning will put any man into courage. If I could
get this foolish Innogen, I should have gold enough. It’s
almost morning, is’t not?
FIRST LORD Day, my lord.
CLOTEN I would this music would come: I am advised to give
her music o’ mornings, they say it will penetrate.11—
Enter Musicians
Come on, tune: if you can penetrate her with your fingering12,
so: we’ll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain13:
but I’ll never give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited14
thing; after, a wonderful sweet air15, with admirable rich words
to it, and then let her consider.
Song
Sung by either Cloten or a Musician
Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus ’gins18 arise,
His steeds to water at those springs19
On chaliced20 flowers that lies:
And winking Mary-buds21 begin to ope their golden eyes
With everything that pretty is, my lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise.
CLOTEN So, get you gone: if this penetrate, I will consider
your music the better: if it do not, it is a vice in her ears
which horsehairs and calves’ guts, nor the voice of unpaved26
eunuch to boot27, can never amend.
[Exeunt Musicians]
Enter Cymbeline and Queen
SECOND LORD Here comes the king.
CLOTEN I am glad I was up so late, for that’s the reason I was
up so early: he cannot choose but take this service I have
done fatherly.31— Good morrow to your majesty and to my
gracious mother.
CYMBELINE Attend you here33 the door of our stern daughter?
Will she not forth?
CLOTEN I have assailed her with musics, but she vouchsafes35
no notice.
CYMBELINE The exile of her minion37 is too new,
She hath not yet forgot him: some more time
Must wear39 the print of his remembrance on’t,
And then she’s yours.
QUEEN You are most bound41 to th’king,
Who lets go by no vantages42 that may
Prefer you to his daughter: frame yourself43
To orderly solicits, and be friended44
With aptness of the season: make denials45
Increase your services: so seem, as if
You were inspired to do those duties which
You tender to her: that you in all obey her,
Save when command to your dismission49 tends,
And therein you are senseless.50
CLOTEN Senseless? Not so.
[Enter a Messenger]
MESSENGER So like you52, sir, ambassadors from Rome;
The one is Caius Lucius.
CYMBELINE A worthy fellow,
Albeit55 he comes on angry purpose now;
But that’s no fault of his: we must receive56 him
According to the honour of his sen
der57,
And towards himself, his goodness forspent58 on us,
We must extend our notice.59 Our dear son,
When you have given good morning to your mistress,
Attend the queen and us. We shall have need
T’employ you towards this Roman.— Come, our queen.
Exeunt [all but Cloten]
CLOTEN If she be up, I’ll speak with her: if not,
Let her lie still and dream.— By your leave, ho!—
Knocks
I know her women are about her: what
If I do line66 one of their hands? ’Tis gold
Which buys admittance — oft it doth — yea, and makes
Diana’s rangers false68 themselves, yield up
Their deer to th’stand o’th’stealer69: and ’tis gold
Which makes the true70 man killed and saves the thief:
Nay, sometime hangs both thief and true man: what
Can it not do and undo? I will make
One of her women lawyer to me73, for
I yet not understand the case74 myself.—
Knocks
By your leave.
Enter a Lady
LADY Who’s there that knocks?
CLOTEN A gentleman.
LADY No more?
CLOTEN Yes, and a gentlewoman’s son.
LADY That’s more80
Than some whose tailors are as dear as yours
Can justly boast of: what’s your lordship’s pleasure?
CLOTEN Your lady’s person: is she ready?
LADY Ay,
To keep85 her chamber.
CLOTEN There is gold for you,
Gives money
Sell me your good report.87
LADY How, my good name? Or to report of you
What I shall think is good? The princess.
Enter Innogen
CLOTEN Good morrow, fairest: sister, your90 sweet hand.
[Exit Lady]
INNOGEN Good morrow, sir. You lay out91 too much pains
For purchasing but92 trouble: the thanks I give
Is telling you that I am poor of thanks,
And scarce can spare them.
CLOTEN Still I swear I love you.
INNOGEN If you but said so, ’twere as deep96 with me:
If you swear still97, your recompense is still