Which must approve thee honest: 'If Pisanio Have,' said she, 'given his mistress that confection Which I gave him for cordial, she is served As I would serve a rat.' CYMBELINE What's this, Comelius? CORNELIUS The queen, sir, very oft importuned me To temper poisons for her, still pretending The satisfaction of her knowledge only In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs, Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose Was of more danger, did compound for her A certain stuff, which, being ta'en, would cease The present power of life, but in short time All offices of nature should again Do their due functions. Have you ta'en of it? IMOGEN Most like I did, for I was dead. BELARIUS My boys, There was our error. GUIDERIUS This is, sure, Fidele. IMOGEN Why did you throw your wedded lady from you?
Think that you are upon a rock; and now Throw me again.
Embracing him POSTHUMUS LEONATUS Hang there like a fruit, my soul, Till the tree die! CYMBELINE How now, my flesh, my child!
What, makest thou me a dullard in this act?
Wilt thou not speak to me? IMOGEN [Kneeling] Your blessing, sir. BELARIUS [To GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS] Though you did love this youth, I blame ye not:
You had a motive for't. CYMBELINE My tears that fall Prove holy water on thee! Imogen, Thy mother's dead. IMOGEN I am sorry for't, my lord. CYMBELINE O, she was nought; and long of her it was That we meet here so strangely: but her son Is gone, we know not how nor where. PISANIO My lord, Now fear is from me, I'll speak troth. Lord Cloten, Upon my lady's missing, came to me With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, and swore, If I discover'd not which way she was gone, It was my instant death. By accident, had a feigned letter of my master's Then in my pocket; which directed him To seek her on the mountains near to Milford;Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments, Which he enforced from me, away he posts With unchaste purpose and with oath to violate My lady's honour: what became of him I further know not. GUIDERIUS Let me end the story:
I slew him there. CYMBELINE Marry, the gods forfend!
I would not thy good deeds should from my lips Pluck a bard sentence: prithee, valiant youth, Deny't again. GUIDERIUS I have spoke it, and I did it. CYMBELINE He was a prince. GUIDERIUS A most incivil one: the wrongs he did me Were nothing prince-like; for he did provoke me With language that would make me spurn the sea, If it could so roar to me: I cut off's head;And am right glad he is not standing here To tell this tale of mine. CYMBELINE I am sorry for thee:
By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must Endure our law: thou'rt dead. IMOGEN That headless man I thought had been my lord. CYMBELINE Bind the offender, And take him from our presence. BELARIUS Stay, sir king:
This man is better than the man he slew, As well descended as thyself; and hath More of thee merited than a band of Clotens Had ever scar for.
To the Guard Let his arms alone;
They were not born for bondage. CYMBELINE Why, old soldier, Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for, By tasting of our wrath? How of descent As good as we? ARVIRAGUS In that he spake too far. CYMBELINE And thou shalt die for't. BELARIUS We will die all three:
But I will prove that two on's are as good As I have given out him. My sons, I must, For mine own part, unfold a dangerous speech, Though, haply, well for you. ARVIRAGUS Your danger's ours. GUIDERIUS And our good his. BELARIUS Have at it then, by leave.
Thou hadst, great king, a subject who Was call'd Belarius. CYMBELINE What of him? he is A banish'd traitor. BELARIUS He it is that hath Assumed this age; indeed a banish'd man;I know not how a traitor. CYMBELINE Take him hence:
The whole world shall not save him. BELARIUS Not too hot:
First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;
And let it be confiscate all, so soon As I have received it. CYMBELINE Nursing of my sons! BELARIUS I am too blunt and saucy: here's my knee:
Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons;
Then spare not the old father. Mighty sir, These two young gentlemen, that call me father And think they are my sons, are none of mine;They are the issue of your loins, my liege, And blood of your begetting. CYMBELINE How! my issue! BELARIUS So sure as you your father's. I, old Morgan, Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd:
Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punishment Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes--For such and so they are--these twenty years Have I train'd up: those arts they have as ICould put into them; my breeding was, sir, as Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile, Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these children Upon my banishment: I moved her to't, Having received the punishment before, For that which I did then: beaten for loyalty Excited me to treason: their dear loss, The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shaped Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir, Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweet'st companions in the world.
The benediction of these covering heavens Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy To inlay heaven with stars. CYMBELINE Thou weep'st, and speak'st.
The service that you three have done is more Unlike than this thou tell'st. I lost my children:
If these be they, I know not how to wish A pair of worthier sons. BELARIUS Be pleased awhile.
This gentleman, whom I call Polydore, Most worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius: