Imo. "Mongst Friends?
If Brothers: would it had bin so, that they Had bin my Fathers Sonnes, then had my prize Bin lesse, and so more equall ballasting To thee Posthumus
Bel. He wrings at some distresse
Gui. Would I could free"t
Arui. Or I, what ere it be, What paine it cost, what danger: G.o.ds!
Bel. Hearke Boyes
Imo. Great men That had a Court no bigger then this Caue, That did attend themselues, and had the vertue Which their owne Conscience seal"d them: laying by That nothing-guift of differing Mult.i.tudes Could not out-peere these twaine. Pardon me G.o.ds, I"ld change my s.e.xe to be Companion with them, Since Leonatus false
Bel. It shall be so: Boyes wee"l go dresse our Hunt. Faire youth come in; Discourse is heauy, fasting: when we haue supp"d Wee"l mannerly demand thee of thy Story, So farre as thou wilt speake it
Gui. Pray draw neere
Arui. The Night to"th" Owle, And Morne to th" Larke lesse welcome
Imo. Thankes Sir
Arui. I pray draw neere.
Exeunt.
Scena Octaua.
Enter two Roman Senators, and Tribunes.
1.Sen. This is the tenor of the Emperors Writ; That since the common men are now in Action "Gainst the Pannonians, and Dalmatians, And that the Legions now in Gallia, are Full weake to vndertake our Warres against The falne-off Britaines, that we do incite The Gentry to this businesse. He creates Lucius Pro-Consull: and to you the Tribunes For this immediate Leuy, he commands His absolute Commission. Long liue Caesar
Tri. Is Lucius Generall of the Forces?
2.Sen. I
Tri. Remaining now in Gallia?
1.Sen. With those Legions Which I haue spoke of, whereunto your leuie Must be suppliant: the words of your Commission Will tye you to the numbers, and the time Of their dispatch
Tri. We will discharge our duty.
Exeunt.
Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
Enter Clotten alone.
Clot I am neere to"th" place where they should meet, if Pisanio haue mapp"d it truely. How fit his Garments serue me? Why should his Mistris who was made by him that made the Taylor, not be fit too? The rather (sauing reuerence of the Word) for "tis saide a Womans fitnesse comes by fits: therein I must play the Workman, I dare speake it to my selfe, for it is not Vainglorie for a man, and his Gla.s.se, to confer in his owne Chamber; I meane, the Lines of my body are as well drawne as his; no lesse young, more strong, not beneath him in Fortunes, beyond him in the aduantage of the time, aboue him in Birth, alike conuersant in generall seruices, and more remarkeable in single oppositions; yet this imperseuerant Thing loues him in my despight. What Mortalitie is?
Posthumus, thy head (which now is growing vppon thy shoulders) shall within this houre be off, thy Mistris inforced, thy Garments cut to peeces before thy face: and all this done, spurne her home to her Father, who may (happily) be a little angry for my so rough vsage: but my Mother hauing power of his testinesse, shall turne all into my commendations. My Horse is tyed vp safe, out Sword, and to a sore purpose: Fortune put them into my hand: This is the very description of their meeting place and the Fellow dares not deceiue me.
Enter.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Belarius, Guiderius, Aruiragus, and Imogen from the Caue.
Bel. You are not well: Remaine heere in the Caue, Wee"l come to you after Hunting
Arui. Brother, stay heere: Are we not Brothers?
Imo. So man and man should be, But Clay and Clay, differs in dignitie, Whose dust is both alike. I am very sicke, Gui. Go you to Hunting, Ile abide with him
Imo. So sicke I am not, yet I am not well: But not so Citizen a wanton, as To seeme to dye, ere sicke: So please you, leaue me, Sticke to your Iournall course: the breach of Custome, Is breach of all. I am ill, but your being by me Cannot amend me. Society, is no comfort To one not sociable: I am not very sicke, Since I can reason of it: pray you trust me heere, Ile rob none but my selfe, and let me dye Stealing so poorely
Gui. I loue thee: I haue spoke it, How much the quant.i.ty, the waight as much, As I do loue my Father
Bel. What? How? how?
Arui. If it be sinne to say so (Sir) I yoake mee In my good Brothers fault: I know not why I loue this youth, and I haue heard you say, Loue"s reason"s, without reason. The Beere at doore, And a demand who is"t shall dye, I"ld say My Father, not this youth
Bel. Oh n.o.ble straine!
O worthinesse of Nature, breed of Greatnesse!
""Cowards father Cowards, & Base things Syre Bace; ""Nature hath Meale, and Bran; Contempt, and Grace.
I"me not their Father, yet who this should bee, Doth myracle it selfe, lou"d before mee.
"Tis the ninth houre o"th" Morne
Arui. Brother, farewell
Imo. I wish ye sport
Arui. You health. - So please you Sir
Imo. These are kinde Creatures.
G.o.ds, what lyes I haue heard: Our Courtiers say, all"s sauage, but at Court; Experience, oh thou disproou"st Report.
Th" emperious Seas breeds Monsters; for the Dish, Poore Tributary Riuers, as sweet Fish: I am sicke still, heart-sicke; Pisanio, Ile now taste of thy Drugge
Gui. I could not stirre him: He said he was gentle, but vnfortunate; Dishonestly afflicted, but yet honest
Arui. Thus did he answer me: yet said heereafter, I might know more
Bel. To"th" Field, to"th" Field: Wee"l leaue you for this time, go in, and rest
Arui. Wee"l not be long away
Bel. Pray be not sicke, For you must be our Huswife
Imo. Well, or ill, I am bound to you.
Enter.
Bel. And shal"t be euer.
This youth, how ere distrest, appeares he hath had Good Ancestors