SCENE II. A bed-chamber; in one part of it a trunk. IMOGEN reading in her bed; a LADY attending. Imo. Who's there? my woman Helen? Lady. Imo. What hour is it? Lady. Please you, madam. Almost midnight, madam. Imo. I have read three hours then: mine eyes are weak. Fold down the leaf where I have left: to bed: [Exit Lady. To your protection I commend me, gods! IACHIMO, from the trunk. [sleeps. Ia. The crickets sing, and man's o'er-labor'd sense Repairs itself by rest. Our Tarquin thus Did softly press the rushes,1 ere he waken ́d The chastity he wounded.-Cytherea, How bravely thou becomest thy bed! fresh lily! 1 It was anciently the custom to strew chambers with rushes. And whiter than the sheets! That I might touch! How dearly they do 't!-'Tis her breathing that such The adornment of her bed;-the arras, figures, Ah, but some natural notes about her body, 1 i. e. the white skin laced with blue veins. Will force him think I have pick'd the lock, and ta'en The treasure of her honor. No more. To what end? Why should I write this down, that's riveted, Screw'd to my memory? She hath been reading late The tale of Tereus; here the leaf 's turn'd down, To the trunk again, and shut the spring of it. ing May bare the raven's eye: I lodge in fear; Though this a heavenly angel, hell is here. One, two, three !-time, time! [clock strikes. [goes into the trunk. The scene closes. SCENE III. An antechamber adjoining Imogen's apartment. Enter CLOTEN and LORDS. 1 Lord. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss; the most coldest that ever turned up ace. Clo. It would make any man cold to lose. 1 Lord. But not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win. Clo. Winning would put any man into courage. |