What, mak'st thou me a dullard in this act ?
Wilt thou not speak to me?
Imo.

Your blessing, sir.

[Kneeling. Bel. Though you did love this youth, I blame ye

not ;

You had a motive for't.

[T, GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, Сут. .

My tears that fall,
Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,
Thy mother's dead.
Imo.

I am sorry for’t, my lord.
Cym. O, she was naught; and 'long of her it was,
That we meet here so strangely : But ber son
Is gone, we know not how, nor where.
Pis.

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,
I 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 inforc'd from me, away
With unchaste purpose, and with oath to violate
My lady's honour : what became of him,
I further know not.
Gui.

Let me end the story :
I slew him there.

be posts

1

Cym.

Marry, the gods forfend !6
I would not thy good deeds should from my lips
Pluck a hard sentence : pr’ythee, valiant youth,
Deny't again.

Gui. I have spoke it, and I did it.
Cym. He was a prince.

Gui. A most uncivil 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.
Сут. .

I am sorry for thee : By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and must Endure our law : Thou art dead. Imo.

That headless man
I thought had been my lord.
Cym.

Bind the offender,
And take him from our presence.
Bel,

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 eyer scar for.--Let his arms alone;

[To the Guard. They were not born for bondage. Сут. .

Why, old soldier, Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for, By tasting of our wrath ? How of descent As good as we? Arv,

In that he spake too far.

6 Forbid,

Bel.

Cym. And thou shalt die for't.
Bel.

We will die all three :
But I will prove, that two of us 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.
Arv.

Your danger is
Ours.
Gui. And our good his.

Have at it then.
By leave ;-Thou hadst, great king, a subject, who
Was call'd Belarius.
Сут.

What of him? he is
A banish'd traitor.
Bel.

He it is, that hath
Assum'd this age : indeed, a banish'd man;
I know not how, a traitor.
Cym.

Take him hence;
The whole world shall not save him.
Bel.

Not too hot: First pay

me for the nursing of thy sons ;
And let it be confiscate all, so soon
As I have receiv'd it.
Cym. .

Nursing of my sons ?
Bel. 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.
Сут. .

How! my issue?

Bel. 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 I Could 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 moy'd her to't; Having receiv'd 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 shap'd 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. Cym.

Thou weep’st, and speak’st.
The service, that you three have done, is more
Unlike than this thou tellst: I lost my children ;
If these be they, I know not how to wish
A pair of worthier sons.
Bel.

Be pleas'd a while.
This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,
Most worthy prince, as yours, is true, Guiderius;
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arvirágus,
Your younger princely son; he, sir, was lapp'd

VOL. IX.

In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen mother, which, for more probation,
I can with ease produce.
Cym.

Guiderius had
Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star;
It was a mark of wonder.
Bel.

This is he ;
Who hath upon him still that natural stamp;
It was wise nature's end in the donation,
To be his evidence now.
Сут.

O, what am I
A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother
Rejoic'd deliverance more :--Bless'd may you be,
That, after this strange starting from your orbs,
You may reign in them now!- Imogen,
Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.
Imo.

No, my lord;
I have got two worlds by't.-O my gentle brother,
Have we thus met? O never say hereafter,
But I am truest speaker: you call’d me brother,
When I was but your sister ; I you brothers,
When you were so indeed.
Cym.

Did
you

e'er meet?
Aru. Ay, my good lord.
Gui.

And at first meeting lov'd;
Continued so, until we thought he died.

Cor. By the queen's dran she swallow'd.
Сут.

O rare instinct!
When shall I hear all through? This fierce7 abridge.

ment Hath to it circumstantial branches, which

7 Vehement, rapid.