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  • William Shakespeare: Cymbeline, Act II, Scene III

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Scene IIIAn ante-chamber adjoining Imogen’s apartmentsEnter Cloten and LordsFirst LordYour lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that ever turned up ace.ClotenIt would make any man cold to lose.First LordBut not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.ClotenWinning will put any man into courage. If I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough. It’s almost morning, is’t not?First LordDay, my lord.ClotenI would this music would come: I am advised to give her music o’ mornings; they say it will penetrate.Enter MusiciansCome on; tune: if you can penetrate her with your fingering, so; we’ll try with tongue too: if none will do, let her remain; but I’ll never give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing; after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it: and then let her consider.SongHark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings, And Phoebus ‘gins arise, His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes: With every thing that pretty is, My lady sweet, arise: Arise, arise.ClotenSo, 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 horse-hairs and calves’-guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot, can never amend.Exeunt MusiciansSecond LordHere comes the king.ClotenI 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.Enter Cymbeline and QueenGood morrow to your majesty and to my gracious mother.CymbelineAttend you here the door of our stern daughter? Will she not forth?ClotenI have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafes no notice.CymbelineThe exile of her minion is too new; She hath not yet forgot him: some more time Must wear the print of his remembrance out, And then she’s yours.QueenYou are most bound to the king, Who lets go by no vantages that may Prefer you to his daughter. Frame yourself To orderly soliciting, and be friended With aptness of the season; make denials 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 dismission tends, And therein you are senseless.ClotenSenseless! not so.Enter a MessengerMessengerSo like you, sir, ambassadors from Rome; The one is Caius Lucius.CymbelineA worthy fellow, Albeit he comes on angry purpose now; But that’s no fault of his: we must receive him According to the honour of his sender; And towards himself, his goodness forespent on us, We must extend our notice. Our dear son, When you have given good morning to your mistress, Attend the queen and us; we shall have need To employ you towards this Roman. Come, our queen.Exeunt all but ClotenClotenIf she be up, I’ll speak with her; if not, Let her lie still and dream.KnocksBy your leave, ho! I Know her women are about her: what If I do line one of their hands? ‘Tis gold Which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, and makes Diana’s rangers false themselves, yield up Their deer to the stand o’ the stealer; and ’tis gold Which makes the true man kill’d 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 me, for I yet not understand the case myself.KnocksBy your leave.Enter a LadyLadyWho’s there that knocks?ClotenA gentleman.LadyNo more?ClotenYes, and a gentlewoman’s son.LadyThat’s more Than some, whose tailors are as dear as yours, Can justly boast of. What’s your lordship’s pleasure?ClotenYour lady’s person: is she ready?LadyAy, To keep her chamber.ClotenThere is gold for you; Sell me your good report.LadyHow! my good name? or to report of you What I shall think is good?—The princess!Enter ImogenClotenGood morrow, fairest: sister, your sweet hand.Exit LadyImogenGood morrow, sir. You lay out too much pains For purchasing but trouble; the thanks I give Is telling you that I am poor of thanks And scarce can spare them.ClotenStill, I swear I love you.ImogenIf you but said so, ’twere as deep with me: If you swear still, your recompense is still That I regard it not.ClotenThis is no answer.ImogenBut that you shall not say I yield being silent, I would not speak. I pray you, spare me: ‘faith, I shall unfold equal discourtesy To your best kindness: one of your great knowing Should learn, being taught, forbearance.ClotenTo leave you in your madness, ’twere my sin: I will not.ImogenFools are not mad folks.ClotenDo you call me fool?ImogenAs I am mad, I do: If you’ll be patient, I’ll no more be mad; That cures us both. I am much sorry, sir, You put me to forget a lady’s manners, By being so verbal: and learn now, for all, That I, which know my heart, do here pronounce, By the very truth of it, I care not for you, And am so near the lack of charity— To accuse myself—I hate you; which I had rather You felt than make’t my boast.ClotenYou sin against Obedience, which you owe your father. For The contract you pretend with that base wretch, One bred of alms and foster’d with cold dishes, With scraps o’ the court, it is no contract, none: And though it be allow’d in meaner parties— Yet who than he more mean?—to knit their souls, On whom there is no more dependency But brats and beggary, in self-figured knot; Yet you are curb’d from that enlargement by The consequence o’ the crown, and must not soil The precious note of it with a base slave. A hilding for a livery, a squire’s cloth, A pantler, not so eminent.ImogenProfane fellow Wert thou the son of Jupiter and no more But what thou art besides, thou wert too base To be his groom: thou wert dignified enough, Even to the point of envy, if ’twere made Comparative for your virtues, to be styled The under-hangman of his kingdom, and hated For being preferred so well.ClotenThe south-fog rot him!ImogenHe never can meet more mischance than come To be but named of thee. His meanest garment, That ever hath but clipp’d his body, is dearer In my respect than all the hairs above thee, Were they all made such men. How now, Pisanio!Enter PisanioCloten’His garment!’ Now the devil—ImogenTo Dorothy my woman hie thee presently—Cloten’His garment!‘ImogenI am sprited with a fool. Frighted, and anger’d worse: go bid my woman Search for a jewel that too casually Hath left mine arm: it was thy master’s: ‘shrew me, If I would lose it for a revenue Of any king’s in Europe. I do think I saw’t this morning: confident I am Last night ’twas on mine arm; I kiss’d it: I hope it be not gone to tell my lord That I kiss aught but he.Pisanio’Twill not be lost.ImogenI hope so: go and search.Exit PisanioClotenYou have abused me: ‘His meanest garment!‘ImogenAy, I said so, sir: If you will make’t an action, call witness to’t.ClotenI will inform your father.ImogenYour mother too: She’s my good lady, and will conceive, I hope, But the worst of me. So, I leave you, sir, To the worst of discontent.ExitClotenI’ll be revenged: ‘His meanest garment!’ Well.Exit

William Shakespeare: Cymbeline, Act II

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William Shakespeare: Cymbeline, Act IV, Scene III

  • William Shakespeare: Cymbeline, Act IV, Scene III

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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