Britain. The Garden of Cymbeline's Palace.
 Enter 1st and 2nd GENTLEMEN.

1st Gentleman	You do not meet a man but frowns; our bloods
	No more obey the heavens than our courtiers
	Still seem as does the king.

2nd Gentleman										But what's the matter?

1st Gentleman	His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom
	He purposed to his wife's sole son - a widow
	That late he married - hath referred herself
	Unto a poor but worthy gentleman. She's wedded,
	Her husband banished, she imprisoned; all
	Is outward sorrow, though I think the king
	Be touched at very heart.

2nd Gentleman									None but the king?

1st Gentleman	He that hath lost her too. So is the queen,
	That most desired the match. But not a courtier,
	Although they wear their faces to the bent
	Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
	Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2nd Gentleman											And why so?

1st Gentleman	He that hath missed the princess is a thing
	Too bad for bad report; and he that hath her-
	I mean that married her - alack, good man!-
	And therefore banished - is a creature such
	As, to seek through the regions of the earth
	For one his like, there would be something failing
	In him that should compare. I do not think
	So fair an outward and such stuff within
	Endows a man but he.

2nd Gentleman								You speak him far.

1st Gentleman	I do extend him, sir, within himself;
	Crush him together, rather than unfold
	His measure duly.

2nd Gentleman								What's his name and birth?

1st Gentleman	I cannot delve him to the root. His father
	Was called Sicilius, who did join his honour
	Against the Romans with Cassibelan,
	But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
	He served with glory and admired success,
	So gained the sur-addition Leonatus;
	And had, besides this gentleman in question,
	Two other sons who, in the wars o'th' time
	Died with their swords in hand; for which their father,
	Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow
	That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
	Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceased
	As he was born. The king he takes the babe
	To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,
	Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber,
	Puts to him all the learnings that his time
	Could make him the receiver of; which he took
	As we do air, fast as 'twas ministered,
	And in's spring became a harvest; lived in court-
	Which rare it is to do - most praised, most loved;
	A sample to the youngest, to th' more mature
	A glass that feated them, and to the graver
	A child that guided dotards. To his mistress,
	For whom he now is banished, her own price
	Proclaims how she esteemed him and his virtue.
	By her election may be truly read
	What kind of man he is.

2nd Gentleman									I honour him,
	Even out of your report. But pray you tell me,
	Is she sole child to th' king?

1st Gentleman											His only child.
	He had two sons - if this be worth your hearing,
	Mark it - the eldest of them at three years old,
	I'th' swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
	Were stolen, and to this hour no guess in knowledge
	Which way they went.

2nd Gentleman								How long is this ago?

1st Gentleman	Some twenty years.

2nd Gentleman	That a king's children should be so conveyed,
	So slackly guarded! And the search so slow,
	That could not trace them!

1st Gentleman										Howsoe'er 'tis strange,
	Or that the negligence may well be laughed at,
	Yet is it true, sir.

2nd Gentleman								I do well believe you.

1st Gentleman	We must forbear; here comes the gentleman,
	The queen, and princess.
										 [Exeunt 1st and 2nd GENTLEMEN.

                 Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and INNOGEN.

Queen	No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,
	After the slander of most stepmothers,
	Evil-eyed unto you. You're my prisoner, but
	Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
	That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
	So soon as I can win th' offended king,
	I will be known your advocate. Marry, yet
	The fire of rage is in him, and 'twere good
	You leaned unto his sentence with what patience
	Your wisdom may inform you.

Posthumus										Please your highness,
	I will from hence today.

Queen									You know the peril.
	I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
	The pangs of barred affections, though the king
	Hath charged you should not speak together.
													[Exit.
Innogen	O dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
	Can tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,
	I something fear my father's wrath, but nothing-
	Always reserved my holy duty - what
	His rage can do on me. You must be gone;
	And I shall here abide the hourly shot
	Of angry eyes; not comforted to live
	But that there is this jewel in the world
	That I may see again.

Posthumus								My queen! My mistress!
	O lady, weep no more lest I give cause
	To be suspected of more tenderness
	Than doth become a man. I will remain
	The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.
	My residence in Rome at one Philario's,
	Who to my father was a friend, to me
	Known but by letter; thither write, my queen,
	And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
	Though ink be made of gall.

                              Re-enter QUEEN

Queen										Be brief, I pray you.
	If the king come, I shall incur I know not
	How much of his displeasure. [Aside.] Yet I'll move him
	To walk this way. I never do him wrong
	But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
	Pays dear for my offences.
													[Exit.
Posthumus									Should we be taking leave
	As long a term as yet we have to live,
	The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!

Innogen	Nay, stay a little:
	Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
	Such parting were too petty. Look here, love,
	This diamond was my mother's. Take it, heart,
	But keep it till you woo another wife,
	When Innogen is dead.

Posthumus								How, how! Another?
	You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
	And cere up my embracements from a next
	With bonds of death! Remain, remain thou here,
													[Putting on the ring.
	While sense can keep it on! And, sweetest, fairest,
	As I my poor self did exchange for you
	To your so infinite loss, so in our trifles
	I still win of you. For my sake wear this.
	It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
	Upon this fairest prisoner.
										[Putting a bracelet on her arm.

Innogen										O the gods!
	When shall we see again?

                        Enter CYMBELINE and LORDS.

Posthumus										Alack, the king!

Cymbeline	Thou basest thing, avoid hence, from my sight!
	If after this command thou fraught the court
	With thy unworthiness, thou diest. Away!
	Thou'rt poison to my blood.

Posthumus									The gods protect you,
	And bless the good remainders of the court!
	I am gone.
													[Exit.
Innogen				There cannot be a pinch in death
	More sharp than this is.

Cymbeline									O disloyal thing,
	That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap'st
	A year's age on me.

Innogen								I beseech you, sir,
	Harm not yourself with your vexation;
	I am senseless of your wrath. A touch more rare
	Subdues all pangs, all fears.

Cymbeline										Past grace, obedience?

Innogen	Past hope, and in despair; that way past grace.

Cymbeline	That mightst have had the sole son of my queen.

Innogen	O blest that I might not! I chose an eagle,
	And did avoid a puttock.

Cymbeline	Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne
	A seat for baseness.

Innogen								No; I rather added
	A lustre to it.

Cymbeline						O thou vile one!

Innogen											Sir,
	It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus.
	You bred him as my playfellow, and he is
	A man worth any woman; overbuys me
	Almost the sum he pays.

Cymbeline									What, art thou mad?

Innogen	Almost, sir - heaven restore me! Would I were
	A neat-herd's daughter, and my Leonatus
	Our neighbour-shepherd's son!

                             Re-enter QUEEN.

Cymbeline											Thou foolish thing!
	[To QUEEN.] They were again together. You have done
	Not after our command. - Away with her,
	And pen her up.

Queen						Beseech your patience. Peace,
	Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,
	Leave us to ourselves, and make yourself some comfort
	Out of your best advice.

Cymbeline									Nay, let her languish
	A drop of blood a day, and, being aged,
	Die of this folly.
											[Exeunt CYMBELINE and LORDS.

Queen								Fie, you must give way.

                              Enter PISANIO.

	Here is your servant. How now, sir! What news?

Pisanio	My lord your son drew on my master.

Queen											Ha!
	No harm, I trust, is done?

Pisanio									There might have been
	But that my master rather played than fought,
	And had no help of anger. They were parted
	By gentlemen at hand.

Queen								I am very glad on't.

Innogen	Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part
	To draw upon an exile. O brave sir!
	I would they were in Afric both together,
	Myself by with a needle that I might prick
	The goer-back. Why came you from your master?

Pisanio	On his command. He would not suffer me
	To bring him to the haven, left these notes
	Of what commands I should be subject to
	When't pleased you to employ me.

Queen											This hath been
	Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour
	He will remain so.

Pisanio							I humbly thank your highness.

Queen	Pray, walk a while.

Innogen								About some half hour hence,
	Pray you, speak with me. You shall at least
	Go see my lord aboard. For this time leave me.
													[Exeunt.
