Britain. Court before Cymbeline's Palace.
 Enter CLOTEN, 1st LORD, and 2nd LORD.

Cloten	Was there ever man had such luck! When I kissed the jack, 
	upon an up-cast to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on't; 
	and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for 
	swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not 
	spend them at my pleasure.

1st Lord	What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your 
	bowl.

2nd Lord	[Aside.] If his wit has been like him that broke it, it 
	would have run all out.

Cloten	When a gentleman is disposed to swear, it is not for any 
	standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?

2nd Lord	No, my lord; [Aside.] nor crop the ears of them.

Cloten	Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he had been 
	one of my rank!

2nd Lord	[Aside.] To have smelled like a fool.

Cloten	I am not vexed more at anything in th' earth. A pox on't! I 
	had rather not be so noble as I am: they dare not fight 
	with me because of the queen my mother. Every Jack-slave 
	hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down 
	like a cock that nobody can match.

2nd Lord	[Aside.] You are cock, and capon too, an you crow 'Cock' 
	with your comb on.

Cloten	Sayst thou?

2nd Lord	It is not fit your lordship should undertake every 
	companion that you give offence to.

Cloten	No, I know that; but it is fit I should commit offence to 
	my inferiors.

2nd Lord	Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.

Cloten	Why, so I say.

1st Lord	Did you hear of a stranger that's come to court tonight?

Cloten	A stranger, and I not know on't?

2nd Lord	[Aside.] He's a strange fellow himself, and knows it not.

1st Lord	There's an Italian come, and, 'tis thought, one of 
	Leonatus' friends.

Cloten	Leonatus? A banished rascal; and he's another, whatsoever 
	he be. Who told you of this stranger?

1st Lord	One of your lordship's pages.

Cloten	Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation 
	in't?

2nd Lord	You cannot derogate, my lord.

Cloten	Not easily, I think.

2nd Lord	[Aside.] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, 
	being foolish, do not derogate.

Cloten	Come, I'll go see this Italian. What I have lost today at 
	bowls I'll win tonight of him. Come, go.

2nd Lord	I'll attend your lordship.
											[Exeunt CLOTEN and 1st LORD.
	That such a crafty devil as is his mother
	Should yield the world this ass! - a woman that
	Bears all down with her brain, and this her son
	Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart,
	And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,
	Thou divine Innogen, what thou endur'st,
	Betwixt a father by thy stepdame governed,
	A mother hourly coining plots, a wooer
	More hateful than the foul expulsion is
	Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act
	Of the divorce he'd make! The heavens hold firm
	The walls of thy dear honour; keep unshaked
	That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand
	T' enjoy thy banished lord, and this great land!
													[Exit.
