CYMBELINE. Уильям Шекспир

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ACT I.

       Table of Contents

      SCENE I.

       Enter two Gentlemen.

       1.Gent. You do not meet a man but Frownes.

       Our bloods no more obey the Heauens

       Then our Courtiers:

       Still seeme, as do’s the Kings

       2 Gent. But what’s the matter?

       1. His daughter, and the heire of’s kingdome (whom

       He purpos’d to his wiues sole Sonne, a Widdow

       That late he married) hath referr’d her selfe

       Vnto a poore, but worthy Gentleman. She’s wedded,

       Her Husband banish’d; she imprison’d, all

       Is outward sorrow, though I thinke the King

       Be touch’d at very heart

       2 None but the King? 1 He that hath lost her too: so is the Queene, That most desir’d the Match. But not a Courtier, Although they weare their faces to the bent Of the Kings lookes, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowle at

       2 And why so?

       1 He that hath miss’d the Princesse, is a thing

       Too bad, for bad report: and he that hath her,

       (I meane, that married her, alacke good man,

       And therefore banish’d) is a Creature, such,

       As to seeke through the Regions of the Earth

       For one, his like; there would be something failing

       In him, that should compare. I do not thinke,

       So faire an Outward, and such stuffe Within

       Endowes a man, but hee

       2 You speake him farre

       1 I do extend him (Sir) within himselfe, Crush him together, rather then vnfold His measure duly

       2 What’s his name, and Birth?

       1 I cannot delue him to the roote: His Father

       Was call’d Sicillius, who did ioyne his Honor

       Against the Romanes, with Cassibulan,

       But had his Titles by Tenantius, whom

       He seru’d with Glory, and admir’d Successe:

       So gain’d the Sur-addition, Leonatus.

       And had (besides this Gentleman in question)

       Two other Sonnes, who in the Warres o’th’ time

       Dy’de with their Swords in hand. For which, their Father

       Then old, and fond of yssue, tooke such sorrow

       That he quit Being; and his gentle Lady

       Bigge of this Gentleman (our Theame) deceast

       As he was borne. The King he takes the Babe

       To his protection, cals him Posthumus Leonatus,

       Breedes him, and makes him of his Bedchamber,

       Puts to him all the Learnings that his time

       Could make him the receiuer of, which he tooke

       As we do ayre, fast as ‘twas ministred,

       And in’s Spring, became a Haruest: Liu’d in Court

       (Which rare it is to do) most prais’d, most lou’d,

       A sample to the yongest: to th’ more Mature,

       A glasse that feated them: and to the grauer,

       A Childe that guided Dotards. To his Mistris,

       (For whom he now is banish’d) her owne price

       Proclaimes how she esteem’d him; and his Vertue

       By her electio[n] may be truly read, what kind of man he is

       2 I honor him, euen out of your report.

       But pray you tell me, is she sole childe to’th’ King?

       1 His onely childe:

       He had two Sonnes (if this be worth your hearing,

       Marke it) the eldest of them, at three yeares old

       I’th’ swathing cloathes, the other from their Nursery

       Were stolne, and to this houre, no ghesse in knowledge

       Which way they went

       2 How long is this ago? 1 Some twenty yeares 2 That a Kings Children should be so conuey’d, So slackely guarded, and the search so slow That could not trace them

       1 Howsoere, ‘tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh’d at: Yet is it true Sir

       2 I do well beleeue you

       1 We must forbeare. Heere comes the Gentleman, The Queene, and Princesse.

       Exeunt.