Cymbeline by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 6
Wales. Before the cave of Belarius.
Imogen : I see a man's life is a tedious one:
[p]I have tired myself, and for
two nights together
[p]Have made the ground my bed. I should be
sick,
[p]But that my resolution helps me. Milford,
[p]When from the
mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee,
[p]Thou wast within a ken: O Jove! I
think
[p]Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean,
[p]Where they
should be relieved. Two beggars told me
[p]I could not miss my way:
will poor folks lie,
[p]That have afflictions on them, knowing
'tis
[p]A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder,
[p]When rich ones
scarce tell true. To lapse in fulness
[p]Is sorer than to lie for
need, and falsehood
[p]Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear
lord!
[p]Thou art one o' the false ones. Now I think on thee,
[p]My
hunger's gone; but even before, I was
[p]At point to sink for food.
But what is this?
[p]Here is a path to't: 'tis some savage hold:
[p]I
were best not to call; I dare not call:
[p]yet famine,
[p]Ere clean it
o'erthrow nature, makes it valiant,
[p]Plenty and peace breeds
cowards: hardness ever
[p]Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's
here?
[p]If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage,
[p]Take or lend.
Ho! No answer? Then I'll enter.
[p]Best draw my sword: and if mine
enemy
[p]But fear the sword like me, he'll scarcely look on't.
[p]Such
a foe, good heavens!
Belarius : You, Polydote, have proved best woodman and
[p]Are master of the
feast: Cadwal and I
[p]Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our
match:
[p]The sweat of industry would dry and die,
[p]But for the end
it works to. Come; our stomachs
[p]Will make what's homely savoury:
weariness
[p]Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth
[p]Finds the
down pillow hard. Now peace be here,
[p]Poor house, that keep'st
thyself!
Guiderius : I am thoroughly weary.
Arviragus : I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
Guiderius : There is cold meat i' the cave; we'll browse on that,
[p]Whilst what
we have kill'd be cook'd.
Belarius : [Looking into the cave]
[p]Stay; come not in.
[p]But that it eats our
victuals, I should think
[p]Here were a fairy.
Guiderius : What's the matter, sir?
Belarius : By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not,
[p]An earthly paragon! Behold
divineness
[p]No elder than a boy!
Imogen : Good masters, harm me not:
[p]Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and
thought
[p]To have begg'd or bought what I have took:
[p]good
troth,
[p]I have stol'n nought, nor would not, though I had
found
[p]Gold strew'd i' the floor. Here's money for my meat:
[p]I
would have left it on the board so soon
[p]As I had made my meal, and
parted
[p]With prayers for the provider.
Guiderius : Money, youth?
Arviragus : All gold and silver rather turn to dirt!
[p]As 'tis no better
reckon'd, but of those
[p]Who worship dirty gods.
Imogen : I see you're angry:
[p]Know, if you kill me for my fault, I
should
[p]Have died had I not made it.
Belarius : Whither bound?
Imogen : To Milford-Haven.
Belarius : What's your name?
Imogen : Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who
[p]Is bound for Italy; he embark'd
at Milford;
[p]To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
[p]I am
fall'n in this offence.
Belarius : Prithee, fair youth,
[p]Think us no churls, nor measure our good
minds
[p]By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd!
[p]'Tis
almost night: you shall have better cheer
[p]Ere you depart: and
thanks to stay and eat it.
[p]Boys, bid him welcome.
Guiderius : Were you a woman, youth,
[p]I should woo hard but be your groom. In
honesty,
[p]I bid for you as I'd buy.
Arviragus : I'll make't my comfort
[p]He is a man; I'll love him as my
brother:
[p]And such a welcome as I'd give to him
[p]After long
absence, such is yours: most welcome!
[p]Be sprightly, for you fall
'mongst friends.
Imogen : 'Mongst friends,
[p]If brothers.
[p][Aside]
[p]Would it had been so,
that they
[p]Had been my father's sons! then had my prize
[p]Been
less, and so more equal ballasting
[p]To thee, Posthumus.
Belarius : He wrings at some distress.
Guiderius : Would I could free't!
Arviragus : Or I, whate'er it be,
[p]What pain it cost, what danger. God's!
Belarius : Hark, boys.
Imogen : Great men,
[p]That had a court no bigger than this cave,
[p]That did
attend themselves and had the virtue
[p]Which their own conscience
seal'd them--laying by
[p]That nothing-gift of differing
multitudes--
[p]Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me,
gods!
[p]I'd change my sex to be companion with them,
[p]Since
Leonatus's false.
Belarius : It shall be so.
[p]Boys, we'll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come
in:
[p]Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp'd,
[p]We'll
mannerly demand thee of thy story,
[p]So far as thou wilt speak it.
Guiderius : Pray, draw near.
Arviragus : The night to the owl and morn to the lark
[p]less welcome.
Imogen : Thanks, sir.
Arviragus : I pray, draw near.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 5
Next: Act 3 - Scene 7
