| ACT III SCENE VI | Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. | |
| | Enter IMOGEN, in boy's clothes. | |
| IMOGEN | I see a man's life is a tedious one: | |
| | I have tired myself, and for two nights together | |
| | Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick, | |
| | But that my resolution helps me. Milford, | 5 |
| | When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee, | |
| | Thou wast within a ken: O Jove! I think | |
| | Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean, | |
| | Where they should be relieved. Two beggars told me | |
| | I could not miss my way: will poor folks lie, | 10 |
| | That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis | |
| | A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder, | |
| | When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fulness | |
| | Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood | |
| | Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord! | 15 |
| | Thou art one o' the false ones. Now I think on thee, | |
| | My hunger's gone; but even before, I was | |
| | At point to sink for food. But what is this? | |
| | Here is a path to't: 'tis some savage hold: | |
| | I were best not to call; I dare not call: | 20 |
| | yet famine, | |
| | Ere clean it o'erthrow nature, makes it valiant, | |
| | Plenty and peace breeds cowards: hardness ever | |
| | Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here? | |
| | If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage, | 25 |
| | Take or lend. Ho! No answer? Then I'll enter. | |
| | Best draw my sword: and if mine enemy | |
| | But fear the sword like me, he'll scarcely look on't. | |
| | Such a foe, good heavens! | |
| | Exit, to the cave. | |
| | Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. | |
| BELARIUS | You, Polydote, have proved best woodman and | 30 |
| | Are master of the feast: Cadwal and I | |
| | Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our match: | |
| | The sweat of industry would dry and die, | |
| | But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs | |
| | Will make what's homely savoury: weariness | 35 |
| | Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth | |
| | Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here, | |
| | Poor house, that keep'st thyself! | |
| GUIDERIUS | I am thoroughly weary. | |
| ARVIRAGUS | I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite. | 40 |
| GUIDERIUS | There is cold meat i' the cave; we'll browse on that, | |
| | Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd. | |
| BELARIUS | Looking into the cave | |
| | Stay; come not in. | |
| | But that it eats our victuals, I should think | |
| | Here were a fairy. | 45 |
| GUIDERIUS | What's the matter, sir? | |
| BELARIUS | By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, | |
| | An earthly paragon! Behold divineness | |
| | No elder than a boy! | |
| | Re-enter IMOGEN. | |
| IMOGEN | Good masters, harm me not: | 50 |
| | Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought | |
| | To have begg'd or bought what I have took: | |
| | good troth, | |
| | I have stol'n nought, nor would not, though I had found | |
| | Gold strew'd i' the floor. Here's money for my meat: | 55 |
| | I would have left it on the board so soon | |
| | As I had made my meal, and parted | |
| | With prayers for the provider. | |
| GUIDERIUS | Money, youth? | |
| ARVIRAGUS | All gold and silver rather turn to dirt! | 60 |
| | As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those | |
| | Who worship dirty gods. | |
| IMOGEN | I see you're angry: | |
| | Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should | |
| | Have died had I not made it. | 65 |
| BELARIUS | Whither bound? | |
| IMOGEN | To Milford-Haven. | |
| BELARIUS | What's your name? | |
| IMOGEN | Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who | |
| | Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford; | 70 |
| | To whom being going, almost spent with hunger, | |
| | I am fall'n in this offence. | |
| BELARIUS | Prithee, fair youth, | |
| | Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds | |
| | By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd! | 75 |
| | 'Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer | |
| | Ere you depart: and thanks to stay and eat it. | |
| | Boys, bid him welcome. | |
| GUIDERIUS | Were you a woman, youth, | |
| | I should woo hard but be your groom. In honesty, | 80 |
| | I bid for you as I'd buy. | |
| ARVIRAGUS | I'll make't my comfort | |
| | He is a man; I'll love him as my brother: | |
| | And such a welcome as I'd give to him | |
| | After long absence, such is yours: most welcome! | 85 |
| | Be sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends. | |
| IMOGEN | 'Mongst friends, | |
| | If brothers. | |
| | Aside. | |
| | Would it had been so, that they | |
| | Had been my father's sons! then had my prize | 90 |
| | Been less, and so more equal ballasting | |
| | To thee, Posthumus. | |
| BELARIUS | He wrings at some distress. | |
| GUIDERIUS | Would I could free't! | |
| ARVIRAGUS | Or I, whate'er it be, | 95 |
| | What pain it cost, what danger. God's! | |
| BELARIUS | Hark, boys. | |
| | Whispering. | |
| IMOGEN | Great men, | |
| | That had a court no bigger than this cave, | |
| | That did attend themselves and had the virtue | 100 |
| | Which their own conscience seal'd them--laying by | |
| | That nothing-gift of differing multitudes-- | |
| | Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods! | |
| | I'd change my sex to be companion with them, | |
| | Since Leonatus's false. | 105 |
| BELARIUS | It shall be so. | |
| | Boys, we'll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come in: | |
| | Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp'd, | |
| | We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story, | |
| | So far as thou wilt speak it. | 110 |
| GUIDERIUS | Pray, draw near. | |
| ARVIRAGUS | The night to the owl and morn to the lark | |
| | less welcome. | |
| IMOGEN | Thanks, sir. | |
| ARVIRAGUS | I pray, draw near. | 115 |
| | Exeunt | |
