Complete Plays, The
Page 366
Appear’d to me, with other spritely shows
Of mine own kindred: when I waked, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it: let him show
His skill in the construction.
Caius Lucius
Philarmonus!
Soothsayer
Here, my good lord.
Caius Lucius
Read, and declare the meaning.
Soothsayer
[Reads] ‘When as a lion’s whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and plenty.’
Thou, Leonatus, art the lion’s whelp;
The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being Leonatus, doth import so much.
To Cymbeline
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter,
Which we call ‘mollis aer;’ and ‘mollis aer’
We term it ‘mulier:’ which ‘mulier’ I divine
Is this most constant wife; who, even now,
Answering the letter of the oracle,
Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp’d about
With this most tender air.
Cymbeline
This hath some seeming.
Soothsayer
The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
Personates thee: and thy lopp’d branches point
Thy two sons forth; who, by Belarius stol’n,
For many years thought dead, are now revived,
To the majestic cedar join’d, whose issue
Promises Britain peace and plenty.
Cymbeline
Well
My peace we will begin. And, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we submit to Caesar,
And to the Roman empire; promising
To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were dissuaded by our wicked queen;
Whom heavens, in justice, both on her and hers,
Have laid most heavy hand.
Soothsayer
The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vision
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplish’d; for the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessen’d herself, and in the beams o’ the sun
So vanish’d: which foreshow’d our princely eagle,
The imperial Caesar, should again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.
Cymbeline
Laud we the gods;
And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils
From our blest altars. Publish we this peace
To all our subjects. Set we forward: let
A Roman and a British ensign wave
Friendly together: so through Lud’s-town march:
And in the temple of great Jupiter
Our peace we’ll ratify; seal it with feasts.
Set on there! Never was a war did cease,
Ere bloody hands were wash’d, with such a peace.
Exeunt
The Winter’s Tale
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY
ACT I
SCENE I. ANTECHAMBER IN LEONTES’ PALACE.
SCENE II. A ROOM OF STATE IN THE SAME.
ACT II
SCENE I. A ROOM IN LEONTES’ PALACE.
SCENE II. A PRISON.
SCENE III. A ROOM IN LEONTES’ PALACE.
ACT III
SCENE I. A SEA-PORT IN SICILIA.
SCENE II. A COURT OF JUSTICE.
SCENE III. BOHEMIA. A DESERT COUNTRY NEAR THE SEA.
ACT IV
SCENE II. BOHEMIA. THE PALACE OF POLIXENES.
SCENE III. A ROAD NEAR THE SHEPHERD’S COTTAGE.
SCENE IV. THE SHEPHERD’S COTTAGE.
ACT V
SCENE I. A ROOM IN LEONTES’ PALACE.
SCENE II. BEFORE LEONTES’ PALACE.
SCENE III. A CHAPEL IN PAULINA’S HOUSE.
CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY
Leontes, king of Sicilia.
Mamillius, young prince of Sicilia.
Camillo, Antigonus, Cleomenes, Dion, four Lords of Sicilia.
Polixenes, King of Bohemia.
Florizel, Prince of Bohemia.
Archidamus, a Lord of Bohemia.
Old Shepherd, reputed father of Perdita.
Clown, his son.
Autolycus, a rogue.
Hermione, queen to Leontes.
Perdita, daughter to Leontes and Hermione.
Paulina, wife to Antigonus.
Emilia, a lady attending on Hermione,
Mopsa and Dorcas, Shepherdesses.
A Gaoler, A Mariner, other Lords and Gentlemen, Ladies, Officers, and Servants, Shepherds, and Shepherdesses.
Time, as Chorus.
Scene: Sicilia, and Bohemia.