Cymbeline E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Sovereign
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Serie: Timeless Classic
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 147

Beschreibung

Cymbeline, the Roman Empire's vassal king of Britain, once had two sons, Guiderius and Arvirargus, but they were stolen twenty years earlier as infants by an exiled traitor named Belarius. Cymbeline now discovers that his only child left, his daughter Imogen, has secretly married her lover Posthumus Leonatus, an otherwise honourable man of Cymbeline's court.

Leseprobe

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline

LONDON ∙ NEW YORK ∙ TORONTO ∙ SAO PAULO ∙ MOSCOW

PARIS ∙ MADRID ∙ BERLIN ∙ ROME ∙ MEXICO CITY ∙ MUMBAI ∙ SEOUL ∙ DOHA

TOKYO ∙ SYDNEY ∙ CAPE TOWN ∙ AUCKLAND ∙ BEIJING

New Edition

Published by Sovereign Classic

www.sovereignclassic.net

This Edition

First published in 2015

Copyright © 2015 Sovereign Classic

Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

ACT IV

ACT V

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CYMBELINE, King of Britain

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, a gentleman, husband to Imogen

BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name of Morgan

GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS, sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of POLYDORE and CADWAL, supposed sons to

Belarius

PHILARIO, Italian, friend to Posthumus

IACHIMO, Italian, friend to Philario

A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, friend to Philario

CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces

A ROMAN CAPTAIN

TWO BRITISH CAPTAINS

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus

CORNELIUS, a physician

TWO LORDS of Cymbeline’s court

TWO GENTLEMEN of the same

TWO GAOLERS

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen

HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen

APPARITIONS

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants

SCENE: Britain; Italy

ACT I

SCENE I. BRITAIN. THE GARDEN OF CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

Enter two Gentlemen

First Gentleman

You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloodsNo more obey the heavens than our courtiersStill seem as does the king.

Second Gentleman

But what’s the matter?

First Gentleman

His daughter, and the heir of’s kingdom, whomHe purposed to his wife’s sole son--a widowThat late he married--hath referr’d herselfUnto a poor but worthy gentleman: she’s wedded;Her husband banish’d; she imprison’d: allIs outward sorrow; though I think the kingBe touch’d at very heart.

Second Gentleman

None but the king?

First Gentleman

He that hath lost her too; so is the queen,That most desired the match; but not a courtier,Although they wear their faces to the bentOf the king’s look’s, hath a heart that is notGlad at the thing they scowl at.

Second Gentleman

And why so?

First Gentleman

He that hath miss’d the princess is a thingToo bad for bad report: and he that hath her--I mean, that married her, alack, good man!And therefore banish’d--is a creature suchAs, to seek through the regions of the earthFor one his like, there would be something failingIn him that should compare. I do not thinkSo fair an outward and such stuff withinEndows a man but he.

Second Gentleman

You speak him far.

First Gentleman

I do extend him, sir, within himself,Crush him together rather than unfoldHis measure duly.

Second Gentleman

What’s his name and birth?

First Gentleman

I cannot delve him to the root: his fatherWas call’d Sicilius, who did join his honourAgainst the Romans with Cassibelan,But had his titles by Tenantius whomHe served with glory and admired success,So gain’d the sur-addition Leonatus;And had, besides this gentleman in question,Two other sons, who in the wars o’ the timeDied with their swords in hand; for whichtheir father,Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrowThat he quit being, and his gentle lady,Big of this gentleman our theme, deceasedAs he was born. The king he takes the babeTo his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,Puts to him all the learnings that his timeCould make him the receiver of; which he took,As we do air, fast as ‘twas minister’d,And in’s spring became a harvest, lived in court--Which rare it is to do--most praised, most loved,A sample to the youngest, to the more matureA glass that feated them, and to the graverA child that guided dotards; to his mistress,For whom he now is banish’d, her own priceProclaims how she esteem’d him and his virtue;By her election may be truly readWhat kind of man he is.

Second Gentleman

I honour himEven out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,Is she sole child to the king?

First Gentleman

His only child.He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing,Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old,I’ the swathing-clothes the other, from their nurseryWere stol’n, and to this hour no guess in knowledgeWhich way they went.

Second Gentleman

How long is this ago?

First Gentleman

Some twenty years.

Second Gentleman

That a king’s children should be so convey’d,So slackly guarded, and the search so slow,That could not trace them!

First Gentleman

Howsoe’er ‘tis strange,Or that the negligence may well be laugh’d at,Yet is it true, sir.

Second Gentleman

I do well believe you.

First Gentleman

We must forbear: here comes the gentleman,The queen, and princess.

Exeunt

Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, and IMOGEN

QUEEN

No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter,After the slander of most stepmothers,Evil-eyed unto you: you’re my prisoner, butYour gaoler shall deliver you the keysThat lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,So soon as I can win the offended king,I will be known your advocate: marry, yetThe fire of rage is in him, and ‘twere goodYou lean’d unto his sentence with what patienceYour wisdom may inform you.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

Please your highness,I will from hence to-day.

QUEEN

You know the peril.I’ll fetch a turn about the garden, pityingThe pangs of barr’d affections, though the kingHath charged you should not speak together.

Exit

IMOGEN

ODissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrantCan tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,I something fear my father’s wrath; but nothing--Always reserved my holy duty--whatHis rage can do on me: you must be gone;And I shall here abide the hourly shotOf angry eyes, not comforted to live,But that there is this jewel in the worldThat I may see again.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

My queen! my mistress!O lady, weep no more, lest I give causeTo be suspected of more tendernessThan doth become a man. I will remainThe loyal’st husband that did e’er plight troth:My residence in Rome at one Philario’s,Who to my father was a friend, to meKnown but by letter: thither write, my queen,And with mine eyes I’ll drink the words you send,Though ink be made of gall.

Re-enter QUEEN

QUEEN

Be brief, I pray you:If the king come, I shall incur I know notHow much of his displeasure.

Aside

Yet I’ll move himTo walk this way: I never do him wrong,But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;Pays dear for my offences.

Exit

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

Should we be taking leaveAs long a term as yet we have to live,The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!

IMOGEN

Nay, stay a little:Were you but riding forth to air yourself,Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;This diamond was my mother’s: take it, heart;But keep it till you woo another wife,When Imogen is dead.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

How, how! another?You gentle gods, give me but this I have,And sear up my embracements from a nextWith bonds of death!

Putting on the ring

Remain, remain thou hereWhile sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest,As I my poor self did exchange for you,To your so infinite loss, so in our triflesI still win of you: for my sake wear this;It is a manacle of love; I’ll place itUpon this fairest prisoner.

Putting a bracelet upon her arm

IMOGEN

O the gods!When shall we see again?

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

Alack, the king!

CYMBELINE

Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!If after this command thou fraught the courtWith thy unworthiness, thou diest: away!Thou’rt poison to my blood.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

The gods protect you!And bless the good remainders of the court! I am gone.

Exit

IMOGEN

There cannot be a pinch in deathMore sharp than this is.

CYMBELINE

O disloyal thing,That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap’stA year’s age on me.

IMOGEN

I beseech you, sir,Harm not yourself with your vexationI am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rareSubdues all pangs, all fears.

CYMBELINE

Past grace? obedience?

IMOGEN

Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace.

CYMBELINE

That mightst have had the sole son of my queen!

IMOGEN

O blest, that I might not! I chose an eagle,And did avoid a puttock.

CYMBELINE

Thou took’st a beggar; wouldst have made my throneA seat for baseness.

IMOGEN

No; I rather addedA lustre to it.

CYMBELINE

O thou vile one!

IMOGEN

Sir,It is your fault that I have loved Posthumus:You bred him as my playfellow, and he isA man worth any woman, overbuys meAlmost the sum he pays.

CYMBELINE

What, art thou mad?

IMOGEN

Almost, sir: heaven restore me! Would I wereA neat-herd’s daughter, and my LeonatusOur neighbour shepherd’s son!

CYMBELINE

Thou foolish thing!

Re-enter QUEEN

They were again together: you have doneNot after our command. Away with her,And pen her up.

QUEEN

Beseech your patience. Peace,Dear lady daughter, peace! Sweet sovereign,Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some comfortOut of your best advice.

CYMBELINE

Nay, let her languishA drop of blood a day; and, being aged,Die of this folly!

Exeunt CYMBELINE and Lords

QUEEN

Fie! you must give way.

Enter PISANIO

Here is your servant. How now, sir! What news?

PISANIO

My lord your son drew on my master.

QUEEN

Ha!No harm, I trust, is done?

PISANIO

There might have been,But that my master rather play’d than foughtAnd had no help of anger: they were partedBy gentlemen at hand.

QUEEN

I am very glad on’t.

IMOGEN

Your son’s my father’s friend; he takes his part.To draw upon an exile! O brave sir!I would they were in Afric both together;Myself by with a needle, that I might prickThe goer-back. Why came you from your master?

PISANIO

On his command: he would not suffer meTo bring him to the haven; left these notesOf what commands I should be subject to,When ‘t pleased you to employ me.

QUEEN

This hath beenYour faithful servant: I dare lay mine honourHe will remain so.

PISANIO

I humbly thank your highness.

QUEEN

Pray, walk awhile.

IMOGEN

About some half-hour hence,I pray you, speak with me: you shall at leastGo see my lord aboard: for this time leave me.

Exeunt

SCENE II. THE SAME. A PUBLIC PLACE.

Enter CLOTEN and two Lords

First Lord

Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; theviolence of action hath made you reek as asacrifice: where air comes out, air comes in:there’s none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

CLOTEN

If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him?

Second Lord

[Aside] No, ‘faith; not so much as his patience.

First Lord

Hurt him! his body’s a passable carcass, if he benot hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it be not hurt.

Second Lord

[Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o’ thebackside the town.

CLOTEN

The villain would not stand me.

Second Lord

[Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

First Lord

Stand you! You have land enough of your own: buthe added to your having; gave you some ground.

Second Lord

[Aside] As many inches as you have oceans. Puppies!

CLOTEN

I would they had not come between us.

Second Lord

[Aside] So would I, till you had measured how longa fool you were upon the ground.

CLOTEN

And that she should love this fellow and refuse me!

Second Lord

[Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election, sheis damned.

First Lord

Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her braingo not together: she’s a good sign, but I have seensmall reflection of her wit.

Second Lord

[Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest thereflection should hurt her.

CLOTEN

Come, I’ll to my chamber. Would there had been somehurt done!

Second Lord

[Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fallof an ass, which is no great hurt.

CLOTEN

You’ll go with us?

First Lord

I’ll attend your lordship.

CLOTEN

Nay, come, let’s go together.

Second Lord

Well, my lord.

Exeunt

SCENE III. A ROOM IN CYMBELINE’S PALACE.

Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO

IMOGEN

I would thou grew’st unto the shores o’ the haven,And question’dst every sail: if he should writeAnd not have it, ‘twere a paper lost,As offer’d mercy is. What was the lastThat he spake to thee?

PISANIO

It was his queen, his queen!

IMOGEN

Then waved his handkerchief?

PISANIO

And kiss’d it, madam.

IMOGEN

Senseless Linen! happier therein than I!And that was all?

PISANIO

No, madam; for so longAs he could make me with this eye or earDistinguish him from others, he did keepThe deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,Still waving, as the fits and stirs of ‘s mindCould best express how slow his soul sail’d on,How swift his ship.

IMOGEN

Thou shouldst have made himAs little as a crow, or less, ere leftTo after-eye him.

PISANIO

Madam, so I did.

IMOGEN

I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack’d them, butTo look upon him, till the diminutionOf space had pointed him sharp as my needle,Nay, follow’d him, till he had melted fromThe smallness of a gnat to air, and thenHave turn’d mine eye and wept. But, good Pisanio,When shall we hear from him?

PISANIO

Be assured, madam,With his next vantage.

IMOGEN

I did not take my leave of him, but hadMost pretty things to say: ere I could tell himHow I would think on him at certain hoursSuch thoughts and such, or I could make him swearThe shes of Italy should not betrayMine interest and his honour, or have charged him,At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,To encounter me with orisons, for thenI am in heaven for him; or ere I couldGive him that parting kiss which I had setBetwixt two charming words, comes in my fatherAnd like the tyrannous breathing of the northShakes all our buds from growing.

Enter a Lady

Lady

The queen, madam,Desires your highness’ company.

IMOGEN

Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch’d.I will attend the queen.

PISANIO

Madam, I shall.

Exeunt

SCENE IV. ROME. PHILARIO’S HOUSE.

Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard

IACHIMO

Believe it, sir, I have seen him in Britain: he wasthen of a crescent note, expected to prove so worthyas since he hath been allowed the name of; but Icould then have looked on him without the help ofadmiration, though the catalogue of his endowmentshad been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items.

PHILARIO

You speak of him when he was less furnished than nowhe is with that which makes him both without and within.

Frenchman

I have seen him in France: we had very many therecould behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

IACHIMO

This matter of marrying his king’s daughter, whereinhe must be weighed rather by her value than his own,words him, I doubt not, a great deal from the matter.

Frenchman

And then his banishment.

IACHIMO

Ay, and the approbation of those that weep thislamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfullyto extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment,which else an easy battery might lay flat, fortaking a beggar without less quality. But how comesit he is to sojourn with you? How creepsacquaintance?

PHILARIO

His father and I were soldiers together; to whom Ihave been often bound for no less than my life.Here comes the Briton: let him be so entertainedamongst you as suits, with gentlemen of yourknowing, to a stranger of his quality.

Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

I beseech you all, be better known to thisgentleman; whom I commend to you as a noble friendof mine: how worthy he is I will leave to appearhereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.

Frenchman

Sir, we have known together in Orleans.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies,which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still.

Frenchman

Sir, you o’er-rate my poor kindness: I was glad Idid atone my countryman and you; it had been pityyou should have been put together with so mortal apurpose as then each bore, upon importance of soslight and trivial a nature.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

By your pardon, sir, I was then a young traveller;rather shunned to go even with what I heard than inmy every action to be guided by others’ experiences:but upon my mended judgment--if I offend not to sayit is mended--my quarrel was not altogether slight.

Frenchman

‘Faith, yes, to be put to the arbitrement of swords,and by such two that would by all likelihood haveconfounded one the other, or have fallen both.

IACHIMO

Can we, with manners, ask what was the difference?

Frenchman

Safely, I think: ‘twas a contention in public,which may, without contradiction, suffer the report.It was much like an argument that fell out lastnight, where each of us fell in praise of ourcountry mistresses; this gentleman at that timevouching--and upon warrant of bloodyaffirmation--his to be more fair, virtuous, wise,chaste, constant-qualified and less attemptablethan any the rarest of our ladies in France.

IACHIMO

That lady is not now living, or this gentleman’sopinion by this worn out.

POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

She holds her virtue still and I my mind.

IACHIMO

You must not so far prefer her ‘fore ours of Italy.