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Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Imogen alone, dressed as a boy, Fidele. 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, When from the mountain top Pisanio showed thee, 5 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, That have afflictions on them, knowing ’tis 10 A punishment or trial? Yes. No wonder, When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fullness Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord, Thou art one o’ th’ false ones. Now I think on thee, 15 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 call; I dare not call. Yet famine, Ere clean it o’erthrow nature, makes it valiant. 20 Plenty and peace breeds cowards; hardness ever Of hardiness is mother.—Ho! Who’s here? If anything that’s civil, speak; if savage, Take or lend. Ho!—No answer? Then I’ll enter. Best draw my sword; an if mine enemy 25 But fear the sword like me, he’ll scarcely look on ’t. She draws her sword. Such a foe, good heavens! She exits, as into the cave. | Dressed as a boy, Imogen is alone in the woods, wandering around. She's really tired from roaming around for two days. Imogen remembers two beggars telling her where to go, but she still hasn't come across Lucius. She's lost, and she wonders if Pisanio was playing a trick on her when he said that Lucius would come by the next day. Imogen finds a cave and calls out to see if anyone is in it.
No one answers, so Imogen goes on in and makes herself at home. |
Enter Belarius as Morgan, Guiderius as Polydor, and Arviragus as Cadwal. BELARIUS, as Morgan You, Polydor, have proved best woodman and Are master of the feast. Cadwal and I Will play the cook and servant; ’tis our match. 30 The sweat of industry would dry and die But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs Will make what’s homely savory. Weariness Can snore upon the flint when resty sloth Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here, 35 Poor house, that keep’st thyself. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor I am throughly weary. ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor There is cold meat i’ th’ cave. We’ll browse on that Whilst what we have killed be cooked. 40 BELARIUS, as Morgan, looking into the cave Stay, come not in! But that it eats our victuals, I should think Here were a fairy. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor What’s the matter, sir? 45 BELARIUS, as Morgan By Jupiter, an angel! Or, if not, An earthly paragon. Behold divineness No elder than a boy. | Belarius, Polydore (a.k.a. Guiderius), and Cadwal (a.k.a. Arviragus) return to their cave with a deer from their hunt. Suddenly Belarius stops and declares there's a heavenly boy in their cave. (That would be Imogen.) |
Enter Imogen as Fidele. IMOGEN, as Fidele Good masters, harm me not. Before I entered here, I called, and thought 50 To have begged or bought what I have took. Good troth, I have stol’n naught, nor would not, though I had found Gold strewed i’ th’ floor. Here’s money for my meat. 55 She offers money. I would have left it on the board so soon As I had made my meal, and parted With prayers for the provider. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor Money, youth? ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal All gold and silver rather turn to dirt, 60 As ’tis no better reckoned but of those Who worship dirty gods. IMOGEN, as Fidele I see you’re angry. Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should Have died had I not made it. 65 BELARIUS, as Morgan Whither bound? IMOGEN, as Fidele To Milford Haven. BELARIUS, as Morgan What’s your name? IMOGEN, as Fidele Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who Is bound for Italy. He embarked at Milford, 70 To whom being going, almost spent with hunger, I am fall’n in this offense. | Belarius and the boys ask questions about where this mysterious guy is going and what his name is. Imogen picks the name "Fidele" and tells them she's trying to get to Milford-Haven—"trying" being the operative word. |
BELARIUS, as Morgan Prithee, fair youth, Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds By this rude place we live in. Well encountered! 75 ’Tis almost night; you shall have better cheer Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.— Boys, bid him welcome. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor Were you a woman, youth, I should woo hard but be your groom in honesty, 80 Ay, bid for you as I do buy. ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal 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, as Fidele ’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. | There's a strange connection between Imogen and the two boys (who are actually her brothers).
Arviragus says he'll love Fidele as a brother, which is kind of funny since she's actually his sister. Imogen feels it, too, and tells us in an aside that if these guys were actually her brothers, she could have married Posthumus without so much drama. She wouldn't have been the heir to the throne then, and she wouldn't have been worth so much to her dad. |
BELARIUS, as Morgan He wrings at some distress. GUIDERIUS, as Polydor Would I could free ’t! ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal Or I, whate’er it be, 95 What pain it cost, what danger. Gods! BELARIUS, as Morgan Hark, boys. They talk aside. 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 sealed them, laying by That nothing-gift of differing multitudes, Could not outpeer these twain. Pardon me, gods! I’d change my sex to be companion with them, Since Leonatus false. 105 BELARIUS, as Morgan It shall be so. Boys, we’ll go dress our hunt.—Fair youth, come in. Discourse is heavy, fasting. When we have supped, We’ll mannerly demand thee of thy story So far as thou wilt speak it. 110 GUIDERIUS, as Polydor Pray, draw near. ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal The night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less welcome. IMOGEN, as Fidele Thanks, sir. ARVIRAGUS, as Cadwal I pray, draw near. 115 They exit. | The three men welcome Imogen in and tell her that she'll have to earn her keep by telling them a story.
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