Enter Pisanio and Imogen.IMOGEN Thou told’st me, when we came from horse, the place Was near at hand. Ne’er longed my mother so To see me first as I have now. Pisanio, man, Where is Posthumus? What is in thy mind5 That makes thee stare thus? Wherefore breaks that sigh From th’ inward of thee? One but painted thus Would be interpreted a thing perplexed Beyond self-explication. Put thyself10 Into a havior of less fear, ere wildness Vanquish my staider senses. What’s the matter?⌜Pisanio hands her a paper.⌝ Why tender’st thou that paper to me with A look untender? If ’t be summer news, Smile to ’t before; if winterly, thou need’st15 But keep that count’nance still. My husband’s hand!
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That drug-damned Italy hath out-craftied him, And he’s at some hard point. Speak, man! Thy tongue May take off some extremity, which to read Would be even mortal to me.PISANIO 20 Please you read, And you shall find me, wretched man, a thing The most disdained of fortune.IMOGEN reads: Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath played the
strumpet in my bed, the testimonies whereof lies
25 bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises but
from proof as strong as my grief and as certain as I
expect my revenge. That part thou, Pisanio, must act
for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of
hers. Let thine own hands take away her life. I shall
30 give thee opportunity at Milford Haven—she hath
my letter for the purpose—where, if thou fear to
strike and to make me certain it is done, thou art the
pander to her dishonor and equally to me disloyal.PISANIO, ⌜aside⌝ What shall I need to draw my sword? The paper35 Hath cut her throat already. No, ’tis slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword, whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile, whose breath Rides on the posting winds and doth belie All corners of the world. Kings, queens, and states,40 Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave This viperous slander enters.—What cheer, madam?IMOGEN False to his bed? What is it to be false? To lie in watch there and to think on him? To weep ’twixt clock and clock? If sleep charge nature,45 To break it with a fearful dream of him And cry myself awake? That’s false to ’s bed, is it?PISANIO Alas, good lady!IMOGEN I false? Thy conscience witness! Iachimo,
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Thou didst accuse him of incontinency.50 Thou then looked’st like a villain. Now methinks Thy favor’s good enough. Some jay of Italy, Whose mother was her painting, hath betrayed him. Poor I am stale, a garment out of fashion, And, for I am richer than to hang by th’ walls,55 I must be ripped. To pieces with me! O, Men’s vows are women’s traitors! All good seeming, By thy revolt, O husband, shall be thought Put on for villainy, not born where ’t grows, But worn a bait for ladies.PISANIO 60 Good madam, hear me.IMOGEN True honest men, being heard like false Aeneas, Were in his time thought false, and Sinon’s weeping Did scandal many a holy tear, took pity From most true wretchedness. So thou, Posthumus,65 Wilt lay the leaven on all proper men; Goodly and gallant shall be false and perjured From thy great fail.—Come, fellow, be thou honest; Do thou thy master’s bidding. When thou seest him, A little witness my obedience. Look,70 I draw the sword myself.⌜She draws Pisanio’s sword from its
scabbard and hands it to him.⌝ Take it, and hit The innocent mansion of my love, my heart. Fear not; ’tis empty of all things but grief. Thy master is not there, who was indeed75 The riches of it. Do his bidding; strike. Thou mayst be valiant in a better cause, But now thou seem’st a coward.PISANIO, ⌜throwing down the sword⌝ Hence, vile instrument!80 Thou shalt not damn my hand.IMOGEN Why, I must die,
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And if I do not by thy hand, thou art No servant of thy master’s. Against self-slaughter There is a prohibition so divine85 That cravens my weak hand. Come, here’s my heart— Something’s ⌜afore ’t.⌝ Soft, soft! We’ll no defense— Obedient as the scabbard. What is here?⌜She takes papers from her bodice.⌝ The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus, All turned to heresy? Away, away!⌜She throws away the letters.⌝90 Corrupters of my faith, you shall no more Be stomachers to my heart. Thus may poor fools Believe false teachers. Though those that are betrayed Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor Stands in worse case of woe. And thou, Posthumus,95 That didst set up My disobedience ’gainst the King my father And ⌜make⌝ me put into contempt the suits Of princely fellows, shalt hereafter find It is no act of common passage, but100 A strain of rareness: and I grieve myself To think, when thou shalt be disedged by her That now thou tirest on, how thy memory Will then be panged by me.—Prithee, dispatch. The lamb entreats the butcher. Where’s thy knife?105 Thou art too slow to do thy master’s bidding When I desire it too.PISANIO O gracious lady, Since I received command to do this business I have not slept one wink.IMOGEN 110 Do ’t, and to bed, then.PISANIO I’ll wake mine eyeballs ⌜out⌝ first.IMOGEN Wherefore then Didst undertake it? Why hast thou abused So many miles with a pretense? This place?
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115 Mine action and thine own? Our horses’ labor? The time inviting thee? The perturbed court For my being absent, whereunto I never Purpose return? Why hast thou gone so far To be unbent when thou hast ta’en thy stand,120 Th’ elected deer before thee?PISANIO But to win time To lose so bad employment, in the which I have considered of a course. Good lady, Hear me with patience.IMOGEN 125 Talk thy tongue weary. Speak. I have heard I am a strumpet, and mine ear, Therein false struck, can take no greater wound, Nor tent to bottom that. But speak.PISANIO 130 Then, madam, I thought you would not back again.IMOGEN Most like, Bringing me here to kill me.PISANIO Not so, neither.135 But if I were as wise as honest, then My purpose would prove well. It cannot be But that my master is abused. Some villain, Ay, and singular in his art, hath done You both this cursèd injury.IMOGEN 140 Some Roman courtesan?PISANIO No, on my life. I’ll give but notice you are dead, and send him Some bloody sign of it, for ’tis commanded I should do so. You shall be missed at court,145 And that will well confirm it.IMOGEN Why, good fellow, What shall I do the while? Where bide? How live? Or in my life what comfort when I am Dead to my husband?
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PISANIO 150 If you’ll back to th’ court—IMOGEN No court, no father, nor no more ado With that harsh, noble, simple nothing, That Cloten, whose love suit hath been to me As fearful as a siege.PISANIO 155 If not at court, Then not in Britain must you bide.IMOGEN Where, then? Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day, night, Are they not but in Britain? I’ th’ world’s volume160 Our Britain seems as of it, but not in ’t, In a great pool a swan’s nest. Prithee think There’s livers out of Britain.PISANIO I am most glad You think of other place. Th’ ambassador,165 Lucius the Roman, comes to Milford Haven Tomorrow. Now, if you could wear a mind Dark as your fortune is, and but disguise That which t’ appear itself must not yet be But by self-danger, you should tread a course170 Pretty and full of view: yea, haply near The residence of Posthumus; so nigh, at least, That though his actions were not visible, yet Report should render him hourly to your ear As truly as he moves.IMOGEN 175 O, for such means, Though peril to my modesty, not death on ’t, I would adventure.PISANIO Well then, here’s the point: You must forget to be a woman; change180 Command into obedience, fear and niceness— The handmaids of all women, or, more truly, Woman it pretty self—into a waggish courage, Ready in gibes, quick-answered, saucy, and
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As quarrelous as the weasel. Nay, you must185 Forget that rarest treasure of your cheek, Exposing it—but O, the harder heart! Alack, no remedy—to the greedy touch Of common-kissing Titan, and forget Your laborsome and dainty trims, wherein190 You made great Juno angry.IMOGEN Nay, be brief. I see into thy end and am almost A man already.PISANIO First, make yourself but like one.195 Forethinking this, I have already fit— ’Tis in my cloakbag—doublet, hat, hose, all That answer to them. Would you, in their serving, And with what imitation you can borrow From youth of such a season, ’fore noble Lucius200 Present yourself, desire his service, tell him Wherein you’re happy—which will make him know, If that his head have ear in music—doubtless With joy he will embrace you, for he’s honorable And, doubling that, most holy. Your means abroad:205 You have me, rich, and I will never fail Beginning nor supplyment.IMOGEN, ⌜taking the cloakbag⌝ Thou art all the comfort The gods will diet me with. Prithee, away. There’s more to be considered, but we’ll even210 All that good time will give us. This attempt I am soldier to, and will abide it with A prince’s courage. Away, I prithee.PISANIO Well, madam, we must take a short farewell, Lest, being missed, I be suspected of215 Your carriage from the court. My noble mistress, Here is a box. I had it from the Queen.⌜He hands her the box.⌝
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What’s in ’t is precious. If you are sick at sea Or stomach-qualmed at land, a dram of this Will drive away distemper. To some shade,220 And fit you to your manhood. May the gods Direct you to the best.IMOGEN Amen. I thank thee.They exit.
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