Original Text |
Translated Text |
| 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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