Thus far, and so farewell.
Thus far, and so farewell.
thus far, and so farewell.
thus far, and so farewell....
Thanks, royal sir.
My emperor hath wrote; I must from hence,
And am right sorry that I must report ye
My master’s enemy.
Thanks, royal sir. My emperor hath wrote; I must from hence, And am right sorry that I must report ye My master’s enemy.
thanks, royal sir. my emperor hath wrote; i must from hence, and am right sorry that i must report ye my master’s enemy.
thanks, royal sir. my emperor hath wrote; i must f...
Our subjects, sir,
Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself
To show less sovereignty than they, must needs
Appear unkinglike.
Our subjects, sir, Will not endure his yoke; and for ourself To show less sovereignty than they, must needs Appear unkinglike.
our subjects, sir, will not endure his yoke; and for ourself to show less sovereignty than they, must needs appear unkinglike.
our subjects, sir, will not endure his yoke; and f...
So, sir. I desire of you
A conduct overland to Milford Haven.
Madam, all joy befall your Grace, and you!
So, sir. I desire of you A conduct overland to Milford Haven. Madam, all joy befall your Grace, and you!
so, sir. i desire of you a conduct overland to milford haven. madam, all joy befall your grace, and you!
so, sir. i desire of you a conduct overland to mil
My lords, you are appointed for that office;
The due of honour in no point omit.
So farewell, noble Lucius.
My lords, you are appointed for that office; The due of honour in no point omit. So farewell, noble Lucius.
my lords, you are appointed for that office; the due of honour in no point omit. so farewell, noble lucius.
my lords, you are appointed for that office; the d...
Your hand, my lord.
Your hand, my lord.
your hand, my lord.
your hand, my lord....
Receive it friendly; but from this time forth
I wear it as your enemy.
Receive it friendly; but from this time forth I wear it as your enemy.
receive it friendly; but from this time forth i wear it as your enemy.
receive it friendly; but from this time forth i we...
Sir, the event
Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well.
Sir, the event Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well.
sir, the event is yet to name the winner. fare you well.
sir, the event is yet to name the winner. fare you...
Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my lords,
Till he have cross’d the Severn. Happiness!
Leave not the worthy Lucius, good my lords, Till he have cross’d the Severn. Happiness!
leave not the worthy lucius, good my lords, till he have cross’d the severn. happiness!
leave not the worthy lucius, good my lords, till h...
He goes hence frowning; but it honours us
That we have given him cause.
He goes hence frowning; but it honours us That we have given him cause.
he goes hence frowning; but it honours us that we have given him cause.
he goes hence frowning; but it honours us that we ...
’Tis all the better;
Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.
’Tis all the better; Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it.
’tis all the better; your valiant britons have their wishes in it.
’tis all the better; your valiant britons have the...
Lucius hath wrote already to the Emperor
How it goes here. It fits us therefore ripely
Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness.
The pow’rs that he already hath in Gallia
Will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves
His war for Britain.
Lucius has wrote already to the Emperor How it goes here. It fits us therefore ripely Our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness. The pow’rs that he already has in Gallia Will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves His war for Britain.
lucius has wrote already to the emperor how it goes here. it fits us therefore ripely our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness. the pow’rs that he already has in gallia will soon be drawn to head, from whence he moves his war for britain.
lucius has wrote already to the emperor how it goe
’Tis not sleepy business,
But must be look’d to speedily and strongly.
’Tis not sleepy business, But must be look’d to speedily and strongly.
’tis not sleepy business, but must be look’d to speedily and strongly.
’tis not sleepy business, but must be look’d to sp...
Our expectation that it would be thus
Hath made us forward. But, my gentle queen,
Where is our daughter? She hath not appear’d
Before the Roman, nor to us hath tender’d
The duty of the day. She looks us like
A thing more made of malice than of duty;
We have noted it. Call her before us, for
We have been too slight in sufferance.
Our expectation that it would be thus has made us forward. But, my gentle queen, Where is our daughter? She has not appear’d Before the Roman, nor to us has tender’d The duty of the day. She looks us like A thing more made of malice than of duty; We have noted it. Call her before us, for We have bee
our expectation that it would be thus has made us forward. but, my gentle queen, where is our daughter? she has not appear’d before the roman, nor to us has tender’d the duty of the day. she looks us like a thing more made of malice than of duty; we have noted it. call her before us, for we have bee
our expectation that it would be thus has made us
Royal sir,
Since the exile of Posthumus, most retir’d
Hath her life been; the cure whereof, my lord,
’Tis time must do. Beseech your Majesty,
Forbear sharp speeches to her; she’s a lady
So tender of rebukes that words are strokes,
And strokes death to her.
Royal sir, Since the exile of Posthumus, most retir’d has her life been; the cure whereof, my lord, ’Tis time must do. Beseech your Majesty, Forbear sharp speeches to her; she’s a lady So tender of rebukes that words are strokes, And strokes death to her.
royal sir, since the exile of posthumus, most retir’d has her life been; the cure whereof, my lord, ’tis time must do. beseech your majesty, forbear sharp speeches to her; she’s a lady so tender of rebukes that words are strokes, and strokes death to her.
royal sir, since the exile of posthumus, most reti
Where is she, sir? How
Can her contempt be answer’d?
Where is she, sir? How Can her contempt be answer’d?
where is she, sir? how can her contempt be answer’d?
where is she, sir? how can her contempt be answer’...
Please you, sir,
Her chambers are all lock’d, and there’s no answer
That will be given to th’ loud of noise we make.
Please you, sir, Her chambers are all lock’d, and there’s no answer That will be given to th’ loud of noise we make.
please you, sir, her chambers are all lock’d, and there’s no answer that will be given to th’ loud of noise we make.
please you, sir, her chambers are all lock’d, and ...
My lord, when last I went to visit her,
She pray’d me to excuse her keeping close;
Whereto constrain’d by her infirmity
She should that duty leave unpaid to you
Which daily she was bound to proffer. This
She wish’d me to make known; but our great court
Made me to blame in memory.
My lord, when last I went to visit her, She pray’d me to excuse her keeping close; Whereto constrain’d by her infirmity She should that duty leave unpaid to you Which daily she was bound to proffer. This She wish’d me to make known; but our great court Made me to blame in memory.
my lord, when last i went to visit her, she pray’d me to excuse her keeping close; whereto constrain’d by her infirmity she should that duty leave unpaid to you which daily she was bound to proffer. this she wish’d me to make known; but our great court made me to blame in memory.
my lord, when last i went to visit her, she pray’d
Her doors lock’d?
Not seen of late? Grant, heavens, that which I fear
Prove false!
Her doors lock’d? Not seen of late? Grant, heavens, that which I fear Prove false!
her doors lock’d? not seen of late? grant, heavens, that which i fear prove false!
her doors lock’d? not seen of late? grant, heavens...
Son, I say, follow the King.
Son, I say, follow the King.
son, i say, follow the king.
son, i say, follow the king.
That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant,
I have not seen these two days.
That man of hers, Pisanio, her old servant, I have not seen these two days.
that man of hers, pisanio, her old servant, i have not seen these two days.
that man of hers, pisanio, her old servant, i have...
Go, look after.
Go, look after.
go, look after.
go, look after....
This scene is notable for its rapid-fire convergence of disasters. Rome has declared war. An ambassador has departed with a threat. And in the same scene, Cymbeline discovers his daughter has vanished. The juxtaposition forces Cymbeline to be a king and a father simultaneously. He must respond to both crises. His rage at Posthumus — for luring his daughter into elopement — is immediate and total. What makes the scene tragic is that Cymbeline's interpretation of events, while understandable, is exactly wrong. He doesn't know Posthumus ordered murder. He thinks Posthumus seduced her. His rage at a son-in-law who stole his daughter masks a deeper tragedy: a son-in-law who tried to murder his daughter.
’Tis certain she is fled.
Go in and cheer the King. He rages; none
Dare come about him.
’Tis certain she is fled. Go in and cheer the King. He rages; none Dare come about him.
’tis certain she is fled. go in and cheer the king. he rages; none dare come about him.
’tis certain she is fled. go in and cheer the king...
All the better. May
This night forestall him of the coming day!
All the better. May This night forestall him of the coming day!
all the better. may this night forestall him of the coming day!
all the better. may this night forestall him of th...
I love and hate her; for she’s fair and royal,
And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite
Than lady, ladies, woman. From every one
The best she hath, and she, of all compounded,
Outsells them all. I love her therefore; but
Disdaining me and throwing favours on
The low Posthumus slanders so her judgement
That what’s else rare is chok’d; and in that point
I will conclude to hate her, nay, indeed,
To be reveng’d upon her. For when fools
Shall—
I love and hate her; for she’s fair and royal, And that she has all courtly parts more exquisite Than lady, ladies, woman. From every one The best she has, and she, of all compounded, Outsells them all. I love her therefore; but Disdaining me and throwing favours on The low Posthumus slanders so her
i love and hate her; for she’s fair and royal, and that she has all courtly parts more exquisite than lady, ladies, woman. from every one the best she has, and she, of all compounded, outsells them all. i love her therefore; but disdaining me and throwing favours on the low posthumus slanders so her
i love and hate her; for she’s fair and royal, and
O good my lord!
O good my lord!
o good my lord!
o good my lord!...
Where is thy lady? or, by Jupiter—
I will not ask again. Close villain,
I’ll have this secret from thy heart, or rip
Thy heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus?
From whose so many weights of baseness cannot
A dram of worth be drawn.
Where is your lady? or, by Jupiter— I will not ask again. Close villain, I’ll have this secret from your heart, or rip your heart to find it. Is she with Posthumus? From whose so many weights of baseness cannot A dram of worth be drawn.
where is your lady? or, by jupiter— i will not ask again. close villain, i’ll have this secret from your heart, or rip your heart to find it. is she with posthumus? from whose so many weights of baseness cannot a dram of worth be drawn.
where is your lady? or, by jupiter— i will not ask
Alas, my lord,
How can she be with him? When was she miss’d?
He is in Rome.
Alas, my lord, How can she be with him? When was she miss’d? He is in Rome.
alas, my lord, how can she be with him? when was she miss’d? he is in rome.
alas, my lord, how can she be with him? when was s...
Where is she, sir? Come nearer.
No farther halting! Satisfy me home
What is become of her.
Where is she, sir? Come nearer. No farther halting! Satisfy me home What is become of her.
where is she, sir? come nearer. no farther halting! satisfy me home what is become of her.
where is she, sir? come nearer. no farther halting...
O my all-worthy lord!
O my all-worthy lord!
o my all-worthy lord!
o my all-worthy lord!...
All-worthy villain!
Discover where thy mistress is at once,
At the next word. No more of ‘worthy lord’!
Speak, or thy silence on the instant is
Thy condemnation and thy death.
All-worthy villain! Discover where thy mistress is at once, At the next word. No more of ‘worthy lord’! Speak, or thy silence on the instant is Thy condemnation and thy death.
all-worthy villain! discover where thy mistress is at once, at the next word. no more of ‘worthy lord’! speak, or thy silence on the instant is thy condemnation and thy death.
all-worthy villain! discover where thy mistress is...
Then, sir,
This paper is the history of my knowledge
Touching her flight.
Then, sir, This paper is the history of my knowledge Touching her flight.
then, sir, this paper is the history of my knowledge touching her flight.
then, sir, this paper is the history of my knowled...
When Cymbeline calls for Pisanio, Pisanio has a choice: deny everything or confess strategically. He chooses a middle path. He produces the letter from Posthumus that summoned Imogen to Milford Haven. This is true — it happened. But Pisanio withholds the murderous letter that preceded it. He confesses to helping Imogen flee, which he did, but he doesn't confess to the reason — to save her from the murder order. In offering partial truth (yes, I helped her, here's the letter), Pisanio allows Cymbeline to construct a plausible narrative: Posthumus lured my daughter away. The beauty of Pisanio's strategy is that it's not dishonest exactly — it's selective truth that serves Imogen's survival.
Let’s see’t. I will pursue her
Even to Augustus’ throne.
Let’s see’t. I will pursue her Even to Augustus’ throne.
let’s see’t. i will pursue her even to augustus’ throne.
let’s see’t. i will pursue her even to augustus’ t...
She’s far enough; and what he learns by this
May prove his travel, not her danger.
She’s far enough; and what he learns by this May prove his travel, not her danger.
she’s far enough; and what he learns by this may prove his travel, not her danger.
she’s far enough; and what he learns by this may p...
Humh!
Humh!
humh!
humh!...
Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!
Safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!
safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!
safe mayst thou wander, safe return again!...
Sirrah, is this letter true?
Sirrah, is this letter true?
sirrah, is this letter true?
sirrah, is this letter true?...
Sir, as I think.
Sir, as I think.
sir, as i think.
sir, as i think....
It is Posthumus’ hand; I know’t. Sirrah, if thou wouldst not be a
villain, but do me true service, undergo those employments wherein I
should have cause to use thee with a serious industry—that is, what
villainy soe’er I bid thee do, to perform it directly and truly—I would
think thee an honest man; thou shouldst neither want my means for thy
relief nor my voice for thy preferment.
It is Posthumus’ hand; I know’t. Sirrah, if you wouldst not be a villain, but do me true service, undergo those employments wherein I should have cause to use you with a serious industry—that is, what villainy soe’er I bid you do, to perform it directly and truly—I would think you an honest man; you
it is posthumus’ hand; i know’t. sirrah, if you wouldst not be a villain, but do me true service, undergo those employments wherein i should have cause to use you with a serious industry—that is, what villainy soe’er i bid you do, to perform it directly and truly—i would think you an honest man; you
it is posthumus’ hand; i know’t. sirrah, if you wo
Well, my good lord.
Well, my good lord.
well, my good lord.
well, my good lord....
Wilt thou serve me? For since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck
to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, thou canst not, in the
course of gratitude, but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou
serve me?
Wilt you serve me? For since patiently and constantly you hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus, you canst not, in the course of gratitude, but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt you serve me?
wilt you serve me? for since patiently and constantly you hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar posthumus, you canst not, in the course of gratitude, but be a diligent follower of mine. wilt you serve me?
wilt you serve me? for since patiently and constan
Sir, I will.
Sir, I will.
sir, i will.
sir, i will....
Give me thy hand; here’s my purse. Hast any of thy late master’s
garments in thy possession?
Give me thy hand; here’s my purse. Hast any of thy late master’s garments in thy possession?
give me thy hand; here’s my purse. hast any of thy late master’s garments in thy possession?
give me thy hand; here’s my purse. hast any of thy...
I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took
leave of my lady and mistress.
I have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.
i have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress.
i have, my lord, at my lodging, the same suit he w...
The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither. Let it be thy
first service; go.
The first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither. Let it be thy first service; go.
the first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hither. let it be thy first service; go.
the first service thou dost me, fetch that suit hi...
I shall, my lord.
I shall, my lord.
i shall, my lord.
i shall, my lord....
Meet thee at Milford Haven! I forgot to ask him one thing; I’ll
remember’t anon. Even there, thou villain Posthumus, will I kill thee.
I would these garments were come. She said upon a time—the bitterness
of it I now belch from my heart—that she held the very garment of
Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person, together
with the adornment of my qualities. With that suit upon my back will I
ravish her; first kill him, and in her eyes. There shall she see my
valour, which will then be a torment to her contempt. He on the ground,
my speech of insultment ended on his dead body, and when my lust hath
dined—which, as I say, to vex her I will execute in the clothes that
she so prais’d—to the court I’ll knock her back, foot her home again.
She hath despis’d me rejoicingly, and I’ll be merry in my revenge.
Meet you at Milford Haven! I forgot to ask him one thing; I’ll remember’t anon. Even there, you villain Posthumus, will I kill you. I would these garments were come. She said upon a time—the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart—that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than m
meet you at milford haven! i forgot to ask him one thing; i’ll remember’t anon. even there, you villain posthumus, will i kill you. i would these garments were come. she said upon a time—the bitterness of it i now belch from my heart—that she held the very garment of posthumus in more respect than m
meet you at milford haven! i forgot to ask him one
Ay, my noble lord.
Ay, my noble lord.
ay, my noble lord.
ay, my noble lord....
How long is’t since she went to Milford Haven?
How long is’t since she went to Milford Haven?
how long is’t since she went to milford haven?
how long is’t since she went to milford haven?...
She can scarce be there yet.
She can scarce be there yet.
she can scarce be there yet.
she can scarce be there yet....
Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the second thing that I have
commanded thee. The third is that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my
design. Be but duteous and true, preferment shall tender itself to
thee. My revenge is now at Milford, would I had wings to follow it!
Come, and be true.
Bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the second thing that I have commanded you. The third is that you wilt be a voluntary mute to my design. Be but duteous and true, preferment shall tender itself to you. My revenge is now at Milford, would I had wings to follow it! Come, and be true.
bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the second thing that i have commanded you. the third is that you wilt be a voluntary mute to my design. be but duteous and true, preferment shall tender itself to you. my revenge is now at milford, would i had wings to follow it! come, and be true.
bring this apparel to my chamber; that is the seco
Thou bid’st me to my loss; for true to thee
Were to prove false, which I will never be,
To him that is most true. To Milford go,
And find not her whom thou pursuest. Flow, flow,
You heavenly blessings, on her! This fool’s speed
Be cross’d with slowness! Labour be his meed!
you bid’st me to my loss; for true to you Were to prove false, which I will never be, To him that is most true. To Milford go, And find not her whom you pursuest. Flow, flow, You heavenly blessings, on her! This fool’s speed Be cross’d with slowness! Labour be his meed!
you bid’st me to my loss; for true to you were to prove false, which i will never be, to him that is most true. to milford go, and find not her whom you pursuest. flow, flow, you heavenly blessings, on her! this fool’s speed be cross’d with slowness! labour be his meed!
you bid’st me to my loss; for true to you were to
The Reckoning
The political crisis (war with Rome) collides with the personal crisis (Imogen's disappearance). The scene is fast-moving and panicked. Cymbeline learns his daughter has vanished and assumes she's been lured away by Posthumus. The truth — that Posthumus ordered her killed — is of course unknown. Cloten's plan to pursue Imogen in Posthumus's clothes is both grotesque and structurally significant: he is literally trying to become Posthumus in order to destroy him. The Queen, alone briefly, reveals her satisfaction: whether Imogen is dead or dishonored, it serves her purposes.
If this happened today…
A king is saying goodbye to a foreign ambassador and preparing for war. His wife reminds him their daughter is missing. He orders a search. A messenger returns saying the daughter has fled with her husband's servant, apparently summoned by her exiled husband. The king, furious, vows revenge on the son-in-law. Then the oafish prince recruits the servant to help him chase the daughter down — planning to kill the husband and assault the daughter while wearing the husband's clothes.