You, Polydore, have prov’d best woodman and
Are master of the feast. Cadwal and I
Will play the cook and servant; ’tis our match.
The sweat of industry would dry and die
But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs
Will make what’s homely savoury; weariness
Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth
Finds the down pillow hard. Now, peace be here,
Poor house, that keep’st thyself!
You, Polydore, have prov’d best woodman and Are master of the feast. Cadwal and I Will play the cook and servant; ’tis our match. The sweat of industry would dry and die But for the end it works to. Come, our stomachs Will make what’s homely savoury; weariness Can snore upon the flint, when resty sl
you, polydore, have prov’d best woodman and are master of the feast. cadwal and i will play the cook and servant; ’tis our match. the sweat of industry would dry and die but for the end it works to. come, our stomachs will make what’s homely savoury; weariness can snore upon the flint, when resty sl
you, polydore, have prov’d best woodman and are ma
I am thoroughly weary.
I am thoroughly weary.
i am thoroughly weary.
i am thoroughly weary....
I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
i am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite.
i am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite....
There is cold meat i’ th’ cave; we’ll browse on that
Whilst what we have kill’d be cook’d.
There is cold meat i’ th’ cave; we’ll browse on that Whilst what we have kill’d be cook’d.
there is cold meat i’ th’ cave; we’ll browse on that whilst what we have kill’d be cook’d.
there is cold meat i’ th’ cave; we’ll browse on th...
But that it eats our victuals, I should think
Here were a fairy.
But that it eats our victuals, I should think Here were a fairy.
but that it eats our victuals, i should think here were a fairy.
but that it eats our victuals, i should think here...
What’s the matter, sir?
What’s the matter, sir?
what’s the matter, sir?
what’s the matter, sir?...
By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not,
An earthly paragon! Behold divineness
No elder than a boy!
By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, An earthly paragon! Behold divineness No elder than a boy!
by jupiter, an angel! or, if not, an earthly paragon! behold divineness no elder than a boy!
by jupiter, an angel! or, if not, an earthly parag...
Good masters, harm me not.
Before I enter’d here I call’d, and thought
To have begg’d or bought what I have took. Good troth,
I have stol’n nought; nor would not though I had found
Gold strew’d i’ th’ floor. Here’s money for my meat.
I would have left it on the board, so soon
As I had made my meal, and parted
With pray’rs for the provider.
Good masters, harm me not. Before I enter’d here I call’d, and thought To have begg’d or bought what I have took. Good troth, I have stol’n nought; nor would not though I had found Gold strew’d i’ th’ floor. Here’s money for my meat. I would have left it on the board, so soon As I had made my meal,
good masters, harm me not. before i enter’d here i call’d, and thought to have begg’d or bought what i have took. good troth, i have stol’n nought; nor would not though i had found gold strew’d i’ th’ floor. here’s money for my meat. i would have left it on the board, so soon as i had made my meal,
good masters, harm me not. before i enter’d here i
Belarius sees 'Fidele' and names her an angel. Arviragus instantly devalues gold compared to her. They respond not with reason but with an instinctive recognition of worth. The remarkable thing is that they are both right and ignorant: they are right to recognize her nobility and beauty, and ignorant of why they recognize it — because she is their sister, even though she appears as a boy. The scene suggests that kinship works through the body and through something like magnetic attraction before it works through conscious knowledge. The brothers cannot help but honor 'Fidele' because honor is their nature and 'Fidele' calls forth honor. The play is testing the idea that family is something you feel before you know it.
Money, youth?
Money, youth?
money, youth?
money, youth?...
All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,
As ’tis no better reckon’d but of those
Who worship dirty gods.
All gold and silver rather turn to dirt, As ’tis no better reckon’d but of those Who worship dirty gods.
all gold and silver rather turn to dirt, as ’tis no better reckon’d but of those who worship dirty gods.
all gold and silver rather turn to dirt, as ’tis n...
I see you’re angry.
Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should
Have died had I not made it.
I see you’re angry. Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should Have died had I not made it.
i see you’re angry. know, if you kill me for my fault, i should have died had i not made it.
i see you’re angry. know, if you kill me for my fa...
Whither bound?
Whither bound?
whither bound?
whither bound?...
To Milford Haven.
To Milford Haven.
to milford haven.
to milford haven....
What’s your name?
What’s your name?
what’s your name?
what’s your name?...
Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who
Is bound for Italy; he embark’d at Milford;
To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,
I am fall’n in this offence.
Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who Is bound for Italy; he embark’d at Milford; To whom being going, almost spent with hunger, I am fall’n in this offence.
fidele, sir. i have a kinsman who is bound for italy; he embark’d at milford; to whom being going, almost spent with hunger, i am fall’n in this offence.
fidele, sir. i have a kinsman who is bound for ita...
Prithee, fair youth,
Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in. Well encounter’d!
’Tis almost night; you shall have better cheer
Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.
Boys, bid him welcome.
please, fair youth, Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds By this rude place we live in. Well encounter’d! ’Tis almost night; you shall have better cheer before you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it. Boys, bid him welcome.
please, fair youth, think us no churls, nor measure our good minds by this rude place we live in. well encounter’d! ’tis almost night; you shall have better cheer before you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it. boys, bid him welcome.
please, fair youth, think us no churls, nor measur
Were you a woman, youth,
I should woo hard but be your groom. In honesty
I bid for you as I’d buy.
Were you a woman, youth, I should woo hard but be your groom. In honesty I bid for you as I’d buy.
were you a woman, youth, i should woo hard but be your groom. in honesty i bid for you as i’d buy.
were you a woman, youth, i should woo hard but be ...
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!
Be sprightly, for you fall ’mongst friends.
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! Be sprightly, for you fall ’mongst friends.
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! be sprightly, for you fall ’mongst friends.
i’ll make’t my comfort he is a man. i’ll love him ...
’Mongst friends,
If brothers. [_Aside._] Would it had been so that they
Had been my father’s sons! Then had my prize
Been less, and so more equal ballasting
To thee, Posthumus.
’Mongst friends, If brothers. [_Aside._] Would it had been so that they Had been my father’s sons! Then had my prize Been less, and so more equal ballasting To thee, Posthumus.
’mongst friends, if brothers. [_aside._] would it had been so that they had been my father’s sons! then had my prize been less, and so more equal ballasting to thee, posthumus.
’mongst friends, if brothers. [_aside._] would it ...
Imogen creates a false identity as 'Fidele,' claiming to be searching for a kinsman sailing from Milford. This is a lie, but it is structurally true: Imogen is lost, and Fidele is searching. The brothers welcome Fidele into their household and will come to love 'him.' By the play's end, Fidele will be revealed as Imogen, and the love they gave to Fidele will transfer to their true sister. The scene performs a peculiar inversion: the disguise is false, yet the identity it creates becomes real. Fidele is not Imogen, but Fidele is the self that Imogen becomes in exile — honest, humble, searching for what was lost. By the end of the play, Imogen will have become both: Imogen restored to her throne, and Fidele integrated into her true family.
He wrings at some distress.
He wrings at some distress.
he wrings at some distress.
he wrings at some distress....
Would I could free’t!
Would I could free’t!
would i could free’t!
would i could free’t!...
Or I, whate’er it be,
What pain it cost, what danger! Gods!
Or I, whate’er it be, What pain it cost, what danger! Gods!
or i, whate’er it be, what pain it cost, what danger! gods!
or i, whate’er it be, what pain it cost, what dang...
That had a court no bigger than this cave,
That did attend themselves, and had the virtue
Which their own conscience seal’d them, laying by
That nothing-gift of differing multitudes,
Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods!
I’d change my sex to be companion with them,
Since Leonatus false.
That had a court no bigger than this cave, That did attend themselves, and had the virtue Which their own conscience seal’d them, laying by That nothing-gift of differing multitudes, Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods! I’d change my sex to be companion with them, Since Leonatus false.
that had a court no bigger than this cave, that did attend themselves, and had the virtue which their own conscience seal’d them, laying by that nothing-gift of differing multitudes, could not out-peer these twain. pardon me, gods! i’d change my sex to be companion with them, since leonatus false.
that had a court no bigger than this cave, that di
It shall be so.
Boys, we’ll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come in.
Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp’d,
We’ll mannerly demand thee of thy story,
So far as thou wilt speak it.
It shall be so. Boys, we’ll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come in. Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp’d, We’ll mannerly demand thee of thy story, So far as thou wilt speak it.
it shall be so. boys, we’ll go dress our hunt. fair youth, come in. discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp’d, we’ll mannerly demand thee of thy story, so far as thou wilt speak it.
it shall be so. boys, we’ll go dress our hunt. fai...
Pray draw near.
Pray draw near.
pray draw near.
pray draw near....
The night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less
welcome.
The night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less welcome.
the night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less welcome.
the night to th’ owl and morn to th’ lark less wel...
Thanks, sir.
Thanks, sir.
thanks, sir.
thanks, sir....
I pray draw near.
I pray draw near.
i pray draw near.
i pray draw near....
The Reckoning
This is the recognition scene that isn't quite a recognition. The two brothers fall instantly in love with Imogen without knowing she is their sister. Imogen remains disguised as Fidele. Belarius is cautious but eventually trusts her. The scene is charged with dramatic irony: Imogen is with her family, unaware. Her brothers are attracted to her (in her male disguise, but attracted nonetheless) without knowing she is their sister. The scene establishes the rhythm of the Welsh world: acceptance, hospitality, and a natural affinity that transcends the information any of them consciously possess. This is how recognition will eventually work in this play — not through deliberate revelation, but through the returning assertion of natural kinship.
If this happened today…
A young man (actually a woman in disguise) appears at a mountain cave. The two brothers living there are struck by his beauty and charm. Their father is cautious but eventually trusts him. The stranger says she's heading to Milford Haven to find a kinsman, and nearly starved getting there. The brothers invite her to stay and become part of their family.