Bel. So sure as you, your Fathers: I (old Morgan) Am that Belarius, whom you sometime banish'd: Your pleasure was my neere offence, my punishment It selfe, and all my Treason that I suffer'd, Was all the harme I did. These gentle Princes (For such, and so they are) these twenty yeares Haue I train'd vp; those Arts they haue, as I Could put into them. My breeding was (Sir) As your Highnesse knowes: Their Nurse Euriphile (Whom for the Theft I wedded) stole these Children Vpon my Banishment: I moou'd her too't, Hauing receyu'd the punishment before For that which I did then. Beaten for Loyaltie, Excited me to Treason. Their deere losse, The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd Vnto my end of stealing them. But gracious Sir, Heere are your Sonnes againe, and I must loose Two of the sweet'st Companions in the World. The benediction of these couering Heauens Fall on their heads like dew, for they are worthie To in-lay Heauen with Starres

Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st: The Seruice that you three haue done, is more Vnlike, then this thou tell'st. I lost my Children, If these be they, I know not how to wish A payre of worthier Sonnes

Bel. Be pleas'd awhile; This Gentleman, whom I call Polidore, Most worthy Prince, as yours, is true Guiderius: This Gentleman, my Cadwall, Aruiragus. Your yonger Princely Son, he Sir, was lapt In a most curious Mantle, wrought by th' hand Of his Queene Mother, which for more probation I can with ease produce

Cym. Guiderius had Vpon his necke a Mole, a sanguine Starre, It was a marke of wonder

Bel. This is he, Who hath vpon him still that naturall stampe: It was wise Natures end, in the donation To be his euidence now

Cym. Oh, what am I A Mother to the byrth of three? Nere Mother Reioyc'd deliuerance more: Blest, pray you be, That after this strange starting from your Orbes, You may reigne in them now: Oh Imogen, Thou hast lost by this a Kingdome

Imo. No, my Lord: I haue got two Worlds by't. Oh my gentle Brothers, Haue we thus met? Oh neuer say heereafter But I am truest speaker. You call'd me Brother When I was but your Sister: I you Brothers, When we were so indeed

Cym. Did you ere meete? Arui. I my good Lord

Gui. And at first meeting lou'd, Continew'd so, vntill we thought he dyed

Corn. By the Queenes Dramme she swallow'd

Cym. O rare instinct! When shall I heare all through? This fierce abridgment, Hath to it Circumstantiall branches, which Distinction should be rich in. Where? how liu'd you? And when came you to serue our Romane Captiue? How parted with your Brother? How first met them? Why fled you from the Court? And whether these? And your three motiues to the Battaile? with I know not how much more should be demanded, And all the other by-dependances From chance to chance? But nor the Time, nor Place Will serue our long Interrogatories. See, Posthumus Anchors vpon Imogen; And she (like harmlesse Lightning) throwes her eye On him: her Brothers, Me: her Master hitting Each obiect with a Ioy: the Counter-change Is seuerally in all. Let's quit this ground, And smoake the Temple with our Sacrifices. Thou art my Brother, so wee'l hold thee euer

Imo. You are my Father too, and did releeue me: To see this gracious season

Cym. All ore-ioy'd Saue these in bonds, let them be ioyfull too, For they shall taste our Comfort

Imo. My good Master, I will yet do you seruice

Luc. Happy be you

Cym. The forlorne Souldier, that so Nobly fought He would haue well becom'd this place, and grac'd The thankings of a King

William Shakespeare
Classic Literature Library

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