Cymbeline In Plain and Simple English (Digital Download)
PURCHASE A COPY OF CYMBELINE IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE ENGLISH NOW! Do you need to understand Shakespeare and want something more interactive? Try our free app, SwipeSpeare! EXCERPT OF C YMBELINE IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE ENGLISH SCENE I. Britain. The garden of CYMBELINE'S palaceFIRST GENTLEMAN. You do not meet a man but frowns; our bloodsNo more obey the heavens than our courtiersStill seem as does the King's.Every man you meet is frowning;our moods aren't as susceptible to being influenced by the heavensas the courtiers are to copying the moods of the King.SECOND GENTLEMAN. But what's the matter?But what's the problem?FIRST GENTLEMAN. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whomHe purpos'd to his wife's sole son- a widowThat late he married- hath referr'd herselfUnto a poor but worthy gentleman. She's wedded;Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd. AllIs outward sorrow, though I think the KingBe touch'd at very heart.His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom,whom he intended to marry to his wife's only son–she's a widowhe only married recently–has hitched herselfto a good but poor gentleman. She is married;her husband is exiled; she is in prison.Everybody looks sorrowful, although I think the Kinghas been stabbed to the heart.SECOND GENTLEMAN. None but the King?Just the King?FIRST GENTLEMAN. He that hath lost her too. So is the Queen,That most desir'd the match. But not a courtier,Although they wear their faces to the bentOf the King's looks, hath a heart that is notGlad at the thing they scowl at.The one who has lost her as well. And the Queen,who was very keen on the marriage. But there isn't a courtier,although they have scowls on their faces to matchthe King, who isn't secretly glad about the thingthey pretend to scowl at.SECOND GENTLEMAN. And why so?And why is that?FIRST GENTLEMAN. He that hath miss'd the Princess is a thingToo bad for bad report; and he that hath her-I mean that married her, alack, good man!And therefore banish'd- is a creature suchAs, to seek through the regions of the earthFor one his like, there would be something failingIn him that should compare. I do not thinkSo fair an outward and such stuff withinEndows a man but he.The one who missed out on the Princess is a piece of workwhom you couldn't be too critical about; and the man who has her–I mean the one who married her, alas, good man!And so is exiled–is a person whomyou could search everywhere on earthto find a match for, there would always be something lackingin the one you found. I don't thinkthere is anyone on earth who hassuch a good appearance coupled to such good qualities.SECOND GENTLEMAN. You speak him far.You speak very highly of him.FIRST GENTLEMAN. I do extend him, sir, within himself;Crush him together rather than unfoldHis measure duly.I'm actually being quite reserved;I'm pushing him down rather thanshowing his true height.SECOND GENTLEMAN. What's his name and birth?What's his name and what are his origins?FIRST GENTLEMAN. I cannot delve him to the root; his fatherWas call'd Sicilius, who did join his honourAgainst the Romans with Cassibelan,But had his titles by Tenantius, whomHe serv'd with glory and admir'd success,So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus;And had, besides this gentleman in question,Two other sons, who, in the wars o' th' time,Died with their swords in hand; for which their father,Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrowThat he quit being; and his gentle lady,Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'dAs he was born. The King he takes the babeTo his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,Puts to him all the learnings that his timeCould make him the receiver of; which he took,As we do air, fast as 'twas minist'red,And in's spring became a harvest, liv'd in court-Which rare it is to do- most prais'd, most lov'd,A sample to the youngest; to th' more matureA glass that feated them; and to the graverA child that guided dotards. To his mistress,For whom he now is banish'd- her own priceProclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;By her election may be truly readWhat kind of man he is.I can't quite get to the bottom of him; his fatherwas called Sicilius, who foughtagainst the Romans with Cassibelan,but he got his titles from Tenantius, whomhe served gloriously and with great success,and he was given the additional name Leonatus:besides the gentleman we're talking about, he hadtwo other sons, who, in the walls of that time,died on the battlefield; their father,who was then old and, doting on his children,was so grieved by this that he died; and his sweet wife,pregnant with the gentleman we are talking about, diedin childbirth. The King took the babyunder his protection, called him Posthumus Leonatus,raised him and made him one of his inner circle,and gave him as much education as wasappropriate for his age; he took it inas we take in air, as fast as he could get it,and he flourished: he lived in court(which is most unusual) greatly praised, greatly loved;an example to the youngest, to the older onesa model they couldn't live up to: and to the wisea child who could outthink old men. As for his mistress,(from whom he is now separated) the price she was prepared to payshows what she felt about him; through her choiceof him you can truly see his goodness,the kind of man he is.SECOND GENTLEMAN. I honour himEven out of your report. But pray you tell me,Is she sole child to th' King?I respect himeven just hearing of him. But please tell me,is she the King's only child?FIRST GENTLEMAN. His only child.He had two sons- if this be worth your hearing,Mark it- the eldest of them at three years old,I' th' swathing clothes the other, from their nurseryWere stol'n; and to this hour no guess in knowledgeWhich way they went.His only child.He had two sons–if this is worth listening to,make a note of it–who was stolen from their nursery,the older one was three years old and the otherwas just a baby; and to this day nobody has any ideawhat happened to them.SECOND GENTLEMAN. How long is this ago?How long ago was this?FIRST GENTLEMAN. Some twenty years.Some twenty years.SECOND GENTLEMAN. That a king's children should be so convey'd,So slackly guarded, and the search so slowThat could not trace them!It's amazing that this could happen to the children of a king,so poorly guarded, and the search so inefficientthat it couldn't find them!FIRST GENTLEMAN. Howsoe'er 'tis strange,Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at,Yet is it true, sir.However strange it seems,or however ridiculous the negligence seems,it's still true, sir.SECOND GENTLEMAN. I do well believe you.I certainly believe you.FIRST GENTLEMAN. We must forbear; here comes the gentleman,The Queen, and Princess. ExeuntWe must withdraw; here comes the gentleman,the Queen and the Princess.Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGENQUEEN. No, be assur'd you shall not find me, daughter,After the slander of most stepmothers,Evil-ey'd unto you. You're my prisoner, butYour gaoler shall deliver you the keysThat lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,So soon as I can win th' offended King,I will be known your advocate. Marry, yetThe fire of rage is in him, and 'twere goodYou lean'd unto his sentence with what patienceYour wisdom may inform you.No, I can promise, daughter, you won't find me–as they say about most stepmothers–unkind to you. You're my prisoner, butyour jailer will give you the keysto your prison. As for you, Posthumus,as soon as I can win over the upset King,I will show that I'm on your side. Still,at the moment he is furious, and it would be bestfor you to accept his sentence with as muchpatience as you can muster.POSTHUMUS. Please your Highness,I will from hence to-day.If it please your Highness,I will leave here today.QUEEN. You know the peril.I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pityingThe pangs of barr'd affections, though the KingHath charg'd you should not speak together. ExitYou recognise the danger.I'll take a turn round the garden, as I pitythe anguish of forbidden love, though the Kinghas ordered that you should not speak to each other.IMOGEN. O dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrantCan tickle where she wounds! My dearest husband,I something fear my father's wrath, but nothing-Always reserv'd my holy duty- whatHis rage can do on me. You must be gone;And I shall here abide the hourly shotOf angry eyes, not comforted to liveBut that there is this jewel in the worldThat I may see again.What false kindness! How good this evil woman isat smiling when she stabs you! My dearest husband,I am a little afraid of my father's anger, but not–excepting the biblical duty I owe him–ofwhat he can do to me. You must go;I shall stay here and suffer the constantglare of his angry eyes, with no reason to liveexcept that I know that there is this beautiful thing in the worldthat I may see again.POSTHUMUS. My queen! my mistress!O lady, weep no more, lest I give causeTo be suspected of more tendernessThan doth become a man. I will remainThe loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth;My residence in Rome at one Philario's,Who to my father was a friend, to meKnown but by letter; thither write, my queen,And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,Though ink be made of gall.Re-enter QUEENMy queen! My mistress!Oh lady, stop weeping, in case I do somethingwhich would make people think I was weakerthan a man ought to be. I will remainthe most loyal husband that ever took his vows;in Rome I shall stay with someone called Philario,who was a friend of my father's, I onlyknow him through letters; write there, my queen,and my eyes will drink in the words you send,even if the ink was poison.QUEEN. Be brief, I pray you.If the King come, I shall incur I know notHow much of his displeasure. [Aside] Yet I'll move himTo walk this way. I never do him wrongBut he does buy my injuries, to be friends;Pays dear for my offences. ExitPlease be quick.If the King comes, I can't imaginehow furious he'll be with me.[Aside] But I'll persuade himto walk this way. He forgives me forany wrong I do him, for the sake of staying friends;he pays heavily for my wrongdoing.POSTHUMUS. Should we be taking leaveAs long a term as yet we have to live,The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu!If we were saying goodbyefor the rest of our lives,the reluctance to part would just get worse. Goodbye!IMOGEN. Nay, stay a little.Were you but riding forth to air yourself,Such parting were too petty. Look here, love:This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart;But keep it till you woo another wife,When Imogen is dead.No, stay a little longer.If you were just riding out to get some air,this would be too small a goodbye. Look here, love:this diamond belonged to my mother; take it, sweetheart;always keep it until you woo another wife,when Imogen is dead.POSTHUMUS. How, how? Another?You gentle gods, give me but this I have,And sear up my embracements from a nextWith bonds of death! Remain, remain thou here[Puts on the ring]While sense can keep it on. And, sweetest, fairest,As I my poor self did exchange for you,To your so infinite loss, so in our triflesI still win of you. For my sake wear this;It is a manacle of love; I'll place itUpon this fairest prisoner. [Puts a bracelet on her arm]What's this? Another?You gentle gods, just give me what I have,and don't let me be in the arms of anotheruntil the day I die! You stay here[puts on the ring]as long as there is life to keep it here. And, sweetest, fairest,as I exchanged my poor self for youto your great disadvantage, even with trinketsI still get a better bargain. Wear this for my sake; it is a manacle of love; I'll put iton this loveliest of prisoners.IMOGEN. O the gods!When shall we see again?Enter CYMBELINE and LORDSOh by the gods!When shall we see each other again?POSTHUMUS. Alack, the King!Alas, the King!CYMBELINE. Thou basest thing, avoid; hence from my sight!If after this command thou fraught the courtWith thy unworthiness, thou diest. Away!Thou'rt poison to my blood.You scum, stay away; get out of my sight!If after this order you bother the courtwith your unworthy presence, you shall die. Go!You are poisonous to me.POSTHUMUS. The gods protect you,And bless the good remainders of the court!I am gone. ExitMay the gods protect you,and blessed with good men still in the court!I'm going.IMOGEN. There cannot be a pinch in deathMore sharp than this is.The sting of deathcan't be as painful as this.CYMBELINE. O disloyal thing,That shouldst repair my youth, thou heap'stA year's age on me!You disloyal object,you should be making me feel young, you have putanother year on me!IMOGEN. I beseech you, sir,Harm not yourself with your vexation.I am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rareSubdues all pangs, all fears.I beg you, sir,don't work yourself into a state.I can't feel your anger; there is a more exquisite painwhich triumphs over everything.CYMBELINE. Past grace? obedience?Are you beyond grace? Obedience?IMOGEN. Past hope, and in despair; that way past grace.I'm beyond hope, and in despair; in that way I am way past grace.CYMBELINE. That mightst have had the sole son of my queen!You could have had my Queen's only son!IMOGEN. O blessed that I might not! I chose an eagle,And did avoid a puttock.How blessed I am that I didn't! I chose an eagle,and avoided a kite.CYMBELINE. Thou took'st a beggar, wouldst have made my throneA seat for baseness.You chose a beggar, who would have dragged my thronedown to the gutter.IMOGEN. No; I rather addedA lustre to it.No; actually I addedto its glory.CYMBELINE. O thou vile one!Oh you horrible girl!IMOGEN. Sir,It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus.You bred him as my playfellow, and he isA man worth any woman; overbuys meAlmost the sum he pays.Sir,it is your fault that I fell in love with Posthumus.You brought him up as my playmate, and he isa man worthy of any woman; he's worth more than me,the gap is almost as big as the price he is now paying.CYMBELINE. What, art thou mad?What, are you mad?IMOGEN. Almost, sir. Heaven restore me! Would I wereA neat-herd's daughter, and my LeonatusOur neighbour shepherd's son!Re-enter QUEENAlmost, sir. Heaven save me! I wish I wasa goatherd's daughter, and my Leonatuswas the son of our shepherd neighbour.CYMBELINE. Thou foolish thing![To the QUEEN] They were again together. You have doneNot after our command. Away with her,And pen her up.You stupid girl![To the Queen] They were together again.You havenot followed my orders.Take her awayand lock her up.QUEEN. Beseech your patience.- Peace,Dear lady daughter, peace!- Sweet sovereign,Leave us to ourselves, and make yourself some comfortOut of your best advice.Please be calm.Peace, dear lady daughter, peace!Sweet King,leave us alone, and go and reflecton the matter.CYMBELINE. Nay, let her languishA drop of blood a day and, being aged,Die of this folly. Exit, with LORDSEnter PISANIONo, let her losea drop of blood a day and, having grown old,die of this stupidity.QUEEN. Fie! you must give way.Here is your servant. How now, sir! What news?Ha!You will give in to me.Here is your servant.Hello there sir!What's the news?PISANIO. My lord your son drew on my master.My lord your son attacked my master with his sword.QUEEN. Ha!No harm, I trust, is done?Ha! I trust there's no harm done?PISANIO. There might have been,But that my master rather play'd than fought,And had no help of anger; they were partedBy gentlemen at hand.There might have been,only my master was only playfighting,and didn't lose his temper; they were separatedby some nearby gentlemen.QUEEN. I am very glad on't.I'm very glad to hear it.IMOGEN. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his partTo draw upon an exile! O brave sir!I would they were in Afric both together;Myself by with a needle, that I might prickThe goer-back. Why came you from your master?Your son supports my father; he takes his sideby drawing his sword on an exile!What a brave chap!I wish they were both in some deserted place,with me standing by with a needle to prick anyone who tried to back down.Why have you left your master?PISANIO. On his command. He would not suffer meTo bring him to the haven; left these notesOf what commands I should be subject to,When't pleas'd you to employ me.At his orders.He wouldn't let meaccompany him to the harbour; he left these instructionsas to what I should do,when you wanted to use me.QUEEN. This hath beenYour faithful servant. I dare lay mine honourHe will remain so.He has been a faithful servant to you.I'll wagerhe will remain so.PISANIO. I humbly thank your Highness.I humbly thank your highness.QUEEN. Pray walk awhile.Please walk a while with me.IMOGEN. About some half-hour hence,Pray you speak with me. You shall at leastGo see my lord aboard. For this time leave me. ExeuntAbout half an hour from now, please come and speak to me.You shall at leasthelp my lord to board his ship.Leave me for now.SCENE II. Britain. A public placeEnter CLOTEN and two LORDSFIRST LORD. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; theviolenceof action hath made you reek as a sacrifice. Where air comesout,air comes in; there's none abroad so wholesome as that youvent.Sir, I think you should change your shirt;the efforts you've made make you smell like a sacrifice.If you breathe out you have to breathe in,and the outside air isn't as sweet as what you give off.CLOTEN. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurthim?If my shirt had blood on it, then I would change it. Have I hurt him?SECOND LORD. [Aside] No, faith; not so much as his patience.Indeed not, you haven't even hurt his pride.FIRST LORD. Hurt him! His body's a passable carcass if he benothurt. It is a throughfare for steel if it be not hurt.Hurt him! His body must have been dead already if he wasn't hurt.It's a road for steel to pass through if he isn't hurt.SECOND LORD. [Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' th' backside the town.His sword must have been in debt; it sneaked round the back way.CLOTEN. The villain would not stand me.The villain couldn't stand me.SECOND LORD. [Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward yourface.No; but he ran away coming forwards, towards your face.FIRST LORD. Stand you? You have land enough of your own; but headded to your having, gave you some ground.Stand you? You have plenty of land of your own; but headded to it, by giving ground to you.SECOND LORD. [Aside] As many inches as you have oceans.Puppies!He gave as many inches as you have oceans.Whippersnappers!CLOTEN. I would they had not come between us.I wish they hadn't stopped us.SECOND LORD. [Aside] So would I, till you had measur'd how longafool you were upon the ground.I wish they hadn't also, I wanted to see youmeasuring out your stupidity on the ground.CLOTEN. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!To think that she loves this fellow and refuses me!SECOND LORD. [Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election,she isdamn'd.If it's a sin to make the right choice,she's damned.FIRST LORD. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her braingonot together; she's a good sign, but I have seen smallreflectionof her wit.Sir, as I always said, her beauty and her brains don't match;she looks good, but I haven't seen much sign of intelligence.SECOND LORD. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest thereflectionshould hurt her.She doesn't show it to fools, in caseshe should have to listen to their replies.CLOTEN. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been somehurtdone!Come on, I'll go to my room. I wish I'd done him some injury!SECOND LORD. [Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fallofan ass, which is no great hurt.I don't wish that; unless an ass had fallen down,which is no great loss.CLOTEN. You'll go with us?Will you come with me?FIRST LORD. I'll attend your lordship.I'll wait on your lordship.CLOTEN. Nay, come, let's go together.No, come on, let's go together.SECOND LORD. Well, my lord. ExeuntGood, my lord.
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