That he enchants societies into him;

Half all men’s hearts are his.

INNOGEN

You make amends.

GIACOMO

He sits ’mongst men like a descended god.

He hath a kind of honour sets him off

More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,

Most mighty princess, that I have adventured

To try your taking of a false report, which hath

Honoured with confirmation your great judgement

In the election of a sir so rare

Which you know cannot err. The love I bear him

Made me to fan you thus, but the gods made you,

Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon.

INNOGEN

All’s well, sir. Take my power i’th’ court for yours.

GIACOMO

My humble thanks. I had almost forgot

T’entreat your grace but in a small request,

And yet of moment too, for it concerns

Your lord; myself and other noble friends

Are partners in the business.

INNOGEN

Pray what is’t?

GIACOMO

Some dozen Romans of us, and your lord—

Best feather of our wing—have mingled sums

To buy a present for the Emperor,

Which I, the factor for the rest, have done

In France. ’Tis plate of rare device, and jewels

Of rich and exquisite form; their value’s great,

And I am something curious, being strange,

To have them in safe stowage. May it please you

To take them in protection?

INNOGEN

Willingly,

And pawn mine honour for their safety; since

My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them

In my bedchamber.

GIACOMO

They are in a trunk

Attended by my men. I will make bold

To send them to you, only for this night.

I must aboard tomorrow.

INNOGEN

O, no, no!

GIACOMO

Yes, I beseech, or I shall short my word

By length’ning my return. From Gallia

I crossed the seas on purpose and on promise

To see your grace.

INNOGEN

I thank you for your pains;

But not away tomorrow!

GIACOMO

O, I must, madam.

Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please

To greet your lord with writing, do’t tonight.

I have outstood my time, which is material

To th’ tender of our present.

INNOGEN

I will write.

Send your trunk to me, it shall safe be kept,

And truly yielded you. You’re very welcome.

Exeunt severally

2.1 Enter Cloten and the two Lords

CLOTEN Was there ever man had such luck? When I kissed the jack upon an upcast, to be hit away! I had a hundred pound on’t, and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing, as if I borrowed mine oaths of him, and might not spend them at my pleasure.

FIRST LORD What got he by that? You have broke his pate with your bowl.

SECOND LORD (aside) If his wit had been like him that broke it, it would have run all out.

CLOTEN When a gentleman is disposed to swear it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?

SECOND LORD No, my lord (aside)—nor crop the ears of them.

CLOTEN Whoreson dog! I give him satisfaction? Would he had been one of my rank.

SECOND LORD (aside) To have smelled like a fool.

CLOTEN I am not vexed more at anything in th‘earth. A pox on’t, I had rather not be so noble as I am. They dare not fight with me because of the Queen, my mother. Every jack-slave hath his bellyful of fighting, and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match.

SECOND LORD (aside) You are cock and capon too an you crow cock with your comb on.

CLOTEN Sayst thou?

SECOND LORD It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to.

CLOTEN No, I know that, but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors.

SECOND LORD Ay, it is fit for your lordship only.

CLOTEN Why, so I say.

FIRST LORD Did you hear of a stranger that’s come to court tonight?

CLOTEN A stranger, and I not know on’t?

SECOND LORD (aside) He’s a strange fellow himself and knows it not.

FIRST LORD There’s an Italian come, and, ’tis thought, one of Leonatus’ friends.

CLOTEN Leonatus? A banished rascal; and he’s another, whatsoever he be. Who told you of this stranger?

FIRST LORD One of your lordship’s pages.

CLOTEN Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation in’t?

SECOND LORD You cannot derogate, my lord.

CLOTEN Not easily, I think.

SECOND LORD (aside) You are a fool granted, therefore your issues, being foolish, do not derogate.

CLOTEN Come, I’ll go see this Italian. What I have lost today at bowls I’ll win tonight of him. Come, go.

SECOND LORD I’ll attend your lordship.

Exeunt Cloten and First Lord

That such a crafty devil as is his mother

Should yield the world this ass!—a woman that

Bears all down with her brain, and this her son

Cannot take two from twenty, for his heart,

And leave eighteen. Alas, poor princess,

Thou divine Innogen, what thou endur‘st,

Betwixt a father by thy stepdame governed,

A mother hourly coining plots, a wooer

More hateful than the foul expulsion is

Of thy dear husband, than that horrid act

Of the divorce he’d make! The heavens hold firm

The walls of thy dear honour, keep unshaked

That temple, thy fair mind, that thou mayst stand

T’enjoy thy banished lord and this great land! Exit

2.2 A trunk ⌈and arras⌉. A bed is ⌈thrust forth⌉ with Innogen in it, reading a book. Enter to her Helen, a lady

INNOGEN

Who’s there? My woman Helen?

HELEN Please you, madam.

INNOGEN

What hour is it?

HELEN

Almost midnight, madam.

INNOGEN

I have read three hours then. Mine eyes are weak.

Fold down the leaf where I have left. To bed.

Take not away the taper; leave it burning,

And if thou canst awake by four o’th’ clock,