CLOTEN 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 praised—to the court I’ll knock her back, foot her home again. She hath despised me rejoicingly, and I’ll be merry in my revenge.

Enter Pisanio with Posthumus’ suit

Be those the garments?

PISANIO

Ay, my noble lord.

CLOTEN

How long is’t since she went to Milford Haven?

PISANIO She can scarce be there yet.

CLOTEN 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. Exit

PISANIO

Thou bidd’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 crossed with slowness; labour be his meed. Exit

3.6 Enter Innogen, dressed as a man, before the cave

INNOGEN

I see a man’s life is a tedious one.

I have tired myself, and for two nights together

Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick,

But that my resolution helps me. Milford,

When from the mountain-top Pisanio showed thee,

Thou wast within a ken. O Jove, I think

Foundations fly the wretched—such, I mean,

Where they should be relieved. Two beggars told me

I could not miss my way. Will poor folks lie,

That have afflictions on them, knowing ‘tis

A punishment or trial? Yes. No wonder,

When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fullness

Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood

Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord,

Thou art one o’th’ false ones. Now I think on thee

My hunger’s gone, but even before I was

At point to sink for food. But what is this?

Here is a path to’t. ‘Tis some savage hold.

I were best not call; I dare not call; yet famine,

Ere clean it o’erthrow nature, makes it valiant.

Plenty and peace breeds cowards, hardness ever

Of hardiness is mother. Ho! Who’s here?

If anything that’s civil, speak; if savage,

Take or lend. Ho! No answer? Then I’ll enter.

Best draw my sword, and if mine enemy

But fear the sword like me he’ll scarcely look on’t.

Such a foe, good heavens!

Exit into the cave

Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus

BELARIUS

You, Polydore, have proved 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.

GUIDERIUS I am throughly weary.

ARVIRAGUS

I am weak with toil yet strong in appetite.

GUIDERIUS

There is cold meat i’th’ cave. We’ll browse on that

Whilst what we have killed be cooked.

BELARIUS (looking into the cave) Stay, come not in.

But that it eats our victuals I should think

Here were a fairy.

GUIDERIUS What’s the matter, sir?

BELARIUS

By Jupiter, an angel—or, if not,

An earthly paragon. Behold divineness

No elder than a boy.

Enter Innogen from the cave, dressed as a man

INNOGEN

Good masters, harm me not.

Before I entered here I called, and thought

To have begged or bought what I have took. Good

truth,

I have stol’n naught, nor would not, though I had

found

Gold strewed 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 prayers for the provider.

GUIDERIUS

Money, youth?

ARVIRAGUS

All gold and silver rather turn to dirt,

As ’tis no better reckoned but of those

Who worship dirty gods.

INNOGEN

I see you’re angry.

Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should

Have died had I not made it.

BELARIUS

Whither bound?

INNOGEN

To Milford Haven.

BELARIUS

What’s your name?

INNOGEN

Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who

Is bound for Italy. He embarked at Milford,

To whom being going, almost spent with hunger,

I am fall’n in this offence.

BELARIUS

Prithee, fair youth,

Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds

By this rude place we live in. Well encountered.

’Tis almost night. You shall have better cheer

Ere you depart, and thanks to stay and eat it.

Boys, bid him welcome.

GUIDERIUS

Were you a woman, youth,

I should woo hard but be your groom in honesty,

Ay, bid for you as I’d buy.

ARVIRAGUS

I’ll make’t my comfort

He is a man, I’ll love him as my brother.