If you will make this audit, take this life,
And cancel these cold bonds. O Innogen,
I’ll speak to thee in silence!
He sleeps. Solemn music. Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus (father to Posthumus, an old man), attired like a warrior, leading in his hand an ancient matron, his wife, and mother to Posthumus, with music before them.
Then, after other music, follows the two young Leonati, brothers to Posthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Posthumus round as he lies sleeping
SICILIUS
No more, thou thunder-master, show
Thy spite on mortal flies.
With Mars fall out, with Juno chide,
That thy adulteries
Rates and revenges.
Hath my poor boy done aught but well,
Whose face I never saw?
I died whilst in the womb he stayed,
Attending nature’s law,
Whose father then-as men report
Thou orphans’ father art-
Thou shouldst have been, and shielded him
From this earth-vexing smart.
MOTHER
Lucina lent not me her aid,
But took me in my throes,
That from me was Posthumus ripped,
Came crying ’mongst his foes,
A thing of pity.
SICILIUS
Great nature like his ancestry
Moulded the stuff so fair
That he deserved the praise o’th’ world
As great Sicilius’ heir.
FIRST BROTHER
When once he was mature for man,
In Britain where was he
That could stand up his parallel,
Or fruitful object be
In eye of Innogen, that best
Could deem his dignity?
MOTHER
With marriage wherefore was he mocked,
To be exiled, and thrown
From Leonati seat and cast
From her his dearest one,
Sweet Innogen?
SICILIUS
Why did you suffer Giacomo,
Slight thing of Italy,
To taint his nobler heart and brain
With needless jealousy,
And to become the geck and scorn
O’th’ other’s villainy?
SECOND BROTHER
For this from stiller seats we come,
Our parents and us twain,
That striking in our country’s cause
Fell bravely and were slain,
Our fealty and Tenantius’ right
With honour to maintain.
FIRST BROTHER
Like hardiment Posthumus hath
To Cymbeline Performed.
Then, Jupiter, thou king of gods,
Why hast thou thus adjourned
The graces for his merits due,
Being all to dolours turned?
SICILIUS
Thy crystal window ope; look out;
No longer exercise
Upon a valiant race thy harsh
And potent injuries.
MOTHER
Since, Jupiter, our son is good,
Take off his miseries.
SICILIUS
Peep through thy marble mansion. Help,
Or we poor ghosts will cry
To th’ shining synod of the rest
Against thy deity.
BROTHERS
Help, Jupiter, or we appeal,
And from thy justice fly.
Jupiter descends in thunder and lightning, sitting upon an eagle. He throws a thunderbolt. The ghosts fall on their knees
JUPITER
No more, you petty spirits of region low,
Offend our hearing. Hush! How dare you ghosts
Accuse the thunderer, whose bolt, you know,
Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coasts?
Poor shadows of Elysium, hence, and rest
Upon your never-withering banks of flowers.
Be not with mortal accidents oppressed;
No care of yours it is; you know ’tis ours.
Whom best I love, I cross, to make my gift,
The more delayed, delighted. Be content.
Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift.
His comforts thrive, his trials well are spent.
Our Jovial star reigned at his birth, and in
Our temple was he married. Rise, and fade.
He shall be lord of Lady Innogen,
And happier much by his affliction made.
This tablet lay upon his breast, wherein
Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine.
He gives the ghosts a tablet which they lay upon Posthumus’ breast
And so away. No farther with your din
Express impatience, lest you stir up mine.
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline.
He ascends into the heavens
SICILIUS
He came in thunder. His celestial breath
Was sulphurous to smell. The holy eagle
Stooped, as to foot us. His ascension is
More sweet than our blest fields. His royal bird
Preens the immortal wing and claws his beak
As when his god is pleased.
ALL THE GHOSTS Thanks, Jupiter.
SICILIUS
The marble pavement closes, he is entered
His radiant roof. Away, and, to be blest,
Let us with care perform his great behest.
The ghosts vanish
Posthumus awakes
POSTHUMUS
Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot
A father to me; and thou hast created
A mother and two brothers. But, O scorn,
Gone! They went hence so soon as they were born,
And so I am awake. Poor wretches that depend
On greatness’ favour dream as I have done,