Act I, Scene iii
| A room in CYMBELINE'S palace. |
| [Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO.] |
| IMOGEN: |
| I would thou grew'st unto the shores o' the haven, |
| And question'dst every sail. If he should write |
| And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost, |
| As offer'd mercy is. What was the last |
| That he spake to thee? |
| PISANIO: |
| It was his queen, his queen! |
| IMOGEN: |
| Then wav'd his handkerchief? |
| PISANIO: |
| And kiss'd it, madam. |
| IMOGEN: |
| Senseless linen! happier therein than I! |
| And that was all? |
| PISANIO: |
| No, madam; for so long |
| As he could make me with this eye or ear |
| Distinguish him from others, he did keep |
| The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief, |
| Still waving, as the fits and stirs of's mind |
| Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on, |
| How swift his ship. |
| IMOGEN: |
| Thou shouldst have made him |
| As little as a crow, or less, ere left |
| To after-eye him. |
| PISANIO: |
| Madam, so I did. |
| IMOGEN: |
| I would have broke mine eye-strings; crack'd them, but |
| To look upon him, till the diminution |
| Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle; |
| Nay, follow'd him, till he had melted from |
| The smallness of a gnat to air, and then |
| Have turn'd mine eye and wept. But, good Pisanio, |
| When shall we hear from him? |
| PISANIO: |
| Be assured, madam, |
| With his next vantage. |
| IMOGEN: |
| I did not take my leave of him, but had |
| Most pretty things to say. Ere I could tell him |
| How I would think on him at certain hours |
| Such thoughts and such, or I could make him swear |
| The shes of Italy should not betray |
| Mine interest and his honour, or have charg'd him, |
| At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight, |
| To encounter me with orisons, for then |
| I am in heaven for him; or ere I could |
| Give him that parting kiss which I had set |
| Betwixt two charming words, comes in my father |
| And like the tyrannous breathing of the north |
| Shakes all our buds from growing. |
| [Enter a LADY.] |
| LADY: |
| The Queen, madam, |
| Desires your Highness' company. |
| IMOGEN: |
| Those things I bid you do, get them dispatch'd. |
| I will attend the Queen. |
| PISANIO: |
| Madam, I shall. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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