Listen to Act 3. LibriVox volunteers recorded “Act 3” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.
PISANIO
How? of adultery? write you not What monsters her accuse? Leonatus! O master, what a strange infection Is fall’n into ear! What false Italian (As poisonous-tongu’d as handed) prevail’d On too ready hearing? Disloyal? No. She’s punish’d for her truth, and undergoes, More goddess-like than wife-like, such assaults As would take in some virtue. O my master, mind to her is now as low as were fortunes. How? that I should murder her? Upon the love, and truth, and vows, which I Have made to command? I, her? Her blood? If it be so to do good service, never Let me be counted serviceable. How look I That I should seem to lack humanity So much as this fact comes to?
PISANIO
‘Do’t. The letter That I have sent her, by her own command Shall give opportunity.’ O damn’d paper, Black as the ink that’s on ! Senseless bauble, Art a fedary for this act, and look’st So virgin-like without? Lo, here she comes.
PISANIO
I am ignorant in what I am commanded.
IMOGEN
How now, Pisanio?
PISANIO
Madam, here is a letter from my lord.
IMOGEN
Who? lord? That is my lord, Leonatus? O, learn’d indeed were that astronomer That knew the stars as I his characters; He’d lay the future open. You good gods, Let what is here contain’d relish of love, Of my lord’s health, of his content; yet not That we two are asunder; let that grieve him! Some griefs are med’cinable; that is one of them, For it physic love: of his content, All but in that. Good wax, leave. Blest be You bees that make these locks of counsel! Lovers And men in dangerous bonds pray not alike; Though forfeiters you cast in prison, yet You clasp young Cupid’s tables. Good news, gods!
IMOGEN
Justice and your father’s wrath, should he take me in his dominion, could not be so cruel to me as you, O the dearest of creatures, would even renew me with your eyes. Take notice that I am in Cambria, at Milford Haven. What your own love will out of this advise you, follow. So he wishes you all happiness that remains loyal to his vow, and your increasing in love. LEONATUS POSTHUMUS.
IMOGEN
O for a horse with wings! Hear’st , Pisanio? He is at Milford Haven. Read, and tell me How far . If one of mean affairs May plod it in a week, why may not I Glide in a day? Then, true Pisanio, Who long’st like me to see lord, who long’st (O, let me ’bate!) but not like me, yet long’st, But in a fainter kind. O, not like me, For mine’s beyond beyond: say, and speak thick, (Love’s counsellor should fill the bores of hearing To th’ smothering of the sense) how far it is To this same blessed Milford. And by th’ way Tell me how Wales was made so happy as T’ inherit such a haven. But first of all, How we may steal from ; and for the gap That we shall make in time from our hence-going And our return, to excuse. But first, how get . Why should excuse be born or begot? We’ll talk of that hereafter. speak, How many score of miles may we well rid ’Twixt hour and hour?
PISANIO
One score ’twixt sun and sun, Madam, ’s enough for you, and too much too.
IMOGEN
Why, one that rode to’s execution, man, Could never go so slow. I have heard of riding wagers Where horses have been nimbler than the sands That run i’ th’ clock’s behalf. But this is fool’ry. Go bid my woman feign a sickness; say She’ll home to her father; and provide me A riding suit, no costlier than would fit A franklin’s huswife.
PISANIO
Madam, you’re best consider.
IMOGEN
I see before me, man. Nor here, nor here, Nor what ensues, but have a fog in them That I cannot look through. Away, I ; Do as I bid . There’s no more to say. Accessible is none but Milford way.