University of Virginia Library

SCENE opens and discovers the inside of the Cave, with Bellarius, Philario, Palador, and Cadwal, round the Body of Imogen, lying upon a Couch of Moss.
PHILARIO.
Alas! my dearest nephew!

PALADOR.
I had rather
Have leap'd from twenty years of age to eighty,
And turn'd my warlike spear into a crutch,
Than have seen this.

BELLARIUS.
O poor Fidele! Jove doth know what man
Thou might'st have made—thou died'st a most rare boy.
Tell us how found you him?

PALADOR.
Stark as you see;
And smiling thus, as if the dart of death
Had gently tickl'd slumber;

CADWAL.
O sweet brother,
With female fairies will thy tomb be haunted,
And worms shall not come near thee.—

PALADOR.
With fair flow'rs
(While summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele)
I will adorn thy grave—Thou shalt not lack
The flow'r that's like thy face, pale primrose; nor
The azur'd harebell like thy veins; no nor
The leaf of eglantine, which, not to slander't,
Out-sweeten'd not thy breath—The ruddock would
With charitable bill bring thee all this,
Yea and furr'd moss besides, when flow'rs were none,
To winter-gown thy corse.—

BELLARIUS.
Come, boys, have done,
And play no more in wench-like words with that
Which is so serious—Hence, and lay his corps
Near good Euriphile's, your worthy mother's—

PALADOR.
Be't so—but, Cadwal, first, albeit thy voice
Has now the mannish crack, sing o'er his body
In note and words like those which thou didst chaunt
O'er good Euriphile—e'er she was lodg'd
Within her leafy grave—Come on—begin—

The DIRGE.
Set by Mr. Arne, sung by Mr. Lowe.

BELLARIUS.
These are our rural obsequies, Philario—

PHILARIO.
Most sweet and solemn, sir.

BELLARIUS.
When you've remov'd the body, back repair
Here to the cave, and fit you for the field.
—We'll share our little armory among us—
And, sons, e'er ev'ning we'll forget this grief,
And wipe our tear-stain'd cheeks with bloody hands.
—Come, good Philario—

[Exeunt severally.