Hildegard sat motionless; a smile hovered about her mouth, and a deep blush suffused her cheek; but she dared not risk looking up, for fear lest the pleasant dream should be ended. “Is it thou, my comrade?” she softly murmured. But hardly had she spoken before she repented the too familiar speech. “I am lying here above thee, in the green leaves,” sounded back to her from overhead. “Right comfortable is my bed on the strong branch; look upward, if so please thee, that I may once more see those large eyes of thine, since it is they that have brought me hither.” The maiden sprang lightly up, and turned toward the branch. In the same instant Immo thrust his head quickly out, and clinging to the branch with one hand he threw the other round her neck, and kissed her on the mouth. “Good day, comrade,” he said. “That is what I made up my mind to do, and I have done it!” He looked out once more from his hiding-place, and gazed tenderly upon her blushing cheek.—Gustav Freytag, _The Wrens’ Nest_. =Immortal Four of Italy= (_The_): Dantê (1265-1321), Petrarch (1304-1374), Ariosto (1474-1533), and Tasso (1544-1595). The poets read he o’er and o’er, And most of all the Immortal Four Of Italy. Longfellow, _The Wayside Inn_, (prelude). =Imogen=, daughter of Cym´beline (3 _syl._), king of Britain, married clandestinely Posthumus Leonātus; and Posthumus, being banished for the offence, retired to Rome. One day, in the house of Philario, the conversation turned on the merits of wives, and Posthumus bet his diamond ring that nothing could tempt the fidelity of Imogen. Iachimo accepted the wager, laid his plans, and after due time induced Posthumus to believe that Imogen had played false, showing, by the way of proof, a bracelet, which he affirmed she had given him; so Posthumus handed over to him the ring given him by Imogen at parting. Posthumus now ordered his servant Pisanio to inveigle Imogen to Milford Haven, under pretence of seeing her husband, and to murder her on the road; but Pisanio told Imogen his instructions, advised her to enter the service of Lucius, the Roman general in Britain, as a page, and promised that he would make Posthumus believe that she was dead. This was done; and not long afterwards a battle ensued, in which the Romans were defeated, and Lucius, Iachimo, and Imogen were taken prisoners. Posthumus also took part in the battle, and obtained for his services the royal pardon. The captives being brought before Cymbeline, Lucius entreated the king to liberate Imogen. The petition was not only granted, but Imogen was permitted, at the same time, to ask a boon of the British king. She only begged that Iachimo should inform the court how he came by the ring he was wearing on his finger. The whole villainy was thus revealed, a reconciliation took place, and all ended happily. (See ZINEURA.)—Shakespeare, _Cymbeline_ (1605).