Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Adaptations; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Stories, plots, etc. -- Juvenile literature
Providence strangely directed Imogen’s steps to the dwelling of
her two brothers who had been stolen away in their infancy.
Bellarius, who stole them away, was a lord in the court of
Cymbeline, and, having been falsely accused to the king of
treason and banished from the court, in revenge he stole away the
two sons of Cymbeline and brought them up in a forest, where he
lived concealed in a cave. He stole them through revenge, but he
soon loved them as tenderly as if they had been his own children,
educated them carefully, and they grew up fine youths, their
princely spirits leading them to bold and daring actions; and as
they subsisted by hunting, they were active and hardy, and were
always pressing their supposed father to let them seek their
fortune in the wars.
At the cave where these youths dwelt it was Imogen’s fortune to
arrive. She had lost her way in a large forest through which .her
road lay to Milford Haven (from which she meant to embark for
Rome); and being unable to find any place where she could
purchase food, she was, with weariness and hunger, almost dying;
for it is not merely putting on a man’s apparel that will enable
a young lady, tenderly brought up, to bear the fatigue of
wandering about lonely forests like a man.. Seeing this cave, she
entered, hoping to find some one within of whom she could procure
food. She found the cave empty, but, looking about, she
discovered some cold meat, and her hunger was so pressing that
she could not wait for an invitation, but sat down and began to
eat.
“Ah,” said she, talking to herself, “I see a man’s life is a
tedious one. How tired am I! For two nights together I have made
the ground my bed. My resolution helps me, or I should be sick.
When Pisanio showed me Milford Haven from the mountain-top, how
near it seemed!” Then the thoughts of her husband and his cruel
mandate came across her, and she said, “My dear Posthumus, thou
art a false one!”
The two brothers of Imogen, who had been hunting with their
reputed father, Bellarius, were by this time returned home.
Bellarius had given them the names of Polydore and Cadwal, and
they knew no better, but supposed that Bellarius was their
father; but the real names of these princes were Guiderius and
Arviragus.
Bellarius entered the cave first, and, seeing Imogen, stopped
them, saying: “ Come not in yet. It eats our victuals, or I
should think it was a fairy.”
“What is the matter, sir?” said the young men.
“By Jupiter!” said Bellarius, again, “there is an angel in the
cave, or if not, an earthly paragon.” So beautiful did Imogen
look in her boy’s apparel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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