Enter from the cave, Belarius, Guiderius, Arviragus and Imogen.
BELARIUS.
[To Imogen.] You are not well. Remain here in the cave;
We’ll come to you after hunting.
ARVIRAGUS.
[To Imogen.] Brother, stay here.
Are we not brothers?
IMOGEN.
So man and man should be;
But clay and clay differs in dignity,
Whose dust is both alike. I am very sick.
GUIDERIUS.
Go you to hunting; I’ll abide with him.
IMOGEN.
So sick I am not, yet I am not well;
But not so citizen a wanton as
To seem to die ere sick. So please you, leave me;
Stick to your journal course. The breach of custom
Is breach of all. I am ill, but your being by me
Cannot amend me; society is no comfort
To one not sociable. I am not very sick,
Since I can reason of it. Pray you trust me here.
I’ll rob none but myself; and let me die,
Stealing so poorly.
GUIDERIUS.
I love thee; I have spoke it.
How much the quantity, the weight as much
As I do love my father.
BELARIUS.
What? how? how?
ARVIRAGUS.
If it be sin to say so, sir, I yoke me
In my good brother’s fault. I know not why
I love this youth, and I have heard you say
Love’s reason’s without reason. The bier at door,
And a demand who is’t shall die, I’d say
‘My father, not this youth.’
BELARIUS.
[Aside.] O noble strain!
O worthiness of nature! breed of greatness!
Cowards father cowards and base things sire base.
Nature hath meal and bran, contempt and grace.
I’m not their father; yet who this should be
Doth miracle itself, lov’d before me.—
’Tis the ninth hour o’ th’ morn.