Page 505 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Thou told’st me when we came from horse, the place
Was near at hand: ne’er long’d my mother so
To see me first, as I have now − Pisanio! man!
Where is Posthumus? What is in thy mind

That makes thee stare thus? Wherefore breaks that sigh [5]
From th’ inward of thee? One but painted thus
Would be interpreted a thing perplex’d
Beyond self-explication. Put thyself

Into a haviour of less fear, ere wildness
Vanquish my staider senses. What’s the matter? [10]
Why tender’st thou that paper to me, with
A look untender? If’t be summer news,

Smile to’t before: if winterly, thou need’st
But keep that count’nance still. My husband’s hand?
That drug-damn’d Italy hath out-craftied him, [15]
And he’s at some hard point. Speak, man, thy tongue

May take off some extremity, which to read
Would be even mortal to me.

PISANIO
Please you read;
And you shall find me (wretched man) a thing
The most disdain’d of fortune. [20]

IMOGEN
[reads]
Thy mistress, Pisanio, hath played the strumpet in my bed: the testimonies
whereof lie bleeding in me. I speak not out of weak surmises, but from proof
as strong as my grief, and as certain as I expect my revenge. That part thou,

Pisanio, must act for me, if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers;
let thine [25] own hands take away her life: I shall give thee opportunity at
Milford-Haven: she hath my letter for the purpose: where, if thou fear to
strike, and to make me certain it is done, thou art the [30] pandar to her

dishonour, and equally to me disloyal.

PISANIO
What shall I need to draw my sword? the paper
Hath cut her throat already. No, ’tis slander,