Page 569 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

CORNELIUS

First, she confess’d she never lov’d you: only
Affected greatness got by you: not you:
Married your royalty, was wife to your place:

Abhorr’d your person.

CYMBELINE

She alone knew this: [40]
And but she spoke it dying, I would not
Believe her lips in opening it. Proceed.

CORNELIUS
Your daughter, whom she bore in hand to love
With such integrity, she did confess

Was as a scorpion to her sight, whose life [45]
(But that her flight prevented it) she had
Ta’en off by poison.

CYMBELINE
O most delicate fiend!

Who is’t can read a woman? Is there more?

CORNELIUS
More, sir, and worse. She did confess she had
For you a mortal mineral, which, being took, [50]
Should by the minute feed on life and ling’ring
By inches waste you. In which time, she purpos’d

By watching, weeping, tendance, kissing, to
O’ercome you with her show; and in time
(When she had fitted you with her craft) to work [55]

Her son into th’ adoption of the crown:
But, failing of her end by his strange absence,
Grew shameless-desperate, open’d (in despite
Of heaven and men) her purpose: repented
The evils she hatch’d were not effected: so [60]

Despairing died.

CYMBELINE