Act 2, scene 3
Scene 3
Synopsis:
Cloten serenades Imogen in an attempt to win her love. Imogen enrages Cloten by saying that he is not as dear as Posthumus’s “meanest garment.” Cloten vows revenge. In the meantime, Imogen realizes that her bracelet is lost.
Enter Cloten and Lords.
FIRST LORD Your Lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that ever turned up ace.
CLOTEN It would make any man cold to lose.
FIRST LORD But not every man patient after the noble temper of your Lordship. You are most hot and furious when you win.
CLOTEN Winning will put any man into courage. If I could get this foolish Imogen, I should have gold enough. It’s almost morning, is ’t not?
FIRST LORD Day, my lord.
CLOTEN: I would this music would come. I am advised to give her music a-mornings; they say it will penetrate.
Enter Musicians.
CLOTEN: Come on, tune. If you can penetrate her with your fingering, so. We’ll try with tongue, too. If none will do, let her remain, but I’ll never give o’er. First, a very excellent good-conceited thing; after, a wonderful sweet air, with admirable rich words to it, and then let her consider.
Musicians begin to play.
Song:
Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,
And Phoebus gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes.
With everything that pretty is,
My lady sweet, arise,
Arise, arise.
CLOTEN: So, get you gone. If this penetrate, I will consider your music the better. If it do not, it is a vice in her ears which horsehairs and calves’ guts, nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot, can never amend.
Musicians exit.