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| Character | Queen | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Persuasive, Descriptive | |
| Type | Serio-comic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Romance, Comedy | |
| Description | The Queen gives poison to Pisanio | |
| Details | ACT 1 Scene 5 | |
Summary
Cymbeline is Britain's king. His daughter Imogen was supposed to marry Cymbeline's new Queen's son, Cloten. Imogen, however, marries a poor gentleman, Posthumus. When the king finds out he decides to exile Posthumus to Italy and has his daughter locked away. Pisanio, Posthumus loyal servant, remains in England and becomes Imogen's servant. The Queen, who wants her son Cloten to marry Imogen, tries to poison Pisanio, who she sees as an obstacle to her goals.
Here we are in ACT I, Scene 5. The Queen has just asked a doctor, Cornelius, to give her poison that she claims she will use on animals. The doctor doesn't believe her and he gives her a sleeping drug instead. When the doctor leaves, the Queen addresses Pisanio in this monologue. First she asks him to make Imogen love her son, then she gives him the poison, telling him that is actually a medicine.
Here we are in ACT I, Scene 5. The Queen has just asked a doctor, Cornelius, to give her poison that she claims she will use on animals. The doctor doesn't believe her and he gives her a sleeping drug instead. When the doctor leaves, the Queen addresses Pisanio in this monologue. First she asks him to make Imogen love her son, then she gives him the poison, telling him that is actually a medicine.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| QUEEN Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think in time She will not quench and let instructions enter Where folly now possesses? Do thou work: When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son, I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then As great as is thy master, greater, for His fortunes all lie speechless and his name Is at last gasp: return he cannot, nor Continue where he is: to shift his being Is to exchange one misery with another, And every day that comes comes to decay A day's work in him. What shalt thou expect, To be depender on a thing that leans, Who cannot be new built, nor has no friends, So much as but to prop him? [The QUEEN drops the box: PISANIO takes it up] Thou takest up Thou know'st not what; but take it for thy labour: It is a thing I made, which hath the king Five times redeem'd from death: I do not know What is more cordial. Nay, I prethee, take it; It is an earnest of a further good That I mean to thee. Tell thy mistress how The case stands with her; do't as from thyself. Think what a chance thou changest on, but think Thou hast thy mistress still, to boot, my son, Who shall take notice of thee: I'll move the king To any shape of thy preferment such As thou'lt desire; and then myself, I chiefly, That set thee on to this desert, am bound To load thy merit richly. Call my women: Think on my words. [Exit PISANIO] A sly and constant knave, Not to be shaked; the agent for his master And the remembrancer of her to hold The hand-fast to her lord. I have given him that Which, if he take, shall quite unpeople her Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after, Except she bend her humour, shall be assured To taste of too. [Re-enter PISANIO and Ladies] So, so: well done, well done: The violets, cowslips, and the primroses, Bear to my closet. Fare thee well, Pisanio; Think on my words. |
