SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

Speeches (Lines) for First Gaoler
in "Cymbeline"

Total: 9

---
# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

V,4,3136

(stage directions). [Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and two Gaolers]

First Gaoler. You shall not now be stol'n, you have locks upon you;
So graze as you find pasture.


2

V,4,3306

(stage directions). [Re-enter First Gaoler]

First Gaoler. Come, sir, are you ready for death?


3

V,4,3308

Posthumus Leonatus. Over-roasted rather; ready long ago.

First Gaoler. Hanging is the word, sir: if
you be ready for that, you are well cooked.


4

V,4,3312

Posthumus Leonatus. So, if I prove a good repast to the
spectators, the dish pays the shot.

First Gaoler. A heavy reckoning for you, sir. But the comfort is,
you shall be called to no more payments, fear no
more tavern-bills; which are often the sadness of
parting, as the procuring of mirth: you come in
flint for want of meat, depart reeling with too
much drink; sorry that you have paid too much, and
sorry that you are paid too much; purse and brain
both empty; the brain the heavier for being too
light, the purse too light, being drawn of
heaviness: of this contradiction you shall now be
quit. O, the charity of a penny cord! It sums up
thousands in a trice: you have no true debitor and
creditor but it; of what's past, is, and to come,
the discharge: your neck, sir, is pen, book and
counters; so the acquittance follows.


5

V,4,3328

Posthumus Leonatus. I am merrier to die than thou art to live.

First Gaoler. Indeed, sir, he that sleeps feels not the
tooth-ache: but a man that were to sleep your
sleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think he
would change places with his officer; for, look you,
sir, you know not which way you shall go.


6

V,4,3334

Posthumus Leonatus. Yes, indeed do I, fellow.

First Gaoler. Your death has eyes in 's head then; I have not seen
him so pictured: you must either be directed by
some that take upon them to know, or do take upon
yourself that which I am sure you do not know, or
jump the after inquiry on your own peril: and how
you shall speed in your journey's end, I think you'll
never return to tell one.


7

V,4,3344

Posthumus Leonatus. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes to
direct them the way I am going, but such as wink and
will not use them.

First Gaoler. What an infinite mock is this, that a man should
have the best use of eyes to see the way of
blindness! I am sure hanging's the way of winking.


8

V,4,3350

Posthumus Leonatus. Thou bring'st good news; I am called to be made free.

First Gaoler. I'll be hang'd then.


9

V,4,3353

(stage directions). [Exeunt POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and Messenger]

First Gaoler. Unless a man would marry a gallows and beget young
gibbets, I never saw one so prone. Yet, on my
conscience, there are verier knaves desire to live,
for all he be a Roman: and there be some of them
too that die against their wills; so should I, if I
were one. I would we were all of one mind, and one
mind good; O, there were desolation of gaolers and
gallowses! I speak against my present profit, but
my wish hath a preferment in 't.


Return to the "Cymbeline" menu