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Cymbeline (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Jennifer Forsyth
Peer Reviewed
380
The Tragedy of Cymbeline.
Or lesse; at first? Perchance he spoke not, but
Like a full Acorn'd Boare, a Iarmen on,
1355Cry'de oh, and mounted; found no opposition
But what he look'd for, should oppose, and she
Should from encounter guard. Could I finde out
The Womans part in me, for there's no motion
That tends to vice in man, but I affirme
1360It is the Womans part: be it Lying, note it,
The womans: Flattering, hers; Deceiuing, hers:
Lust, and ranke thoughts, hers, hers: Reuenges hers:
Ambitions, Couetings, change of Prides, Disdaine,
Nice-longing, Slanders, Mutability;
1365All Faults that name, nay, that Hell knowes,
Why hers, in part, or all: but rather all.For euen to Vice
They are not constant, but are changing still;
One Vice, but of a minute old, for one
Not halfe so old as that. Ile write against them,
1370Detest them, curse them: yet 'tis greater Skill
In a true Hate, to pray they haue their will:
The very Diuels cannot plague them better.
Exit.


Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.


Enter in State, Cymbeline, Queene, Clotten, and Lords at
1375
one doore, and at another, Caius, Lucius;
and Attendants.

Cym. Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with vs?
Luc. When Iulius Cæsar (whose remembrance yet
Liues in mens eyes, and will to Eares and Tongues
1380Be Theame, and hearing euer) was in this Britain,
And Conquer'd it, Cassibulan thine Vnkle
(Famous in Cæsars prayses, no whit lesse
Then in his Feats deseruing it) for him,
And his Succession, granted Rome a Tribute,
1385Yeerely three thousand pounds; which (by thee) lately
Is left vntender'd.
Qu. And to kill the meruaile,
Shall be so euer.
Clot. There be many Cæsars,
1390Ere such another Iulius: Britaine's a world
By it selfe, and we will nothing pay
For wearing our owne Noses.
Qu. That opportunity
Which then they had to take from's, to resume
1395We haue againe. Remember Sir, my Liege,
The Kings your Ancestors, together with
The naturall brauery of your Isle, which stands
As Neptunes Parke, ribb'd, and pal'd in
With Oakes vnskaleable, and roaring Waters,
1400With Sands that will not beare your Enemies Boates,
But sucke them vp to'th'Top-mast. A kinde of Conquest
Cæsar made heere, but made not heere his bragge
Of Came, and Saw, and Ouer-came: with shame
(The first that euer touch'd him) he was carried
1405From off our Coast, twice beaten: and his Shipping
(Poore ignorant Baubles) on our terrible Seas
Like Egge-shels mou'd vpon their Surges, crack'd
As easily 'gainst our Rockes. For ioy whereof,
The fam'd Cassibulan, who was once at point
1410(Oh giglet Fortune) to master Cæsars Sword,
Made Luds-Towne with reioycing-Fires bright,
And Britaines strut with Courage.
Clot. Come, there's no more Tribute to be paid: our
Kingdome is stronger then it was at that time: and (as I
1415said) there is no mo such Cæsars, other of them may haue
crook'd Noses, but to owe such straite Armes, none.
Cym. Son, let your Mother end.
Clot. We haue yet many among vs, can gripe as hard
as Cassibulan, I doe not say I am one: but I haue a hand.
1420Why Tribute? Why should we pay Tribute? If Cæsar
can hide the Sun from vs with a Blanket, or put the Moon
in his pocket, we will pay him Tribute for light: else Sir,
no more Tribute, pray you now.
Cym. You must know,
1425Till the iniurious Romans, did extort
This Tribute from vs, we were free. Cæsars Ambition,
Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch
The sides o'th'World, against all colour heere,
Did put the yoake vpon's; which to shake off
1430Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
Our selues to be, we do. Say then to Cæsar,
Our Ancestor was that Mulmutius, which
Ordain'd our Lawes, whose vse the Sword of Cæsar
Hath too much mangled; whose repayre, and franchise,
1435Shall (by the power we hold) be our good deed,
Tho Rome be therfore angry. Mulmutius made our lawes
Who was the first of Britaine, which did put
His browes within a golden Crowne, and call'd
Himselfe a King.
1440Luc. I am sorry Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
(Cæsar, that hath moe Kings his Seruants, then
Thy selfe Domesticke Officers) thine Enemy:
Receyue it from me then. Warre, and Confusion
1445In Cæsars name pronounce I 'gainst thee: Looke
For fury, not to be resisted. Thus defide,
I thanke thee for my selfe.
Cym. Thou art welcome Caius,
Thy Cæsar Knighted me; my youth I spent
1450Much vnder him; of him, I gather'd Honour,
Which he, to seeke of me againe, perforce,
Behooues me keepe at vtterance. I am perfect,
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for
Their Liberties are now in Armes: a President
1455Which not to reade, would shew the Britaines cold:
So Cæsar shall not finde them.
Luc. Let proofe speake.
Clot. His Maiesty biddes you welcome. Make pa-
stime with vs, a day, or two, or longer: if you seek vs af-
1460terwards in other tearmes, you shall finde vs in our Salt-
water-Girdle: if you beate vs out of it, it is yours: if you
fall in the aduenture, our Crowes shall fare the better for
you: and there's an end.
Luc. So sir.
1465Cym. I know your Masters pleasure, and he mine:
All the Remaine, is welcome.
Exeunt.


Scena Secunda.


Enter Pisanio reading of a Letter.
Pis. How? of Adultery? Wherefore write you not
1470What Monsters her accuse? Leonatus:
Oh Master, what a strange infection
Is