Cymbeline (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
2790[4.4]
¶
Enter Belarius [as Morgan], Guiderius [as Polydore], and Arviragus [as Cadwal]
| ¶Guiderius | |
| The noise is round about us. | |
| ¶Belarius | |
| Let us from it. | |
¶Arviragus What pleasure, sir, we find in life, to lock it
| 2795From action and adventure? | |
| ¶Guiderius | |
| Nay, what hope | |
¶Have we in hiding us? This way the Romans
¶Must or for Britons slay us or receive us
¶For barbarous and unnatural revolts
| 2800During their use and slay us after. | |
| ¶Belarius | |
| Sons, | |
¶We'll higher to the mountains, there secure us.
¶To the King's party there's no going: newness
¶Of Clotten's death, we being not known, not mustered
2805Among the bands, may drive us to a render
¶Where we have lived; and so extort from's that
¶Which we have done, whose answer would be death
| ¶Drawn on with torture. | |
| ¶Guiderius | |
| This is, sir, a doubt | |
2810In such a time nothing becoming you
| ¶Nor satisfying us. | |
| ¶Arviragus | |
| It is not likely | |
¶That when they hear their Roman horses neigh,
¶Behold their quartered fires, have both their eyes
2815And ears so cloyed importantly as now,
¶That they will waste their time upon our note
| ¶To know from whence we are. | |
| ¶Belarius | |
| Oh, I am known | |
¶Of many in the army; many years,
2820Though Clotten then but young, you see, not wore him
¶From my remembrance. And besides, the King
¶Hath not deserved my service nor your loves,
¶Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
¶The certainty of this hard life, ay hopeless
2825To have the courtesy your cradle promised
¶But to be still hot summer's tanlings and
| ¶The shrinking slaves of winter. | |
| ¶Guiderius | |
| Than be so, | |
¶Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th' army.
2830I and my brother are not known, yourself
¶So out of thought and thereto so o'ergrown
| ¶Cannot be questioned. | |
| ¶Arviragus | |
| By this sun that shines, | |
¶I'll thither. What thing is't that I never
2835Did see man die, scarce ever looked on blood
¶But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison;
¶Never bestrid a horse, save one that had
¶A rider like myself who ne'er wore rowel
¶Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed
2840To look upon the holy sun, to have
¶The benefit of his blessed beams, remaining
| ¶So long a poor unknown. | |
| ¶Guiderius | |
| By heavens, I'll go! | |
¶If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
2845I'll take the better care, but if you will not,
¶The hazard therefore due fall on me by
| ¶The hands of Romans. | |
| ¶Arviragus | |
| So say I, amen. | |
¶Belarius No reason I, since of your lives you set
2850So slight a valuation, should reserve
¶My cracked one to more care. Have with you, boys:
¶If in your country wars you chance to die,
¶That is my bed, too, lads, and there I'll lie.
¶Lead, lead. [Aside] The time seems long; their blood thinks scorn
2855Till it fly out and show them princes born.
Exeunt