3.1.11374Enter in state, Cymbeline, Queen, Clotten, and Lords at 1375one door, and at another, Caius Lucius 1376and Attendants Now say, what would Augustus Caesar with us?
When Julius Caesar, whose remembrance yet
3.1.41379Lives in men's eyes, and will to ears and tongues
3.1.51380Be theme and hearing ever, was in this Britain
3.1.61381And conquered it, Cassibelan, thine uncle,
3.1.71382Famous in Caesar's praises no whit less
3.1.81383Than in his feats deserving it, for him
3.1.91384And his succession granted Rome a tribute,
3.1.101385Yearly three thousand pounds, which by thee lately
Is left untendered. And, to kill the marvel,
There be many Caesars
1390ere such another Julius. Britain's a world
1391by itself, and we will nothing pay
1392for wearing our own noses.
That opportunity
3.1.151394Which then they had to take from's, to resume
3.1.181397The natural bravery of your isle, which stands
3.1.201399With oaks unscalable and roaring waters,
3.1.211400With sands that will not bear your enemies' boats
3.1.221401But suck them up to th' topmast. A kind of conquest
3.1.231402Caesar made here, but made not here his brag
3.1.241403Of "came and saw and overcame"; with shame,
3.1.251404The first that ever touched him, he was carried
3.1.261405From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping,
3.1.271406Poor ignorant baubles, on our terrible seas
3.1.281407Like eggshells moved upon their surges, cracked
3.1.291408As easily 'gainst our rocks; for joy whereof
3.1.301409The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point
3.1.311410(O giglet Fortune) to master Caesar's sword,
3.1.321411Made Luds-Town with rejoicing fires bright,
Come, there's no more tribute to be paid. Our
1414kingdom is stronger than it was at that time, and, as I
1415said, there is no more such Caesars. Other of them may have
1416crook'd noses, but to owe such straight arms, none.
Son, let your mother end.
We have yet many among us can grip as hard
1419as Cassibelan; I do not say I am one, but I have a hand.
1420Why tribute? Why should we pay tribute? If
Caesar
1421can hide the sun from us with a blanket or put the moon
1422in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light; else, sir,
1423no more tribute, pray you now.
You must know,
3.1.391426This tribute from us, we were free. Caesar's ambition,
3.1.401427Which swelled so much that it did almost stretch
3.1.411428The sides o'th' world, against all color here
3.1.421429Did put the yoke upon's; which to shake off
3.1.431430Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
3.1.441431Ourselves to be, we do. Say then to Caesar,
3.1.461433Ordained our laws, whose use the sword of Caesar
3.1.471434Hath too much mangled, whose repair and franchise
3.1.481435Shall by the power we hold be our good deed,
3.1.491436Though Rome be therefore angry. Mulmutius made our laws
3.1.501437Who was the first of Britain, which did put
3.1.511438His brows within a golden crown and called
Himself a king. I am sorry, Cymbeline,
3.1.541442(Caesar, that hath more kings his servants than
3.1.561444Receive it from me, then. War and confusion
3.1.571445In Caesar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee; look
3.1.581446For fury not to be resisted. Thus defied,
I thank thee for myself. Thou art welcome, Caius.
3.1.601449Thy Caesar knighted me; my youth I spent
3.1.611450Much under him; of him, I gathered honor,
3.1.631452Behooves me keep at utterance. I am perfect
3.1.651454Their liberties are now in arms, a precedent
3.1.661455Which not to read would show the Britons cold;
So Caesar shall not find them. Let proof speak.
His Majesty bids you welcome. Make
1459pastime with us a day or two, or longer; if you seek us
1460afterwards in other terms, you shall find us in our
1461saltwater girdle. If you beat us out of it, it is yours; if you
1462fall in the adventure, our crows shall fare the better for
1463you: and there's an end.
So, sir.
I know your master's pleasure, and he mine;