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Cymbeline - Act 4, scene 4
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Cymbeline - Act 4, scene 4Act 4, scene 4
Scene 4
Synopsis:
The young princes persuade Belarius that the three of them should join with the Britons against Rome.
Enter Belarius ⌜as Morgan,⌝ Guiderius ⌜as Polydor,⌝and Arviragus ⌜as Cadwal.⌝
GUIDERIUS, ⌜as Polydor⌝
2772 The noise is round about us.
BELARIUS, ⌜as Morgan⌝ 2773 Let us from it.
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195
ARVIRAGUS, ⌜as Cadwal⌝ 2774 What pleasure, sir, ⌜find we⌝ in life, to lock it
2775 From action and adventure?
GUIDERIUS, ⌜as Polydor⌝ 2776 5 Nay, what hope
2777 Have we in hiding us? This way the Romans
2778 Must or for Britons slay us or receive us
2779 For barbarous and unnatural revolts
2780 During their use, and slay us after.
BELARIUS, ⌜as Morgan⌝ 2781 10 Sons,
2782 We’ll higher to the mountains, there secure us.
2783 To the King’s party there’s no going. Newness
2784 Of Cloten’s death—we being not known, not mustered
2785 Among the bands—may drive us to a render
2786 15 Where we have lived, and so extort from ’s that
2787 Which we have done, whose answer would be death
2788 Drawn on with torture.
GUIDERIUS, ⌜as Polydor⌝ 2789 This is, sir, a doubt
2790 In such a time nothing becoming you
2791 20 Nor satisfying us.
ARVIRAGUS, ⌜as Cadwal⌝ 2792 It is not likely
2793 That when they hear ⌜the⌝ Roman horses neigh,
2794 Behold their quartered fires, have both their eyes
2795 And ears so cloyed importantly as now,
2796 25 That they will waste their time upon our note,
2797 To know from whence we are.
BELARIUS, ⌜as Morgan⌝ 2798 O, I am known
2799 Of many in the army. Many years,
2800 Though Cloten then but young, you see not wore him
2801 30 From my remembrance. And besides, the King
2802 Hath not deserved my service nor your loves,
2803 Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
2804 The certainty of this hard life, aye hopeless
2805 To have the courtesy your cradle promised,
2806 35 But to be still hot summer’s tanlings and
2807 The shrinking slaves of winter.
GUIDERIUS, ⌜as Polydor⌝ 2808 Than be so
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197
2809
Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th’ army.2810 I and my brother are not known; yourself
2811 40 So out of thought, and thereto so o’ergrown,
2812 Cannot be questioned.
ARVIRAGUS, ⌜as Cadwal⌝ 2813 By this sun that shines,
2814 I’ll thither. What thing is ’t that I never
2815 Did see man die, scarce ever looked on blood
2816 45 But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison!
2817 Never bestrid a horse save one that had
2818 A rider like myself, who ne’er wore rowel
2819 Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed
2820 To look upon the holy sun, to have
2821 50 The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
2822 So long a poor unknown.
GUIDERIUS, ⌜as Polydor⌝ 2823 By heavens, I’ll go!
2824 If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
2825 I’ll take the better care, but if you will not,
2826 55 The hazard therefore due fall on me by
2827 The hands of Romans.
ARVIRAGUS, ⌜as Cadwal⌝ 2828 So say I. Amen.
BELARIUS, ⌜as Morgan⌝
2829 No reason I—since of your lives you set
2830 So slight a valuation—should reserve
2831 60 My cracked one to more care. Have with you, boys!
2832 If in your country wars you chance to die,
2833 That is my bed, too, lads, and there I’ll lie.
2834 Lead, lead. ⌜Aside.⌝ The time seems long; their
2835 blood thinks scorn
2836 65 Till it fly out and show them princes born.
They exit.