William Shakespeare's Cymbeline in the complete original text.
William Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and poems at AbsoluteShakespeare.com
Home Plays Sonnets Poems Quotes Summaries Essays Glossary Links Help

HOME > Plays > Cymbeline > Act V. Scene II.

Cymbeline

Study Guides
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Henry IV
King Lear
Macbeth
Merchant of Venice
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
The Tempest
Twelfth Night

Trivia
Authorship
Bard Facts
Bibliography
Biography
FAQ
Films
Globe Theatre
Pictures
Quiz
Timeline

Act V. Scene II.

Scene II.—Field of Battle between the British
and Roman Camps.

Enter from one door, LUCIUS, IACHIMO,
and the Roman Army; the British at another;
LEONATUS, POSTHUMUS following like
a poor soldier.
They march over and go out. Alarums, Then
enter again in skirmish, IACHIMO and
POSTHUMUS; he vanquisheth and disarmeth
IACHIMO, and then leaves him.

Iach. The heaviness and guilt within my bosom
Takes off my manhood: I have belied a lady,
The princess of this country, and the air on't
Revengingly enfeebles me; or could this earl,
A very drudge of nature's, have subdu'd me
In my profession? Knighthoods and honours,
borne
As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn.
If that thy gentry, Britain, go before
This lout as he exceeds our lords, the odds
Is that we scarce are men and you are gods.
[Exit.
The battle continues; the Britons fly; CYM-
BELINE is taken; then enter, to his rescue,
BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.
Bel. Stand, stand! We have the advantage of
the ground.
The lane is guarded; nothing routs us but
The villany of our fears.
Gui. & Arv.} Stand, stand, and fight!

Re-enter POSTHUMUS, and seconds the Britons;
they rescue CYMBELINE, and exeunt. Then,
re-enter LUCIUS, IACHIMO, and IMOGEN.
Luc. Away, boy, from the troops, and save
thyself;
For friends kill friends, and the disorder's such
As war were hoodwink'd.
Iach. 'Tis their fresh supplies.
Luc. It is a day turn'd strangely: or betimes
Let's re-inforce, or fly, [Exeunt.
< PREVIOUS
Copyright © 2000-2005 AbsoluteShakespeare.com. All rights reserved.  Contact Us  Privacy  Awards