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Cymbeline Play
Cymbeline is the King of Britain. Widowed, Cymbeline
has three children two of whom, Guiderius and Arviragus
were kidnapped some twenty years ago leaving just daughter
Imogen as heir. The King remarries, gaining the worthless
stepson Cloten (rhymes with?) from his new but evil
Queen. Cymbeline wants Imogen to marry Cloten but she
disobeys, marrying her true love Posthumus Leonatus
instead. This earns Posthumus banishment and Imogen
imprisonment within the King's castle before they can
consumate their marriage. Now in Rome, Posthumus accepts
a 10,000 ducat bet that Frenchman Iachimo can seduce
his wife Imogen, ruining her chastity. Iachimo fails,
but wanting the money, steals a bracelet given by Posthumus
as a parting token of their love, convincing Posthumus
his wife has cheated. Enraged, Posthumus orders Imogen
killed, the servant Pissanio realising Iachimo's treachery,
refusing, but convincing Posthumus she is dead by hiding
her as the male Fidele.
Despite being rejected by Posthumus, Imogen still
rejects Clotus' hand in marriage. Now in a place called
Milford Haven, Imogen disguised as a man meets her long
lost brothers living with a Lord banished years ago
by the King called Belarius.Imogen does not know her
brothers were kidnapped by Belarius as revenge for being
banished. Meanwhil,e Cloten has followed Imogen in disguise
as Posthumus still wanting marriage. On his way to defile
Imogen and kill Posthumus, Cloten meet Guiderius, Cloten
being rude and being decapitated. The head is thrown
in the river to hide the crime. Imogen now quite sick,
takes a potion to cure her sickness that the Queen gave
to servant Pisanio hoping it would reach Imogen or Posthumus.
The Queen believes it is a poison she requested from
Doctor Cornelius to ensure Cloten became king by either
forcing Imogen to marry Cloten if Posthumus died or
by killing Imogen making Cloten heir. Realising the
Queen's evil, Doctor Cornelius provides a medicine that
does not kill but places Imogen in a deep slumber. Thinking
her dead, Imogen is laid to rest above ground next to
the dead Cloten. Imogen awakes but thinks the dead body
wearing Posthumus' clothes is not Cloten but Posthumus.
Meanwhile, Caaius Lucius demands the King pay tribute
to August Caesar and Rome. The King refuses resulting
in Rome declaring war. The Queen stressed from war and
her missing son (Clotus ) dies, admitting hating the
King in her last hours. Imogen in total grief and despair
joins Caius Lucius' army, the King being captured only
to be rescued by sons Guiderius and Arviragus, Posthumus
and the banished Belarius. Posthumus is captured by
the British who mistake him for a Roman. Posthumus has
a vision, seeing his dead father, mother, brothers Guiderius
and Arviragus and Jupiter. Imogen finally returns to
the King, Iachimo admiting stealing Imogen's bracelet
and good reputation, Clotens' death is told and Cornelius
reveals the truth about the Queens' potion. Belarius
aknowledges kidnapping Guiderius and Arviragus, a soothsayer
(fortune teller) reveals a book placed in Posthumus'
lap is from Jupiter, the god, Cymbeline shows mercy
toward Belarius and Iachimo and the King finally allows
Posthumus and Imogen to remain together...
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
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