TPTT Cymbeline: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. Wales: near the cave of Belarius.
SCENE II. Before the cave of Belarius.
SCENE III. A room in Cymbeline's palace.
SCENE IV. Wales: before the cave of Belarius.
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE IV. Wales: before the cave of Belarius.
Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.
GUIDERIUS
      The noise is round about us.
BELARIUS
      Let us from it.
ARVIRAGUS
      What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it
      From action and adventure?
GUIDERIUS
5     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
      During their use, and slay us after.
BELARIUS
10    Sons,
      We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us.
      To the king's party there's no going: newness
      Of Cloten's death--we being not known, not muster'd
      Among the bands--may drive us to a render
15    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
      In such a time nothing becoming you,
20    Nor satisfying us.
ARVIRAGUS
      It is not likely
      That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
      Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes
      And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,
25    That they will waste their time upon our note,
      To know from whence we are.
BELARIUS
      O, I am known
      Of many in the army: many years,
      Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him
30    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; aye hopeless
      To have the courtesy your cradle promised,
35    But to be still hot summer's tamings and
      The shrinking slaves of winter.
GUIDERIUS
      Than be so
      Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army:
      I and my brother are not known; yourself
40    So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,
      Cannot be question'd.
ARVIRAGUS
      By this sun that shines,
      I'll thither: what thing is it that I never
      Did see man die! scarce ever look'd on blood,
45    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
      To look upon the holy sun, to have
50    The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
      So long a poor unknown.
GUIDERIUS
      By heavens, I'll go:
      If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
      I'll take the better care, but if you will not,
55    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
      So slight a valuation, should reserve
60    My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys!
      If in your country wars you chance to die,
      That is my bed too, lads, an there I'll lie:
      Lead, lead.

Aside

      The time seems long; their blood
65    thinks scorn,
      Till it fly out and show them princes born.
Exeunt
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