TPTT Cymbeline: ACT V
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. Britain. The Roman camp.
SCENE II. Field of battle between the British and Roman camps.
SCENE III. Another part of the field.
SCENE IV. A British prison.
SCENE V. Cymbeline's tent.
About the Play
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SCENE III. Another part of the field.
Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and a British Lord
Lord
      Camest thou from where they made the stand?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      I did.
      Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.
Lord
      I did.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
5     No blame be to you, sir; for all was lost,
      But that the heavens fought: the king himself
      Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
      And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
      Through a straight lane; the enemy full-hearted,
10    Lolling the tongue with slaughtering, having work
      More plentiful than tools to do't, struck down
      Some mortally, some slightly touch'd, some falling
      Merely through fear; that the straight pass was damm'd
      With dead men hurt behind, and cowards living
15    To die with lengthen'd shame.
Lord
      Where was this lane?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Close by the battle, ditch'd, and wall'd with turf;
      Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier,
      An honest one, I warrant; who deserved
20    So long a breeding as his white beard came to,
      In doing this for's country: athwart the lane,
      He, with two striplings-lads more like to run
      The country base than to commit such slaughter
      With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer
25    Than those for preservation cased, or shame--
      Made good the passage; cried to those that fled,
      'Our Britain s harts die flying, not our men:
      To darkness fleet souls that fly backwards. Stand;
      Or we are Romans and will give you that
30    Like beasts which you shun beastly, and may save,
      But to look back in frown: stand, stand.'
      These three,
      Three thousand confident, in act as many--
      For three performers are the file when all
35    The rest do nothing--with this word 'Stand, stand,'
      Accommodated by the place, more charming
      With their own nobleness, which could have turn'd
      A distaff to a lance, gilded pale looks,
      Part shame, part spirit renew'd; that some,
40    turn'd coward
      But by example--O, a sin in war,
      Damn'd in the first beginners!--gan to look
      The way that they did, and to grin like lions
      Upon the pikes o' the hunters. Then began
45    A stop i' the chaser, a retire, anon
      A rout, confusion thick; forthwith they fly
      Chickens, the way which they stoop'd eagles; slaves,
      The strides they victors made: and now our cowards,
      Like fragments in hard voyages, became
50    The life o' the need: having found the backdoor open
      Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they wound!
      Some slain before; some dying; some their friends
      O'er borne i' the former wave: ten, chased by one,
      Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty:
55    Those that would die or ere resist are grown
      The mortal bugs o' the field.
Lord
      This was strange chance
      A narrow lane, an old man, and two boys.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Nay, do not wonder at it: you are made
60    Rather to wonder at the things you hear
      Than to work any. Will you rhyme upon't,
      And vent it for a mockery? Here is one:
      'Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
      Preserved the Britons, was the Romans' bane.'
Lord
65    Nay, be not angry, sir.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      'Lack, to what end?
      Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
      For if he'll do as he is made to do,
      I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
70    You have put me into rhyme.
Lord
      Farewell; you're angry.
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      Still going?

Exit Lord

      This is a lord! O noble misery,
      To be i' the field, and ask 'what news?' of me!
75    To-day how many would have given their honours
      To have saved their carcasses! took heel to do't,
      And yet died too! I, in mine own woe charm'd,
      Could not find death where I did hear him groan,
      Nor feel him where he struck: being an ugly monster,
80    'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
      Sweet words; or hath more ministers than we
      That draw his knives i' the war. Well, I will find him
      For being now a favourer to the Briton,
      No more a Briton, I have resumed again
85    The part I came in: fight I will no more,
      But yield me to the veriest hind that shall
      Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
      Here made by the Roman; great the answer be
      Britons must take. For me, my ransom's death;
90    On either side I come to spend my breath;
      Which neither here I'll keep nor bear again,
      But end it by some means for Imogen.
Enter two British Captains and Soldiers
First Captain
      Great Jupiter be praised! Lucius is taken.
      'Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.
Second Captain
95    There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,
      That gave the affront with them.
First Captain
      So 'tis reported:
      But none of 'em can be found. Stand! who's there?
POSTHUMUS LEONATUS
      A Roman,
100   Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds
      Had answer'd him.
Second Captain
      Lay hands on him; a dog!
      A leg of Rome shall not return to tell
      What crows have peck'd them here. He brags
105   his service
      As if he were of note: bring him to the king.
Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Soldiers, Attendants, and Roman Captives. The Captains present POSTHUMUS LEONATUS to CYMBELINE, who delivers him over to a Gaoler: then exeunt omnes
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