Here are your sons again, and I must lose
Two of the sweet’st companions in the world.
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew, for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.
CYMBELINE Thou weep’st, and speak’st:
The service419 that you three have done is more
Unlike420 than this thou tell’st. I lost my children:
If these be they, I know not how to wish
A pair of worthier sons.
BELARIUS Be pleased awhile.423
This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,
Most worthy prince, as yours425, is true Guiderius:
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,
Your younger princely son. He, sir, was lapped427
In a most curious428 mantle, wrought by th’hand
Of his queen mother, which for more probation429
I can with ease produce.
CYMBELINE Guiderius had
Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine432 star.
It was a mark of wonder.
BELARIUS This is he,
Who hath upon him still that natural stamp435:
It was wise nature’s end in the donation436
To be his evidence now.
CYMBELINE O, what am I?
A mother to the birth of three? Ne’er mother
Rejoiced deliverance more: blest pray440 you be,
That, after this strange starting from your orbs441,
You may reign in them now! O Innogen,
Thou hast lost by this a kingdom.443
INNOGEN No, my lord:
I have got two worlds by’t. O my gentle brothers,
Have we thus met? O, never say hereafter
But447 I am truest speaker. You called me brother
When I was but your sister: I you brothers,
When ye were so indeed.
CYMBELINE Did you e’er meet?
ARVIRAGUS Ay, my good lord.
GUIDERIUS And at first meeting loved,
Continued so until we thought he died.
CORNELIUS By the queen’s dram she swallowed.
CYMBELINE O rare455 instinct!
When shall I hear all through? This fierce abridgement456
Hath to it circumstantial branches457, which
Distinction should be rich in.458 Where? How lived you?
And when came you to serve our Roman captive?
How parted with your brothers? How first met them?
Why fled you from the court? And whither? These,
And your three motives to462 the battle, with
I know not how much more, should be demanded463,
And all the other by-dependences464,
From chance to chance. But nor465 the time nor place
Will serve our long interrogatories.466 See,
Posthumus anchors467 upon Innogen,
And she, like harmless lightning, throws her eye468
On him, her brothers, me, her master, hitting
Each object with a joy: the counterchange470
Is severally in all. Let’s quit this ground471,
And smoke472 the temple with our sacrifices.—
To Belarius
Thou art my brother, so we’ll hold473 thee ever.
INNOGEN You are my father too, and did relieve me474
To see this gracious season.475
CYMBELINE All o’erjoyed,
Save477 these in bonds: let them be joyful too,
For they shall taste our comfort.478
INNOGEN My good master,
I will yet do you service.
LUCIUS Happy be you!
CYMBELINE The forlorn482 soldier, that so nobly fought,
He would have well becomed this place, and graced483
The thankings of a king.
POSTHUMUS I am, sir,
The soldier that did company486 these three
In poor beseeming: ’twas a fitment487 for
The purpose I then followed. That I was he,
Speak, Iachimo: I had you down, and might
Have made you finish.490
Kneels
IACHIMO I am down again:
But now my heavy conscience sinks492 my knee,
As then your force did. Take that life, beseech you,
Which I so often494 owe: but your ring first,
And here the bracelet of the truest princess
That ever swore her faith.
POSTHUMUS Kneel not to me:
The power that I have on you is to spare you:
The malice towards you to forgive you. Live,
And deal with others better.
CYMBELINE Nobly doomed!501
We’ll learn our freeness502 of a son-in-law:
Pardon’s the word to all.
ARVIRAGUS You holp504 us, sir,
As505 you did mean indeed to be our brother.
Joyed506 are we that you are.
POSTHUMUS Your servant, princes. Good my lord of Rome,
Call forth your soothsayer: as I slept, methought
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed509,
Appeared to me, with other spritely shows510
Of mine own kindred. When I waked I found
This label on my bosom, whose containing512
Is so from sense in hardness513 that I can
Make no collection of514 it. Let him show
His skill in the construction.515
LUCIUS Philharmonus.516
SOOTHSAYER Here, my good lord.
LUCIUS Read, and declare the meaning.
SOOTHSAYER Reads ‘Whenas a lion’s whelp519 shall, to himself
unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece
of tender air: and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped
branches, which being dead many years, shall after revive,
be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow, then shall
Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate and
flourish in peace and plenty.’
Thou, Leonatus, art the lion’s whelp:
The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being leo-natus, doth import528 so much.—
To Cymbeline
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter,
Which we call ‘mollis aer530’; and ‘mollis aer’
We term it ‘mulier’.— Which ‘mulier’ I divine531
Is this most constant wife, who even now,
Answering the letter of the oracle,
Unknown to you, unsought, were clipped about534
With this most tender air.
CYMBELINE This hath some seeming.536
SOOTHSAYER The lofty cedar537, royal Cymbeline,
Personates thee: and thy lopped branches point538
Thy two sons forth, who by Belarius stol’n,
For many years thought dead, are now revived,
To the majestic cedar joined, whose issue541
Promises Britain peace and plenty.
CYMBELINE Well,
My peace we will begin.— And, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we submit to Caesar
And to the Roman empire, promising
To pay our wonted547 tribute, from the which
We were dissuaded by our wicked queen,
Whom549 heavens in justice both on her and hers
Have laid most heavy hand.
SOOTHSAYER The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vision
Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke553
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplished. For the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessened herself557, and in the beams o’th’sun
So vanished; which foreshowed our princely eagle,
Th’imperial Caesar, should again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.561
CYMBELINE Laud562 we the gods,
And let our crookèd563 smokes climb to their nostrils
From our blest altars. Publish564 we this peace
To all our subjects. Set we forward565: let
A Roman and a British ensign566 wave
Friendly together: so through Lud’s town march,
And in the temple of great Jupiter
Our peace we’ll ratify, seal569 it with feasts.
Set on there!570 Never was a war did cease,
Ere bloody hands were washed, with such a peace.
Exeunt
TEXTUAL NOTES
F = First Folio text of 1623
F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632
F3 = a correction introduced in the Third Folio text of 1663–64
Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor
SD = stage direction
SH = speech heading (i.e. speaker’s name)
List of parts = Ed
1.1.1 SH FIRST GENTLEMAN = Ed. F = 1.Gent, subsequently 1 3 king = Ed. F = Kings 4 SH SECOND GENTLEMAN = Ed. F = 2 Gent, subsequently 2 35 Cassibelan = F2. F = Cassibulan 65 clothes the other, = Ed. F = cloathes, the other 78 SD Exeunt = Ed. F = Exeunt / Scena Secunda SD Innogen = Ed. F = Imogen (throughout) 109 Philario’s = Ed. F = Filorio’s 131 cere spelled seare in F
Act 1 Scene 2 = Ed. F = Scena Tertia
1.2.1 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = 1 7 SH SECOND LORD = Ed. F = 2 9 thoroughfare = F3. F = thorough-fare
Act 1 Scene 3 = Ed. F = Scena Quarta
Act 1 Scene 4 = Ed. F = Scena Quinta
1.4.24 Briton spelled Britaine in F 40 not = Ed. Not in F 64 Britain = Ed. F = Britanie 64 others I have = Ed. F = others. I haue 66 not but = Ed. F= not 74 purchase = Ed. F = purchases 113 thousand = F3. F = thousands 120 a friend = F. Sometimes emended to afraid
Act 1 Scene 5 = Ed. F = Scena Sexta
1.5.84 SD Exit Pisanio printed one line earlier in F
Act 1 Scene 6 = Ed. F = Scena Septima
1.6.7 desire = F2. F = desires 26 trust = F. Sometimes emended to truest 29 takes = Ed. F = take 38 th’unnumbered = Ed. F = the number’d 67 Briton spelled Britaine in F 125 illustrous = Ed. F = illustrious 169 Solicit’st = Ed. F = Solicites 190 men’s = F2. F = men 192 descended = F2. F = defended
2.1.6 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = 1 (throughout scene) 14 give = F2. F = gaue 25 your = Ed. F = you 32 tonight = F2. F = night 59 husband, than = Ed. F = Husband. Then 60 make! The = Ed. F = make the
2.2.51 bare spelled beare in F
2.3.24 SH CLOTEN = Ed. Not in F 25 vice = Ed. F = voyce 27 amend = F2 F = amed 44 solicits = F2. F = solicity 107 cure = Ed. F = are 129 foil = F. Sometimes emended to soil 149 garment = F2. F = Garments 169 you = Ed. F = your
2.4.7 seared hopes = Ed. F = fear’d hope 20 legions = Ed. F = Legion 26 mingled = F2. F = wing-led 39 through = Ed. F = thorough 42 tenor = Ed. F = tenure 44 SH PHILARIO = Ed. F = Post. 51 had = Ed. F = haue 59 not = F2. F = note 71 you = F2. F = yon 74 leaves = Ed. F = leaue 146 one of = F2. F = one 169 the = Ed. F = her 209 German one = Ed. F = Iarmen on 220 may be named = F2. F = name
3.1.23 oaks = F. Sometimes emended to rocks 39 more spelled mo in F 55 be. We do say = Ed. F = be, we do. Say
3.2.2 monster’s her accuser = Ed. F = Monsters her accuse 21 fedary = Ed. F = Foedarie 63 get = F2. F = ger 66 score = F2. F = store ride = F2. F = rid 79 here, nor = F2. F = heere, not
3.3.2 Stoop = Ed. F = Sleepe 25 robe = Ed. F = Babe. Sometimes emended to bauble 27 ’em = Ed. F = him 30 know = F2. F = knowes 33 known, well = Ed. F = knowne. Well 35 travelling spelled trauailing in F 36 for = Ed. F = or 88 wherein they bow = Ed. F = whereon the Bowe 91 Polydore = Ed. F = Paladour 108 reft’st = Ed. F = refts 111 Morgan = Ed. F = Mergan
3.4.82 afore’t = Ed. F = a-foot 92 make = Ed. F = makes 106 out = Ed. Not in F 164 haply = Ed. F = happily
3.5.22 SD and others spelled &c. in F 39 looks us = Ed. F = looke vs 48 strokes = Ed. F = stroke 54 th’loud’st = Ed. F = th’lowd 161 insultment = F2. F = insulment
3.6.27 F marks a new scene here: Scena Septima 78 Ay = Ed. F = I I’d = Ed. F = I do
Act 3 Scene 7 = Ed. F = Scena Octaua
4.1.12 imperceiverant = Ed. F = imperseuerant 16 thy face = F. Ed = her face 17 haply spelled happily in F
4.2.63 cookery! He = Ed. F = Cookerie? / Arui. He (some editors assign ‘He … dieter’ to Belarius) 73 him = Ed. F = them 75 patience = Ed. F = patient 90 mountaineers spelled Mountainers in F 157 thank = Ed. F = thanks 169 humour = Ed. F = Honor 233 ingenious = Ed. F = ingenuous 257 crare = Ed. F = care 258 Might = F2. F = Might’st easiliest = Ed. F = easilest 259 ay spelled I in F 281 ruddock = Ed. F = Raddocke
297 once = Ed. F = once to 355 is = Ed. F = are 401 are = F2. F = are heere 464 wildwood leaves = Ed. F = wild wood-leaues 475 he is = F2. F = hee’s
4.3.18 SH FIRST LORD = Ed. F = Lord. 46 betid = Ed. F = betide
4.4.3 find we = F2. F = we finde 11 us = F2. F = v.. 22 the = Ed. F = their 33 hard = Ed. F = heard
5.1.1 wished = Ed. F = am wisht
5.3.27 harts = Ed. F = hearts 45 stooped = Ed. F = ftopt 46 they = Ed. F = the 90 SH FIRST CAPTAIN = Ed. F = 1 92 SH SECOND CAPTAIN =
Ed. F = 2 102 SD Jailers = Ed. F = Gaoler SD Exeunt … Jailers = Ed. F = Enter Posthumus, and Gaoler (F begins new scene here, Scena Quarta) 103 SH FIRST JAILER = Ed. F = Gao. 170 geck = Ed. F = geeke 184 look = F2. F = looke, / looke 221 claws spelled cloyes in F 263 are as = Ed. F = are 268 Of this = Ed. F = Oh, of this 272 sir = F2. F = Sis 285 on = Ed. F = one
Act 5 Scene 4 = Ed. F = Scena Quinta
5.4.76 heard = Ed. F = heare 158 On = Ed. F = One 235 got it = F2. F = got 302 from = Ed. F = fro 368 on’s = Ed. F = one’s 399 mere = Ed. F = neere 400 treason. That = Ed. F = Treason that 416 like = F2. F = liks 449 ye = Ed. F = we 460 brothers = Ed. F = Brother 461 whither? These = Ed. F = whether these? 482 so = F2. F = no 519 SH SOOTHSAYER = Ed. Not in F 554 this yet = F3. F = yet this
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Lines 1–78: In Roman Britain, two Gentlemen, courtiers of the Briton king, Cymbeline, discuss in secret the scandals within the court. They reveal that Posthumus Leonatus, an orphan of uncertain lineage brought up by Cymbeline, has been banished for marrying the king’s daughter, Innogen, who has been imprisoned. Cymbeline and his new Queen wanted to marry Innogen to the Queen’s son, Cloten, who is “Too bad for bad report,” though all the courtiers are inwardly glad she was spared such a fate. They also reveal that Posthumus’ elder brothers were killed in battle, his father died in grief for them, and his mother died giving birth to him. However, he has grown to be an honorable man, highly regarded by everyone he meets, and all grieve for the separation of the virtuous young lovers. Cymbeline’s anguish at Innogen’s revolt, they say, is compounded by the fact that she is his only child; his two infant sons were kidnapped without trace twenty years earlier.
Lines 79–213: Posthumus and Innogen enter with the Queen, who condoles with them, saying she will plead with Cymbeline on their behalf; they play along, but reveal knowledge of her wickedness when she leaves. Innogen gives Posthumus a diamond ring which belonged to her mother as a symbol of their fidelity to each other. He swears to keep it safe, and gives her a bracelet in return. Cymbeline enters and orders Posthumus gone, berating Innogen, who is openly unrepentant, for refusing Cloten. Cymbeline leaves and the Queen again professes sympathy. Pisanio, Posthumus’ servant, enters to tell them that as his master was leaving the court Cloten drew his sword on him, but that Posthumus “rather played than fought” and no harm was done. Innogen fe
ignedly praises Cloten for loyalty to the king, but in an aside wishes Posthumus could have fought him to the death. Pisanio reveals that Posthumus has given him letters with commands to serve Innogen, and the Queen says that he will prove a “faithful servant.” She entreats Innogen to walk with her, and Innogen sends Pisanio to see Posthumus aboard his ship.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Cloten enters with two Lords, the First of whom politely tries to persuade him to change his shirt as “the violence of action” in his duel with Posthumus has clearly made him smell. He flatters Cloten for bravery and fighting skill, suggesting Posthumus was lucky to escape, while the Second Lord, in a series of asides, reveals Cloten’s cowardice, his inferiority to Posthumus in every way, and his unworthiness of Innogen.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Innogen questions Pisanio on every detail of Posthumus’ leave-taking at the harbor, saying that she would have watched him on his departing ship until he “had melted from / The smallness of a gnat to air.” She laments the fact that she did not have the chance to say to him everything she had wanted before her father had forced them apart, chiefly to beware temptation from “the shes of Italy.” A Lady summons Innogen to the Queen, and Pisanio is sent to undertake errands.
ACT 1 SCENE 4
1–23: In Italy, Philario, an old comrade of Posthumus’ father who has agreed to host the young Briton, awaits, with Iachimo (an Italian nobleman) and other lords, the arrival of his old friend’s son. The play’s move from Roman Britain to Renaissance Italy underlines its fairy-tale, transhistorical setting. All the others remark that they have met Posthumus in the past and that he does not deserve his high reputation, but Philario alone defends him, saying that he has grown much since then. Iachimo suggests that it is Posthumus’ marriage to a king’s daughter that falsely enhances his reputation.
24–155: Posthumus arrives and exchanges reminiscences with a French lord, thanking him for cooling an argument he was once in about the virtue of Innogen over any “ladies in France.” Iachimo scoffs, claiming that no such woman exists, and that every woman, including Innogen, can be seduced. He wagers Posthumus ten thousand ducats against the diamond ring Posthumus wears that he could seduce Innogen “with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference.” Philario tries to stop them, but Posthumus consents on the condition that Iachimo must also fight him if he loses for “th’assault … made to her chastity.” The wager is agreed.
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