Caius Lucius and Attendants.
Cym.
Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us6 note
?
Luc.
When Julius Cæsar (whose remembrance yet
Lives in men's eyes; and will to ears, and tongues,
Be theme, and hearing ever,) was in this Britain,
-- 93 --
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan, thine uncle7 note,
(Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less
Than in his feats deserving it,) for him,
And his succession, granted Rome a tribute,
Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately
Is left untender'd.
Queen.
And, to kill the marvel,
Shall be so ever.
Clo.
There be many Cæsars,
Ere such another Julius. Britain is
A world by itself; and we will nothing pay,
For wearing our own noses.
Queen.
That opportunity,
Which then they had to take from us, to resume
We have again.—Remember, sir, my liege,
The kings your ancestors; together with
The natural bravery of your isle; which stands
As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in
With rocks unscaleable8 note
, and roaring waters;
With sands, that will not bear your enemies' boats,
But suck them up to the top-mast. A kind of conquest
Cæsar made here; but made not here his brag
Of, came, and saw, and overcame: with shame
(The first that ever touch'd him,) he was carried
From off our coast, twice beaten; and his shipping,
-- 94 --
(Poor ignorant baubles9 note!) on our terrible seas,
Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges, crack'd
As easily 'gainst our rocks: For joy whereof,
The fam'd Cassibelan, who was once at point
(O, giglot fortune1 note
!) to master Cæsar's sword2 note
,
Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright,
And Britons strut with courage.
Clo.
Come there's no more tribute to be paid:
Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time:
and, as I said, there is no more such Cæsars: other
of them may have crooked noses; but, to owe such
straight arms, none.
Cym.
Son, let your mother end.
Clo.
We have yet many among us can gripe as
hard as Cassibelan: I do not say, I am one; but I
have a hand.—Why tribute? why should we pay
tribute? If Cæsar can hide the sun from us with a
blanket, or put the moon in his pocket, we will
pay him tribute for light; else, sir, no more tribute,
pray you now.
Cym.
You must know,
-- 95 --
Till the injurious Romans did extort
This tribute from us3 note, we were free: Cæsar's ambition,
(Which swell'd so much, that it did almost stretch
The sides o' the world,) against all colour4 note
, here
Did put the yoke upon us; which to shake off,
Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
Ourselves to be. We do say then to Cæsar,
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius, which
Ordain'd our laws; (whose use the sword of Cæsar
Hath too much mangled; whose repair, and franchise,
Shall, by the power we hold, be our good deed,
Though Rome be therefore angry;) Mulmutius made our laws5 note
,
Who was the first of Britain, which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and call'd
Himself a king6 note
.
-- 96 --
Luc.
I am sorry, Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar
(Cæsar, that hath more kings his servants, than
Thyself domestick officers,) thine enemy:
Receive it from me, then:—War, and confusion,
In Cæsar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee: look
For fury not to be resisted:—Thus defied,
I thank thee for myself.
Cym.
Thou art welcome, Caius.
Thy Cæsar knighted me; my youth I spent
Much under him7 note
; of him I gather'd honour;
-- 97 --
Which he, to seek of me again, perforce,
Behoves me keep at utterance8 note
; I am perfect9 note
,
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for
Their liberties, are now in arms1 note
: a precedent
Which, not to read, would show the Britons cold:
So Cæsar shall not find them.
Luc.
Let proof speak.
Clo.
His majesty bids you welcome. Make
-- 98 --
pastime with us a day, or two, longer: If you
seek us afterwards in other terms, you shall find us
in our salt-water girdle: if you beat us out of it,
it is yours; if you fall in the adventure, our crows
shall fare the better for you; and there's an end.
Luc.
So, sir.
Cym.
I know your master's pleasure, and he mine:
All the remain is, welcome.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
