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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].
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SCENE IV. Before the Cave. Enter Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus.

Gui.
The noise is round about us.

Bel.
Let us from it.

Arv.
What pleasure, sir, find we2 note in life, to lock it
From action and adventure?

-- 180 --

Gui.
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 revolts3 note

During their use, and slay us after.

Bel.
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
Where we have liv'd4 note




; and so extort from us
That which we've done, whose answer5 note would be death
Drawn on with torture.

Gui.
This is, sir, a doubt,
In such a time, nothing becoming you,
Nor satisfying us.

Arv.
It is not likely,
That when they hear the Roman horses6 note neigh,
Behold their quarter'd fires7 note



, have both their eyes

-- 181 --


And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,
That they will waste their time upon our note,
To know from whence we are.

Bel.
O, I am known
Of many in the army: many years,
Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him
From my remembrance. And, besides, the king
Hath not deserv'd my service, nor your loves;
Who find in my exíle the want of breeding,
The certainty of this hard life8 note; aye hopeless
To have the courtesy your cradle promis'd,
But to be still hot summer's tanlings, and
The shrinking slaves of winter.

Gui.
Than be so,
Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army:
I and my brother are not known; yourself,
So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown9 note


,
Cannot be question'd.

Arv.
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,
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 asham'd
To look upon the holy sun, to have

-- 182 --


The benefit of his bless'd beams, remaining
So long a poor unknown.

Gui.
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,
The hazard therefore due fall on me, by
The hands of Romans!

Arv.
So say I; Amen.

Bel.
No reason I, since on your lives you set
So slight a valuation, should reserve
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, and there I'll lie:
Lead, lead.—The time seems long; their blood thinks scorn, [Aside.
Till it fly out, and show them princes born.
[Exeunt.
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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].
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