Cym.
Now say, what would Augustus Cæsar with us?

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 ^note Britain
And conquer'd it, Cassibelan ^note, thine uncle,—
Famous in Cæsar's praises, no whit less
Than in his feats deserving it—for ^note him
And his succession granted Rome a tribute,
Yearly three thousand pounds; which by thee lately
Is left untender'd.

Queen.
And, to kill ^note the marvel,
Shall be so ever.

Clo.
There be many Cæsars
Ere such another Julius. Britain is ^note
A world by itself ^note, and we will nothing pay
For wearing our own noses.

Queen.
That opportunity,
Which then they had to take from 's ^note, 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 ^note in
With rocks ^note unscaleable and roaring waters,
With sands ^note that will not bear your enemies' boats,
But suck them up to the topmast. A kind of conquest
Cæsar ^note made here; but made not here his brag
Of ‘Came, and saw, and overcame ^note:’ with shame—
The first that ever touch'd him—he was carried
From off our coast, twice beaten; ^note and his shipping—
Poor ignorant baubles!—on our terrible seas,
Like egg-shells moved upon their surges, crack'd
As easily 'gainst our rocks: for joy whereof
The famed Cassibelan ^note, who was once at point—
O giglot ^note fortune!—to master Cæsar's sword,
Made Lud's town ^note with rejoicing fires ^note bright
And Britons ^note strut with courage.

Clo.

Come, there's no more tribute to be paid: ^note our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time; and, as I said, there is no moe ^note such Cæsars: other of them may have crooked noses, but to owe ^note such straight arms, none.

Cym.

Son, let your mother end.

Clo.

We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan ^note: 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,
Till the injurious Romans ^note did extort
This tribute from us ^note, we were free: Cæsar's ambition,
Which swell'd so much that it did almost stretch
The ^note sides o' the world, against all colour here ^note
Did put the yoke upon 's ^note; which to shake off
Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon
Ourselves to be.

Clo. and Lords.
We do.

Cym.
Say then to Cæsar, ^note
Our ancestor was that Mulmutius which ^note
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 laws, ^note
Who was the first of Britain which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and call'd
Himself a king.

Luc.
I am ^note sorry, Cymbeline,
That I am to pronounce Augustus Cæsar—
Cæsar, that hath moe ^note kings his servants than
Thyself domestic officers—thine enemy: ^note
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 ^note welcome, Caius.
Thy Cæsar knighted me; my youth I spent
Much under him; of him I gather'd honour;
Which he to seek ^note of me again, perforce,
Behoves me keep ^note at utterance ^note. I am perfect
That the Pannonians and Dalmatians for
Their liberties are now in arms; a precedent ^note
Which not to read would show the Britons ^note cold:
So Cæsar shall not find them.

Luc.
Let proof speak.

Clo.

His majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime with us day or two, or longer: if you seek us afterwards in other ^note 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. ^note

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