SCENE VI. Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. Cymbeline  Shakespeare homepage  |  Cymbeline  | Act 3, Scene 6 

 Previous scene  |  Next scene  SCENE VI. Wales. Before the cave of Belarius. 

 Enter IMOGEN, in boy's clothes  IMOGEN  I see a man's life is a tedious one: 

 I have tired myself, and for two nights together 

 Have made the ground my bed. I should be sick, 

 But that my resolution helps me. Milford, 

 When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee, 

 Thou wast within a ken: O Jove! I think 

 Foundations fly the wretched; such, I mean, 

 Where they should be relieved. Two beggars told me 

 I could not miss my way: will poor folks lie, 

 That have afflictions on them, knowing 'tis 

 A punishment or trial? Yes; no wonder, 

 When rich ones scarce tell true. To lapse in fulness 

 Is sorer than to lie for need, and falsehood 

 Is worse in kings than beggars. My dear lord! 

 Thou art one o' the false ones. Now I think on thee, 

 My hunger's gone; but even before, I was 

 At point to sink for food. But what is this? 

 Here is a path to't: 'tis some savage hold: 

 I were best not to call; I dare not call: 

 yet famine, 

 Ere clean it o'erthrow nature, makes it valiant, 

 Plenty and peace breeds cowards: hardness ever 

 Of hardiness is mother. Ho! who's here? 

 If any thing that's civil, speak; if savage, 

 Take or lend. Ho! No answer? Then I'll enter. 

 Best draw my sword: and if mine enemy 

 But fear the sword like me, he'll scarcely look on't. 

 Such a foe, good heavens! 



 Exit, to the cave 

 Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS  BELARIUS  You, Polydote, have proved best woodman and 

 Are master of the feast: Cadwal and I 

 Will play the cook and servant; 'tis our match: 

 The sweat of industry would dry and die, 

 But for the end it works to. Come; our stomachs 

 Will make what's homely savoury: weariness 

 Can snore upon the flint, when resty sloth 

 Finds the down pillow hard. Now peace be here, 

 Poor house, that keep'st thyself! 

 GUIDERIUS  I am thoroughly weary. 

 ARVIRAGUS  I am weak with toil, yet strong in appetite. 

 GUIDERIUS  There is cold meat i' the cave; we'll browse on that, 

 Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd. 

 BELARIUS  [Looking into the cave] 

 Stay; come not in. 

 But that it eats our victuals, I should think 

 Here were a fairy. 

 GUIDERIUS  What's the matter, sir? 

 BELARIUS  By Jupiter, an angel! or, if not, 

 An earthly paragon! Behold divineness 

 No elder than a boy! 



 Re-enter IMOGEN  IMOGEN  Good masters, harm me not: 

 Before I enter'd here, I call'd; and thought 

 To have begg'd or bought what I have took: 

 good troth, 

 I have stol'n nought, nor would not, though I had found 

 Gold strew'd i' the floor. Here's money for my meat: 

 I would have left it on the board so soon 

 As I had made my meal, and parted 

 With prayers for the provider. 

 GUIDERIUS  Money, youth? 

 ARVIRAGUS  All gold and silver rather turn to dirt! 

 As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of those 

 Who worship dirty gods. 

 IMOGEN  I see you're angry: 

 Know, if you kill me for my fault, I should 

 Have died had I not made it. 

 BELARIUS  Whither bound? 

 IMOGEN  To Milford-Haven. 

 BELARIUS  What's your name? 

 IMOGEN  Fidele, sir. I have a kinsman who 

 Is bound for Italy; he embark'd at Milford; 

 To whom being going, almost spent with hunger, 

 I am fall'n in this offence. 

 BELARIUS  Prithee, fair youth, 

 Think us no churls, nor measure our good minds 

 By this rude place we live in. Well encounter'd! 

 'Tis almost night: you shall have better cheer 

 Ere you depart: and thanks to stay and eat it. 

 Boys, bid him welcome. 

 GUIDERIUS  Were you a woman, youth, 

 I should woo hard but be your groom. In honesty, 

 I bid for you as I'd buy. 

 ARVIRAGUS  I'll make't my comfort 

 He is a man; I'll love him as my brother: 

 And such a welcome as I'd give to him 

 After long absence, such is yours: most welcome! 

 Be sprightly, for you fall 'mongst friends. 

 IMOGEN  'Mongst friends, 

 If brothers. 



 Aside  Would it had been so, that they 

 Had been my father's sons! then had my prize 

 Been less, and so more equal ballasting 

 To thee, Posthumus. 

 BELARIUS  He wrings at some distress. 

 GUIDERIUS  Would I could free't! 

 ARVIRAGUS  Or I, whate'er it be, 

 What pain it cost, what danger. God's! 

 BELARIUS  Hark, boys. 



 Whispering  IMOGEN  Great men, 

 That had a court no bigger than this cave, 

 That did attend themselves and had the virtue 

 Which their own conscience seal'd them--laying by 

 That nothing-gift of differing multitudes-- 

 Could not out-peer these twain. Pardon me, gods! 

 I'd change my sex to be companion with them, 

 Since Leonatus's false. 

 BELARIUS  It shall be so. 

 Boys, we'll go dress our hunt. Fair youth, come in: 

 Discourse is heavy, fasting; when we have supp'd, 

 We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story, 

 So far as thou wilt speak it. 

 GUIDERIUS  Pray, draw near. 

 ARVIRAGUS  The night to the owl and morn to the lark 

 less welcome. 

 IMOGEN  Thanks, sir. 

 ARVIRAGUS  I pray, draw near. 



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