SCENE IV.

The Forest, near the Cave.

Drums, Trumpets, &c.

Enter PISANIO and MADAN.

Mad. This is a day turn'd strangely.
Cam'st thou from where they made the stand?
Pisanio. I did:

Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.

Mad. I did.

Pisanio. No blame be to you, sir; for all was lost, But that the heavens fought: The king himself, Of his wings destitute, the army broken,

And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
Through a straight lane: the enemy full hearted,
Lolling the tongue with slaughtering, struck down
Some mortally, some slightly touch'd, some falling
Merely through fear; that the straight pass was
damm'd

With dead men, hurt behind, and cowards living
To die with lengthen'd shame.

Mad. Where was this lane?

Pisanio. Close by the battle, ditch'd, and wall'd with turf;

Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier;
(An honest one, I warrant ;)-athwart the lane,
He, with two striplings, (lads, more like to run
The country base, than to commit such slaughter,)
Made good the passage; cried to the fliers, "Stand!
Or we are Romans, and will give you that

Like beasts, which you shun beastly; and may save,

But to look back in frown: stand, stand!"-These

three

Mad. Were there but three?

Pisanio. There was a fourth man, in a poor rustic habit,

That stood the front with them. These matchless

four,

Accommodated by the place, gilded pale looks; Part, shame; part, spirit renew'd; that some, turn'd coward,

But by example, 'gan to look

The way that they did, and to grin like lions
Upon the pikes o' the hunters.

Then began
A stop i' the chaser, a retire; anon,

A rout, confusion thick; and the event,
A victory for us.

Mad. This was strange chance.

An old man, two boys, and a poor rustic!

Pisanio. Nay, do not wonder :-go with me, and

see

These wonders, sir, and join the general joy,

[Drums, Trumpets, &c.Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Another Part of the Forest.

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Post. To-day, how many would have given their honours

To have saved their carcasses? took heel to do't, And yet died too?-I, in mine own woe charm'd,

Could not find death, where I did hear him groan; Nor feel him, where he struck.

Well, I will find him :

No more a Briton, I have resumed again
The part I came in: Fight I will no more,
But yield me to the veriest hind, that shall
Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
On either side. For me, my ransom's death;
On either side I come to spend my breath;
Which neither here I'll keep, nor bear again,
But end it by some means for Imogen.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

CYMBELINE's Tent.

A Retreat sounded.

CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, and BRITISH SOLDIERS, discovered.

Cym. Stand by my side, you, whom the gods have made

Preservers of my throne. Woe is my heart,

That the poor soldier, that so richly fought,
Whose rags shamed gilded arms, whose naked breast
Stepp'd before targe of proof, cannot be found:
He shall be happy, that can find him, if

Our grace can make him so.

Bel. I never saw

Such noble fury in so poor a thing.

Cym. No tidings of him?

Pisanio. He hath been search'd among the dead and living,

But no trace of him.

Cym. To my grief, I am

The heir of his reward; which I will add
To you, the liver, heart, and brain of Britain,

[TO BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS. By whom, I grant, she lives: 'Tis now the time To ask of whence you are :-report it.

Bel. Sir,

In Cambria are we born, and gentlemen:
Further to boast were neither true nor modest,
Unless I add, we are honest.

Cym. Bow your knees:

Arise, my knights o' the battle; I create you
Companions to our person, and will fit you
With dignities becoming your estates.

[Drums and Trumpets.

Enter LOCRINE, MADAN, IACHIMO, CAIUS LUCIUS,
IMOGEN, ROMAN PRISONERS, in Chains; and Post-
HUMUS behind, guarded by BRITISH SOLDIERS.

Thou comest not, Caius, now for tribute; that
Britons have razed out, though with the loss

Of

many a bold one; whose kinsmen have made suit, That their good souls may be appeased with slaugh

ter

Of you their captives, which ourself have granted: So, think of your estate.

Luc. Consider, sir, the chance of war; the day Was yours by accident; had it gone with us, We should not, when the blood was cool, have threaten'd

Our prisoners with the sword. But, since the gods Will have it thus, that nothing but our lives

May be call'd ransom, let it come: sufficeth,

A Roman with a Roman's heart can suffer:
Augustus lives to think on't: And so much
For my peculiar care. This one thing only
I will entreat; my boy, a Briton born,

Let him be ransom'd: never master had
A page so kind, so duteous, diligent:
He hath done no Briton harm,

Though he hath served a Roman: Save him, sir,
And spare no blood beside.

Cym. I have surely seen him ;

His favour is familiar to me.

Boy, thou hast look'd thyself into my grace,
And art mine own. I know not why, nor where-
fore,

To say, live, boy: ne'er thank thy master; live:
And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt,
Fitting my bounty, and thy state, I'll give it;
Yea, though thou do demand a prisoner,
The noblest ta'en.

[IMOGEN looks at IACHIMO. Know'st him thou look'st on? speak,

Wilt have him live? Is he thy kin? thy friend?
Imog. He is a Roman; no more kin to me,

Than I to your highness; who, being born your vassal,

Am something nearer.

Cym. Wherefore ey'st him so?

Imog. I'll tell you, sir, in private, if you please

To give me hearing.

Cym. Ay, with all my heart:

Walk with me; speak freely.

[CYMBELINE and IMOGEN walk aside.

Bel. Is not this boy revived from death?
Arv. One sand another

Not more resembles :-That sweet rosy lad,
Who died, and was Fidele :-What think you?
Guid. The same dead thing alive.

Bel. Peace, peace! see further.