Cymbeline: Act 5, Scene 2

    tragedy

    Field of battle between the British and Roman camps.

    Scene Summary

    Skip to text ↓

    Battle between Romans and British forces. Cymbeline is captured and then rescued by Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus, who fight with extraordinary bravery. Posthumus (in peasant disguise) also fights well for Britain. Iachimo is on the Roman side and is briefly disarmed by Posthumus, reflecting on how guilty he feels about what he did.

    Enter, from one side, LUCIUS, IACHIMO, and the Roman Army: from the other side, the British Army; POSTHUMUS LEONATUS following, like a poor soldier. They march over and go out. Then enter again, in skirmish, IACHIMO and POSTHUMUS LEONATUS he vanquisheth and disarmeth IACHIMO, and then leaves him
    IACHIMO
    The heaviness and guilt within my bosom
    Takes off my manhood: I have belied a lady,
    The princess of this country, and the air on't
    Revengingly enfeebles me; or could this carl,
    A very drudge of nature's, have subdued me
    In my profession? Knighthoods and honours, borne
    As I wear mine, are titles but of scorn.
    If that thy gentry, Britain, go before
    This lout as he exceeds our lords, the odds
    Is that we scarce are men and you are gods.
    Exit
    The battle continues; the Britons fly; CYMBELINE is taken: then enter, to his rescue, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS
    BELARIUS
    Stand, stand! We have the advantage of the ground;
    The lane is guarded: nothing routs us but
    The villany of our fears.
    GUIDERIUS
    ARVIRAGUS
    Stand, stand, and fight!
    Re-enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, and seconds the Britons: they rescue CYMBELINE, and exeunt. Then re-enter LUCIUS, and IACHIMO, with IMOGEN
    CAIUS LUCIUS
    Away, boy, from the troops, and save thyself;
    For friends kill friends, and the disorder's such
    As war were hoodwink'd.
    IACHIMO
    'Tis their fresh supplies.
    CAIUS LUCIUS
    It is a day turn'd strangely: or betimes
    Let's reinforce, or fly.
    Exeunt