Cymbeline Famous Quotes

Fear no more the heat o' the sun, Nor the furious winter's rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done.

Guiderius and Arviragus's funeral song over what they believe is Imogen's body in Act 4, Scene 2 — one of the most complete funeral songs in literature, addressing the dead person directly and listing every fear they will no longer need to carry.

Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Part of the funeral song in Act 4, Scene 2 — golden lads and chimney-sweepers are equal in death. In Warwickshire dialect, 'golden lad' was a name for dandelions, and chimney-sweepers were the dried seed-heads. Shakespeare may have had both meanings in mind.

Hath Britain all the sun that shines? Day, night, Are they not but in Britain?

Imogen in Act 3, Scene 4, rallying herself after being told to go into exile — the question is rhetorical: the world has sun everywhere, and she will not collapse simply because she is leaving Britain.

Thou art all the comfort The gods will diet me with.

Imogen to Pisanio in Act 3, Scene 4, after discovering Posthumus's letter ordering her death — Pisanio is the only loyalist left to her. 'Diet' means both nourish and ration, and the gods, she implies, are not being generous.

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

Cloten to the Roman ambassador in Act 3, Scene 1, refusing to pay tribute to Rome — the insult about 'wearing our own noses' means Britain will not pay for something it already owns. Even a fool can articulate national pride.

As slippery as the Gordian knot was hard!

Iachimo alone in Imogen's bedroom in Act 2, Scene 2, having slipped from the trunk and removed her bracelet while she sleeps — the Gordian knot (proverbially impossible to untie) is his comparison for what he has just done effortlessly.

I have not slept one wink.

Pisanio to Imogen in Act 3, Scene 4, after she demands to know why he will not simply execute her — he has received an instruction to murder his mistress and has spent the night unable to act on it or dismiss it.

Some falls are means the happier to arise.

Lucius in Act 4, Scene 2, after finding the disguised Imogen (believing her to be a boy) — a general observation about reversal of fortune that applies to most of the characters in the play.

O, this life Is nobler than attending for a cheque, Richer than doing nothing for a bauble.

Belarius to Guiderius and Arviragus in Act 3, Scene 3, extolling their life in the Welsh hills over court service — 'a cheque' is a reprimand, and 'a bauble' is a trinket given as payment. He has been banished and makes exile sound like freedom.

We are all bastards; And that most venerable man which I Did call my father, was I know not where.

Posthumus in Act 2, Scene 5, after being convinced of Imogen's infidelity by Iachimo — his logic is that if she has been unfaithful, then all apparent legitimacy is suspect, including his own birth. The rage is total.

Triumphs for nothing and lamenting toys Is jollity for apes and grief for boys.

Belarius in Act 4, Scene 2, reproving Guiderius for excessive celebration and Arviragus for excessive grief — the lined up rhyme pairs are advice against emotional excess in both directions, though the occasion (Imogen seeming dead) might justify both.

With the natural bravery of your isle, which stands As Neptune's park, ribbed and paled in With rocks unscaleable.

Cymbeline to the Roman ambassador in Act 3, Scene 1 — Neptune's park framed by unscaleable rocks is the island geography of Britain as both fortress and sanctuary. The speech comes before the military humiliation of the same forces defending it.

No more, you petty spirits of region low, Offend our hearing; hush!

Jupiter descending in Act 5, Scene 4, to silence the ghosts petitioning on behalf of Posthumus — the god appears in thunder and dismisses their complaints before explaining that suffering is preparation for redemption.

He was a queen's son, boys; And though he came our enemy, remember He was paid for that.

Belarius to Guiderius and Arviragus after they have killed Cloten in Act 4, Scene 2 — the instruction is to acknowledge rank in the enemy even in death. Respect for the dead does not require approval of who they were.

Pisanio, I'll now taste of thy drug.

Imogen in Act 4, Scene 2, taking the medicine Pisanio gave her — she believes it is a remedy given by the Queen as a kindness. It is actually a sleeping draught. She falls unconscious and is found beside a headless body, presumed dead.