Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 3

Another part of the field.

  1. [Enter POSTHUMUS LEONATUS and a British Lord]
  2. Lord
  3. 2851 Camest thou from where they made the stand?
  4. Posthumus
  5. 2852 I did.
  6. 2853 Though you, it seems, come from the fliers.
  7. Lord
  8. 2854 I did.
  9. Posthumus
  10. 2855 No blame be to you, sir; for all was lost,
  11. 2856 But that the heavens fought: the king himself
  12. 2857 Of his wings destitute, the army broken,
  13. 2858 And but the backs of Britons seen, all flying
  14. 2859 Through a straight lane; the enemy full-hearted,
  15. 2860 Lolling the tongue with slaughtering, having work
  16. 2861 More plentiful than tools to do't, struck down
  17. 2862 Some mortally, some slightly touch'd, some falling
  18. 2863 Merely through fear; that the straight pass was damm'd
  19. 2864 With dead men hurt behind, and cowards living
  20. 2865 To die with lengthen'd shame.
  21. Lord
  22. 2866 Where was this lane?
  23. Posthumus
  24. 2867 Close by the battle, ditch'd, and wall'd with turf;
  25. 2868 Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier,
  26. 2869 An honest one, I warrant; who deserved
  27. 2870 So long a breeding as his white beard came to,
  28. 2871 In doing this for's country: athwart the lane,
  29. 2872 He, with two striplings-lads more like to run
  30. 2873 The country base than to commit such slaughter
  31. 2874 With faces fit for masks, or rather fairer
  32. 2875 Than those for preservation cased, or shame—
  33. 2876 Made good the passage; cried to those that fled,
  34. 2877 'Our Britain s harts die flying, not our men:
  35. 2878 To darkness fleet souls that fly backwards. Stand;
  36. 2879 Or we are Romans and will give you that
  37. 2880 Like beasts which you shun beastly, and may save,
  38. 2881 But to look back in frown: stand, stand.'
  39. 2882 These three,
  40. 2883 Three thousand confident, in act as many—
  41. 2884 For three performers are the file when all
  42. 2885 The rest do nothing—with this word 'Stand, stand,'
  43. 2886 Accommodated by the place, more charming
  44. 2887 With their own nobleness, which could have turn'd
  45. 2888 A distaff to a lance, gilded pale looks,
  46. 2889 Part shame, part spirit renew'd; that some,
  47. 2890 turn'd coward
  48. 2891 But by example—O, a sin in war,
  49. 2892 Damn'd in the first beginners!—gan to look
  50. 2893 The way that they did, and to grin like lions
  51. 2894 Upon the pikes o' the hunters. Then began
  52. 2895 A stop i' the chaser, a retire, anon
  53. 2896 A rout, confusion thick; forthwith they fly
  54. 2897 Chickens, the way which they stoop'd eagles; slaves,
  55. 2898 The strides they victors made: and now our cowards,
  56. 2899 Like fragments in hard voyages, became
  57. 2900 The life o' the need: having found the backdoor open
  58. 2901 Of the unguarded hearts, heavens, how they wound!
  59. 2902 Some slain before; some dying; some their friends
  60. 2903 O'er borne i' the former wave: ten, chased by one,
  61. 2904 Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty:
  62. 2905 Those that would die or ere resist are grown
  63. 2906 The mortal bugs o' the field.
  64. Lord
  65. 2907 This was strange chance
  66. 2908 A narrow lane, an old man, and two boys.
  67. Posthumus
  68. 2909 Nay, do not wonder at it: you are made
  69. 2910 Rather to wonder at the things you hear
  70. 2911 Than to work any. Will you rhyme upon't,
  71. 2912 And vent it for a mockery? Here is one:
  72. 2913 'Two boys, an old man twice a boy, a lane,
  73. 2914 Preserved the Britons, was the Romans' bane.'
  74. Lord
  75. 2915 Nay, be not angry, sir.
  76. Posthumus
  77. 2916 'Lack, to what end?
  78. 2917 Who dares not stand his foe, I'll be his friend;
  79. 2918 For if he'll do as he is made to do,
  80. 2919 I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too.
  81. 2920 You have put me into rhyme.
  82. Lord
  83. 2921 Farewell; you're angry.
  84. Posthumus
  85. 2922 Still going?
  86. [Exit Lord]
  87. Posthumus
  88. 2923 This is a lord! O noble misery,
  89. 2924 To be i' the field, and ask 'what news?' of me!
  90. 2925 To-day how many would have given their honours
  91. 2926 To have saved their carcasses! took heel to do't,
  92. 2927 And yet died too! I, in mine own woe charm'd,
  93. 2928 Could not find death where I did hear him groan,
  94. 2929 Nor feel him where he struck: being an ugly monster,
  95. 2930 'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups, soft beds,
  96. 2931 Sweet words; or hath more ministers than we
  97. 2932 That draw his knives i' the war. Well, I will find him
  98. 2933 For being now a favourer to the Briton,
  99. 2934 No more a Briton, I have resumed again
  100. 2935 The part I came in: fight I will no more,
  101. 2936 But yield me to the veriest hind that shall
  102. 2937 Once touch my shoulder. Great the slaughter is
  103. 2938 Here made by the Roman; great the answer be
  104. 2939 Britons must take. For me, my ransom's death;
  105. 2940 On either side I come to spend my breath;
  106. 2941 Which neither here I'll keep nor bear again,
  107. 2942 But end it by some means for Imogen.
  108. [Enter two British Captains and Soldiers]
  109. First Captain
  110. 2943 Great Jupiter be praised! Lucius is taken.
  111. 2944 'Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels.
  112. Second Captain
  113. 2945 There was a fourth man, in a silly habit,
  114. 2946 That gave the affront with them.
  115. First Captain
  116. 2947 So 'tis reported:
  117. 2948 But none of 'em can be found. Stand! who's there?
  118. Posthumus
  119. 2949 A Roman,
  120. 2950 Who had not now been drooping here, if seconds
  121. 2951 Had answer'd him.
  122. Second Captain
  123. 2952 Lay hands on him; a dog!
  124. 2953 A leg of Rome shall not return to tell
  125. 2954 What crows have peck'd them here. He brags
  126. 2955 his service
  127. 2956 As if he were of note: bring him to the king.
  128. [Enter CYMBELINE, BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, ARVIRAGUS, PISANIO, Soldiers, Attendants, and Roman Captives. The Captains present POSTHUMUS LEONATUS to CYMBELINE, who delivers him over to a Gaoler: then exeunt omnes]