ACT IV
SCENE IV Wales: before the cave of Belarius.


 [Enter BELARIUS, GUIDERIUS, and ARVIRAGUS.

GUIDERIUS The noise is round about us.

BELARIUS Let us from it.

ARVIRAGUS What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it
 From action and adventure?

GUIDERIUS Nay, what hope
 Have we in hiding us? This way, the Romans
 Must or for Britons slay us, or receive us
 For barbarous and unnatural revolts
 During their use, and slay us after.

BELARIUS Sons,
 We'll higher to the mountains; there secure us.
 To the king's party there's no going: newness
 Of Cloten's death--we being not known, not muster'd
 Among the bands--may drive us to a render
 Where we have lived, and so extort from's that
 Which we have done, whose answer would be death
 Drawn on with torture.

GUIDERIUS This is, sir, a doubt
 In such a time nothing becoming you,
 Nor satisfying us.

ARVIRAGUS                   It is not likely
 That when they hear the Roman horses neigh,
 Behold their quarter'd fires, have both their eyes
 And ears so cloy'd importantly as now,
 That they will waste their time upon our note,
 To know from whence we are.

BELARIUS O, I am known
 Of many in the army: many years,
 Though Cloten then but young, you see, not wore him
 From my remembrance. And, besides, the king
 Hath not deserved my service nor your loves;
 Who find in my exile the want of breeding,
 The certainty of this hard life; aye hopeless
 To have the courtesy your cradle promised,
 But to be still hot summer's tamings and
 The shrinking slaves of winter.

GUIDERIUS Than be so
 Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to the army:
 I and my brother are not known; yourself
 So out of thought, and thereto so o'ergrown,
 Cannot be question'd.

ARVIRAGUS By this sun that shines,
 I'll thither: what thing is it that I never
 Did see man die! scarce ever look'd on blood,
 But that of coward hares, hot goats, and venison!
 Never bestrid a horse, save one that had
 A rider like myself, who ne'er wore rowel
 Nor iron on his heel! I am ashamed
 To look upon the holy sun, to have
 The benefit of his blest beams, remaining
 So long a poor unknown.

GUIDERIUS By heavens, I'll go:
 If you will bless me, sir, and give me leave,
 I'll take the better care, but if you will not,
 The hazard therefore due fall on me by
 The hands of Romans!

ARVIRAGUS So say I amen.

BELARIUS No reason I, since of your lives you set
 So slight a valuation, should reserve
 My crack'd one to more care. Have with you, boys!
 If in your country wars you chance to die,
 That is my bed too, lads, an there I'll lie:
 Lead, lead.

 [Aside]

 The time seems long; their blood
 thinks scorn,
 Till it fly out and show them princes born.

 [Exeunt]




 CYMBELINE


ACT V