The hope of comfort. (To Pisanio) But for thee, fellow,

Who needs must know of her departure and

Dost seem so ignorant, we’ll enforce it from thee

By a sharp torture.

PISANIO

Sir, my life is yours.

I humbly set it at your will. But for my mistress,

I nothing know where she remains, why gone,

Nor when she purposes return. Beseech your

highness,

Hold me your loyal servant.

A LORD

Good my liege,

The day that she was missing he was here.

I dare be bound he’s true, and shall perform

All parts of his subjection loyally. For Cloten,

There wants no diligence in seeking him,

And will no doubt be found.

CYMBELINE

The time is troublesome.

(To Pisanio) We’ll slip you for a season, but our jealousy

Does yet depend.

A LORD

So please your majesty,

The Roman legions, all from Gallia drawn,

Are landed on your coast with a supply

Of Roman gentlemen by the senate sent.

CYMBELINE

Now for the counsel of my son and queen!

I am amazed with matter.

A LORD

Good my liege,

Your preparation can affront no less

Than what you hear of. Come more, for more you’re

ready.

The want is but to put those powers in motion

That long to move.

CYMBELINE

I thank you. Let’s withdraw,

And meet the time as it seeks us. We fear not

What can from Italy annoy us, but

We grieve at chances here. Away.

Exeunt Cymbeline and Lords

PISANIO

I heard no letter from my master since

I wrote him Innogen was slain. ‘Tis strange.

Nor hear I from my mistress, who did promise

To yield me often tidings. Neither know I

What is betid to Cloten, but remain

Perplexed in all. The heavens still must work.

Wherein I am false I am honest; not true, to be true.

These present wars shall find I love my country

Even to the note o’th’ King, or I’ll fall in them.

All other doubts, by time let them be cleared:

Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.

Exit

4.4 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 Britains 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 mustered

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 quartered files, have both their eyes

And ears so cloyed 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 tanlings, and

The shrinking slaves of winter.

GUIDERIUS

Than be so,

Better to cease to be. Pray, sir, to th‘army.

I and my brother are not known; yourself

So out of thought, and thereto so o’ergrown,

Cannot be questioned.

ARVIRAGUS

By this sun that shines,

I’ll thither. What thing is’t that I never

Did see man die, scarce ever looked 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 cracked one to more care. Have with you, boys!

If in your country wars you chance to die,

That is my bed, too, lads, and 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